What am I good at?????

This is difficult.  Because one is taught not to talk about one's accomplishments without sounding like one is bragging.  I mean, it is easy to tell other people what they are good at, or give them compliments.....  encouraging my kids or my husband.... supporting my friends.  And I don't like pictures of myself, but I am going to try not to cringe when I see these pictures.......

But, I have given this a lot of thought.  And I came up with a few things I am good at (I think).

1) independent thought and problem solving (science and cooking)

No, that is not Princess Leia, its "Lt. Bell" in the military as a chemist

When I was in graduate school, I really liked field work, mostly because I was independent and could plan my own work.  Then, when I was in the military, and worked as an environmental chemist, I was called a "self starter".  Of course, my independent nature meant I was pretty much as odds with the hierarchy of the military.

The "scientist" seining for fish

When I worked for the state, they made us all take personality tests.  Not so much for self enlightenment, I realized, but so the bosses could "manage" us better.  My "outstanding characteristics" were loyalty and dependability.  It made me sound like a St. Bernard. I did not excel in leadership, in fact, at one point, I was passed over for a management position.  It took me a long time to get over that, and to realize my boss really did know me (thanks, John) and I was much better as a field investigator than as an office bound manager.  I liked the fact that they gave me a year's worth of work, and I could plan how to do it and how to get it all done.

When I worked for the state, I did a number of jobs, including taking samples of unknown drums which were
 dumped along roadsides

Soap on drying rack

So, now, I have my own business and can plan my own time.  I usually have multiple tasks and orders going at once, and deadlines for them all.  And I love it.

Soap making in the "Bell Springs Laboratory"

2)  I am good at teaching.

I discovered this in grad school.  I taught 4 labs a semester (and made $272.27 a month).  Later, I got to teach chemical methods to some waste water plant operators when I worked for a year in a civil service job.  I had to put the "science" into terms they could understand, when some of them barely spoke english, or finished high school.  I did a lot of educational programs for school kids when I worked for the state and talked to them about careers and how to protect the environment (a young girl in the far side of our district told me that she never knew women could be scientists before I came to talk to her class).  And now, I homeschool and have done some classes for the teens in our homeschool community.  Every summer, I get talked into teaching a science camp (or some kind of camp) at our local library. I like sharing science concepts with kids, and I think, I HOPE, my enthusiasm helps them to understand and like science.

3)  I like to think I am a good momma.  My husband and kids seem to think so.

So, I asked my husband what I was good at.....and he said "singing.....and being a good wife and mother....and solving problems..... and being a good friend".  My daughter said "being a mom".  My son said "getting me ice cream out of the freezer" (guess what he wants?).  I'll just add, that being momma, is some ways is "momma to the world".  My children, my animals, my farmers market vendors (I am market manager), my friends.....  I find time for them all and listen to them and support them in their world.

Since I often post pictures of "the cat", I thought I would add a "selfie"
with Cocoa for a change.

So, since this was so difficult for me, I wonder what the rest of our blogging group has to say?

Andes Cruz: https://andescruz.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/perfection/

Robyn Hawk: http://flyviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/...

marie bell :: http://www.pencilfox.com/2016/07/ju...