Where do I start?

So I sit here (and its late!) and I wonder where do I start?  I am trying to think of what to write about first and how to get it started. 

Understanding the title of my blog. This is where I will start.  The Adventures of One Woman - Green Noodle Adventures. 

I am in fact, just one woman.  I have many titles and names, yes, names! But I am just one person.  I have a lot in common with other women.  I am a daughter, sister, mother, partner, friend and colleague.  However, I know there are also many differences which make me unique and qualifies me as just me!  Those difference include: I am the oldest of 4 siblings, we moved when I was a kid because of my Dad's job, I went to school for too long, and many others.  Some of these things which I think make me unique, might also be something that others have experienced as well.  However, we are different people with different experiences, interactions, influences and environments which leads to the differences and my uniqueness.

I am not comfortable with being unique.  Although I cherish and value my own skills and abilities (most of the time!), I also want to be the same.  I want to be accepted and within the circle - but I often feel like I stand outside of that circle.  I straddle the circle - wanting so badly to be on the inside but also standing strong and independent on the outside.  The world is confusing about what it wants and what the world values - but is that what matters?  What does matter?  Is fitting the mold important and if so, when is it not important?  If breaking the mold is more important, when do I do that? 

I will give you an example.  For years (and I mean YEARS!) I believed that everyone around me (teachers, my family, bosses, colleagues, peers, etc) valued extraverted, outgoing and charismatic me.  I have recently come to understand that I am naturally introverted.  I feel the loss of the many times and years, when I did not honor the true me.  My natural introverted self is often in direct conflict with the leadership part of my personality.  These two fight regularly about who should be present, the introverted, caring, soft side or the outgoing, assertive, leader. 

I am hoping to embrace the introvert within me.  I need to figure out who she is and how to recharge.  I need to find new ways to recharge because with a couple of kids, partner, and a busy life, there is not always the same time, energy and effort left for myself but I need to make it a priority. 

Here's to working on figuring it out. 

JLM