Overachievers are overrated.

In recent years, especially since becoming a psychology major/grad student, I have come to think of myself as fairly self-aware. This in and of itself shows how truly self-unaware I actually am. However, I am learning to identify, modify, and when appropriate, accept my faults because they make me who I am. So...

On this, the 31st day of August, in the year 2010, I proclaim that I finally agree with everyone else that I am an overachiever.

Upon discussion with my thesis advisor, who does not let me get away with any kind of shenanagan or irrational thought (that's what I get for choosing a clinical psychologist as a thesis advisor), I realized that being involved in a Master's thesis, three other research projects, 2 jobs, and 2 graduate-level classes, makes me a pathological overachiever. Or maybe just plain stupid.

However, my overachiever-ness has really kicked into high gear recently and had proven beneficial because I have now completed 4 more tasks. I am now exactly halfway done with my to-do list!

13. Smile at a stranger: Completed tonight. I was reading an article in the student union when I looked up to see someone looking directly at me. Instead of my usual "What? Is there something in my teeth?" look, I actually smiled at them. Yes, it was a closed mouth smile, not a toothy grin or a Deschenes smile for your psychology nerds out there, but a smile nonetheless. If you know me, you probably find this shocking.

16. Teach someone how to do something: I was not going to include this instance, but after some persuasion by a friend from the musical, I will include it. I taught a bunch of nondancers how to dance this summer while working as the choreographer for "Joseph and the Amazing, Technicolor Dreamcoat." All but a small handful of folks had never danced a day in their life (except maybe the Chicken Dance or some equivalent). The cast was such a pleasure to work with and most of us seem to be having withdrawals from hanging out with each other. By the way, they all learned the dances beautifully, including a 1960's go-go dance, a Country Western hoedown, a French apache (pronounced: a-pah-sh), and a calypso number complete with Conga line.

29. Show someone appreciation by more than just saying, "Thank you." Upon a fantastic suggestion by a friend in the cast, the cast sang the Glee rendition of "To Sir, With Love" for our Musical director and Stage Director (and other members of the production crew). I had a small solo (Kurt's part in Verse 2!). One of the guys in the cast played the guitar, about 10 of use sang small solos or duets, and the rest of the cast sang and/or clapped along to the choruses. The directors had no idea and I think they appreciated it. Way to go, Joseph cast and great idea, Brandon!

32. Win: My uncle and I beat my grandmother and aunt in a round of Hand and Foot. At first we thought we lost (#33), then tied (#34), until we realized they had hidden some extra negative points (more than 500!). So, we won. But what shocked me the most was that my darling, innocent grandmother cheated. She CHEATED. Innocent my foot.

26 down. 26 to go. Anybody want to ride in a grocery cart with me?