Personality types, street photography and writing in the deep end

January 19, 2013

The Jennifer Chronicles are starting to wear me out and it’s only January 19. Since I’m the boss of my blog (ha!) I guess I can stop writing them anytime I feel like it, except, not really. Carl Jung won’t let me. According to all his theories on personality types extrapolated by Briggs and Meyers I have a personality that must indefatigably follow through on all projects. You know what that means don’t you? Three-hundred and forty-six more days of Jennifers.

Personality Portraits
So, here’s a free personality test featuring 72 questions you can take to find out (maybe) your personality type. Then you can go here and read all these portraits of different personalities. And, if you really want to take things to the next level, you can take Penelope Trunk’s upcoming career webinar on personality types. I’m planning on signing up.

The Deep End
So, if I can believe this test, my personality type is very suited to my own career choices of writing, PR, photography and social entrepreneurship (advocacy). The hardest of the four is writing because it takes the most energy and requires the most risk. In fact, photography and causes are the grand and acceptable distractions that keep me from swimming in the deep end.

Borrowed Shopping Cart | Around SW 29th and Kentucky

But, I am always writing. This was in my head this morning as I stood at the kitchen counter pouring cereal and milk for my kids: 

At least there was always white bread; sugar and cinnamon, a tub of Parkay. How bad could life be? We were Americans. Hard-wired to want more, more, more, and so we were perpetually disappointed by all that we had. The white bread, sugar and fat were the poor man’s doughnut. It brought us shame. We disparaged our parents, but we were richer than most of the children in the world. This, the coveting of Generation X.

I went to lunch with friends earlier this week and one of them, Tracey, told me that I needed to pour some of the passion I have for my causes into writing my book. I’m always surprised when someone knows me without having to get to know me, because I don’t really think I know anybody. I never told her or anyone else for that matter that I’ve been thinking for awhile now that 2013 was the year I needed to write it all down.

Why Do Our Stories Matter?
Later in the week, I told Steve what Tracey said and he asked me why I didn’t see my book as a cause. I think I can see it that way if I can figure out what Jung thought people with my personality type needed in order to get anything done: A clear understanding of the practical application. Why do our stories matter? Intuitively, I know they do, but I can’t pinpoint why.

Here are two of my favorite street photography images from the last month or so. There are 40 million images posted to Instagram every week, which makes it very hard to explain to people why I think taking pictures is unique and important.

NW 23rd Street | Oklahoma City

One thing that’s easy to explain is the deep end. It’s a tired metaphor, but we venture into it before we’re certain we can swim.

Here are two poems I love about the deep end. One by Gabriel Gadfly and this one, For Julia, In the Deep Water by John N. Morris.

Around NW 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue | Oklahoma City

2 Responses to “Personality types, street photography and writing in the deep end”

1. Andi Fisher January 20, 2013

   P.S. My mom had that dish too. I also had one for a long time, well into my twenties, don’t know whatever happened to it, it might be that one of my exes has it!

   Reply
2. Andi Fisher January 20, 2013

   I know in terms of Meyers Briggs I am an INTJ, but I haven’t taken the time to do more tests, I can tell you one thing. The same thing keeping me from writing a book or doing an ebook or “monetizing” my blog seems to be the same reason keeping you from writing your books, so we see, to have some personality traits in common

   Reply