A Love Letter to Jesus

What a beautiful thing it is to be known and loved by you. You know me completely and fully, and you still go to great lengths to remind me that you do see and you do care and that you love me more than I can even comprehend.  Thank you for loving me through it all, despite my flesh that so often resists pressing into You.  You pursue.  You gently whisper your truth - who you are, who I am in you - to me.  Your voice is the one I will never tire of hearing.  It's the first thing I want in the morning and the one I want to be in tune with all day.  On days where I feel distant, life seems less bright, less beautiful.  Then I become intentional and make room.  And you speak, you whisper, you remind me.  Your voice becomes familiar once more, and I'm at ease.  I learn to rest in knowing you, not in the knowing what is next or all the details, but in knowing you and and trusting that you are who you say you are and you will do what you say you will do. You are trustworthy in the most beautiful way. 

I want to know you deeper than I have before.  Would you encounter me in ways I have never experienced before?  I want to know you intimately and be known intimately.  It's a scary and beautiful thing to be known so deeply, so completely.  But your love casts out fear.  You hold no grudges.  You don't remind me of my faults or my failings, but instead you call me beautiful and loved by you. This love requires intentionality and effort.  You say when I seek you, I will find you. So I make a commitment to you today to say that I will seek you, that I will pursue intimacy with you no matter what the cost, that I will make sacrifices to grow our love and connection because all else pales in comparison to you, to your love.  May today mark a point in this relationship that I lean into you and consciously choose love and intimacy at all costs. I love you, and I want to love you deeper still.

My Friend Albert

I was reading a post from Humans of New York about a daughter who was going to close the door on a crazy looking homeless man. Her mom stopped her and shouted the man’s name. She gave a bunch of food to the man. Her daughter couldn’t get over (it seemed in the post) that her mom knew the man’s name. His name was forever engrained in her mind.

This story reminded me of the day I learned the name of my homeless friend, Albert. I will never forget that day. I even wrote about it in my journal because it moved my heart so deeply. This is what I wrote:

“There’s a homeless man who sits in our alley. I see him all the time in the same spot. My heart has always been drawn to him, and I’ve sensed in the Spirit that I need to do something for him. But I have held back in the past for one reason or another. I haven’t seen him sitting there in a while. Until today. I was thinking about getting myself a coffee because we were all out at home and it was super foggy and cold. Well, I drove past him and felt the Lord prompting me to spend that money on him instead. I mean, I was going to buy a coffee for myself anyways so why not spend the money on someone who could use more warmth than me. So I reluctantly (at first because I was in a hurry) listened and took the coffee to him. We talked a little bit, and he told me his name is Albert. I could have known his name a long time ago if I had been obedient in the first place. I drove off and started crying and praying for him. God sees Albert! God loves Albert! And God wanted to use me to love Albert and to let him know that I see him! What a beautiful thing!”

Honestly, it was a really small act of kindness and seemingly insignificant. It didn’t alleviate his situation or even address some of his more pressing needs, but I hope that it blessed Albert in a small way and let him know that he is seen and cared about. Since that day, his name has been etched in my mind and my heart. I will never forget his face or his name. I think about him often. I wave to him when I see him and pray for him too.

It’s comforting to know that God knows the “nameless” and the “unseen” and loves them, and He wants to use us to let people know He sees them, knows them, and loves them.  If only we were more open and willing to be used in such a way.  I know I’ve missed so many opportunities to speak life to others or to reach out and be a blessing in whatever small way I can, but I’m grateful the Lord used me to bless Albert in such a seemingly insignificant way and that he used Albert to show me His heart for people. 

I’m not sharing this to get kudos. I’m just sharing it to encourage you to be obedient to the still small voice, to be mindful of the small ways you can make a difference around you, and to be a blessing to people in whatever way you can. 

INDIA

I’m going to INDIA.

WHAT?!?

It’s true. I’m going to India in June with some of my lovely friends from Chi Alpha. We will be going to Bangalore, India, which is the third largest city in India (about 8.5 million people). We will be partnering with a local church (Full Gospel AG), a congregation of about 25,000 people. Full Gospel AG has twelve services on Sundays, starting at 5:45 am and ending at 7:30 pm. Our team will be spending two weeks engaging with the church and the community through various ministry opportunities! I’m so excited to be a part of this experience, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store! 

Over the past couple of years, God has bent my heart for the nations and for the work he is doing through wonderful people in those countries. Some people may even know that I have been prayerfully considering going on the World Race with Adventures in Missions as a missionary for 11 months to various countries. That dream is still so deeply planted in my heart. I truly believe that God is preparing me now through my social work education/experiences and ministry opportunities for the work that he has called me to, both here and abroad. In the period of waiting and dreaming, the opportunity to go to India with Chi Alpha has presented itself, and I am so excited and grateful to be able to do so.

God has really been impressing upon my heart over the past year that the same Spirit who anointed Jesus for his ministry is upon me and anointing me for mine. I don’t have to walk in fear or timidity (which is my natural response). Instead, I can walk boldly and confidently in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit on my life to do the work he has called me to. That is powerful! 

Luke 4:18-19. Jesus read the scroll from the prophet Isaiah and said it was fulfilled. The scroll said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

I love that Jesus came to do all of those things and was able to do so through the anointing and the power of the Spirit. I also love that I have access to that same Spirit. My prayer is that I always live and move and have my being in the Spirit – whether my ministry is in Sacramento, India, or another city/state/country. My prayer is that you would do the same. I truly believe our lives and our ministries would have greater impact if we just realized the anointing and the power we have through the Spirit.

I just wanted to share my excitement and my heart with you! Thanks for reading this blog! If you’re still reading and want to know how you can support my trip to India, here are two main ways:

• PRAY! Be praying for our team, for the people of Bangalore, for Full Gospel AG, for each individual we will have the blessing of encountering. Just pray.

• Donate: In order to make this opportunity a reality and meet my fundraising goal of $2,000, I need wonderful people like you to support me financially. If you’re reading this, and that is something you would like to do, please contact me! 

 

Restless.

Restless. Being sick of the mundane. Wanting more. Dreaming big. 

That’s the perfect way to sum up what I’ve been sensing in my spirit lately. So when my friend asked me to read Restless by Jennie Allen with her and use it as a Bible study together, I was excited! 

I didn’t even get past the author notes on the first two pages before knowing that I could not have been reading this book at a more perfect time for the internal tension I’m experiencing. Jen Hatmaker wrote this:

“We’ve been given so much, and we are so blessed, and yet I keep hearing over and over, ‘I’m restless. I don’t know what it is, I don’t know what more I could possibly want, what am I missing? How could I still feel at all dissatisfied with this happy beautiful life that I’ve been given?’

I love it because I know that God is calling us deeper and deeper into the kingdom where things like houses and salaries and success simply cannot satisfy. He has set this longing in our hearts for more of Him, more of the gospel, more of His goodness, more of the kingdom, and so we find ourselves at this interesting crossroads as people of privilege who have been given much. But like Jesus told us, to whom much has been given, much will be required.

The life that God has set in front of us is exciting, and adventurous, and risky. Sometimes it’s even dangerous. And it’s going to ask everything of us, because apparently it doesn’t care much for our comfort or our happiness or our safety, and yet it is the kingdom that satisfies. It is the gospel that makes us whole and gives us purpose.”

  

I couldn’t have said it better myself. I don’t want a mundane life. I want the incredible adventure that God has planned for me and me alone. And I am choosing to place my hope and trust in the Lord that the beautiful dreams that He has placed inside my heart will come to fruition. I’m choosing to believe that my right now is preparing me for what is to come. While my right now may seem mundane in the present, it will make perfect sense in the future. I’m choosing to believe that my current journey with Jesus is paving the way for an even greater adventure in store. I’m choosing to say “yes” to all that Jesus has for me and “no” to anything less. I’m choosing to forget what I see in the temporal and focus solely on what I know to be true in the spiritual. I’m choosing to take risks and make sacrifices, all to find intimacy with Him and abundant life in Him. My soul thirsts for more of Him and will never reach a saturation point. 

I’m grateful for this restless spirit. It means that my heart is for Him and His kingdom. It means that I refuse to forget my passions or my dreams. It means that I will fight for those things because I know that Jesus is in them and has birthed those things in my heart for a purpose. It means that there are greater days ahead than there have been behind. It means there is more: more of life and more of Jesus. 

So I'm going to keep believing, keep hoping, and keep dreaming. And you should too.

The Garden of Life

Today I spent some time in my backyard reading my Bible and enjoying the sunshine. After a while, I got up to check on my little garden. The plants have already grown quite a bit since I planted them, but there is still no sign of vegetables yet. I found myself getting frustrated that I couldn't see any sign of the vegetables. I'm SO looking forward to them, and I don't want to wait any longer to eat them! In the midst of my frustrated and impatient thoughts, it hit me. Sometimes our lives are like my garden. 

We desire growth. We long for the promises and the dreams and the visions that have been planted in our hearts. Yet so often we get caught up in the final product and forget the process it takes to create the product. The process is sometimes difficult. It's painstakingly slow. It requires cutting off dead or unwanted parts to pave the way for other desirable parts to flourish. The process takes patience. It takes dedication and commitment and care. It takes vision and hope and trust that the care you're providing will reap the promised harvest.

It is easy to get discouraged when you can't see the whole picture, when you're waiting for the harvest. Be diligent. Keep providing adequate nourishment to the root. Be faithful in watering the soil and preparing the way for more growth to occur. Trust that when the dead and unwanted parts are trimmed, new life will come. Growth may happen slower than you may like, but the harvest is coming. 

Hi. I'm Kari.

Since all my blog posts have been on the serious side, I decided to post a more fun one for everyone's enjoyment. You're probably going to judge me and/or laugh at me about some of the things I'm going to share, but hey, I'm okay with that. I laugh at myself a lot too. It's good for the soul.

Here it goes people... 20 fun/weird/quirky facts about me:

1. I hate getting in my bed if I haven't showered. I just do not like going to bed feeling dirty. I had friends in college (won't mention names) that had no problem going to bed without showering, and I'm slightly disgusted by them... just kidding. But really, a clean body in clean sheets just feels right. 

2. I'm a very sentimental person, and I love giving and receiving handwritten letters and notes from people I care about. Chances are if you've given me a sweet note, letter, or card over the years I still have it. I have a box that I put these in, and I will occasionally, if feeling nostalgic, read through them and be reminded of the many amazing people in my life. I'm one blessed woman!
 
3. My feet are always freezing. Like literally, freezing. Doesn't matter what season or what temperature. They are ALWAYS cold. I went to the doctor to see if there was an issue, but he assured me that I'm good. So I'm basically just stuck with freezing cold feet for the rest of my life. 

4. The minute I get home, I throw on a t-shirt and some sweats or whatever is the most comfy. Let's be real. Nobody enjoys sitting around in jeans or fancy clothes if they could be in comfy clothes. I'm all about comfy.

5. I love writing in my journals. It's my way to process thoughts and express them in a more intimate way. I have kept a journal since I was in high school, and it's something I plan on continuing to do throughout my life. Sometimes I write prayers and things God is teaching and revealing to me. Sometimes I write daily happenings, frustrations, and feelings. Sometimes I write letters to myself or to my future special someone. It looks different on different days, but it's special. I also really love going back through old journals and reading through them. It's a great reminder of how far I've come (by the grace of God) and how He has been with me through every season, my one constant. 

6. I once made a basket for the other team during my middle school basketball game. We ended up winning by like 16 points, and my coach told me in our team meeting that I was the star player for the other team. Super embarassing and super funny!

7. I don't like seafood, eggs, or milk. I'll eat food with milk and eggs in it, but I can't stand either one of those things by itself. Seafood I just ignore all together. 

8. When I took my driving test to get my license, I sat on a cushion so I could see the front of the car. I'm pretty sure the guy that was with me in the car didn't even notice. Also, I could have failed my test because I made a sharp left turn from the wrong lane through a stop light. I'm pretty sure the guy didn't mark any points off because he was the one who forgot to tell me to turn until I was halfway through the light. Talk about panic attack! Haha.

9. I have a skin tag on my right eyelid. I've been asked about it my entire life, some people ask about it in nicer ways than others. A lot of people ask me why I don't go get it removed. The truth is I tried to get it burned off when I was younger, but it didn't work. As I've gotten older, I don't even realize it's there much anymore except when I put eyeshadow on. I've learned to embrace it, accept it, and love it because it makes me ME! So if you ask me why I don't go get it removed, I'll kindly say that God made me this way and He says I'm beautiful. And that's all the assurance I need to keep from getting it removed.

10. I have a weird love for reading books. I love learning and growing and soaking in knowledge. I love gaining wisdom from others and hearing different perspectives. I just love it! So if you're reading this and you ever are struggling to buy me a gift for a holiday or birthday or graduation... you can never go wrong with a good book or a giftcard to a bookstore. (and yes, that was a shameless plug)

11. I am still best friends with my childhood best friend. I met her the very first day of preschool when I walked up to her and asked her to be my friend. We've been best buds ever since. I love that I have a lifelong friend in her. What a cool thing to be able to say when we are 100 years old that we have been friends for 95 years and talk about all the wonderful memories we've made. Amazing!

12. I wear a night guard to sleep because I clench my jaw and grind my teeth horribly. My jaw pops a lot, especially when I'm eating certain foods. So if we're ever eating together and I'm annoying you with my popping jaw, please accept my apology in advance and thanks for extending grace. I can't control it! 

13. I've been to 26 states and to Canada. I want to visit all 50 states and several countries throughout the world. I love traveling, and if I didn't have to work I would travel the world constantly! 

14. When I laugh, I sometimes do this weird thing with my tongue. I really don't notice it, but I've had many people comment on it and/or make fun of me for it. One time in elementary school, one of my really funny friends was sitting next to me in Music class and cracked a joke. I couldn't help but giggle, and my teacher teased me about my laugh. I'm still scarred to this day by her comments... clearly, since I'm bringing it up after all these years ;)

15. One of my favorite treats is Haagen Daaz coffee ice cream. Don't ask me how I ever even stumbled across this amazing gem because I really couldn't tell you. It's just been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. It's my go-to. 

16. I feel like I am some sort of weird mix between introvert and extrovert. I have tendencies of both. I really love being surrounded by people and interacting with them. It brings me great joy, and I feel excited about life after spending time with them. At the same time, I also really enjoy sitting and being. Sometimes I just need those minutes, hours, or days to take a break from people, be by myself, and get recharged. I've got the best of both worlds (Thanks, Miley). 

17. I have a scar on my knee from falling off my bike when I was in elementary school. How did I fall off my bike, you ask? Well, I was simply pretending that N'Sync was watching me do tricks. I worked a little too hard to try to impress them and pretty much crashed and burned. Pretty comical actually. 

18. Both sets of my grandparents have been married for over 65 years. They have modeled what love for a lifetime should look like, and I am blessed to have two great examples of that kind of love for when I meet my lucky someone. 

19. I've never been pulled over or gotten a ticket before (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood). The only ticket I got was a parking ticket at Evangel, which was bogus and undeserved to begin with so I don't include that one.

20. I was supposed to be a twin when I was born, but my mom had a miscarriage with my twin. I am so grateful to have life and that I have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. Each day is a gift, and I plan on living my life in such a way as to make each day count and more importantly, to make an impact on the Kingdom of God. 


That's all for right now. If you read all of these, thanks for being a trooper. To my friends: I hope we can still be friends after you found out all this new information about me. On the other hand, if you're reading this and thinking I'm even cooler than you thought, we probably need to hang out more!

Embracing Your Strengths

I'm not sure if any of you have heard of Strengths Finder 2.0, but it is an assessment tool that determines your top 5 strengths (out of a list of 34) based on your responses to a series of questions. When I was in my undergraduate program at Evangel University, every student was required to take the assessment as an incoming freshman. I took the test and found that my top 5 strengths were Positivity, Learner, WOO, Achiever, and Includer (see below for descriptions). For the most part, I felt like my results were pretty spot on with who I am and the strengths I possess. Throughout my college degree I came to embrace those things and continue to refine them and use them in my every day activities. I have always wondered if my top 5 strengths would change if I took the assessment tool again. A couple of weeks ago I took the test again and found that my top 5 strengths changed. The new top 5 were: Achiever, Input, Includer, Belief, Maximizer (see descriptions below). 

Why am I sharing this? I'm writing about this because the topic of strengths is so important - whether it's knowing your own strengths, seeing and valuing the strengths in others, or drawing those strengths out of others that they may not even recognize. Recently, I was able to attend a luncheon where an expert in strengths-based leadership was the guest speaker. She told all of us to sign our name with our dominant hand 3 times. Then, she told us to sign our name with our non-dominant hand three times. When we were finished, we discussed how it felt to write with the hand that we were not dominant with. It felt awkward. It felt wrong. It felt forced. It took more time. It did not come effortlessly. Yet when we used our dominant hands to write, those things were not an issue. So it is with strengths. When you operate within your strengths, it comes naturally. It's not forced. You don't have to think deeply or concentrate too hard to see results. You just do it, and it feels right. 

Being on the leadership team at our church has really taught me a lot about strengths. We each have such different personalities, and we each bring something unique to the table. At times, I've felt tempted to question my strengths and what I bring to the table because I feel like I am surrounded by such amazing leaders with qualities that I wish I had. HOWEVER, I have come to realize and value the fact that I AM unique. I DO bring something special to the table. I AM skilled in different areas than those around me. And that is beautiful. It's beautiful because it means that I do not have to be great at everything. That’s right. I don’t. Neither do you. We just have to learn to partner with others who are skilled in different areas than we are. I love that! So cherish who you are, recognize your strengths, embrace those strengths, and partner with others to use your strengths to compliment theirs. Be encouraged. You are YOU for a reason. Love yourself, and learn to love the people around you and all the strengths they have to offer!!!


If you want to know a little bit more about me and my strengths, you can read the descriptions below. Thanks for reading!


Achiever:

People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive. Driven by your talents, you automatically set aside time to map out the coming months, years, or decades. You realize the hard work of thinking must precede the implementation of any long-range plans. You have discovered that your success depends on it. Chances are good that you usually work earnestly for an authority figure who takes an interest in you as a human being. You probably just do what is expected when teachers, coaches, or supervisors treat you like an underling, consider you hired help, or ignore you. By nature, you naturally resist being held back, restrained, or controlled by people or events. You much prefer to be in charge of situations, materials, schedules, budgets, human resources, processes, or decisions. Waiting for someone else to issue orders or level judgments certainly is not your forte — that is, strength. Instinctively, you do much more than just try to live up to your commitments. You persist working until you can deliver on your promises. This certainly enhances your reputation for being trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. Because of your strengths, you labor for hours, days, or weeks when the money you earn allows you to provide for your family’s needs. Your work ethic permits you to give loved ones many of the things you did or did not have as a child.

Belief:

People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life. Driven by your talents, you are likely to inconvenience yourself to help someone. The person’s appreciation, smile, or words of thanks usually make you feel very good about yourself and life in general. You tend to have much more energy for your own job or studies after you have done a good deed. Chances are good that you want your life to really matter. You are determined to contribute to the well-being of individuals and the human family. You sense you can be an influence for good in the world. It’s very likely that you feel better about yourself when you are honest and forthright with people. Telling untruths and omitting important facts violates your personal code of ethics. Because of your strengths, you conclude that your life is more meaningful and you are happier when you can dedicate yourself to something of importance to humankind. It can be something simple rather than something grand. You sense your acts of kindness influence individuals to perform good deeds. You are likely to inspire generosity in many people. Instinctively, you throw yourself into your work even when you are personally inconvenienced. You usually place the well-being of others above your own.

Includer:

People who are especially talented in the Includer theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them. It’s very likely that you are fond of most people. You tend to be nonjudgmental. You usually find something good and likeable about every person you meet. Often you want to involve them in your activities and introduce them to others. You are undoubtedly puzzled by individuals who actively search for reasons to exclude people from their circle of friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, or teammates. Driven by your talents, you make no claims of being a “morning person.” You need time to transition from sleeping to waking and from waking to working. You tend to gain physical energy and mental sharpness later in the traditional workday. Depending on your biological clock, your peak performance period can occur during mid-to-late afternoon, in the early evening, during the hours before midnight, or in the hours after midnight. Because of your strengths, you feel life is marvelous when you have a wide array of friends and acquaintances. You usually find many qualities to appreciate in most of the people you meet. Instinctively, you move in and out of thought-provoking conversations with grace. You delve deeply into topics and explore the frontiers of ideas.The animated give-and-take you most enjoy often occurs in the company of thinkers. You tend to be happier when you meet people who share your need to talk about theories and concepts. You tend to be less engaged with those who are overly concerned with gossip or purely practical matters. Chances are good that you seek the company of individuals who ponder, reflect, consider, muse, or invent. You are especially intrigued by people who carry on conversations about theories, concepts, or philosophies. Often the thoughts you share with one another have yet to be proved, put into practice, transformed into processes, or made into products.

Input:

People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information. It’s very likely that you frequently collect as much information as you can by reading about the topics to be discussed at group gatherings. This is your forte — that is, strong point. Undoubtedly, there are individuals who routinely rely on you to do all the homework — that is, the preparatory reading and research — so they do not have to worry about it. Because of your strengths, you thirst for new ideas and knowledge. Often you lose yourself in a book. You pore over the ideas contained on its pages for long stretches of time. Why? You want to absorb as much information as you can. By nature, you usually are quiet during conversations, taking in everything that is said. You are particularly attentive when intelligent people toss about their ideas, theories, or concepts. Often you acquire more information and gain more insights than the speakers do. When you choose to expound on a topic that interests you or pose pertinent questions, many individuals listen carefully to every word you utter. Driven by your talents, you are intrigued by newcomers and outsiders. Unusual individuals capture your attention because they are different. Immediately, your curiosity impels you to ask lots of questions and attentively listen to their responses. You appear to study human beings the way others study for final tests. Your approach is direct. Your gaze is intense. Your interest is sincere. You probably are determined to introduce these people to your acquaintances, family, or friends. Chances are good that you possess the physical and mental endurance needed to spend hours studying, reading, or researching. The more you know, the more questions you have to ask. Your diligence reflects your need to work harder and longer than most people can. You set lofty goals for yourself and relentlessly pursue them. Once you have reached your objective, you direct much of your energy toward a second goal. You are self-motivated. You prefer to push yourself rather than relax.

Learner:

You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices you. Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the “getting there.”

Maximizer:

People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb. Driven by your talents, you may prefer to spend time with people who respect and approve of your talents. Perhaps you can sense when individuals belittle your abilities or discount your results. Because of your strengths, you may surround yourself with people who notice what you do right and applaud what you do well. Maybe you avoid critics who dwell on your shortcomings. Chances are good that you frequently notice what makes each person unique or special. Armed with these insights, you probably inspire many individuals to move into action. You realize life is more fulfilling for people who choose tasks and are given assignments that closely match their talents. You often notice the different moods, need for information, or preferred forms of recognition for the people in your life. Instinctively, you probably enjoy life more when you can practice using your dominant talents every day. Not surprisingly, you reach your goals, excel, and gain confidence when you are permitted to do things you naturally do quite well. It’s very likely that you forge ahead to build the life you envision. You reach your goals by finding as many opportunities as possible to use your unique abilities and natural gifts.

Positivity:

You are generous with praise, quick to smile, and always on the lookout for the positive in the situation. Some call you lighthearted. Others just wish that their glass were as full as yours seems to be. But either way, people want to be around you. Their world looks better around you because your enthusiasm is contagious. Lacking your energy and optimism, some find their world drab with repetition or, worse, heavy with pressure. You seem to find a way to lighten their spirit. You inject drama into every project. You celebrate every achievement. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital. Some cynics may reject your energy, but you are rarely dragged down. Your Positivity won’t allow it. Somehow you can’t quite escape your conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, one must never lose one’s sense of humor.

WOO:

Woo stands for winning others over. You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build rapport. Some people shy away from starting up conversations because they worry about running out of things to say. You don’t. Not only are you rarely at a loss for words; you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection. Once that connection is made, you are quite happy to wrap it up and move on. There are new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet—lots of them.