Joe and I probably have two of the most opposite personalities I think I have ever seen. I find my place in the Lion/Beaver category and he fits perfectly into the Lion/Otter category. In other words, Joe is a visionary. He is creative, playful, energetic, motivated (in a business-minded way), and very dedicated to what he does. I, on the other hand, am an intellectual, very organized, structured, and focused, disciplined, and motivated (in a task-oriented way). As the saying goes, opposites attract, and maybe that’s why Joe and I were so attracted to each other in the first place. We each saw appealing qualities in the other person that we did not possess, but wanted in some form or another. Needless to say, our relationship has not been without our bumps in the road. I find that our opposite personalities are often the root of our arguments – we tend to see situations differently and envision biased solutions. However, one of the main reasons why I love Joe so much is because his unique personality traits are what makes him vastly different from me.
Take one good look at my Facebook page and you’ll see that Joe and I love to adventure. Whether we’re rock climbing, skydiving, snowboarding, cleaning out Joe’s closet, or out on a date, Joe and I have a perpetual urge to explore and learn all that we can, not only about the world around us but about each other. I grew up doing a lot of “outdoorsy” things like skiing, camping, going to the lake, etc., but it wasn’t until I started to spend time with Joe that my passion for travel, adventure, and the unknown came alive. People often tell me how awesome it is that I have the opportunity to do so much with my time. I constantly have friends asking me about my latest adventure or what I’ve got planned for the future. But the truth is that if I had never gotten to know Joe, I wouldn’t have done all that I have. He was the first person to take me rock climbing, and to this day we love to climb together. So many trades I have learned either from Joe or have been introduced to because of Joe.
I don’t know whether I would say I struggle with it or have an inherent predisposition to it, but I have always had a perfectionistic attitude. In some instances I greatly benefit from it – in school for example – and in others it often holds me back and causes me unneeded stress. I never had a traumatic experience growing up that “caused” me to be so anal, nor did my parents ever set unattainable expectations for me. Rather, most of my motivation comes purely from my inner self. I tend to set lofty goals, but I almost always achieve them and reap positive rewards for my hard work. Joe is motivated like me, but does not, I repeat, does not have a perfectionistic attitude. Far, far from it! He is more practical and forgiving, and tries to keep his overall goals in focus. Joe’s contagious attitude has taught me to not sweat the small stuff and to not expect so much of myself. I have learned that making mistakes are not always detrimental, for if we do not make mistakes, how do we learn from them?
I’m sure there are ways in which I have helped Joe’s growth as an individual, but I am forever grateful for the ways he has helped me to become the person that I am. The previous paragraphs only scratched the surface when it comes to what I have learned from Joe in the seven years that I’ve known him. I look forward to a lifetime full of adventure, learning, and growing with the one person who knows me best – my Joey
