I Am Nothing…

Welcome to the first of four #withlovefridays posts! I’m co-hosting this linkup with 4 other awesome ladies: Kristie, Lisa, Krystal & Georgina! If you’ve got a post that has anything to do with love (family, friends, significant others, spouses, pets, fandoms…), feel free to come link up with us for the 4 Fridays in February!

Yes, you can even love lamps. (<3 Anchorman)

First off, I’m aware that “I am nothing” sounds somewhat dire and negative. Should you even be listening to me talk about love?

Well, it’s not what you think! :O

Earlier this week, I asked my dean if she’d mind glancing at my CV (which I’d picked apart and revised at 3 a.m. that morning whilst soul-searching with my friend as he worked on his).

I wasn’t sure about what I should or shouldn’t include, and just wanted general feedback on what to focus on and whether my explanations were sufficient.

(If you’ve ever seen my monstrosity of a CV, you would see why this was extremely necessary.)

An extremely accurate self-portrait + depiction of how I was feeling on the inside.

Part of it is because I feel like my actions should speak for themselves. I’ve always responded more to someone’s actions more so than their words, so I operate the same way. When I was growing up, my family’s values included humility, and a good work ethic. One of my mom’s favorite sayings to me (even now) is something her dad used to tell her:

If it doesn’t come easily to you, practice until it does. If they only need to do it once, but you need to do it ten times…do it a hundred times. Keep working on it, and you will get there. Just don’t give up, and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

For better or worse, I’ve never been good at “selling myself,” so to speak, because I feel like I’m being arrogant when/if I do. But talking yourself up is somewhat of a necessity in the professional world (e.g. job interviews), because if you don’t let them know what you bring to the table, how else are they going to find out?

Whilst reading through my CV, she stopped every here and there, laughing at some points, raising her eyebrows at others, and commenting throughout, and this is what she said when she was done!

“Farrah…wow. This is very impressive. You’ve done so many things, and they’re all so different. I never would’ve guessed some of them, but I guess this is where I find out about all your hidden talents! I’m really impressed.”

She went on to tell me that all the things that I’ve done really do round off my application very well, and the activities, leadership positions, and volunteering I’ve done are all things that FM residency program directors love to see. (She happens to be one, so this made me pretty ecstatic.)

If you’ve ever been like me in the sense that you don’t like to draw attention to your positive traits, I’d like you to go through this exercise with me!

I am nothing if not _____________.

What are the characteristics and qualities that define you? What are you most proud of?

Celebrate the traits that make you amazing! :] I’ll start with mine:

• I am nothing if not well-rounded.
• I am nothing if not passionate.
• I am nothing if not consistent.
• I am nothing if not persistent.
• I am nothing if not caring.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.kristiesbluejeans.blogspot.com" title="Kristie's Blue Jeans"><img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/kristaketter/LOVE2.jpg" alt="Kristie's Blue Jeans" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Want to learn more about the With Love Fridays co-hosts? Follow us on social media!

• Kristie: blog | facebook | instagram | twitter | pinterest | bloglovin’
• Farrah: blog | instagram | twitter | pinterest | bloglovin’
• Lisa: blog | facebook | instagram | twitter | pinterest
• Krystal: blog | facebook | instagram | twitter | pinterest | bloglovin’
• Georgina: blog | facebook | twitter | pinterest