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If I were to describe my family I would start by dividing us up into two groups, “the doers” and “the thinkers”. Two equally fascinating but different creatures.
The Doers
This group moves a lot. You’ll only see them still if they’re sleeping or they’re baffled by one of “the thinkers” and trying to figure out what to do about it.
These “doers” are all about getting stuff done, “Can I get you something?” “Can I help you with that?” If the answer to these questions is “No”, they will keep asking you questions until they figure out their next project. They don’t even realize they’re doing it.
They are project oriented and need constant forward motion. They make the world move. They create. They implement. They are fundamental.
The Thinkers
Meanwhile, “the thinkers” have had enough of “the doers”. They love “the doers” but what they really want is peace and this is anathema to “a doer”. So, “the thinker” has to either figure out a way to get “the doer” to calm down (not going to happen) or find a project for them.
This is tricky since “the thinker” is mainly interested in non project based thinking. “The thinker” wants to live in a world of ‘what if’s’ and ‘I wonder’s’. Finding something to occupy “the doer” is work.
“The thinker” contemplates the world, sits and ruminates, comes up with ideas, studies concepts, has lightbulb moments.
Every once in a while there is a perfect collision of “doer” and “thinker” and magic happens. Because both are vital to the world. Innovation working together with implementation, beautiful.
When it isn’t working, it is chaos, and it is hilarious, and it is my family every day. And it is still beautiful. Because as I write this I am remembering this week and all that I have seen.
My mother doing laps around our backyard because she “had to get her 10,000 steps in for the day”. My daughter baking cookies and playing soccer and painting a picture, all in the same day. My husband, doing clay work, cleaning the garage, painting shelves, working on his Jeep, all on the same day. These three are “the doers” of our family. They never stop. They play hard, work hard, love hard.
Then there is my son, programming code for hours, reading book after book, practicing piano, poking his head up occasionally to ask a question or make a comment on the world at large. My dad, who works on his laptop, makes a witty remark, discusses world affairs and then goes back to his own thought. Me, well, the books, the writing, work, my family, my head. Yeah, we’re more “the thinker” group.
There’s no denying the differences in this bunch. I love every single bit of it.
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