Who Is Akemi? Do I Know Myself?
September 14, 2008 by Akemi
I believe we are clueless about ourselves.
So when my fellow blogger, the bold business advisor Cath Lawson, called me “bold” in the comments of this post, I had no reason to be surprised. I’m bold? Because I came to the US by myself? Because I landed Mr. ProBlogger for my interview? Oh. I didn’t know I was but I guess I’m bold accidentally.
(Photo by withrow)
So here is my further self-exploration. Feel free to point out, “Hey, I don’t see you that way, Akemi!”
I am: shy. Child-level shy. And ambitious. Curious. A bit lazy with things I don’t like doing, like vacuuming.
I think: (secretly) I’m wonderful. (Oh, God, did I say that? Next!)
I know: what you were doing in your past life. Just kidding ^_^
I have: . . . (if you must know) . . . a teddy bear.
I wish: I were taller. (I stand impressive 5’1″)
I was: an ugly duckling. Seriously, I thought I was ugly when I was in Japan.
I wanted to become: a baker.
I hate: Loud music. Trashy foods. Rude people.
I miss: Ohio. It’s like my hometown in the US. (I lived there for ten years.)
I crave: Strawberries and blackberries. (NOT the electronic gadget)
I search: Hmm . . . a handsome, intelligent, kind single man.
I wonder: What the end of the Universe is like. And the higher dimensions of the Universe.
I regret: I’m conveniently forgetful about my regrets. Oh, but I wish I were kinder when I was younger.
I love: the trees and flowers. Fine arts. (Love Picasso, Modigliani, O’Keeffe, Frankenthalor. . . to name a few) Potteries. Antique furniture. The ocean. The sky.
I am not: American. I’m international, with pride.
I believe: We are all, always, connected. And I can be a successful entrepreneur while helping people.
I dance: I have my own dance that I do when I’m alone, like when I’m cooking or getting ready for shower. It’s so silly and that is why I love it. But I don’t think I’d be posting YouTube video of me doing it.
I sing: I often sing in the car. When I’m in good mood, I try the air of the queen of the night in Magic Flute, but I can never get to the highest part.
I fight: I don’t. It would be totally stupid of me to raise fight. I don’t think I even ever won in hand wrestling.
I confuse: people.
I listen: Mozart. So beautiful, it occasionally makes me almost cry.
I can: write mirror letters like Da Vince did.
I am scared: of car wash. Yes, those car wash that I have to drive in, get on the rail, and then the rail carries me and my car through the auto wash. I’m scared because I’m a horrible driver and I don’t think I got on the rail straight. I’m scared maybe I’d get stuck in the middle of car wash. . .
I need: a handyman. Too much work left undone just because . . . I can’t do it. Maybe he can hand wash my car, too.
I am happy: when I take a hot bath and then snuggle into the clean crisp sheets.
I imagine: what it’s like to live on a cruiser and travel the world.
I tag: you. Bare your soul with this writing exercise.
No related posts.
Akemi, what a lovely, lovely post! Right from the beginning, where you state, I am shy, child-level shy, you had me smiling with delight from start to finish
What a sweet and lovely soul you are!
Christopher
Okay, okay, here it is:
I am passionate about life.
I think deep, dark thoughts.
I know what you’re thinking.
I have what I need.
I wish peace for everyone.
I was a good boy once (no longer).
I wanted to become a theoretical physicist.
I hate those who presume to know what’s best for me.
I miss someone dear to my heart, who left me after she told me she was married with two children.
I crave intimacy.
I search for nothing (no, not even that).
I wonder what it would be like to look at the earth from the moon.
I regret … hmmm … next …
I love to lose myself in wide open expanses: fields, oceans, and skies.
I am not who you think I am.
I believe we’re here for a reason.
I dance to the beat of my own drum.
I sing from the depths of my heart.
I fight the good fight for truth, justice, and liberty.
I confuse myself with too many instructions.
I listen to the stars at night.
I can do whatever I please. Not.
I am scared of women who don’t understand men.
I need a woman who knows her own mind.
I am happy when others give me the benefit of the doubt.
I imagine a world of peace and harmony.
Christopher,
Brilliant!!
I wonder . . . if there could be a woman who understand men . . . or a man who could understand women . . . I mean, men are still mystery to me after so many years.
Here is one thing I almost wrote in my post.
I wonder: why men have to grow hair on their face. That has to be one of the big mystery of human evolution. I wonder what Darwin has to say about it. Do men need to have the hair and shave every morning? Hmm. . .
(As you know, I’m taking a lighthearted approach . . .)
Akemi, I can definitely relate to the car wash fear. When I was a kid I was terrified of them!
And I dream of living on a cruiser and travelling the world too. Cue me staring into space with a dreamy smile on my face…
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..Bloggers Unite for Darfur and Launch TrainforHumanity.org
Akemi, I very much agree with you about keeping the essential mystery alive between men and women. I would expect only a basic understanding between them, the kind of understanding that allows them both to work and play well together.
As for the proclivities of hairy men, well … I like clean-shaven myself!
Christopher
Hi Akemi,
Maybe your handyman will also be “a handsome, intelligent, kind single man”. How great would that be?
Thanks for sharing a little more about you.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..How To Get Your Blog Blacklisted
Lovely post, Akemi – wonderful to get to know you a bit more!
So I see I’m finally taller than someone… I’m 5’3″
And I can also write mirrored letters (I can write pretty much as fast backwards as I can forwards!)
Mags | Woo-Woo Wisdoms last blog post..The Magnet Conundrum: Polarity And Flow
Akemi, this is delightful! You have GOT to post that dance on YouTube. I promise I’ll vote for it.
Irene | Light Beckonss last blog post..Epiphanies From Freaking Out
Kelly,
I will stop by as I cruise the world. I like Australia. Did I tell you I lived in Sydney for a year?
Chris,
Yes, keep shaving until our physical evolution will take care of it!
Barbara,
I knew someone was going to say that . . .
You are welcome
Mags,
Yeah, writing mirror letters isn’t that hard once you get the hang of it, right? I can write upside down alphabets too. I just flip the letters in my mind and write it as I see it.
Irene,
If you thought of a lot of butt shaking, you may be right . . .
You silly girls
It took me a long time since I read Cath’s post until I got the guts to write this. And I had to coax my teddy bear to be a part of it (He is even more shy than I am)
Now consider yourself tagged . . . Kelly, Barbara, Mags, Irene!
Hi Akemi – thanks for doing this meme. I read it last night but it was nearly bedtime and I was too sleepy to comment.
I’m scared of car washes like you – I worry that the window will crack and I’ll drown. What is mirror reading?
Sorry for two comments – I forgot to say thank you for the link and tried to stop it before it went through.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Inspiring And Interesting Happenings
Cath,
I was going to call you biscuit-obsessed skinny dipping business adviser . . .
I didn’t know car wash was causing so much fear across the globe! We need to do something about it!!
Da Vinci wrote letters backwards so that people wouldn’t not read his memo. It’s about writing letters in a way that shows up right when you reflect them in a mirror. Like writing R in Toy-R-us logo.
LOL – That would have been a good title Akemi. It’s good that you can write backwards – especially as English is not even your first language. I would get into a real muddle trying to do that.
You are taller than me! – I’m only 5ft and half an inch!! But I kind of enjoy being little…
Cath,
Hope you are doing well with your attempt to write mirror letters — join the circle of Da Vinci.
Anna,
Are you!? I’ve only seen you in the head shot, I couldn’t tell. I love petite women — we are cute and spicy.
Akemi,
I love your blog! Thank you for commenting on mine. I have decided to follow your exercise, so here it goes…
I am: comfortable in social situations…
I think: all the time…
I know: I can change my life for the better…
I have: the BEST kids…
I wish: I had realized the downward spiral I was in…
I was: very popular in school…
I wanted to become: famous…
I hate: racism…
I miss: my wife and children…
I crave: my wife…
I search: for answers to past problems too much…
I wonder: how much I will evolve…
I regret: taking things for granted…
I love: Sephanie and my kids…
I am not: arrogant, although my confidence is often misunderstood…
I believe: in the goodness of people…
I dance: terribly…
I sing: maybe worse…
I fight: my emotions and insecurities…
I confuse: many people…
I listen: now that I have learned how to listen…
I can: do anything given the chance…
I am scared: that I won’t be given the chance in my marriage…
I need: to be loved…
I am happy: when I am with my children…
I imagine: the day I return home…
Brians last blog post..Changes galore…
Brian,
Welcome.
You could post this on your own blog! It’s sweet. And don’t worry if your dancing and singing are good enough . . . enjoy ^_^
Akemi,
You obviously don’t understand just how bad of a singer and dancer I am!
Brians last blog post..Changes galore…
Brian,
No, I don’t know, but I’m curious ^_^
Never!!!!
[...] really – Akemi is not such a horrible person. Just a bit ding-dong (or whatever you call). I’m grateful for [...]