(my endless task, in the golden light of dusk last week)
Once in a while I like to share pieces of loveliness that I’ve found out here in the wild and wonderful ether, as well as small things that are on my mind.
I’m hugely honored to be featured in Amy Kessel’s glorious Unfurling series. All of her interviews are wonderful, so I encourage you to click through and read them all! What a privilege to be among these brilliant, wise women.
Hilary reminds us that life is always now or never.
Bindu explores how each of us finds our own ways of taking refuge.
Roxane’s beautiful love letter to Jerusalem, a city I am pleased I can now imagine first-hand.
I tweeted recently that I am a Myers-Briggs INFJ. I’ve never met another one in real life. I was initially startled, and then not at all, when several of my very favorite on-line friends responded that they too were INFJs. Freed of the constraints of real life and geographic location, it makes total sense to me that I’d gravitate towards truly kindred spirits.
A friend recently lent me the third issue of Kinfolk. I’m absolutely smitten.
I’m also working my way through a stack of Wendell Berry’s works. I have long loved his poems (here, here, here) but recently felt pulled to read much more of his writing: essays, fiction, poetry.
What is on your mind these days? Any wonderful links to share? And what is your Myers-Briggs type, if you know it?
That’s funny. I am borderline ENFJ and INFJ, answering about half the questions as an introvert and half as an extrovert, but with one more in the extrovert category. Perhaps I understand better now why so many of your posts resonate with me, even though our day-to-day lives are so different. Thanks L.
I was going to tell you that according to some (http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ.html) it’s the rarest of all types, though I’ve heard INFJs are much more common in Japanese culture, which is interesting…
I can’t believe you’ve never met another in real life. We are such lovely folks, you really should seek someone out in the flesh!
INFJ, last I checked 🙂
I’m an INFJ and you’ve met me (although we never really knew each other at school). So there you go! I honestly don’t know if i’ve met many other INFJs as I don’t know most of my friends’ personality types… Hmmm, interesting to think about.
I tested as an ENTP well before I had kids. Even then I was a borderline E/I, and I suspect as I have aged, I would probably be a firm “I”. I was also a borderline T/F too. Thats probably still accurate. I have been so busy, as May demands, but have been thinking about several of your posts…… hope all is well.
Huh. I’m an INFJ, too.
I was going to tell you to pick up Anna Quindlin’s book, but low and behold you’ve read it already according to your comment 🙂 Too funny!
Also, I just subscribed to Kinfolk. Seriously. Like yesterday.
I keep meaning to ask… coffee or tea soon’ish? I know this time of year is crazy, but it’s been… a year? More?
I too am an INFJ – no wonder your work and viewpoints resonate. Supposedly we’re a rare breed.
ENFJ. When I worked as a career counselor I discovered that some of my very favorite clients were INFJs — a rare type indeed (1-2% of the population — same goes for ENFJs).
This has been on my mind since I read it recently….and it also reminds me of you:
“When I meet new people, I search for their central defining narrative: a life-transforming event; a driving passion; a trauma; a rope-tight tie to a person, place, or idea; a vocation; a hope or a terrible fear — whatever it is that pulses within them and forms their life into its particular shape.”
–Tarn Wilson, “Faithful Over a Few Things”, The Sun, May 2012
P.S. I’m pretty sure I’m an INFJ too, although it’s been years since I took the test.
INFP. So close–just that one letter 🙂
My Myers-Briggs type, ISTJ, is actually very much on my mind these days. I have been reading endlessly about it, and have even written about it here: http://samanthabmerel.blogspot.com/2012/05/quietly.html.
The exploration of my type, particularly the “I” has been a source of amazing discovery for me lately.
Okay – totally weird – I am also IMFJ. Wow.
Oops type – INFJ
I love being the same M-B type as you! xoxo
INFJ, and a Highly Sensitive Person (here’s a really good recent article about that one in Psychology Today: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201107/sense-and-sensitivity). I am currently loving this show: http://www.theconversation.tv/show/, makes me feel happy to be a woman, hopeful and powerful. And this is really fun, the Radio Time Machine: http://radiotimemachine.herokuapp.com/
ENTJ, last time I checked. Although, I do have a lot of “I” moments.
I am an INFP like Heather.
Recently I have been thinking about moving to a new place. Another part of the world again. Or maybe home to New Zealand to buy a house by the sea and walk barefoot every morning on the beach.
I do love Wendell Berry’s poetry. The line “I rest in the grace of the world, and am free” is often what I whisper to myself as a mantra when all roads seem to be leading me to crazytown. Those words always bring me right back to where I need to be.
I am a big fan of Kinfolk too and have both paper and ipad versions. I often pop one in my bag, or read it on my ipad if i’m taking a train journey somewhere. If you want another great read, try Dumbo Feather (http://dumbofeather.com)
x
Perhaps my favorite use of the Myers-Brigg test is to see how my personality has changed over time. Right after college in the US, prior to my field work in conflict and post-conflict areas, prior to being moved or moving or feeling alive, I was ENTJ. I am now ENFP — a grateful ENFP for your sharing the Jerusalem love letter.
Reading about your business school experience (on poets & quants) brought me here to your blog. I am presently applying for business schools and I wanted to know the not-so-sunny-bits. I wanted to read a piece where someone discussed if they were disappointed and the reasons why. So thank you, for your candid narrative of your experience.
(I am an INFP).