[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

[Gossamer]

. Response I love your Draft Crosses, Traverse. I have one of those tall elegant carriage type Belgians (not the short legged wide load kind) that is the love of my life so I have a really special place in my heart for drafts. I think your two would be amazing crosses. I honestly haven't met a Percheron I haven't instantly loved. So I'm glad they take after their parents without their mother's aggression. I've always been quick to judge. You'll have to tell me what you do with your horses one of these days. I ride and drive my draft both. I can post up some pics here one of these days if people want to see me doing both. .

[Gossamer]

. Passions It isn't exactly always what you think it is. It's so much more. Life isn’t about impressing anyone other than yourself. Someday it is my greatest hope that everyone everywhere is all going to wake up and realize this. If you live to impress others, you are only living for them and not yourself. We each have different values and motivations. Every one of us has needs that ultimately may or may not match up to the needs of those around us. Sure there are basic needs that everyone shares, things like food, shelter, and socialization. But the truth is that life goes far beyond that. When you have enough to eat, when you have an income that supports you, and when you get to a place you suddenly feel a bit of comfort, then other things become important. Deeper things like passion. Passion is an absolutely amazing concept that goes so far beyond a deep rooted emotion. Passion is where possibility is unveiled. By embracing your passion, your potential is released. The strong get stronger, life gets more intense, and beauty becomes breathless. Passion is where the joy becomes more joyous. Everyone should get a chance to be there, fully enjoying life lived with passion. It is a fulfilling and satisfying place to be. When you are passionate about something, you know what you love and you end up doing what you love, not living in the shadows of others needs and wants. Passion makes us work, really work. We get smarter, more intense, and are willing to go an extra mile or ten thousand because we’ve found the place we love to be and the work we love to do. Passion is where the term labor of love comes in. Mizahar is just one of my passions. But it is a big passion. So I make no excuse for it and instead embrace it wholeheartedly and unashamedly. I hope you have passions in your life that you do the same with. .

[Gossamer]

. Personality Test Yes, yes... another round of these. People have done these here before, but I think I'll finally post this one so I don't forget it. One great thing about the Briggs' Meyer's test is that its fairly straight forward scientifically and almost everyone I know that has taken it thinks its freakishly accurate. The problem is if you study it, you can't actually answer the questions without being unbaised because you know what the questions will indicate and what the answers will trigger. It can be found here: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp INTJ Introvert(67%) iNtuitive(69%) iNtuitive Thinking(12%) Judging(11%) You have distinctive preference of Introversion over Extraversion (67%) You have distinctive preference of Intuition over Sensing (69%) You have slight preference of Thinking over Feeling (12%) You have slight preference of Judging over Perceiving (11%) I'm a Mastermind. Go figure. I know I am the same type as several of my friends (new and old) here. I went ahead and looked up more on the INTJ types and found a few articles. INTJ personality Found here: http://www.16personalities.com/intj-personality The INTJ personality type is one of the rarest and most interesting types – comprising only about 2% of the U.S. population (INTJ females are especially rare – just 0.8%), INTJs are often seen as highly intelligent and perplexingly mysterious. INTJ personalities radiate the aura of intuition and self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes confused with simple arrogance by less insightful personalities, has a very specific nature – it stems from a huge archive of knowledge spanning many different topics and areas. INTJs usually begin to develop that knowledge in early childhood (the “bookworm” nickname is quite common among INTJs) and keep on doing that later on in life. When someone with the INTJ personality has mastered their chosen area of knowledge (INTJs can find their strengths in several fields), they can quickly and honestly say whether they know the answer to a specific question. INTJs know what they know and more importantly – they are confident in that knowledge. Unsurprisingly, this personality type can be labelled as the most independent of all types. INTJs are very decisive, original and insightful – these traits push other people to accept the INTJ’s ideas simply because of that sheer willpower and self-confidence. However, INTJ personalities do not seek nor enjoy the spotlight and may often decide to keep their opinions to themselves if the topic of discussion does not interest them that much. INTJ personalities are perfectionists and they enjoy improving ideas and systems they come in contact with. As INTJs are naturally curious, this tends to happen quite frequently. However, they always try to remain in the rational territory no matter how attractive the end goal is – every idea that is generated by the INTJ’s mind or reaches it from the outside needs to pass the cold-blooded filter called “Is this going to work?”. This is the INTJ’s coping mechanism and they are notorious for applying it everywhere. INTJ personalities question everything, from their own conclusions to social rules and behaviours. This results in an unusual independence of mind, liberating INTJ personalities from social expectations, sentiments and psychological restrictions. INTJ personalities also have an unusual combination of both decisiveness and vivid imagination. What this means in practice is that they can both design a brilliant plan and execute it. Imagine a giant chess board where the pieces are constantly moving, trying out new tactics, always directed by an unseen hand – this is what the INTJ’s imagination is like. An INTJ would assess all possible situations, calculate strategic and tactical moves, and more often than not develop a contingency plan or two as well. If someone with the INTJ personality type starts working with a new system, they will regard the task as a moral obligation, merging their perfectionism and drive into one formidable force. In the name of the project, an INTJ will spare neither himself nor others. Anyone who does not have enough talent, including the higher ranks of management, will immediately and likely permanently lose their respect. INTJ personalities are also prone to shoulder the burden of making important decisions without consulting their peers. On the other hand, INTJs are scrupulously honest, when it comes to assessing each person’s contribution to the project and they have the gift of seeing various opportunities where others cannot. People with the INTJ personality type are naturally great leaders and excellent strategists, but they willingly give way to others vying for a leadership position, usually people with extravert personalities (E personality type). However, such action can be deceptive and maybe even calculated. An INTJ will retreat into the shadows behind the curtain, maintaining their grip on the most important decisions – but as soon as the leader fails and there is a need to take the steering wheel, the INTJ will not hesitate to act, maybe even while staying in the background. The INTJ personality is the ultimate “Man behind the curtain”. INTJs dislike rules and artificial limitations – everything should be questionable and open to re-evaluation. They may be idealists (impossible is nothing) and cynics (everybody lies) at the same time. Whatever the circumstances, you can always rely on the INTJ to “fill in” the gaps in the idea – they are most likely to come up with an unorthodox solution. INTJ personalities take pleasure in devising unique solutions to difficult problems. Generally speaking, INTJs usually prefer to work in the area they know very well. Their typical career is related to science or engineering, but they can be found anywhere where there is a need of intelligence, restless mind and insight (law, investigations, some academic fields). INTJ personalities rarely seek managerial positions – if they do, this is probably because they need more power and freedom of action, not because they enjoy managing people. Every personality type has many weak spots and INTJs are not an exception. There is one area where their brilliant mind often becomes completely useless and may even hinder their efforts – INTJs find it very difficult to handle romantic relationships, especially in their earliest stages. People with this personality type are more than capable of loving and taking care of the people close to them, but they are likely to be completely clueless when it comes to attracting a partner. The main reason behind this is that INTJ personalities are both private and incredibly rational – they find it very difficult to understand the complex social rituals that are considered part of the dating game, especially in Western societies. Things like flirting or small talk are unnatural to them; furthermore, INTJs (especially females) tend to see typical attraction tactics (such as feigning disinterest) as incredibly stupid and irrational. Ironically, INTJs are most likely to attract a partner when they stop looking for them – this is when their self-confidence starts shining again. There are few things that are more attractive than the unrelenting self-confidence that INTJs are known for. Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging by Marina Margaret Heiss Found here: http://typelogic.com/ To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know. INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake. INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice. In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality. Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations. This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness. Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications. Functional Analysis by Joe Butt Introverted iNtuition INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?!" Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors' amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems. Extraverted Thinking Thinking in this auxiliary role is a workhorse. Closure is the payoff for efforts expended. Evaluation begs diagnosis; product drives process. As they come to light, Thinking tends, protects, affirms and directs iNtuition's offspring, fully equipping them for fulfilling and useful lives. A faithful pedagogue, Thinking argues not so much on its own behalf, but in defense of its charges. And through this process these impressionable ideas take on the likeness of their master. Introverted Feeling Feeling has a modest inner room, two doors down from the Most Imminent iNtuition. It doesn't get out much, but lends its influence on behalf of causes which are Good and Worthy and Humane. We may catch a glimpse of it in the unspoken attitude of good will, or the gracious smile or nod. Some question the existence of Feeling in this type, yet its unseen balance to Thinking is a cardinal dimension in the full measure of the INTJ's soul. Extraverted Sensing Sensing serves with a good will, or not at all. As other inferior functions, it has only a rudimentary awareness of context, amount or degree. Thus INTJs sweat the details or, at times, omit them. "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts" could well have been said by an INTJ on a mission. Sensing's extraverted attitude is evident in this type's bent to savor sensations rather than to merely categorize them. Indiscretions of indulgence are likely an expression of the unconscious vengeance of the inferior. .

[Gossamer]

. Strengths And Weaknesses of an INTJ This one was worth a separate post. I found these particularly interesting and somewhat true. Strengths in particular hit home because I do feel that criticism doesn't bother me one bit and I rarely care what other people think - just what I think - of myself. Arguing with me is absolutely virtually pointless, and I know it, even though I try to be open to new things. The problem is once I've made up my mind, its made up and that's it. Someone I think is an idiot once accused me of throwing people away when I got tired of them, but the truth is I get rid of people in my life I am close to when they start being a CONSTANT drain on me. Why let someone do that to you, right? The only thing I can argue with is that when we feel we are right, INTJ's almost always are because we've done our homework and know what we are talking about. So is that a weakness? Maybe, but I'm quick to apologize when I am wrong and give credit to the person that is right. However, it happens so rarely (ask my husband!) that its not something I have to do enough to be bothered by it. The fun thing about being an INTJ is that while the rest of my buddies were talking about their personality types on AIM this morning, I was looking up their strengths and weaknesses and seeing if I could make the list myself before some expert did and how close I came. I was pretty darn close! On another note, its scary to think we all fit into 16 categories. Strengths And Weaknesses of INTJ's Reposted from: http://www.16personalities.com/intj-strengths-and-weaknesses INTJ strengths mostly revolve around their intelligence, determination and confidence. However, it is also important to note that each strength can easily become a weakness if the INTJ is not careful. INTJ weaknesses, on the other hand, mostly focus on their lower emotional sensitivity and a sense of intellectual superiority. If you are an INTJ, you are probably thinking that there is nothing negative about these “weaknesses” – however, they should be recognized and addressed because the INTJ personality tends to be quite “black and white”, which is not always beneficial. INTJ strengths: Immune to conflict, criticism and emotional manipulation Confident in their abilities and knowledge Very strong drive and determination Serious attitude towards relationships and responsibilities Excellent ability to listen Usually very talented and insightful Able to swiftly terminate the relationship when necessary (INTJ will devote a lot of time to analysing the situation before and after) Desire to constantly improve relations INTJ weaknesses: Poor understanding of emotions – INTJ can sometimes be insensitive Preferred reaction to any conflict – cold logic and rationality rather than the emotional support, which may be more desirable Tendency to believe that they are always right Unwillingness or inability to accept blame Constant urge to improve everything could complicate relations Tendency to be fixated about the privacy and personal space .

[Tarot]

I already knew those articles, and it always scares me how perfectly the INTJ description fits me. Great minds think alike.

[Accolade]

OMG OMG..It's "the" box!!!

[Gossamer]

. Divine Connections And Gossamer's very first Mizahar webcam video. .

[Phoenix]

*CHEERS!!*

[Evalin]

I knew it! I knew you wore glasses!

[Accolade]

RAWR RAWR! Super cool!