Hello, friend.
It’s the beginning of July. And this makes me happy. Why? Obviously because summer’s the best! Sunshine, sunscreen, weekend trips with friends, wine spritzers on the beach…
Oh, I’m just messing with you. That was a load of bullshit. Summer’s the worst and I’m so glad it’s halfway over. Autumn is coming, biiiitch.
But this does not mean I am not making the most of these hot and humid few months. What else is a woman to do? A couple of weeks ago, I vacationed in Florida, and I was shocked to realize that I could still get what passes for a tan! See, I’m one of those white girls with skin that has greenish/yellowish undertones, which makes it harder to tan. When I was a child, I could tan just fine. As I grew older, tanning became harder. I burn easily. I’ve got that sensitive, European skin. This means that I am not beach-material. The last time I tried to tan, I almost got sun poisoning. I’ve since learned my lesson. Gimme that sunhat and all the sunscreen!
Friend, you might be asking yourself what the meaning of this blurb’s title is. Wonder no longer!
Have you heard of the Enneagram test?
I’ve either lost you or hooked you. I do hope it is the latter.
The Enneagram is a type of personality test, much like the Myers-Briggs. While the Myers-Briggs offers an explanation of why we are who we are, the Enneagram answers the question of why we do what we do. Unlike the Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram keeps categorization to a minimum.
I was not introduced to the Enneagram until I reached my twenties. At first, I was wary. My naturally suspicious self figured the whole thing entirely pretentious. This, in itself, was a lesson: making baseless assumptions would not get me anywhere. My friends at the time encouraged me to take the test. I’ve never been a fan of putting one’s personality in a box, even if it’s wrapped in that pretty, vintage, brown paper. I am of the belief that we are all a kaleidoscope of color and complexity.
We’re human, after all. We cannot fit within the confines of a label.
Thus I, half-reluctantly, half-curiously, took the test.
My results?
Type 3 – “The Performer”. Or sometimes known as “The Achiever”.
I rolled my eyes.
The description I read was almost embarrassing.
Competitive. Ambitious. Goal-oriented. Work-a-holic.
I was getting “peacock” energy.
The unsexiest vibes.
I stayed far away for a solid few months. A personality test couldn’t tell me shit.
I was spontaneous and careless! I was sexy! No, I did not spend my spare time dreaming of future achievements! No, work did not take up most of my mental real estate (all lies, with the exception of sexy. Sexiness comes in all shapes and sizes and Enneagram types)!
Eventually, I came around. As I read a little more about the Enneagram Type 3, a different feeling washed over me.
Type 3’s can be dependable, inspirational, they can act as sparkling role models and admirable world-changers.
This was beginning to sound sexier.
Just like every Enneagram, Type 3’s have their weaknesses. Yeah, we can be a little impatient. Yes, we can come off strong-willed, arrogant, and maybe a little self-absorbed. But Type 3’s are the sturdiest motherfuckers. No, we’re not all Capricorns or Tauruses, but we are grounded as hell.
We persist until we see change. Nothing is a lost cause, not to us! We’re loyal, maybe even to a fault. We work towards betterment until it makes us bleed, and we aren’t afraid to fight for our aspirations.
I mean, is that really the worst thing in the world?
What’s fun and interesting is that I have a lot of Type 3 friends. I know that some Enneagram types don’t always mesh well with other types of their own, but I speak for myself when I say that Type 3’s are the shit! They (we?) can be so much fun! My Type 3 friends not only make me feel seen and understood, but they make fabulous storytellers, enthusiastic support systems, and incredible inspirations!
It took admiring The Performers in my life for me to truly appreciate where I fell on the Enneagram spectrum.
Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to share the same attributes that adorn legends such as Barbara Streisand, Taylor Swift, Tina Fey, Oprah Winfrey, etc.?
No, we might not exactly always ooze sex appeal (shoutout to the 7’s and 4’s I’ve dated, y’all are just so hot), but that doesn’t take away from the unique place that Performers hold at the Enneagram table.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some stars to reach for.
Peace out (peacock style)!