Welcome back to my column, dear reader! You know that I’ve been covering end of life if you’ve read my latest submissions. It’s been a tough time. I have good news – this column is happier! This will be a complete send-up of my thought processes and subsequent actions (or lack thereof).

If you’ve ever met me in real life, it will come as no surprise that I am an extreme extrovert. In my case, the way I exhibit extroversion is beyond sometimes being loud; I’ve never met a stranger, and I have no problem walking into a room full of people I don’t know. I recharge by being around others.

I’m also very decisive. I like to see all my options, and then I quickly decide. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s well thought out, but at least you aren’t waiting around for me.

My friend and CVC Project Coordinator, Julie, is very similar to me in personality. She is a little bossier than I am, but she’s good at tempering around me since I’m supposed to be her supervisor. Anyway, we were recently talking about a mutual friend who has been planning to adopt a puppy with her boyfriend. This acquisition has been in the works for several months while they waited for the puppies to be born and then weaned. They just went to pick up the puppy and, astoundingly, were still negotiating a name for it. This was mind-blowing to Julie and me. If it’s up to us, we’ve either had a name in mind before the dog was even born, or we immediately decide on one within minutes of meeting the puppy. This whole concept of agonizing, analyzing, comparing, contrasting, and generally waffling on a decision is absolutely foreign to us.

When discussing this event, we both came to the same conclusion – our way is clearly better. It’s efficient and satisfying, and now we can move on. Look at all the time we’ve saved you by not dithering over decisions. It might also explain why my pets’ names are Dave, Ethel, Bob, and Lloyd. Obviously, ours is a superior thought process.

The other day, I was reading a column, and the writer talked about his tendency to put things off. Seeing a kindred spirit, I read on with empathy. He explained that much like personality types, there are also six procrastinator types, according to Verywell Mind. A Defier doesn’t believe someone else should dictate their time. Worriers put off tasks because they fear change or leaving the comfort of ‘the known.’ Crisis-makers don’t do things until the last minute because they like working under pressure. Overdoers take on too much and struggle to find enough time to start and finish tasks.

With my usual brilliant self-awareness, I can definitively say that I am a Crisis Maker, and mostly the crisis is my own. I try not to stomp on other people’s timelines. In my defense, I also claim that I usually work better and more creatively under pressure. So there.

I am also an Unfinisher. I made that one up, but it absolutely describes me, and I think it’s a kind of procrastination. I seldom completely finish tasks, especially if they become uninteresting or don’t have a deadline. My home is the perfect example of this. When we undertake a major project at home, once the big and flashy stuff is done (room painted, floor installed, light hung, etc.), the need for silly little things like baseboards being reinstalled, paint drips cleaned up, or curtain rods re-hung fades away. All those unfinished projects become invisible to me. It’s not until a guest comes to my house that I see all these uncompleted tasks through their eyes. It’s mortifying. Now that you know this about me and my home, I cannot invite you over. I’m terribly sorry; try not to take it personally.

I think it’s important to be aware of your personality traits because you can try and compensate for the less desirable ones. You can also surround yourself with people who complement your strengths (Julie) and those who are the opposite of you, even if they annoy you to no end. Their way is sometimes ok too. Not everyone appreciates a last-minute planner, a spontaneous decider, or the center of attention. And that’s why none of us is exactly the same.