This past weekend our family visited Gentry Farm, as is our tradition. One of my favorite pictures I took while we were there is of you holding a pumpkin.
Once we got back to the house, I asked you what your favorite part of our visit was, and you said it was when you got to pick out a pumpkin.
You are the perfect picture of what autumn is me:
Getting to enjoy the beautiful colors outside with our family, after the mosquitos have all disappeared and before the bitter winter wind starts blowing.
As you are now only a few weeks away from your 12th birthday, I am definitely seeing signs of your maturing on an emotional level; more than ever before.
You are better embracing your role as protector and mentor, as an older brother; as opposed to seeing your sister as a threat to attention on you.
I can relate. I have grown this year as well.
I feel that this year for me has been the greatest amount of personal growth I have ever experienced; as I have learned who I actually am from an Enneagram perspective.
Similarly, I understand you better as well. And I think that, in turn, as helped you in your role as an older brother.
Your number one “collectible commodity” these days is Nike shoes. When our family went on vacation last week for Fall Break, you insisted we stop by the Nike outlet near Dollywood.
You found a pair of Air Flight’s for $30. It was quite a win.
When we got back home, you had the creative idea to use your Nike shoeboxes to build a shelf for your Nike shoes.
I imagine that in a few months, between your upcoming birthday and Christmas, you’ll get at least one more pair.
Therefore, I am expecting at least a triple “parking garage” for your Nike’s!
This past Saturday morning, I took you to a trial class for cheerleading. You decided this year you didn’t want to further pursue dance or gymnastics; despite how good you are at both!
Mommy got an email letting us know there was a recent opening in the cheerleading class, so I took you there to see what you thought of it.
The answer: You completely loved it.
Especially the part about you being the smallest girl there, which meant they practiced on you as the one to lift up into the air.
I hope you decide to pursue cheerleading classes. I saw that you clearly are a natural at it!
Scattered throughout the dozens of original songs I’ve released on my YouTube channel, you will find my version of a “love song” every once in a while.
I’ve noticed that with other male Enneagram 6 songwriters like Bruce Springsteen (“Secret Garden”) and Tom Petty (“Here Comes My Girl”), when they write a “love song”, it comes out sounding more like a song about overcoming obstacles to “earn” that love. Ultimately, it’s the concept that the man is alone and lost until he finally finds the girl.
Throughout my versions of love songs, this is often the case with me as well. The “romance” is much more subtle than in a pop song.
Some interesting trivia about this song is that it was intended to be a duet that my wife and I were to perform together. I give her half the credit for writing it with me.
However, she felt that song sounded too sad for her likings. It therefore became a solo song instead of a duet:
If I didn’t have a girl to impress, I’d be living in a van down by the river – I’d be lost and lonely if nothing else – I’d always know there was something missing – If I didn’t have a hold of your hand – I’d be out at sea, turned around and stranded – I’d be lost and lonely if nothing else – I’d always know there was something missing – So tell me what’s the point in even living – You can’t write a story when there’s no beginning – And tell me who I am if it’s not you next to me – I’d always know there was something missing and it’s you next to me – If I didn’t ask you to marry me, you’d always be the one who got away – You never stopped being out of my league – I still feel the need to impress you everyday – If I didn’t take a chance on your love – I would have went and gone and messed the whole thing up – You never let go of my hand – Now here we are, look at all we have
So looking back on this song I wrote over 2 years ago, can you see how I am a loyalist and a skeptic? Can you see my longing for security and confirmation of my own existence; which shows my true Enneagram is actually a 6?
Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
And now you can listen to the song, below, if you wish:
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