[pyrogen]

Hi folks.

Question for ya -

How can I stay confident when I have quirks that others are always pointing out to me?

I have an odd learning style, I am forgetful, and I have quirks that make me seem "ditzy" to a lot of people.

I would make a really good sitcom character - the minefield I navigate every day... even just getting into the car I'm likely to drop things, and opening my handbag, usually results in same handbag being dropped and things spilling out. I make people laugh, both with my sense of humor and with the fact that they laugh AT me! I deal with it by laughing at myself and having self-deprecating humor but the thing is, eventually "why are you ___ nobody else does that" wears on me.

I'm ok at athletic pursuits, go figure, it's in everyday life that I'm clumsy and awkward! I'm smart in school, it's trying to do everyday things that's a problem.

People usually comment things like, "That's strange", "That's really weird, nobody else does that, what's your problem". I come away feeling bad about myself, feeling dumb, et cetera.

These are unimportant quirks. They are things like, I work as a caregiver andＩget the "order" in which tasks are done, mixed up between my different clients. My clients always point out how odd this is. My partner gets frustrated with me when I am trying to help him with household repair, I seem to always mess up the instructions.

Also, in class when I ask questions, I get looked at like I'm stupid, and teachers tell me I ask stupid questions. Obviously I'm not a dummy because I'm an A/B student in these same classes.

I seem to have issues with skills on a practical level (having to do "practical" type tasks) but have been a wizard at brain-oriented jobs I've had. I'm also good when I have to take over a project and delegate stuff, be a leader, et cetera. And I do well at "smart" tasks that involve analysis.

Where I constantly get pointed out, is in everyday practical type of tasks. I tend to skip steps or miss things, or get things mixed up. It's not even important - life isn't going to rise and fall based on whether or not I am good at parallel parking or whether or not I remember Client A is dressed arms first and Client B is dressed head first.

The problem is, how do I stay confident about myself when people always point out my quirks?

How can I keep positively affirming myself when I get negative affirmations from other people all the time?