Feedback Workshop, Vegetarianism

Hi,

So semi-recently we did a feedback workshop, where everyone in the group gave everyone else feedback, stating three positives, and one or two constructive points. We practiced how to give and receive feedback, so that nobody takes offense. Despite their being more positive points than constructive, I feel that the positive points, and the phrasing practice, were safety measures to make a workshop focused on criticism survivable, since we all mainly knew our strong points, since they aren't the ones people are afraid of speaking their minds on. It was intense, and lasted five and a half hours. Since I'm so well-liked in the group, I thought I was going to be let off easy, and people would give me a bunch of cop-out criticisms. But I actually got hit pretty hard. Want to hear my negative qualities? Okay, here's what people told me:

I overanalyse things, I lack initiative, I have power issues, I'm self-centred, I embellish stories, and I get away with things other's can't because of my charm.

YOW! That's harsh! I'm actually glad to have such honesty, and I've been working on these points for a couple weeks. I asked around about my improvement, and got positive feedback.

Want to hear my positive points? Here's what I got:

I'm funny, smart, specifically meaning I'm good at combining ideas and perspectives, and I'm introspective. I'm energetic, nerdy, I put people at ease, I'm the most open to try new things, I'm a genuinely good person, I have a positive attitude, I always keep my cool, I'm a good story teller, I'm honest, and I'm super-original.

There was also a very special one that I'm not going to share here.

Hey, how can I both embellish stories and be honest? Huh.

Recently, me and Pierre decided to take on a vegetarian challenge, where me and him don't eat meat until at least the end of Katimavik. I've learned a lot about vegetarianism, specifically that you're always hungry, tired, and people treat you like crap. Telling our work supervisors was tough, and I feel like there's some parallel to how it would feel if I were revealing something.... else.

"There's something I need to tell you about myself, and I know how you feel about people who follow this lifestyle, and that you don't approve, but I want you to know that this is a decision I made, and I'm still the same person. I know you know Pierre. He's a good person, and I know you've wondered about what kind of relationship we have... There's no easy way to say this... The truth is that the two of us are... vegetarians!"

Working at a farm for three days was tough, too. I was billeting with Devon, the original vegetarian, and she had already broken the news that she was a vegetarian, and when it came time for me to say it, I made it halfway and couldn't finish my sentence beyond a lot of awkward sentence fragments, and when she tried to intervene and say it, she couldn't bring herself to either, and told me to eat meat twice before the word finally got out. It's so much more awkward with me for some reason. They hosted a barbecue, and there were all these burly, bearded pig farmers, and here I am, standing in front of the line, all 6'3", 300 pounds, with a big bushy beard and fitting in perfect, in front of me is barcued steak, chicken, salmon, and pork, and I walk right by it all to get to the salad in front of everyone.

I did manage to flip it around by talking about how my manly love meat was so strong that being a vegetarian was the ultimate test of strength, and my refusal to go back on my word even when I could not be caught was a matter of pride and honour. That got them all being like, "YEAH! I could probably be a vegetarian! I'm tough!" and I was in the clear after that.

Okay, I gotta go now. Gotta fry up some fish. I'm the House Manager, and even though I'm vegetarian, I still need to prepare meat meals.