The handwriting is on the wall

My 16 year old daughter loves to take quizzes and tests. Recently, she sent me a link to a handwriting analysis and asked me to take it. She assured me it was very accurate.

The results were, to say the least, rather interesting. The way the test worked was I had to write, in cursive (which I rarely do) a short passage that would encompass all twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Then, I had to compare certain letters to the samples. This is the conclusion based on my "y's." Now, my last name is Shay, so I do use that letter often. The bottom loop on my "y" points down:

Kim is constantly disappointed when trying to reach success. She works very hard, perhaps harder than most, then just before succeeding, something happens that keeps her from success. Often, Kim changes to a second project just before the first one is finished, thus failing to complete the first project. Sometimes she changes because she feels she needs a different challenge. Kim feels dejected. This feeling relates to her failures. This trait is very important in a working situation and in a relationship. She must be handled in a very special way to get the most work from her or to make a relationship last. Concerning this trait, personality modification is available to change her life.

Okay, here is the assessment of my "t's" which I cross on the low side compared to other individuals:

Kim's true self-image is unreasonably low. Someone once told Kim that she wasn't a great and beautiful person, and she believed them. Kim also has a fear that she might fail if she takes large risks. Therefore she resists setting her goals too high, risking failure. She doesn't have the internal confidence that frees her to take risks and chance failure. Kim is capable of accomplishing much more than she is presently achieving. All this relates to her self-esteem. Kim's self-concept is artificially low. Kim will stay in a bad situation much too long... why? Because she is afraid that if she makes a change, it might get worse. It is hard for Kim to plan too far into the future. She kind of takes things on a day to day basis. She may tell you her dreams but she is living in today, with a fear of making a change. No matter how loud she speaks, look at her actions. This is perhaps the biggest single barrier to happiness people not believing in and loving themselves. Kim is an example of someone living with a low self-image, because their innate self-confidence was broken.

Here is where I actually begin to sound less like a desperately hopeless loser. This is based on how I write the letter "m:"

In reference to Kim's mental abilities, she has a very investigating and creating mind. She investigates projects rapidly because she is curious about many things. She gets involved in many projects that seem good at the beginning, but she soon must slow down and look at all the angles. She probably gets too many things going at once. When Kim slows down, then she becomes more creative than before. Since it takes time to be creative, she must slow down to do it. She then decides what projects she has time to finish. Thus she finishes at a slower pace than when she started the project. She has the best of two kinds of minds. One is the quick investigating mind. The other is the creative mind. Her mind thinks quick and rapidly in the investigative mode. She can learn quicker, investigate more, and think faster. Kim can then switch into her low gear. When she is in the slower mode, she can be creative, remember longer and stack facts in a logical manner. She is more logical this way and can climb mental mountains with a much better grip.

Mental abilities!?! From the first two paragraphs, it sounds like I'm doing well to get out of bed in the morning.

All joking aside, there are definite truths in these passages. I can't help but wonder if there is anyone out there who sees me like this. If so, I guess I know what all thos pitying looks are for. And there is the matter of that sweater I've been knitting for two years.....and the quilted wall hanging that I began four years ago....

If you're interested in a little self-flagellation, er I mean, self-examination, check the link out.