Admittedly, I am not textbook smart. (Give me a map test of the United States and I might not get a 100%. A map of Europe? Let's not even go there). But what I am is people smart. Street smart. Ideas-generating smart. I don't know...just...Ellen-smart.
I try to keep up with the news and read the issues of TIME and The Economist scattered around Luke's apartment, but after one or two articles, I usually reach for the week's issue of InTouch.
When Luke and I had just started dating, he invited me to trivia night at a bar. I was terrified. Unless it was pop culture night, I knew it wouldn't be pretty. I conveniently got to the bar really late, just as he was finishing.
Yes, this is an insecurity of mine, but all in all, I'm very comfortable and happy with who I am. Of course I like to be surrounded by intelligent people who I can learn something from, but I'll take a genuinely good person who I can laugh my ass off with over someone with a high IQ any day.
Click here to return to the homepage.
Does anyone else ever feel this way? Come on, 'fess up: What's been your biggest "Jessica Simpson" moment to date?
Posts
Okay, so I always thought of myself as book smart, but I clam up FAST whenever people start talking pop culture (movies, music, books, shows). Seriously, it's my Chicken of the Sea. Cable's not in my budget, so I've never seen True Blood or Mad Men. My iPod has more Britney Spears than Blitzen Trapper. I had to Google Malcolm Gladwell. So I find myself apologizing for being totally clueless about the media zeitgeist whenever I'm with these pop-culture junkies. It's almost a relief to hang out with my hometown friends--we're all experts at something. I know fashion, one knows finance, another knows computers...so we all learn from each other. Which is the way it should be, no? ;)
ReplyDeleteThea, you're too funny. I'm CONSTANTLY Googling people and words I should totally know, but don't. I guess it's good that we care enough to find the answers at least. I clam up, too. Even when I totally know the answer...like a song will come on the radio and I'll be singing every word, but I can't think of who the song is by when someone asks. Hate when that happens! I don't think you're missing too much on the True Blood front...I watched it last week, and was not impressed. It was a bit too soap opra-y for me. I know a lot of people love it...guess I just don't get the appeal!
ReplyDeleteEllen, in DC the topic always turns to politics and politicians. When you work "on the hill" I guess you hear the issues and names everyday. But with over 500 members of Congress, how am I supposed to know who the Congressman from [fill in state] is?!? I end up googling them and still don't really learn much about them :)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I would NEVER be able to keep up with that! Nor would I want to. Politics interests me to a point, but if I felt that kind of pressure to know everything, it would suck the fun right out of it.
ReplyDeletewhen i was growing up i used to always believe i was really smart(moms always make their kids feel like that lol). Actually even when i graduated college i felt kind of proud at my achievements ^_^ , i did manage to finish off with flying colors( as my mom always say) and then, when i read about stuff, and meet people who are just really very intellectual or those who have mastered specific topics, i blush away thinking I'm not as good as my mom always made me believe lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's like one of those days when you reminisce the day your dad boasting to his friends about your achievements and then you encounter something that is utterly complicated but someone else can explain it so smoothly, it makes you wonder if your brain is still wroking lol. I get that sometimes lol well actually, lately it's been more than quite a few times; It sucks but in a way it's humbling :)
One of the topics i do want to be well-versed is politics, but I cannot help it, it makes me yawn! T_T Plus, it easily bores me listening to the news, i prefer pictures :D
Odessa, I can totally relate! My dad thought EVERYTHING I did was great and he always bragged about me. It was so sweet, but yeah, I guess it can be a disservice when you get out in the real world and see that you're not all that after all, ha :)
ReplyDeletei am with both thea and odessa. i think everyone has their niche-everyone is "smart" about something; good at something. you just have to find out what it is and own it. we all learn from each other. who cares if you can't name all the presidents in chronological order if you can name every backstreet boy and new kid, or can explain exactly how a camera works??
ReplyDeleteAmen, Mary Allen! You are so funny. I'm good and fairly knowledgeable in a lot of things, but not an "expert" at any one thing. Or maybe I am and I just haven't realized what it is yet...
ReplyDeleteCan totally relate. I am soooo street smart, but book smart? Forget about it. My sister got all those genes. About 3 years ago I was talking to my roommate and somehow we got into a conversation about Alaska. I swear I thought it was an island and she died laughing. Hello! In elementary school why did they always show us pics of Alaska by itself? Now thats pretty stupid!
ReplyDeletePL, thanks for sharing your "Jessica Simpson" moment—glad I'm not the only one that feels this way!
ReplyDelete