INFP: The Idealist Mediator and Dreamer

As a lot of you already know, I'm currently in the market for a new job.  I'd like it to be a more career-type, salaried job, but I'm taking my time figuring out exactly what I want that to look like before jumping into anything.  I've made some quick-draw decisions in the past that have not always led to the right thing, and I'm lucky to have my current job that allows me the time to do this soul-searching accurately.  Also, if I work at Starbucks for five years I can potentially go visit a coffee bean farm in South America.

Anyway, Mom and Andrew suggested that I take a personality test to help get some ideas for potential lines of work.  I turned to the most well-known of the personality tests, the Myers-Briggs.  It's the one with the four letter combo titles.

While I think it is a little presumptuous to categorize the complexities of a human and their personality into one of sixteen definitions, it is interesting and does provide some insight on why you are the way you are.  If you are interested in taking the test, I used this website: 16 Personalities.  If you end up taking it, let me know what you get!

My answers led me to be described as INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving).  Here are a few INFP excerpts from the site that I felt were particularly on the nose for me:

While they may be perceived as calm, reserved, or even shy, they have an inner flame and passion that can truly shine.
The strength of their visionary communication style lends itself well to creative works.
A Mediator's affection, creativity, altruism, and idealism rewards them and those they love with perhaps not with logic and utility, but with a world view that inspires compassion, kindness, and beauty.
Mediators are private, reserved, and self-conscious.  This makes them notoriously difficult to really get to know.  

Comprising just 3-4% of the population, the risk of feeling misunderstood is unfortunately high for this personality type.

Mediators often wish that they could just be.  

Fantasy worlds in particular fascinate Mediators, more than any other personality type.

A live and let live attitude comes naturally.  

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.  

Mediator's tendency to protect their sensitive inner cores and values from criticism means that acquaintances will likely get nowhere near them without sustained and tactful effort.  

They will emerge from this time alone having come to a momentous decision that even their closest friends didn't know was weighing on them.  

Some Mediators will prefer a more personal touch, being able to work face-to-face with others, seeing that their personal effort really impacts another's quality of life. 

Whether it is navigating interpersonal conflicts, confronting unpleasant facts, pursuing self-realization, or finding a career path that aligns well with their inner core, Mediators may face numerous challenges that at times can make them question who they really are.  

What do you think?  Does this describe me pretty well?  I also found this link to The Top 25 Favorite INFP Movies.  It includes a lot of my favorites, like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Moulin Rouge, 500 Days of Summer, and some that aren't favorites, but ones I really like, such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Inception, Stardust, Harry Potter, and Romeo + Juliet.

And here are some famous INFPs:

JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, John Lennon, Tim Burton, Vincent Van Gogh, Audrey Hepburn, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Anne of Green Gables, Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, Luna Lovegood, and Princess Diana.

Some pretty good company to be in, I think.  Anyway, it's interesting to think about.  Taking this test didn't really help me come to any conclusions on the job search front (think I'll need to do an actual career aptitude test for that), but it's always good to reflect on who you are as a person, what your shortcomings are, and how you as a person impact others and the world around you.

(photos collected from thelakesidepark, patheos, 16personalities, and by e.hunt)

Explorez-Vous l'Univers Avec Moi?

A few weeks ago I started following several French fashion bloggers on Instagram, partly for their savvy French style, and partly to listen to their ramblings on Instagram stories.  I thought it would be a good way to brush up on my French.  I can still read it fairly well, and speak in basic, short sentences, but I always had issues understanding a French person speaking at their normal pace.  So far I've only been able to pick out a few words here and there, but I'm getting better at understanding the overall subject of the little videos.

And this last weekend, their normal day-to-day videos stopped because two very important things happened: Saturday was Bastille Day, and on Sunday the French team won the World Cup!  It was like a French national patriotism explosion on social media for two days.  Vive la France!!

(photos collected from instagram.com/marieandmood, instagram.com/junesixtyfive, and instagram.com/frenchwords)

Ethereal Tempests and Celestial Leanings

The last few times I've ventured over to the old homestead for dinner, I've witnessed quite the sky phenomenons on the way back to my apartment.

The first occurrence happened a few weeks ago as we noticed the sky getting rather dark and green-tinted as Dad was preparing dinner.

Quite the cloud formation, no?!  Just after taking that picture, it started sprinkle raining and that eerie, low-to-the-ground wind started rustling leaves and muffling sounds.  The sky was still pretty lively when I left so I drove around for a bit documenting the clouds.

This last weekend, when I pulled out of the driveway to head home I was greeted with this majestic sunset sight.

Look at the colors!  Look at the moon!  Look at the bright star just to the left of the moon!

Naturally, I had to drive around for a while and document.  And then when I got home and opened up my photo library to peruse the night's haul, mine eyes were met with a lovely blue-toned tesseract that I thought was worth sharing.

(photos by e.hunt)

Softly Soaring Through My Atmosphere

Hello and happy Tuesday!  How is everyone's week going?  Mine has been busy, already, but the good kind of busy, so it's okay.  We leave for Florida in less than two weeks so I've been running around, gathering those last minute items for the trip.  Between that, work, any social obligations, and trying to get enough sleep, I've been moving non-stop!  Well, I'm not moving while sleeping, but you get the idea.

I got to draw the A-frame sign at work a few weeks ago.  It's to promote a couple kindof gross summer tea drinks, but it was fun to come up with the idea and execute it.

Way back in May, Taylor gifted me with a membership to the St. Louis Art Museum for my birthday and our welcome packet finally arrived!  We are now official card-carrying members!

And lastly in this brief update, I have to give a shoutout to my new charcoal face cleanser.  It's tingly and refreshing and after having problem skin since I was ten years old (that is not an exaggeration, I started using acne medication in the fourth grade), I feel like it is finally on the up and up!  And now I will cross my fingers and knock on wood hoping that it won't get bad again, but I'm happier and more confident with my complexion than I have been in a long time, a long time, and I think that is worth celebrating.

(photos by e.hunt)

The Daily Hunt Forever

Taylor and I were the first to march out to the "altar."  Not as part of the ceremony or anything, but it did make everyone quiet down for the procession to begin.

Mom and Dad walked Andrew down the aisle, with Juliana and her parents to follow.  She looked amazing in her crisp and simple dress, topped with a vintage birdcage headpiece, completely matching the look and vibe of the whole setup.

Taylor began the ceremony, flawlessly introducing each section, each couple that was asked to read a special excerpt, and the reading of the vows.  As the Lord of the Rings, I had a line as well , presenting them the rings that were kept in a little box Dad had made for them.

After all was said and done, the Bride and Groom kissed and were presented to the crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Hunt and Daily!

They retreated to the Green Room for a few private moments while everyone else picked up a chair or two and headed into the hangar for cocktails, the first dance, and a rousing set of live music.

It was quite fun seeing friends and family, meeting new people, and making the rounds in between waiting in line for drinks.  Both sides of girl cousins took chick pics, with the Hunts clearly getting the floral memo beforehand.

The space turned out to be the perfect size, with standing room outside under the lights and a whole runway to go for a short walk or take pictures by the fields.

Everyone seemed to be greatly enjoying themselves.  I quite enjoyed seeing what everyone decided to wear; it would have been cool to have a Sartorialist-like photo spot for wedding style shots.

After the band finished playing, it was time for dinner.  The two food trucks were ready to serve and everyone got in line, table by table.  I had the best fried avocado taco ever and fresh pineapple juice drink from the Mexican truck.

Once everyone had eaten their fill and were settled at the tables, it was speech time.  One of Juliana's college friends started things off with a pre-written ode to their friendship.  I was next, following a few notes I had made earlier in the day.  I shared a few old stories; the Star Wars Museum we set up in our living room, driving away while Andrew had one foot in the car and the other on the ground on the way to Florida, and Andrew and I dressing up to meet Sean Bean at Comic Con earlier this year.  Then I shared a few Juliana memories; how she joined right in our grand sandcastle tradition at the beach, and the lovely wedding shower a few months earlier.  I finished it out with a few final thoughts, and a well-wishing toast to the newlyweds.

Next up on the speech docket was Taylor, who stole the show with spontaneous stories, a comparison to a sea animal that lives forever, and how amazing it is that Andrew and Juliana found each other and decided to make this commitment because unlike that fish, we don't live forever.  It was an uplifting, funny, and moving speech, just as a wedding toast should be.

Dad was next, with Mom getting up to join him, and then Juliana's Dad closed out the speeches and rang in the dancing.  Even Grandma joined in the opening number!

The party continued with more dancing and carousing.  I caught up with the Stauffer cousins who live all around the country now and I don't see that often, I danced with the Hunt cousins (Tom even led a conga line to Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid!), and I talked with a lot of Andrew's old high school friends (who I've known forever by association) and newer Nashville friends (many of whom I knew when I was living there).

All in all it was a grand party and everyone had a fabulous time.  After everyone left, a small group stayed to help gather trash and clean up a bit so it wasn't all left to do the next day.  Taylor and I stopped by our Air Bnb before heading over to hang out with the old Kirkwood crew.  We played a trivia guessing game with topics like Seinfeld, 90's bands, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones - a fun and educational way to end the night.

The next morning we met for brunch before packing up the Air Bnb and making one last trip out to the airpark to clean up.  Looked pretty different without all the lights and finery!  Once everything was cleaned up and gathered to be transported out, we hit the road back home.  What a fun and memorable weekend.  Here's to a lifetime of fun, love, and happiness to the newlywed couple!!

(photos by e.hunt, r.hunt, and Andrea Behrends)