There's a Name for People Like Me

Evangelism
Originally uploaded by The Other Pete

And apparently it's not flake, dilletante, spaz, aimless wanderer, or anything else like that. According to Barbara Sher's book, Refuse to Choose, I am a Scanner, so named because rather than diving into a single subject, I am constantly scanning the horizon for the next interesting thing. (Note to self: if ever given the opportunity to name a personality type, choose something a little less idiotically sci-fi sounding.)

Someone on a writers message board I frequent recommended this book to me after I complained about feeling completely blocked on my screenplay. I explained to him how I had been completely obsessed with taking pictures lately and that it was making me feel like a bit of a dilletante about my writing. After all, I said, if I was really a writer, I'd be at my desk trying to hash out whatever problem I'm having with the script, not running around taking pictures.

"Check out this book," he said.

The feeling of finally being understood I got just from reading the jacket copy was so amazing, I can't even think of any other time in my life that it's happened. The fact that her archetypal Scanner is someone no less illustrious (and notably unproductive) as Leonardo da Vinci makes it even better. After all, I've often described myself as a jack of all trades, even though I have often resented the conclusion of that cliché.

Anyway, hopefully I will be able to forever put away the "dilletante" label and begin to truly enjoy being myself, with all the seemingly flaky behavior that it brings with it.