Result of strength challenge

Vanessa Baltodano
9/25/17

      My strength I choose to practice on was honesty, and honestly I failed. I knew the biggest challenge for me was going to be to tell my mom I got my first tattoo behind her back and without telling her first. I thought it was going to be easy for as I told my brother whom I tell everything to that I was going to tell our mother. He didn't think it was a good idea, since he thought it would end with my mother and I in a screaming match. I never had the best relationship with my mom due to honesty and always going behind her back or lying to her to get my way. As of recently my mom and I have grown a deeper bond where I voluntarily shared my location with her so she knows where I am at all times. Also, I have started telling her everything I do but, the tattoo I could not tell her about for some odd reason. It's not like my tattoo is a stupid impulsive one, I would think she would love it since it's about her but I have this feeling that she would just get upset with me since I did it behind her back without letting her know. As I invited my family out to dinner this weekend I started to ease into the conversation by asking a question, “mom what would you do if I got a tattoo with your initials and the infinity sign?” I did not know what her response would be but then I thought telling her was not such a good idea when she said, “I will beat your ass.” I started laughing immediately and I could not take her serious but a part of me told me not to tell her. Honesty is easy for me because I hate, “sugar coding” stuff for people when I know it is best to just tell them the truth. I do plan on telling my mom but maybe I will just tell her through FaceTime instead of dealing with a possible screaming match in person.

Character test

Vanessa Baltodano
9/18/17

One of my top five character strengths that I choose to pursue is honesty. Honesty is presented as presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way. This character in particular excites me because I am honest in general. My personal experiences have made me believe that honesty is the only way you can you can truly be at peace with oneself. Though honesty hurts at times I work hard to be as gentle on the way I deliver my honesty. Honesty came out as number two on my top five and honestly I have never felt so good to know that one of my strengths is something I truly believe in. The true test is going to be this next week to really live up to my character strength. As I got my first tattoo with out telling my mom while letting it pass a week. My mom is the only person I have truly struggled to be honest with until I turned 18. Until recently I started to really be honest with my mother about everything. But seeing my mom this weekend will be the true test of my character and honestly I could not be more nervous than ever.