The "I Can" Exercise

From Aidel Maidel

You have 15 minutes to make a list of sentences that start with "I can." You aren't supposed to edit it, either.

Here's mine.

1. I can read two novels at once, and keep the plots straight.
2. I can type fast.
3. I can blog.
4. I can apologize when needed.
5. I can negotiate between a lot of different people to solve a problem.
6. I can explain complicated ideas in a simple way.
7. I can drive a car.
8. I can explain what forms of birth control are compatible with nursing.
9. I can distinguish between giving information and support, and giving advice.
10. I can cook for Shabbat in two hours.
11. I can drive a stick shift.
12. I can run a group.
13. I can meet someone for the first time, and within 5 minutes have them telling me their life story.
14. I can meet someone for the first time, and not have them tell me their life story within five minutes.
15. I can plan a menu that is varied in color, texture, and nutrition and appropriate for the time of year.
16. I can make tables in Word documents.
17. I can catch a spelling mistake from a mile away.
18. I can finish a blog post in an hour.
19. I can spend several days writing a blog post.
20. I can pinpoint what to do to change the tone of someone's writing.
21. I can reply to silly blog memes.
22. I can brush my teeth.
23. I can get myself dressed.
24. I can make homemade, nutritious meals for a family of eight.
25. I can teach kids to be happy with what they have.
26. I can read a novel in a day.
27. I can write a boring post in reply to a meme, that will cause my readers to go "ho-hum."
28. I can ignore my husband, who is telling me something, because I am not supposed to interrupt myself while doing this meme.
29. I can wonder why I am still doing this, instead of going to sleep.
30. I can sit at the computer on a Thursday evening, instead of cooking.
31. I can wash my floor on Wednesday and need to do it again on Friday.
32. I can agree on Wednesday to host a party on Motzei Shabbat (Saturday evening).
33. I can welcome potential converts from Russian-speaking backgrounds to my Shabbat table and make them feel welcome.
34. I can help these potential converts feel that Judaism is a beautiful thing, even if my kids are about to kill each other.
    
35. I can give myself an extra two minutes, because I am just getting started and I was distracted by my husband.
36. I can give myself permission to stop, even though I know I will think of ten brilliant things immediately.
    

(I ran the spell-check anyway.)