(Best Occupational Category)

You’re a CREATOR

Keywords: Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

Creator Occupations:
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

Creator Workplaces:
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

(Second Best Occupational Category)

You’re a PERSUADER

Keywords: Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive

These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.

Thoughts:

After further reflection I concluded that these two personality types are seemingly at odds with each other. One enjoys working independently while the other functions best within an organization. It’s true that there’s always been a struggle for me to find balance between these opposing aspects of my personality. I’ve devoted too much of my life in pursuit of that sweet spot.

There’s a paradox at play in my life. I’ve never been able to live at that happy medium between these two end points, rather I’ve discovered I simultaneously encapsulate both. The problem with this new conclusion is that I often feel rather bipolar in nature. At any given moment I might flip polarity from A and becoming completely B.  The concept of balance remains elusive and, to a certain extent, the idea of compromising has a negative connotation. I don’t want to settle for this mixed, almost watered down, concoction called AB. Perhaps my pessimism is limiting my perception right now and AB can somehow be the best of both worlds, not the least common denominator between the two.

This journey of self-discovery has been a long one for me and it shows no signs of stopping any time soon. It’s an interesting thing to finally become self-aware at the age of 23. Yes, most might consider me incredibly young in comparison but I still feel like I’m a little late to the game and have a lot of catching up to do. I’m no longer the person I once was, that much is certain. However, I haven’t the faintest idea who I’m becoming. I’m grasping for this ethereal “new normal” but I’m not sure I’d recognize it even once I’ve found it. And my search is compounded by the fact that I’m not willing to sit still and wait for the dust to settle so I can find my place. I want to keep moving forward, making progress and gaining momentum.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s not to take color tests lightly, they may expose an entire layer of yourself that you weren’t ready for.

(For the record: I prefer Black, White, Magenta, Purple, Blue and Red.)

Hopefully you’ve caught the metaphor by now. Presently, my life feels comparable to a space shuttle orbiting around in space, preparing to come back down to Earth.

I’ve been thinking about what “coming home” actually entails and at this point I’ve come to the conclusion it’s going to take a whole lot of work! There’s still a ton of things I need to process, both on my own and with the counsel of friends and family. YWAM has a way of drudging up all the crap you thought you’d forgotten or gotten away with and brings it into the light for healing and growth. Recently, growth seems synonymous with stretching and painful. Maybe that’s why the Bible talks about iron sharpening iron? Some sparks gotta fly!

So in preparation of my return I’ve already begun work on my re-integration schedule. I’m looking to ease in to things slowly but surely and with a focus on sustainability. I’ve already learned the hard way that there are plenty of things to do in life but not all of them are beneficial. It’s time to live more intentionally with my efforts and giftings.

And now for something completely random…

Trivial things I’ve missed most:
●    a fast, reliable, available internet connections
●    a decent bed
(doesn’t have to be expensive, just anything better than a $30 mattress)
●    the smell of Bounce fabric sheets on my clean clothes
●    a phone to: call, text, check the time, etc.
●    the combination of a desk and chair at the same time
(possibly the most elusive combo known to man)
●    along the same lines,  a living room or dining room would also be great
●    school classes (this nerd loves to learn!)
●    being able to drive places (yeah, I know I hate driving… but still)

Clarification: one thing you’ll notice is that Mexican food is nowhere to be found on this list, and for good reason, it is NOT trivial!

The context for the title, Continental Shift, is about me processing the changes in environment and culture between Panama and South Africa. I feel like I need a reset before I jump into an entirely different culture. It almost seems like a disservice to my time in Panama since it’ll become eclipsed by my most recent experiences here in South Africa. So what follows are some complaints, funny observations and a few serious points.

Funny things about South Africa:

• Add South Africa to the list of countries who drive on the left (read: wrong) side of the road. It suddenly makes boarding a bus or loading a car a huge chore. And I don’t even want to talk getting on the freeway!
• The electrical outlets are ridiculously huge and don’t actually charge anything. Seriously, it’s like going from Legos to Duplos. Not to mention it took my phone three different attempts to finally charge. I feel like I’m living out the Brian Regan sketch where he says, “It’s fun to fly!” except mine would be,  “I like to plug in things. This is fun! The square goes in the square hole…”
• The beef is always jerky, by default. I suggest small bits and careful chewing.
• There’s separate faucets for hot and cold water. The only reason I can possibly imagine for this is that some people don’t actual have hot water (oh, kinda like Panama!). Regardless, the best method I’ve developed to combat first degree burns involves cupping a full hand of cold water and then adding in some hot until it reaches the desired temperature. Genius, I know.
• The internet is sold by the megabyte here. For example, I bought 100MBs of internet for 30Rand (about $4US). I think it’ll last me about three or four days. So far, so good! Oh, and no companies actually sell monthly contracts, it’s all per use. Although, some sell for hour increments as well. (Those are the places you go to upload photos and watch YouTube!)
• My life is still punctuated by important educational moments in the realm of common sense/life experience. This month’s lesson: a spa is not a hotel at all! For one, everything’s single story. We’re staying in a rondawel (read: bungalow) which feels more like a studio apartment for three people.
• But at least it came fully stocked with food, right?
  For one week of breakfast they gave us three guys:
  2 bags of bread, 6 eggs, a bag of shredded cheese, some bacon, milk and a box of corn flakes.
  But the best part was their recommended week plan: bread with cheese, bread with egg, bread with bacon, etc.
• At least they have some hot water spring swimming pools. I melted in one of those for three hours the other day. That was a nice change of pace!
• The weather is now beautiful but it was ridiculously cold before. I’m finally getting some use out of the inside of my sleeping bag as opposed to the outside that I used in Panama.
• Not having a consistent internet connection causes me to stop and look back at a lot of my offline/draft emails and realize how much I complain about something that ends up improving shortly thereafter.

1. the weather changed
2. I eventually got internet
3. the food is actually pretty good
4. the seminars ended up being great
5. the worship is meaningful
6. the night gatherings at this conferences are better than the mornings
7. I missed out (read: skipped out) on an afternoon evangelism outreach to the local town and missed out on God working in a teammate’’s life and also an awesome miracle of a foot growing back.

• But despite all that, God still uses me and gives rest where I’m at.
• I’ve more clearly learned that “in all things, I can praise the Lord.”
• I’ve been told several times that I’ve lost some weight. That’d be encouraging if I actually noticed it too though.
• Switching from the hot/humid summers of Panama to the cold/dry winter weather of South Africa has caused my lips and heels to crack. I suddenly miss humidity!
• I was under the false assumption that I’d have more alone time in South Africa after living in the sanctuary of a church for almost three months in Panama. I guess I’ll have to wait until I’m done with my time in YWAM before I experience some great alone time again.

Honestly, does anybody here even know what’s going on anymore? It’s been a crazy almost-30 days since I first step foot in Panama and I’m still a little disorientated. Nothing illustrated this point better than when I just shared my Google Calendar with my mom and she pointed out that it only has past stuff on it. Yeah. I know! That’s because the only thing I’m semi-sure about is the stuff that’s already happened. That just might be a bit tragic.

(PS. You can now always view my event calendar for my mission trip on my “Missions” page).

So yeah, part of the reason I’ve been so far behind on my favorite pass time, blogging, is that we haven’t been able to look more than 48 hours into the future at any given point! Don’t get me wrong, we’ve definitely been crazy-busy running around Panama this whole time and even had a few chances to help out in very substantial ways. It’s just that there hasn’t been a clearly laid out schedule beyond the first few major events on our checklist.

But to bring you up to speed in a brief/informative way I’ll try and list the highlights:

• Survived a few natural disasters (crazy thunderstorm and two earthquakes)
• Helped clean up the neighbor tribe’s destroyed houses
• Explored the sketchiest areas of Old Panama and Downtown Panama City
• Stayed a pretty sweet hostel for the very first time
• Traveled to the Ngobe Tribe and helped serve with a Medical Team
• Got sick in the “stomach area” for the first time since starting YWAM
• Attended/facilitated the Festival Una Voz as a PhotogenX team
• Optimist side: Lost my wallet / Pessimist side: I’m pretty sure it was stolen
• Renewed my website and email address at: cale@calelivingston.com

Hmm, that list doesn’t seem nearly as cool as the actual experience. I guess, once I go back and flesh out each story, it might sound a little better. I promise to make up for lost time with this whole blogging thing. I even had a good, convicting email convo with James W. about making sure I stay in contact with you guys. I think, so often, I get so sucked into the moment and sort of forget about anyone who isn’t immediately in front of me. What can I say? I’m a guy! haha

But I definitely have to apologize for not being a diligent to communicate regularly with you guys, my support group. I think the biggest lost opportunity has been the fact that you haven’t had any updates on what to pray for for me. That’s certainly been one area I need help with more than ever. There’s been some spiritual attacks against over the last week.  God continues to open my eyes to the fact that everything is, indeed, spiritual and needs to be handled with authority and urgency. Basically put: I’m a soldier in this war irregardless of my choosing, but it’s up to me whether or not I prepare myself for the fight.

With that said, I’m going to save all the big praise and prayer requests for another email newsletter. That way more people can informed, not just you techno-savvy Facebook users.

As I said in my tweets earlier, I feel like I should be some sort of indie artist/homeless person. Let’s just say I won’t get any flak for not shaving my beard any time soon!

Landing in Kona was pretty nice but I was surprised by all the bareness and lava fields. A large majority of the island is sparsely vegetated and mostly black. In hindsight, O’ahu is definitely the most densely populated island of the bunch. The weather was also emo-esque, just for me. There was a blanket of what might very well be volcanic ash but I’m just going to ignorantly assume it was fog/clouds.

I already went through the sign-in process which wasn’t too bad. But I knew I should have transferred my bank funds earlier since I ran into the problem of not being able to withdraw my money right away. I guess I get to leave some work for tomorrow, huh? I also had a quick peek at my room and it’s pretty much a Hume Camp Cabin with a nice kitchen and bathroom attached. There’s also no wifi there yet since the dorms are actually brand new. Again, just leaves something to look forward too. Oh, and my entire 50 person PhotogenX team is staying in these new dorms because our classroom is adjoined on the first floor. Short walk to class, awesome. Long walk to lunch, not so cool. Oh, did I mention that we all have work duties and I inexplicably chose 5:30-7:30am kitchen chores of 3:00-5:00pm outdoors work. It was such a tough call. Only time will tell if I made the right choice. Honestly though, I was leaning towards becoming a “normal” with my sleep schedule and I think this is definitely one way to jump start that effort, for better or worse. And, if you think about it, working outside during the hottest part of the Hawaiian day doesn’t sound very smart.

There’s probably some key points I’m leaving out but I’ll inevitably get back to those…

Lastly, for those of you who know my crush on Survivor: I’ve already made an alliance with some of the girls on my team and I think we’re going to win the first immunity challenge (one the them is really athletic). But I’m not sure who I’d vote off at this point. It actually feels pretty hard now that I think about it. Man, I really need to stop this comparison between missions and reality TV!