What is one personality trait that you possessed as a child that you know you still possess as an adult?

Question

As we grow, we experience so many changes. But there are certainly aspects of ourselves that are parts of our constitution. Traits that completely define who we are.

What is one trait you know has not changed since you can remember?

Answer 1

**throws Dyson a life preserver (just in case)**

since I can remember, I have always been a girl who wants the people she loves to be happy and content....even the strangers I love from afar. I remember in grade school, there was a handicapped girl who didn't have many friends. At the lunch table, she would sit alone....during recess she would struggle to try and make friends. She wore an eye patch because one of her eyes was missing....she had a tendancy to wear the same outfit multiple days in a row. I'm sure she didn't bathe very often and she had a problem with her speech. I remember coming home from school everyday for at least a few months begging my mom to let her come live with us.... so she could wear my clothes and play with me outside in the woods. I would even let her sleep in my room while I used the couch. *sigh* My mom never understood my reasoning behind it.....and yet, I saw it so clearly. I wanted this girl to be happy....and I wanted to lead her to happiness.

Still, to this day, I do the same thing. I went to Kauai and hiked for a week with my husband. I made friends with a guy along the way who didn't have much food with him. He was hiking alone and seemed a bit sad.....so I insisted we share our food and convinced him to hike with us the rest of the way. When we were finished, we went back to our car and took him to dinner at a restaurant.....we drove him to a hotel and made sure he had a place to stay until he went home the next day. He ended up being such a cool guy....had been studying bird watching on the Big Island and came to Kauai to find some more birds...which I found fascinating to hear about.

I guess my point is, I always want to reach out and help someone no matter what the consequence. I look at a situation and I say "what would I want to have done unto me?". I just want people to be happy. :) I almost do this to a fault... for it has gotten me into deep trouble when I was younger. My mother would scold me for hanging out with "the wrong crowd".... and I would spend so much time arguing with her on the good qualities she wasn't seeing in these people. How could she be so blind to the good? It was always there and I've always had an "eye" for it. I'm not sure if this is exactly a "personality trait" but it is something I have done since I was a little girl and I foresee doing it for the rest of my life. I know I would sacrafise my own happiness for the happiness of another.

Answer 2

So many people have already listed all of my finest traits...so I'll list a sorta "negative" one.

I like to leap into the deep end of the pool.
Always have...probably always will.

It makes me a risk taker and I've taken them all my life, from literally jumping into a pool at age 2 just for fun apparently, to the risks I've taken with work, family, ideas, hobbies, relationships...if I really believe or have a feeling about something I will just jump into it feet first and hope for the best. Now granted, over the years I've tempered that with some wisdom and some caution...but I still do it all the same...no matter the outcome. Sometimes the outcome is beyond my wildest dreams, sometimes it's not...but I'll never stop leaping into the pool...it's what I do.

Answer 3

My sense of imagination. I created all my best friends all the best match box car cities. These cities got the best gas mileage and the police never ticketed the budget was enough to meet the need. How is that me now an adult paying 3.01 for gas ? That sucks, but I still believe the best moments can be had in the least demanding places. I'll make up the difference and fill my tank. Reading a book to your children, turning your cell phone off or paying .75 cents for a cup of bad coffee to find your best lead. I can't survive without that part of myself. I sit in intense moments and watch listening. It's the same thing someone somewhere is threatened and they can't see their survival apart from something. I'm intact my father gave me that he's intact he learned to dream in a world on fire. My father taught me to pick up a good book when the Trojan horse was at the door and to pick up a good gun when it breached the city.

Answer 4

Interesting point.
At an early age, I grew up very much the timid, awkward kid. I was more of a wallflower than a social butterfly. Some people are just born to be observers rather than be watched, y'know?
Of course as I grew up that changed into confidence and I had come out of my shell since then, although that shy little girl is pretty much a part of me still.
One thing I haven't lost, is my sense of humor. I have a lot of "kid" in me which gives me a childlike innocence in the way I view things. I'm pretty much oblivious to most things. Some things are just better not knowing, lol.
Apart from that, I feel I've grown cynical toward human relationships. I was gullible & naive to leave myself open & exposed which allowed people to treat me as a doormat. Which makes me hesitant when it comes to friendships.

Answer 5

I guess one trait that hasn't changed much (and I am unfortunately much more aware of it now more than I ever was) is being impulsively immature. I will act (many times) without thinking in a very immature way, which has probably gotten me in more hot water than any other trait, which may have carried over. I think that the frequency has decreased, but that little imp is still inside.

Answer 6

I think me and Sky were touched by the same spirit,although her specific experiences were different than my own the same basic belief and feelings are there.And i have to tell you sometimes it can be curse when you know as many self destructive people as I knew.And no matter how well we conceal these traits when we have come at an impasse, the hardest thing is we cant turn it off.

Answer 7

I don't know if it is a personality trait but the only trait that hasn't changed since I was a child is curiosity about the world.

Answer 8

A lot of previous answers already metioned the joys of solitude and a good book. I supppose, in addition to that, I'm helpless whenever I hear the theme from Seasame Street. I'm compelled to stop everything and just sing along. I don't know why.

Answer 9

I still enjoy spending time alone. I found out that trait was very healthy to not get involved with all the drama around the workforce, society, and yep! family.

Answer 10

My strong independence and ability to be alone.
We roamed the streets and countryside a lot as little children (ages 5-8). It made us self-sufficient, able to cope, find solutions. It was great.