My New Nickname Fits Just Right

I know the phrase The Velvet Hammer has some nasty connotations. I will not be referencing those in this post. When my coworker, Jack, first started calling me The Velvet Hammer last week, I thought it was in reference to my mad ability to hammer out pipe cleaner art (we have made a lot of stuff out of pipe cleaner during training). I learned very quickly though, that it was a reference to how I was as a person as opposed to my children's art forte, and I think it has to be one of the best descriptions of me anyone has ever come up with. For anyone who knows me, it probably makes sense. For those that were in the same social work program as I was, it could also be said as expressive-dominant. For those who weren't in the social work program with me, here is a break-down of both words...

According to dictionary.com and thesaurus.com, some words that describe velvet include the following:

• "soft"
• "very pleasant"
• "luxurious
• desirable"
• "smooth"
• "lavish"
• "swank"
• "ease"
• "enjoyment"
• "amusement"
• "bed of roses"

The same websites included the following under the entry of "hammer":

• "to beat or drive"
• "to fasten"
• "bang"
• "batter"
• "bear down"
• "clobber"
• "defeat"
• "drive"
• "whack"
• "thrash"
• "strike"
• "battle"
• "feud"
• "shape"
• "injure by striking"

I think that's enough in regards to synonyms. If you disagree, you can find more on velvet, you can look here or here. For more on hammer, look here or here.

Anyway, the point of this whole post being, I really am a velvet hammer. I can be velvet. I can be a hammer. I have always had this inner dichotomy that I have never been able to quite reconcile. There is a part of me that is kind, soft, and compassionate. My heart goes out to people. I LOVE to get to know people, reach out, lend a helping hand. On the other hand, or I should say, with the other hand, I hammer things. I can be extremely dominant. I want the bottom line. When I'm focused, I don't want to beat around the bush. I'm going to say straight-up how things are. I can be competitive, aggressive, and sometimes, a little too vicious.

This post isn't intended to be a great piece of writing or anything especially profound. It is simply a little insight into my soul. :o)