tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post6220057238348084745..comments2024-02-23T02:02:35.985-05:00Comments on Mudpies and Magnolias: Proactive or reactive?Maggie Toussainthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-67071527349314106482012-05-14T12:33:52.744-04:002012-05-14T12:33:52.744-04:00Hi Jill,
Thanks for swinging by Mudpies! I like y...Hi Jill,<br /><br />Thanks for swinging by Mudpies! I like your strategy of going with the flow, but being proactive about it. Flexibility is so often needed when it comes to planning. I can be flexible, as long as I have enough time to adjust to the new paradigm...<br /><br />MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-2071072422670107962012-05-14T11:47:55.337-04:002012-05-14T11:47:55.337-04:00Maggie, this was a fun post. I'm probably more...Maggie, this was a fun post. I'm probably more proactive than reactive, and I believe in contingency plans, but lots of times my contingency plan is "be flexible." I like to think I can follow as well as lead. Groups need both kinds of people. Most of the time, I pick whichever approach will work best for the situation (which probably means I'm proactive at heart - ha!)Jill Archerhttp://www.jillarcher.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-63694870599072702002012-05-08T21:11:49.612-04:002012-05-08T21:11:49.612-04:00Hi Cindy,
I haven't thought about this connec...Hi Cindy,<br /><br />I haven't thought about this connection with writing, but I should have. I had one book that didn't sell with a reactive heroine. But my published books contain proactive heroines. I guess my heroines don't fall very far from the tree...<br /><br />Like Jacqueline, you identify yourself as a mixture. I applaud you both for making it work.<br /><br />MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-5968262884807702272012-05-08T21:05:24.077-04:002012-05-08T21:05:24.077-04:00Hi Joanne,
((Maggie does the secret handshake)) ...Hi Joanne, <br /><br />((Maggie does the secret handshake)) Welcome to the club, sister!Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-87974785541647601222012-05-08T21:04:40.912-04:002012-05-08T21:04:40.912-04:00Hi Jacqueline,
I've never met anyone who is a...Hi Jacqueline,<br /><br />I've never met anyone who is a mix, so I'm sure it would be great fun to sit down and chat with you. I hope we attend the same conference sometime!<br /><br />MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-50272166313355281372012-05-08T21:02:14.299-04:002012-05-08T21:02:14.299-04:00Su,
You have given me hope that I can be more fle...Su,<br /><br />You have given me hope that I can be more flexible about contingency planning. I'm glad to hear you recognize the same categories of people!<br /><br />MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-40473443281743731512012-05-08T21:00:01.365-04:002012-05-08T21:00:01.365-04:00Hi Jenny,
If your husband is the planner, he'...Hi Jenny,<br /><br />If your husband is the planner, he's the proactive one. If you react to crises, then you're reactive - you do something based on the circumstance. That doesn't mean you don't do a good job with your solution. Thank you for stopping by! MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-40263990462443955142012-05-08T20:56:51.460-04:002012-05-08T20:56:51.460-04:00Hi EB,
I am intrigued by your answer. I haven'...Hi EB,<br />I am intrigued by your answer. I haven't considered age-related changes. Truthfully, I get so frustrated with reactive folks when we are supposedly on the same team. I find I prefer to do things by myself - that way it gets done in time. MaggieMaggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-51890179137692815192012-05-08T11:10:22.684-04:002012-05-08T11:10:22.684-04:00While reading your post, I could immediately see m...While reading your post, I could immediately see my protagonist as proactive and her sister and side-kick as reactive. For myself, I think I'm a mixture, meaning I make lists but often ignore them. As a result, life is somewhat chaotic but at least I worry about it!Cindy Smithhttp://blog.beebeesharpe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-73476819993441800352012-05-08T10:00:46.170-04:002012-05-08T10:00:46.170-04:00I am pro-active and make to-do lists every day, ev...I am pro-active and make to-do lists every day, even on holidays. I also find it frustrating when I'm with a group of reactive people who like to fly by the seat of their pants.Joanne Guidocciohttp://www.joanneguidoccio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-80472157027732981762012-05-08T08:04:22.502-04:002012-05-08T08:04:22.502-04:00I notice most people declare themselves pro-active...I notice most people declare themselves pro-active. I'm a mix of both.<br />I plan and think, but I want to travel and yet don't.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-20381466216878648102012-05-08T07:05:51.379-04:002012-05-08T07:05:51.379-04:00I'm a list keeper, policies maker, and a plott...I'm a list keeper, policies maker, and a plotter, which makes me pro-active. But over the years, I became more flexible...I guess working for problem-spotter type of bosses forced me to be the problem-solver, which makes me reactive.<br />Then again, being able to change roles is a form of contingency planning, a proactive approach. Isn't it?Su Halfwerkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17705024274066656389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-66787395824843062262012-05-08T05:28:07.559-04:002012-05-08T05:28:07.559-04:00Hi Maggie
I'm por-active, my husband is reacti...Hi Maggie<br />I'm por-active, my husband is reactive. He plans for all eventualities. I deal with crises. Some of my more seditious friends have claimed that I deliberately create crises in order to manage them!Jenny Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15716569675973035423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-73746898487986804732012-05-07T22:18:16.550-04:002012-05-07T22:18:16.550-04:00I define reactive very differently than you do, Ma...I define reactive very differently than you do, Maggie. To me reactors are those who usually over-react to a situation. Reactors make knee-jerk decisions and allow their emotions to control them. <br /><br />I define the proactive people much more like you do--but they are only opposite to reactive people if they think out their reactions before they act--so in a way the proactive people seem to do less--but they are usual more effective. The reactive people fly into activity without thought.<br /><br />I don't think people neatly fit into those categories. Most often, young people react without thinking first. We older folk have been there, done that and think before we speak, make sure we understand the situation and try to be part of the solution rather than making more problems with our reactions. <br /><br />Have I muddied the waters thoroughly?E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-40392092219287272412012-05-07T21:17:57.500-04:002012-05-07T21:17:57.500-04:00Hey Celia,
I'm intrigued by your traveling sto...Hey Celia,<br />I'm intrigued by your traveling story. If we make a trip, we always seem to plan out our route in advance. One time we didn't. We had a long drive and started too late to do it all in one day. So we planned to stop when we couldn't go anymore. We were on a tight budget and stayed in a dive. We tried to go to sleep but every time we almost got to sleep, we'd hear something in the ceiling. After awhile, we realized it was rats. We hopped back in the car, wide-eyed. Now we're very proactive about checking out the ratings of places before we book a room.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-73766150903067241582012-05-07T21:12:52.390-04:002012-05-07T21:12:52.390-04:00Hi Mona, So far we have a trend going here. Only t...Hi Mona, So far we have a trend going here. Only the proactive folks are replying! I guess the reactive folks are taking a wait and see approach.<br /><br />I have more trouble blurting out stuff in a casual situation because the filter in my head goes offline. Conversational gaffes are one of the reason I started writing so intently. Less chance to commit foot in the mouth disease.<br /><br />For me, course corrections are hard as well. I realize the need to make course corrections and make them. But having time to make the correction is usually critical.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-72000143896065679022012-05-07T21:08:02.215-04:002012-05-07T21:08:02.215-04:00Hi Steph, You are such a busy person, I think you ...Hi Steph, You are such a busy person, I think you have become super proactive. I appreciate your comment!Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-31152338726207748842012-05-07T21:06:59.219-04:002012-05-07T21:06:59.219-04:00Hi Diana,
No wonder we are so compatible! Both bi...Hi Diana,<br /><br />No wonder we are so compatible! Both big time planners. I like the approach that you go in believing you will prevail into every situation. That kind of kick a-- attitude is what's needed to prevail in this world.<br /><br />Thanks for the visit.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-27472883757064114852012-05-07T16:42:10.726-04:002012-05-07T16:42:10.726-04:00Maggie--definitely proactive. For years, my husban...Maggie--definitely proactive. For years, my husband wanted us to "just go with flow", get in the car, drive until we found something to do or something we liked, find a motel, and stay there a while. Honestly, this sort of thing makes my stomach churn and hurt big time. But I did allow this two times, and both times we were frustrated and unhappy all the time. He was the one who complained the most about "not planning." I wanted to say, I told you so...but I didn't. He learned the lesson he actually knew all along. Why? He's the most proactive person on the planet. Why he thought he could this, I don't know. <br />Oh, yes, I do...he expected me to do the planning...but those two times, I didn't<br />My best friend in the world claims to be reactive, or rather acts and sounds like that in all things. But I've watched her over the years--she's actually very proactive...very!<br />Interesting thoughts--I didn't have to stop and think about it though--it's emblazoned across my forehead.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-66362296702529399062012-05-07T16:00:00.052-04:002012-05-07T16:00:00.052-04:00Maggie,
You always give us a lot to think about. ...Maggie, <br />You always give us a lot to think about. I think I'm a pro-active. I always have plans and to-do lists and I've learned to control myself and not blurt out the first response that comes to my mind when someone upsets me. My problem is to change my plans if I discover they are not the best anymore.Mona Riskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-68435007484553583112012-05-07T15:54:13.620-04:002012-05-07T15:54:13.620-04:00Maggie, I think I'm proactive because I'm ...Maggie, I think I'm proactive because I'm a big planner. I feel behind the power curve if I have to react to something. Nice post. Good food for thought.<br /><br />Smiles<br />StephStephanie Burkhart https://www.blogger.com/profile/16952130018587727063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4740858803121444958.post-46890083533665600242012-05-07T15:53:34.562-04:002012-05-07T15:53:34.562-04:00Hi Maggie,
I enjoyed the topic. I'm pro-...Hi Maggie,<br /> I enjoyed the topic. I'm pro-active. A huge planner like you, but admit my military career allows me when needed, to be reactive. Regardless of the challenges, I go in believing that I will overcome. The secret is to define the goal, then take steps forward to achieve it. Divide and conquer. :) <br /> Take care, and I wish you continued success!Diana Cosbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16417576796848731002noreply@blogger.com