I am an award-winning drama queen.  OK, so I haven’t won an Oscar, Emmy, or Tony.  I’m not sure what the name of the award was that I did win.   So, let’s just call it a Hessie (in honor of my high school drama teacher).

As a senior in high school I won “Best Actress in the District.”  The district included six high schools.  It’s my claim to fame.  Well, not really, but I’m not one of those people who has won a lot of awards, so I’ll have to hang on to it.  Actually, I still have the blue and gold trophy in a box somewhere.  It’s in a few pieces.  Not sure when the thing fell apart.

But, putting the award aside, I’m pretty much just an all around Drama Queen. It started long before I won a Hessie for it.  My father and brother used to say “Get off the stage!”   My husband says it now; I should never have told him about my father’s and brother’s reactions to me!  Many of my colleagues probably say it silently.   Bah!  Hum Bug! They are all just a bunch of THINKERS!

My Myers Briggs personality type is INFJ; my F is off the charts.  There are a possible 25 points for the “feeling” characteristic vs. “thinking.”   My score is 23 feeling and 2 for thinking.

But, WAY before I knew what my letters were on any personality inventory, it was obvious that I was (and continue to be) quite the Drama Queen.  I’ve already told you about the time, in 4th grade, when I was convinced that the Russians, at the pinnacle of the Cold War, were spewing chemical warfare on my hometown.  My mother just stared at me and shook her head as I tried to convince her of the impending danger.  It turned out to be a radio station dropping potentially winning tickets out of a helicopter for a promotional campaign.  (see my blog post Cold War)

While I won the Hessie for the very serious role of Peer Gynt’s mother (who dies on stage) in Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt, I’m quite adept at acting in comedies.  I imagine someone like Renee Zellweger (think Bridget Jones Diary) playing me in the ‘Story of a Drama Queen’s Life.’ My life is often slap stick and a comedy of errors.

I think being a Drama Queen is definitely the way to be.  Here’s why…..

• Just as blonds have more fun, so do Drama Queens.  Who wants to be a stuffy old thinker anyway?
• Crying releases stress.
• Laughing releases endorphins, the body’s own feel-good drug;
• Yelling might not release anything, but it sure feels great.
• Flipping your hair as you do an about turn and walk away from someone is good exercise;
• Pouting with your bottom lip sticking out is really cute; it just never gets old;
• Banging your fist on the conference table on a rainy Tuesday morning wakes up your colleagues and adds interest to the weekly meeting;
• Recounting the story of everything single thing that happens to you during the day in dramatic fashion is entertaining for all those around you;
• And let’s face it, throwing Entenmann’s chocolate covered donuts at your husband in a fit of rage is just pure joy.

In addition, as if that could get any better, one of the best things about being a Drama Queen is all the costumes and shoes one gets to wear.  Each morning I brush my dyed-blond hair and apply make-up, always mindful to choose the water-proof mascara. I ponder which outfit I will choose, accessorizing carefully, particularly my foot wear, just wondering what interesting script the day might bring and what part I might get to play.

Yep.  There’s nothing like it.  I’m all about  being  a Drama Queen.  How ’bout you?  Any kindred spirits out there?

dmzh

PS  While I am being a wee bit tongue-in-cheek about my own Drama Queen-ness, I do think it is important that we validate the feelings of others, especially those of young girls as they are learning to become women (and boys becoming men, although I know less about that!).  We all know the teen and young adult years can be brutal.  Some Drama Queens are suffering from real problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, or histrionic personality disorder.  I’ve included some potentially helpful information here.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/having-sex-wanting-intimacy/201404/stop-the-drama-queen-cycle

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-drama-queen.htm

http://www.promises.com/articles/mental-health/drama-queens-may-suffer-from-histrionic-personality-disorder/