Why a Dabbing Turtle?

Why did I choose a Dabbing Turtle for my persona? Simply, turtles are cute. Their slow movements entrance us - have you ever walked by a turtle and NOT wanted to stare for a few moments? Even their hard shells draw us in as smooth, touchable, accessible. They always appear to be smiling, in on a joke we can't wait to hear. Granted, it's probably a dad joke, but it'd be a joke that would still make you smile, too.

Eye-level view of a colorful dabbing turtle plush toy

And why dabbing? You know these lighthearted creatures would be the first ones to join in on a community dance craze. They may appear soft-spoken, but surely they can cut a rug.

It can't be hard to imagine why I am drawn to dabbing turtles, as so many of us have been through the popular memes and videos posted all over. (Here's one of my faves.) But the dabbing turtle speaks to me beyond the cuteness and the dance floor aptitude.

A Quiet That Speaks Volumes

For my entire life I've loved turtles, appreciated their quiet nature. I was a shy child who turned into a self-conscious and shy teenager, and then an introverted adult forced to be an extrovert in my professional life. Just as we know a turtle must have more to say than they're telling us, I've spent a lot of my life observing and practicing careful communication.

This outwardly projected ponderous visage appears to others as a mellowness and patience. Friends and colleagues often remark, "You're so calming to be around." I work hard to be considerate of others, am diplomatic to a fault and play peacekeeper when conflicts arise. What most people don't know is that beneath the surface - beneath my shell (who doesn't love a good pun, am I right?!), much like our dabbing turtle, there is an anxiety focused on perfectionism that is closely controlled.

My inner whirling is masked by selective use of words, or a delayed response used to gather my thoughts into a cohesive idea. There have been a lot of interactions, where when I do speak, I'm regarded as a thoughtful voice because folks know that I don't talk just for the sake of hearing my own voice. There's efficiency in being discriminate in one's contributions to a discussion; the thoughts have already been through a filter so others don't need to sort through the discard pile to get to the good stuff.

A Mindset That Conveys Playfulness

And the dabbing part. Turtles are cute enough, so why do they need to dab? Because why not? What harm does it ever do anyone to throw a little joy and delight in the mix? And while I'm not a great dancer by anyone's imagination, I can feel the beat and will show my moves on the dance floor at a wedding. And often, this introvert will be the first one out there, dragging others up from their chairs to share in the delight of dancing.

One of the best compliments I've ever gotten was a friend of a friend who had just met me reported to our mutual friend that I was "delightful." I was so honored to be thought of this way. Life is serious enough, having to worry about bills, employment, health issues, tragedies, disasters, and more. There's enough yuck out there, why not aim to be the bright part of someone's day? A compliment, a nice word, even a smile or nod, could erase the memory of that person cutting you off on the highway, or the litter in the neighborhood park. Just for a minute, you have delight.

So just dab. Because, why not?