Welcome to the year of the rat! If you were born (as I was) in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, or 2020, this is your year. If you follow the beliefs outlined in the Chinese zodiac, people born in the year of the rat have the following personality traits…

Rats are said to be optimistic, energetic, likable by all, clever, quick thinking, independent, creative, and successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life.

Those are great traits to possess, but what about the negative ones? After all, everyone has negative personality traits. I can think of a few I possess, like impatience, stubbornness, and impulsiveness, although those are not included in the year of the rat list. Negative characteristics that are noted in further research on the subject are short-sighted, conservative, suspicious, not persistent, and a little timid. I don’t believe many of those apply to this rat, although conservative might be considered. Depending on the situation.

I guess stubbornness and persistence are similar, with one a bit more aggressive than the other. Most people would probably rather be called persistent than stubborn. Does no persistence imply not stubborn? I like to think of myself as persistent but do admit to being stubborn (sometimes) too.

So, I will accept the list of positive characteristics assigned to the rat, but reject the negative ones. What’s that called? I’m sure it’s not positive.

Bring on the year of the rat, I am anxious to see if it will be a good year for this rat.