Irina D. (1) (SEE) - Activity, Energy, and Impulsivity

As a child, I was active and strong-willed: jumping, running, climbing fences, roofs, trees. I ran fast at competitions, constantly climbed somewhere, everywhere. Once I climbed a tall tree all the way to the top, couldn’t climb down, sat there until evening when my dad came home from work. He skillfully helped me down, guiding me from below.

<...> I was signed up for every club in the world, except chess. Didn’t stay long anywhere, but tried everything. Basketball, volleyball, jumping, gymnastics, badminton.

A SEE tends to skim the surface. “Why stay here long? I already understand everything, and now it’s not interesting.” Regular monotonous visits and hard training — that’s hard for me; my hobby is running around, climbing fences.

The territory of the Pechersk Monastery was our favorite refuge. Climbing the walls, walking through the basements. You feel the flexibility in your body, like Mowgli. You jump, and climbing somewhere is effortless. You climb over a fence, tear your clothes a bit, come home with a ripped outfit but feeling great inside.

<...> I remember how we (my cousin and I) played war: I was a partisan sitting in a cold cellar.