Each of us has at least one nickname, some label that we apply when we talk about ourselves, or something that only one person has ever or will ever call us. I have quite a collection of them myself:
Nicknames or any sort of name I've been called and responded to:
Alex. Lex. Lexy. Lexington. Lextacy. Biller. Bill. A Bill. Fred. Whore. Smartass. Puta. Keeper. Keeps. Chica. Chiquita. Kid. Kiddo. Pumpkin. Penguin. Honey. Baby. Sweetheart. Darling. Dear. Hey you. Blondie. Girl.
Labels:
Student. Athlete. Photographer. Employee. Nerd. Southern Belle. Dreamer. Wisher. Fighter. Lover. Believer.
There are so many more nicknames and labels I could put on here, but that's not the point. The point is, I have a problem with labels. I don't have a problem with nicknames, in fact I rather like them, but labels bother me to an extent. I will label myself as many things, but I hate being labeled as something by people who do not know me. Growing up, teachers marked me as a "potential problem child" because my parents were divorced. In high school, I was pegged as "one of those smart kids" who apparently had no talent other than book smarts. And now in college, I'm one of those "out-of-staters". I'm not from around these parts. Well, not in Athens anyway. Labels create problems, preconceptions, and sometimes take a lifetime to reverse. People are often reluctant to change their viewpoint of a person if they already have that person pegged as something else. But, as I've realized through the years, labels are inevitable. They come with the territory. You start somewhere new and people don't know what to make of you, so they classify you based on what you know. I'm guilty of it as well. However, I do feel I have the ability to change that classification once I get to know that person better.
So my challenge to you, dear reader. Look beyond the label. Look beyond the "Hello, My Name Is:" tag, and instead see that person for who they truly are.
Who in the world thinks you are a souther belle? Aren't southern belle's usually the shy, gentle, fragile type? Maybe my understanding of southern belle is incorrect, but regardless what I have described, isn't you.
ReplyDeleteOh and I know you in real life; Care to guess who I am?
ReplyDeleteBased on the way you write (and you're the only one following this) I'd have to say Adam?
ReplyDeleteWow! Well Done! I am very impressed. I had no idea that, with so little commentary, my identity could be discerned. Perhaps the 314 in my name helped. I had forgotten I even had an account on here, but apparently I made one for an English class. I didn't really intend on using it after that; thus I didn't put much thought into my username.
ReplyDeleteI'm just good like that Adam. You should know that by now ;-). To answer your previous question about who thinks I'm a Southern Belle, well, I can put on a good show when necessary. But Southern Bells are also kind, gracious, overly welcoming, use the phrase "oh my goodness" and "bless your/his/her heart" and those kinds of things, all with hand motions, gasping, and the touching of the ever-present pearls (as any good Southern Belle knows, the strand of peals is ALWAYS the perfect accessory)
ReplyDelete