Thoughts on Who I Am

Everyone around me says that I’m either defined by my name, my religion, or even the person I happen to be dating, but I don’t think any of that is true. I don’t think people can be defined by one name or by a god they believe in or their significant other. I think people are defined by what they feel in their heart.

Me and my church leader are working on this new lesson and it’s called Identity. These three people are given a chance to change who they once were and become the person they want to be, but they refuse. They say they want to stay who they are because they identify with god. I simply don’t believe that you can identify yourself with a god that might not even exist, you know?

So when my church leader asked me if I could describe myself in one word, what would that word be? I told him that I can’t; or more importantly, I won’t. I will not describe myself as one word because then it feels like I’ve limited myself to a maximum of that word alone.

Chris, my church leader, was surprised that I refused his request, but then I explained, “If I define who I am as one word, then that’s what you’ll see when you look at me. It may be a good thing, but I am more than just an artist or a writer or a girl who laughs at corny puns. When you look at me I want you to know that I’m not defined by one word alone, but many words."

I may be as happy as a girl with a snow-cone one day, and then the next I could be as sad as my dog when we run out of treats. You can't just define yourself as one word alone, because as humans, we aren't just an idea or a feeling. We're multiple different things, and those things change a lot. Because today I might tell you that I'm defined by the word enthusiastic, but then you might see me tomorrow and I won't be anywhere near that description."

One word alone can never define me and neither can a thousand words. We are not defined but what we do, who we believe in, or where we're at in life. We are not defined by one word alone and we certainly can't describe ourselves in less than a minute.

If you want someone to describe themselves, don't ask them to put it into words, because then you are limiting who they are. If you want to know someone in a better way, just sit down and talk to them. Ask to spend a day with them and I can promise you that by then, you won't even be able to describe them in one word.

Chris figured that would be a good idea. He understands limiting people to one word of description is wrong. His wife, Sandra, even suggested going to Six Flags in order to get to know all of us better. Since we’re a fairly small youth group, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Sandra then went on to invite us to more places and offer to have a day spent just sitting and talking. I plan to hold her to her words. I look forward to getting to know each of them and not just see them as our church leaders.

See? That’s another describing word that could be added on to. You do no have to limit yourself or anyone else to the standard of one word. You don’t even have to give a word for description.

Just know the people around you and see them for all that they are and not the one word they use to describe themselves.