Who

“Who are YOU?” said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I–I hardly know, sir, just at present– at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”
(Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 5)

I was at a conference once where the speaker asked us to turn to our neighbor and tell them who we were. I responded with “Well… I’m a mom of three girls, ages 8, 6, and 1. I’m married to a high school math teacher. I mostly stay home with my youngest, but work a couple hours a week at my church…”

The usual, right?

Then the speaker asked us to try again — and describe who we were WITHOUT associating it with another person or something we do.

We all laughed a little, but in that strained “whoa, she has a point” sort of way.

As a woman, a wife, and a mother, I’ve spent so many years thinking outside myself and avoiding anything that might be considered selfish. Sure I do things for myself occasionally, like read a book or take a nap (hello introvert), meet up with a friend for lunch or attend a Bible study. But what about the deep-down core of my being?

WHO AM I?

I can give the Sunday School answer easily enough. I’m a child of God, a daughter of the King, a friend of Jesus. I can even spout off personality labels, such as ISFJ, Enneagram 9 Peacemaker, Four Tendencies Obliger.

But when I stop and take those lists and really think about them, and what each one means for me and how they affect my everyday life, I get overwhelmed.

Who are you? is a loaded question. But I guess my answer is simply I am Carrie Roer. There is no one else like me. No one else has the exact same combination of personality traits and life experiences. I am unique. I am worthy. I am special.

And it’s okay to give yourself labels. It’s how we relate to others around us, how we find things in common. But sometime, try to wrap your mind around how each of those things fits together, and marvel at the entire package that makes you YOU.

Will you comment below and give me a glimpse of who you are? Whether it’s the pieces that include other people, or personality traits, or something else? Who are YOU?

 

31Days of Five Minute Free Writes is a participation in Write31Days, which takes place every October. See the rest of my craft-practicing posts linked up here.