I think it's interesting how much labels and titles matter to us. On the one hand people are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a label (types, colors, levels in a program, greed cults, brand names), and on the other people give their lives up to escape labels (racial, religious, ethnic, cultural, offensive).
The other day I mentioned running to an acquaintance. They asked me if I was a runner. Like a gust of wind in my brain, I was taken back to the
Art department at
Southern Virginia University. I remembered struggling with saying I was an
artist. I mean sure I created art, I was an Art major, but was I an artist? After a lot of art making, discussion with my Senior Art Girls (I'm going to include Katie and a few younger people in this too) and professors, and talking "in-loud" to myself I decided I could say, "Yes, I am an artist."
So here I am again, wondering, "Am I an artist?...Am I a runner?" Why does it matter "what" we are? Eh, who knows. Anticlimactic much? Once again I've started a post in a mental fervor...then I go to sleep and try to finish the post a few days later. The fever is gone, and the post ends like this, but just to spice it up I'll make a list of the labels I like to have or have been given.
-Daughter of God
-Smith
-Weird
-Artist/Painter
-Runner
-Teacher/Educator
-Latter-Day Saint
Oh the labels. I have had the same runner one. I've ran 5 half marathons, two fulls and a couple other races, and people call me a runner when the truth is I hate running and I never run. The label carries too much pressure. Maybe that's just me in my head though but I felt like when people asked me that question or labeled me that way that I was obligated to act a certain way. What a weirdo I am. I also struggle with the "Vegan" title. On one hand, it's easy to just tell people I'm vegan instead of explaining all my health and ethical views but on the other hand, I feel guilty using the title as I am not opposed to eating meat (very) sparingly as long as it comes from a good source. I also find myself lableing my marriage (WTH???) with the whole cultural thing. Oh how I hate "labels".
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think one of the pitfalls of labels is that feeling that you have to act a certain way. And I totally get not wanting to tell people you are certain things, like a vegan, bc then you'd have to explain it all.
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