Who Are You?

Who are you?

I ask women that ALL the time. I get answers like “I’m Ken’s wife” or “I’m Jalen’s mom.” Sometimes they say “I’m the HR director” or “I’m a member of (insert social/civic) organization.”

I then have to ask... if by some unfortunate series of events you are no longer married, your children are estranged or worse, you lose your job, or you become unaffiliated, THEN who are you? Do you know?

We have become so attached to who and what we are to others that we really don’t know who we are for ourselves. For instance, I am a nurturer and an educator. Regardless of the situation, I love to nurture and see people and circumstances grow to maturity. I love to plant seeds and watch them grow to full capacity. I love an empty slate where I can share expertise and experience and see a person’s mindset develop. Whether I am teaching someone how to do a smoky eye, exegete a text, or select a career path, I am an educator. Regardless of my title or affiliation, those are innate passions that reside within me and I feed into everyday.

So when someone asks you “Who are you?” I hope that your answer goes beyond your name tag, hand gesture, bloodline, or marriage license. I hope your response is an authentic and holistic reflection of YOU.