Monday, 26 November 2012

Who am I?

Well, I'm me. But who's that? We all have so many different faces, different masks we put on depending on where we are and who we're with. Employee me is different to girlfriend me is different to sister me is different to daughter me is different to housemate me. What's real?

I think it's interesting that our very awareness of this predicament shapes our response to it. I find often it is the people that have never consciously considered the above who have the strongest sense of self. Because these transitions have always been unconscious, these people are often the ones who have the best idea of who and what they are.

Does one define themselves through action?
In that case, I'm a student. More specifically, I'm an undergraduate arts student. I also volunteer my Friday evenings and several weekends a school term as an adult leader at my Scout group. I visit my parents once a week and my grandparents once a fortnight, although I'd like to do so more. I'm in a committed relationship with a man I truly love, and we moved in together in December of last year. I'm a pet owner - Shane and I co-own two very adorable, very naughty rabbits who are barely approaching half a year old. I've attended rallies for the past few years campaigning for equal marriage rights for same-sex couples as well as campaigned for a more general level of equality for minorities across the board. I have a tongue piercing, and I wear a lot of black. I work in a bookshop.

I find that the above is usually my response to the question "so tell me about yourself". But there's so much of myself that actions don't and can't express. Actions are totally inadequate in defining and explaining who I am.

So does one define themselves through thought and emotion?
In that case, I'm bisexual. I find myself attracted to both men and women. While I embrace the nicer of the so-called "Christian principles", the Christian religion itself appalls me. I identify primarily as Wiccan, although I am presently not a practicing Wiccan. The theology of the religion strongly resonates with me. Its core principle and "golden rule" so to speak is
     "an it harm none, do what ye will." 
I try and live this in my life as much as I can, but like everyone else I am only human and I struggle at times. 
I don't believe in the death penalty. Ever. I strongly condemn wanton violence and unnecessary bloodshed. I'm not sure that I know what constitutes "necessary" bloodshed. I believe in monogamy, in marriage, in the nuclear family. That said, I hold nothing against those who decide that it's not for them. Consenting adults ought to be able to do as they wish, and when it comes to family structure children are amazingly resilient and accepting.
I believe religious instruction - all forms of it - should be kept out of school. I support the notion of "religion education" in the sense of an overview of multiple religions in order to give children a perspective they may not have had before, but without prejudice and without bias. 

I look at the above, and I can't help but feel that it still doesn't encapsulate what I am, who I am. No doubt, it is a combination of my thoughts and my actions that define me. My latest theory is that it is our goals that really show who we are, because they show us what we value.

So what are my goals?
I want to graduate from uni.
I want to make my garden stronger and healthier.

I want to continue volunteering at Scouts indefinitely.
I want to be one of the voices that makes marriage equality a reality.
I want to watch my rabbits grow up and progress through their life.
I want to work to strengthen my relationship that it may truly last the distance.
I want to travel to Europe, preferably for a year.
I want to become more discerning, more thoughtful, more aware of my actions.
I want to be a better person.
I want to be a mother and a wife.
I want to understand myself so that others can understand me.

So you tell me;who am I?

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