Me
I am me.
That is who I want to be.
I love myself very much.
I am me
And I have a very special touch.
At being me.
No one can be me as well as I can be.
Because I am unique.
One of a kind.
From Middle School To Mid-Life Crisis
I wrote that poem between the ages of 12 and 14. It appears that I understood something in middle school that I have forgotten in mid-life. What happened to loving myself very much, and having that very special touch at being me? I seem to be having somewhat of a mid-life identity crisis that makes me want to retreat into my shell. However, I know that I am the best version of “me” now that I choose shining over hiding.
Perception
The other day during journaling class, one of the questions asked was, “If you were an animal, which animal would you be?” I said the same answer that I have said since I was a little girl, “An owl, because I have big eyes and people perceive me as wise.” To my syrupy sweet surprise, one of my co-teachers said, “I see you as a giraffe, yep, you’re totally a giraffe.” I was so excited about being seen as something new! It was as if I secretly wanted to be a giraffe, but was waiting on permission from someone to let me know that it was okay to change my perception of myself.
What Is Your Nature?
In the last few days, I went from seeing myself as an owl; being seen by someone else as a giraffe, to behaving like a turtle whom is afraid to leave her shell. Think about the nature of all three of those species, and how very different they are. A wide eyed nocturnal, perceived as wise… Lanky, with a large heart, and with a unique perspective… A (potentially snappy) creature that creeps slowly until it gets creeped out, and then it retreats into it’s hard protective shell…
The Answer Lies Within
I have asked myself, “What’s wrong with me? What has caused me to behave like someone else?” I think the answer to that question is hidden within the question itself. “What has caused me to behave like someone else?” As much as I enjoy a good metaphor, I am not an animal, I am a human being and as a human being, I was not created to “behave” I was created to “be.” The answer to what makes most of us behave like someone else, is someone else’s behavior.
- Being – existence.
- Behavior – the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others.
To Be or Not To Be
Who has threatened your special way of being? What has made you abandon being, and settle for behaving? If you feel like behaving like a wild animal will you stay committed to being human? Are you willing to come out of your hiding place, even though voices in your head may tell you to remain unseen? When you don’t know how to behave, are you willing to be still?
Created to Be
God created you to be a human being, not a human doing, so no matter what someone did; continue to live, move, and have your being in Christ. In doing so, you can be wide eyed, and walk in wisdom… You can be a visionary with a big heart, long neck, and vast view… Or embrace moving at your own pace, and resist self loathing during times when you retreat into your shell.
Reflection
Are you having a Mid-life Identity Crisis? What type of scenarios cause you to retreat into your shell? Are you a visionary who finds yourself hindered in your creative process? Wherever you are, I encourage you to remain committed to your divine design. (Trust me, I have the wisdom and the eyeballs of an owl). Being inauthentic is not the answer, being who you are in Christ is the only way to be!
This clip will give you life during your mid-life identity crisis. It is short and you can feel free to join me whilst smiling at all the screaming. It will be worth the insight in the end. Enjoy and thank you for joining me on this journey.
Click Here: Giraffe and Turtle Perspective
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