Who am I? It is the question we all ask ourselves throughout life. But do we truly know who we are? What part of yourself do you show to the world, exposing society to certain personality traits and what part of yourself do you choose to hide? Are you the secret bookworm? chick flick lover? sports fan? One Direction fan?
You see, there are people who choose to live their life out on social media- every event a photo opportunity, every holiday a chance to show people where you have ventured off too. And there are people who enjoy privacy, keeping some of their more favourite memories to themselves and the people who were there. And then, you have the people somewhere in the middle whom enjoy both a sense of privacy but, also reveal some part of themselves to the world. I think those people are the hardest to identify. Basically, we live our life based on the identity we create for ourselves and that identity is made up of a lot of different events, memories, genetics and so forth. It is that identity that even we don’t truly understand. So, just sit for a minute and ask…
WHO AM I?
I’ll tell you what comes to mind for myself. Well, first off I’m a graduate from University. So for myself, this signals the academic part of my identity- the person whom spent hours studying to get a degree. This further shows I’m a determined, smart individual who likes a challenge but this is the same part of myself that I choose to expose to the world and use to my advantage. It also shows my love of learning, you wouldn’t go to Uni and incur the debt if you didn’t like learning new things, if you didn’t want the challenge.
I’m a runner. I enjoy going for a run, it is a chance for an adventure and to explore. Again, I post my runs on social media so this is another part I choose to expose to the world. Why? Because I’m proud? Because I want to share my route with others who may want to go for a run? Yes, to both. I don’t however stop in the middle of a run to take a picture of myself because that defeats the purpose of my exercise. Yet, others do choose to do it. You see, that is a hidden part of who I am. The annoyance for those who stop in the middle of a run just to take a picture of themselves running, it is like when people exercise with a full face of makeup. Girl, if your makeup hasn’t moved at all while you exercise then you clearly haven’t done enough. It ain’t a beauty competition.
So you see, as you begin to think about who you are, using the exposed part of your identity you can begin to see the person underneath. And from my annoyance, you can dig deeper. Am I annoyed because they stop or put on the makeup? No. Or am I annoyed because they feel the need to tell the world what they are doing right in that minute? No. It annoys me, because it’s nonsensical. Some of these people, are the same ones who criticise others for doing it or complain when they aren’t getting stronger and healthier and fitter. It makes no sense. It’s nonsense.
I like the hidden parts of myself. I know them. It’s the me, I know. The one no one else can understand apart from myself. It allows for you to retreat into a version of yourself, for your eyes only. It gives you a freedom. Despite the fact that I can come off rather social, I’m truthfully not an extrovert. I’m an introvert. But, the identity I have out in society may not signal that as much as if you observed my true identity.
I just think it’s interesting to think about who you are? So, if you have some downtime just ask yourself who am I? Maybe you’ll reveal something you didn’t realise.
WHO ARE YOU? WHO AM I?…..IDENTITY.