So many things are labeled these days, and many of them are attributes or groups people belong to, Some in my wide circle of acquaintances call themselves introverts.Others call themselves disabled, gluten intolerant, political activists, the list goes on endlessly. Unless it is an inanimate object, it has not been my preference to label people. We are so much more than who or what we identify ourselves as. First and foremost, we are humans. Perhaps some of our treatment of one another is less than human, but at the core of our existence, we are humans, flesh and blood beings capable of many and varied things. When I worked in the mental health field, I detested people being labeled. Nasty names like bi-polar, schizo-affective socio-pathological depressed, and that list goes on to the nth degree. These are not who people are, they are diagnosis that should be used only for billing purposes, or to receive some sort of benefits due to a disability. Much like heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, lupus and multiple other diseases. They serve no positive purpose in getting to know a person, and I mean really know them. In other classifications, people call themselves friends to others, both in person and on social media sources. Just because you occasionally commiserate with another person does not make you friends, a friend is someone who shares a deep knowledge of you, deeply aware of your good, bad and a host of other information. They care about you deeply, most often love you and accept you flaws and gifts equally.Recently I have become increasingly aware of people using a broad definition of friendship, and often times, they really do not understand the word.
Part of me wonders why some feel the need to label themselves so outrightly and proclaim their akin to those groups of traits. I prefer to think of everyone as a whole made up of all those facets, without any one taking center stage in a good or in a negative light. You can call yourself Mother, Father, animal lover, sister, brother, cousin, worker, writer, publicists, nurse, doctor, and the list goes on and on. These are roles we play, but do not make up the sole qualities of the person. On Facebook I see many proclaiming themselves as introverts. Funny, we all have that quality from time to time, and no one I personally have met is that and nothing more. For the most part, and I expect some nasty replies, most peopleI have known that label themselves as introverts are self-centered, self serving and narcissistic in behavior. Sure not all, but some are that and then some. Preferring solitude to the company of others is a preference, not a lifestyle, though some make it their soul purpose in life to embrace the group they most identify with. I personally find myself with traits of both the introvert and the extrovert, depending on the situation, my comfort level and other factors. I prefer to be known for myself, the multi-faceted and diverse individual I have become over the past sixty one years. No one group describes me, nor anyone else for that matter.
The bottom line in all this is to avoid labels, for yourself, your friends and acquaintances, but learn to love all of who you are and what makes you the happiest in life. Most often I find pleasing everyone is impossible, and no longer defines me except when I need to fit in a certain situation I may encounter or need to conform to or in. Some of you will understand my little piece here, some will scratch their head and wonder what the heck I am talking about. Either is good, as if you have read this far, I have managed to make you think about yourself and others in a different light.
