Definitions

Names were important to ancient peoples. To know the real name of someone was to control that person. To some extent, we do that now, by means of labels, or definitions.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I define myself. As I've mentioned, for the past 35 or so years, I've defined myself as teacher. I teach. I talk teaching. I think teaching. I look at the labels I've put on this blog. Gluten-free. When I go out to eat, this definition of myself is the predominant one. Standard poodle lover. My day begins and ends with my dog/s. I take care of dogs. I read about them and look at pictures of them. I make friends based on my love of dogs.

What if I didn't have these labels? Is it possible to fill a day without referring to one's definition of self? Would it be a day of all new things? If I woke up to not knowing what I was going to pursue- not expecting to get on my computer, take care of the dog? Would I do the same things if I wasn't consciously and subconsciously defining myself? I can add to my definition of myself, but can I erase, or change, what is already there?

I have a feeling these questions are going to sound silly when I reread them, but that, then, would be due to my definition of myself...