Today’s card says: You get to choose who you are at every moment of every day. nothing is set in stone, including you. who you are can change moment to moment, you get to choose.
I wrote this down because I think about this a lot. Often enough that I have created a few cards this month that say the same thing. Because I can’t remember this one often enough. The biggest reason I picked the word choose this year was to remind myself that I get to choose who I am at any moment. How I can respond and not react to events. Part of this is remembering that who I’ve been does not have to be who I will be in this moment. Or who I will be tomorrow.
As we grow up, we form parts of our identity. Good at math, not good at sports, geeky, introverted, shy, loud, bad at writing, good at music, etc. etc. And I made mine just like most others I know. I then spend my days perpetuating this identity, especially in my head. When opportunities come up to do things, it goes through the filter of how I see myself. I am not good at social events, so when I am invited I choose not to go. I love reading so when it has to do with books, I go. Hiking/running – no. Quiet conversations – yes.
But the thing is, just because it’s been true, it doesn’t have to continue to be true. As much as I believe in stepping into who we are wholly (and i really really do) I also believe in choosing to be anything you want to be. If i want to be a runner, I just have to get up and do it. Yes, I will suck at first, but I’ve had years of practice not being a runner so I have to give this new identity some time to grow. I can be a runner. Someone who’s social. Someone who can dance, drive on the freeway, play a musical instrument, or whatever else I choose to be.
The important part is the choice part. I don’t have to do any of these things for other people or for society. I don’t have to do them at all.
But I can.
The choice is up to me.
Choosing Means is a Monthly Project for May 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.
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