Who ARE You? Please Describe! (men, parent, father)

[nobodysbusiness]

Who ARE you?

We are not our roles (i.e., mother, father, child, daughter, businessman, shopkeeper, etc.) - so HOW do you define yourself?

What/Who are you?

I have no idea WHO I am . . .

I know what I like and what I don't like.

I know what my values are.

But I have NO IDEA WHO I am . . . not a clue.

How about you?

[mschrief]

Mother, wife, step-mother, dog mother, cat mother, granddog mother, employee, soon-to-be retiree.

[nobodysbusiness]

Uh, no. Those are ROLES - they are not "you."

[Curmudgeon]

OP, I think your premise that we are not our roles is not just incorrect but very limiting. The roles have a heavy hand in shaping us and making us who we are.

[VexedAndSolitary]

I'm apathy wrapped in manipulative skills with a black hole in the center of it all.

[Remington Steel]

A microscopic organism which grew into a sentient physical being with a conscience.

[Javier77]

I am a vague attempt at overcoming laziness in order to become the biggest intellectual figure of the XXIst Century.

[Sassybluesy]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

OP, I think your premise that we are not our roles is not just incorrect but very limiting. The roles have a heavy hand in shaping us and making us who we are.

Completely agree. All of our roles define us, and make us who we are.


For instance, if I was never a daughter, then my role as mother would be 'different'. Part of knowing how to mother, I got from MY mother. Part of me being a parent comes from MY parents.


Because my parents were creative, I have the freedom to explore my creative impulses.


Because I'm a wife, I am never lonely anymore. Because I'm an employee, I have an income. Because I am female, I bring a perspective men just can't have. Because I am AARP age, I have wisdom (and a freedom to be myself more than ever) that comes with age. I am the sum total of all my roles, but not defined by any ONE of them.

[nobodysbusiness]

The question is not what you DO in this life, but who you ARE . . . the ESSENCE of you - what is it?

The closest I can get is a Divine spark - the temperament comes with birth - (not sure why - combo of reincarnated stuff and biological stuff) - the personality is created breath by breath - in reaction to environment?

But the ESSENCE . . . what is it that makes YOU you?

I think the ESSENCE is very subtle.

What you DID in life seems like another thing all-together.

[Sassybluesy]

Originally Posted by nobodysbusiness

The question is not what you DO in this life, but who you ARE . . . the ESSENCE of you - what is it?

The closest I can get is a Divine spark - the temperament comes with birth - (not sure why - combo of reincarnated stuff and biological stuff) - the personality is created breath by breath - in reaction to environment?

But the ESSENCE . . . what is it that makes YOU you?

I think the ESSENCE is very subtle.

What you DID in life seems like another thing all-together.

OK. Good luck with this.