"A good name is rather to be chosen than riches." ~ King Solomon
Names are powerful. Do you know what your name means? How do you feel about your name?
Many years ago, I chose a pen name. I haven't used it that way, but now and then I think of myself as: Elizabeth Linden Clark.
I was born in Elizabeth, NJ, grew up in Linden, and then moved to Clark when I was a senior in high school. This series of names seems to reflect my growth. But I've grown a lot more since then, so should I choose more names? Should you?
"I have no name: I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name..." wrote poet William Blake.
I think I'll add Joy in front of the other names. Might Joy be a name for you? JOY is in our essence and there was time when we knew it. It may sound like a name only for girls, but Joy was a popular name for boys in the early 1900's
And who are we now? It's for us to decide. And no matter our age, we can grow, change, explore, discover, and transform ourselves. As Dave Mustaine said, "It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name."
Let's remember that we are still growing, no matter how old we are. We are still discovering who we are and what we want to do-who we want to be-when we grow up.
With hope and courage
Joy Elizabeth Linden Clark
Blogging on...
I just spoke with a high school classmate, another person I have not seen or talked with for 50 years. Along with other things, we talked about names. I knew her as Patty. After our conversation, I asked in an email what name she would like me to call her. This was her response:
"I think Patricia is a beautiful name, and a few of my newer friends call me that. Professionally, I call myself Patricia. However, Patricia automatically comes with nick names.
For those who have known me since elementary school... I will always be "Patty." As an adult, I introduce myself as Pat. In my memoirs I write as Patty but use the name, Elizabeth, as a symbol of the strength inside of me to finally become my true self, moving from being Patty to becoming Elizabeth.
The short answer is that you may call me Patty. Is that what you called me in high school? I am not sure, on many levels, who I was in high school...But I like who I am now!"
I love that you like who you are now, Elizabeth, and that you know your strength!
May we all know our strength and feel reverence for ourselves and one another.
Loving you all,
Charlene
