Labels Schmabels
We are a society of labelers, we label everything. Our pantries, our linen closets, our dresser drawers, our medicine cabinets, we even label our children. Granted, some things need a label, my spices for sure need to have large labels across each and every one. Have you ever made something and put Cayenne in instead of cinnamon? Well when you cannot smell things, the two can look extremely similar (saying that for a friend wink, wink).
I've been struggling with this word recently, unsure if I am comfortable with my labels that the world has given me. "Single Mom", "Divorcee", "girlfriend". A few labels I adore, "MOM", "sister", "daughter ", those I wear with pride and without hesitation. Since it has been muddling through this head of mine, I decided to do what I do best, Google it.
My Google dictionary defines the word LABEL as the following; "a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is inaccurate or restrictive."
OHHHH.....Whoa, wait a freakin' minute. "Restrictive", there we go, that's what I feel! I wrote a few weeks ago in my personal journal that I wasn't feeling the label thing, I felt odd about it, not completely knowing why yet feeling that I didn't really like it.
Labels put you in a box that society has deemed acceptable, appropriate and worthy of the label. And that is fine, if you don't mind, if you want that characterization of yourself. I don't, I don't want to have to be hallmarked as one thing vs another. I want to just be.....be Terri. I will be Mom to my children, I will be daughter to my parents, sister to my siblings, those are an honor to me. They still allow me the freedom to just be.
People have asked, "do you want to ever get married again?" Without hesitation I would reply yes, of course. Now I have asked myself why. Why do I feel the need to get married again? That label of wife would mean that I am secure, that I am someone special, that I am someone who is loved. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Disney has fucked us all up! Being a "wife" doesn't (in my newly found opinion) make you anyone different than you were the day before. Security doesn't come with the label. Being a "girlfriend" doesn't mean that you walk around with a sash across your chest that protects your heart, or his. Society sees these labels and demands we preform our duties with our head held high, stripping us of our individuality and personal freedom.
I don't want to live by societies rules, I want to live by what we together feel is best for us.
I've been struggling with this word recently, unsure if I am comfortable with my labels that the world has given me. "Single Mom", "Divorcee", "girlfriend". A few labels I adore, "MOM", "sister", "daughter ", those I wear with pride and without hesitation. Since it has been muddling through this head of mine, I decided to do what I do best, Google it.
My Google dictionary defines the word LABEL as the following; "a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is inaccurate or restrictive."
OHHHH.....Whoa, wait a freakin' minute. "Restrictive", there we go, that's what I feel! I wrote a few weeks ago in my personal journal that I wasn't feeling the label thing, I felt odd about it, not completely knowing why yet feeling that I didn't really like it.
Labels put you in a box that society has deemed acceptable, appropriate and worthy of the label. And that is fine, if you don't mind, if you want that characterization of yourself. I don't, I don't want to have to be hallmarked as one thing vs another. I want to just be.....be Terri. I will be Mom to my children, I will be daughter to my parents, sister to my siblings, those are an honor to me. They still allow me the freedom to just be.
People have asked, "do you want to ever get married again?" Without hesitation I would reply yes, of course. Now I have asked myself why. Why do I feel the need to get married again? That label of wife would mean that I am secure, that I am someone special, that I am someone who is loved. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Disney has fucked us all up! Being a "wife" doesn't (in my newly found opinion) make you anyone different than you were the day before. Security doesn't come with the label. Being a "girlfriend" doesn't mean that you walk around with a sash across your chest that protects your heart, or his. Society sees these labels and demands we preform our duties with our head held high, stripping us of our individuality and personal freedom.
I don't want to live by societies rules, I want to live by what we together feel is best for us.
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