What I Am Is What I Am...

I come from a pack of musicians.  I married a musician.  I birthed a couple of natural musicians.  But I’m no musician myself.  Still, nearly every moment of every day delivers a song to my head.  More often than not, I find myself speaking in song lyrics.

That makes my kids crazy – which may be why I do it.  Whenever they lodge a complaint or ask for something, I often respond with relatable lyrics.  They give me funny looks and ask if that’s a real song.  Thanks to youtube, I can always share with them the soundtrack in my head.

Unless you were paying attention in the late 80s, you may be unfamiliar with the current song in my brain’s rotation.  Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians said “What I am is what I am. Are you what you are or what?”

Why this one?  Frustration, I think . It seems that more and more in this world, people are demanding labels for everything.  The old “what do you do?” question when first meeting someone has been around forever and will probably never fade.  The expected response is to name your profession and claim that label as your identity.

People have become bolder and more demanding in wanting others to identify their labels. Are you Liberal? Conservative? Christian?  Carnivore? Vegan? What’s your Nationality? Whose team are you on?  What I am is what I am. Are you what you are or what?”

What I am is a Person. I am Mother, Daughter, Wife, Sister, Friend. I am Grateful I am Loving.  That’s the end of the labels I’m willing to wear for anyone else.

I often say that I know a little about a lot of things.  Lessons learned by just being present with open eyes and ears.  “Oh, I'm not aware of too many things.  I know what I know, if you know what I mean.”

Some of this acquired knowledge enables me to do a job.  Some informs decisions I make in the things that matter.  Some guides me through challenges.  Some steers me away from conflict and frustration.

Since labels seem to be the thing people are most focused on right now, I will temporarily wear Frustrated Human Being.  When my fellow humans are choosing separation and conflict, it’s frustrating.  Anger and fear have no place in my world, but I see it swirling around me.  When Ego – be it political, religious, or just plain arrogance - runs rampant, it seems that instinct is to cling to all of those labels one carries and try to run with them.  That only serves to fan the flames and fuel the fire.

For me, I trust that security comes from standing with my feet firmly planted, wrapped in the blanket of the only labels I need.  Good Person. Mother. Daughter. Wife. Sister. Friend.  What I am is what I am. Are you what you are or what?”