To everything-turn, turn, turn
There is a season-turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven”
– Turn, Turn, Turn-The Byrds-1965
We can’t return we can only look behind from where we came and go round and round in the circle game”
– The Circle Game-Joni Mitchell
Time it was and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they’re all that’s left you”
– Old Friends/Bookends-Simon & Garfunkel
It’s not what I am but what I do that defines me”
– Batman Begins-2005
TIME AND THE PASSING THEREOF along with our places in time. From the moment we wake until the moment we lay down to go to sleep we forlornly ask ourselves Who Are You followed by the question Do You Really Know Who You Are? You drift into sleep only to wake the next morning forgetting you posed these questions to yourself.
As the alarm clock abruptly alerts you that a new day has arrived. You stagger out of bed to begin the process of becoming who you are. The who you are during working hours replete with all the roles you have to play. Is this who you are?
The day ends at the precise time it usually ends. You climb into your car or hop on a train to begin your journey home. Who is waiting for you at the end of your journey? Is it your wife, your wife and children, a pet or perhaps a “significant other.” You arrive at your destination having completed your nightly journey. Who Are You or perhaps more accurately Who Are You Now? Do You Really Know Who You Are?
Day upon day the process repeats itself. Unknowingly the questions that you unconsciously ask yourself weigh heavier on your mind demanding an answer only you can give. This is the struggle to define is the person you at work who you are, is it the person you are at home who you are, is it the person when you are alone who you are? Do you really know who you are?
Characters in movies are usually quickly and pretty well defined. It’s not hard to figure out if they are the good guy or the bad guy or somebody in between. You may not know how the movie will end but as the scenes develop into the a climax right before the final scene you may be able to figure out the conclusion.
Life as we know is not that simple. We are taken on many different paths that lead to many other paths after that. In order to find our “place” it is imperative we have a strong sense of who we are in total. How can you look to give something of emotional importance to somebody that involves giving a piece of yourself if you don’t know who you are or who you really are?
When you live your professional life as a recruiter you have to take on the persona of an amateur psychologist. What makes this person tick? Is the real person the one that appears on a resume or somebody else entirely. This takes us back to my original theme of Who Are You/Do You Really Know Who You Are/
As I put the finishing touches on this article I want you to take a few moments to search deeply within yourselves to see what answers you come up with to the two questions in the title of this article. Look over each answer carefully several times over. Before you make your final determinations take yet another look inside yourself. Upon conclusion of this exercise (repeat it as often as you feel is necessary to feel confident in your answers) compare each response and see where you end up. I would love to hear from you as to what you came up with. Remember there is no right or wrong answer.
Establishing who we are is really difficult because we are used to wanting certain boundaries, precise and stable definitions.
To understand who I am I believe that I must first of all eliminate the idea of being able to define myself with a few words or sentences. We are constantly evolving, in constant change.
Gambling: who we really are is what we attach most importance to, and what is valuable to us reflects on what we do, where our energies and resources are routinely directed.
Aldo, I am not one who believes a person can accurately define who they are in a few simple words. Everything you wrote in your comment I not only agree with but embellish as well. Thank you, Aldo!
Great post Joel. I can saw at this moment I am at peace with life. Who I am is a reflection of the many roads I have traveled and the mentors I met along the way. I was taught to be kind and to help others without expectations. I am a simple man and I am happy walking down a Dirt Road with my dog in tow.
Thank you, Larry, for your great comment that rings of pure truth!
Great post Joel! We are always engaged to find ourselves. Our wrong decisions, our miscalculations, our staggering, our reluctance; and our every unsure move, word, and gestures; our anger, sense of hatred; and our lack of patience strengthen the argument that we are still in search to know exactly who we are. In my opinion, Holy Books solve this confusion by answering your quest about your identity. Thank you Joel!
Qamar, Let me as always thank you for your profound comments. On a personal level what processes or resources do you use or have used to help discover who you are? If I may also ask who influenced your writing style as you put together words so very well.
Thanks Joel! If it’s not considered offensive, I learned these things from my religion and culture. That’s why I suggested to go to Holy Books to find the real self-identity. As far as my writing efforts are concerned, I’m trying to learn them from you, and from great names like you.
Qamar, There is indeed much to be learned from “holy books” that can help you discover your self-identity. To those who do subscribe to religious practice nor want any involvement with “holy books”, etc. how and where would such a person be able to also find out their true self. Regarding your writing while am quite flattered by you referring to me as a “great name” I hold to the fact that I am just a regular person who loves to write and endeavors to create material that people will enjoy reading. You must come to realize you are an accomplished writer who can easily branch out into may different styles. Thank you.