Simultaneous Multiplicity: What have you been? OR: What's in the stew that is you?

Well, what have you been, so far?

People often ask: "what do you do?" You might say, "I'm a teacher" or "a stock-broker" or "a fire-fighter" or "a social-worker". We ask about what others do for a living, I suspect, to get an idea about another person's identity. And many of us answer with the singular "I'm a this" or "a that"; which is inherently so very limited!

As much as some would like to believe we exist in a singular role, perhaps defined by what we do, like a character in a book or film, we don't. What we do to make a living doesn't necessarily reflect who we are. Oh sure, it can. For many, it may define who they are. But for others of us, if our day-job does reflect who we are as individuals, it reflects a mere portion. Many of us DO and ARE multiple things. For example, some of my friends teach at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but they are ALSO artists, writers, thinkers, creators, activists and pot-stirrers. What we do is an ingredient in the savory-sweet stew that is "you".

We are simultaneously multiplicitous beings! Ever evolving. We expand and change what we do - what we are - as time progresses. Our roles are amorphous... at least, they CAN be as we evolve and grow and reach goals and establish new ones. And keep reaching.

So, what have you been? (Any role sustained over a period of time.)

For example, I identify as an Artist and my day-job is at lululemon athletica. There, I thrive on the constantly moving visual puzzle known as merchandising. (Magnificent company, magnificent people, magnificent merchandise to merchandise.) But I've been other things too:

A waitress, an actress, a butcher.
A voice-over talent; business owner, marketing consultant, focus group moderator. An advertising executive.
A babysitter.
A juror.
A student, volunteer, teacher.
A classical pianist.

Yogini.

A daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, wife.
A client, patient, victim.

A friend, a lover.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN. (C'mon, try this. It's fun.)
- Who have you been?
- And, what do you still want to be?

Tell me,
Tell someone.
Then, go for it.

(NOW.)