Exploring Identity: Who Am I Really?

We can answer this question in many ways.  We can use our name as our identity.  We can use our career as our identity. Or we can even use our hobbies as our identity. I think this is the first question anyone on any journey should ask themselves. So that is where I will start. Today I will try to tackle this age-old question.

This is a hard question to answer, because it is always filled with so many dichotomies.  I am a daughter and a mother. I am a scientist and a spiritualist.  I am a lover and fighter (aka bitch).  And then there is the “I don’t know who I am”.  “Who am I?” I am Michelle in the physical world.  I am called Kestrel Two Feet in the spiritual world.  I was given this name because of my ability to walk two paths at once.  One of mainstream and science and one of metaphysical and spiritual.  It has also allowed me to see the two sides of an argument.  I have always been capable of playing devil’s advocate, much to my mother’s aggravation. This has also left me with an identity crisis.  How can I be spiritual when I study science?  I tried to find scientific evidence that the spirit is real, and I tried using spirituality to explain science.  Both failed.  In my career, I learned that I am a unicorn, a vet tech that never wanted to work with pets.  I have a rare degree (BS in veterinary technology) and enjoy data review more than caring for the animals.  I believe all animals should be treated with love and care. This belief is in direct contrast to the life of a lab animal.  I justify it by saying they are saving lives and given the best possible care while in our hands.  I even volunteered to be a guinea pig myself to prove to myself that they’re lives aren’t that bad. Looking back, this logic was flawed; I chose to participate, the animals were forced.  I have gotten off topic; “Who am I?” I am a middle-aged female trying to figure that out.  The truth is, I don’t think I know exactly who I am.  If you asked those close to me that question, they would describe my personality. She is a beautiful kind woman.  She was a mean strict mother.  Coworkers would describe me as a hard-worker and helpful colleague.  I guess I am all those things and more. I am discovering that the answer to this question seems simple. Yet, it is much more complex than most can fathom.  If you are unsure of what to do or where to go, start with this simple yet complicated question.

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2 responses to “Exploring Identity: Who Am I Really?”

  1. Work4Adri Avatar
    Work4Adri

    𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲—𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁, 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲—𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿. I’ve often felt like I’m living in that in-between space too, trying to make sense of contradictions that most people just ignore.

    I saw a clip recently where 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗜𝗔 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆—𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. People with anxiety notice patterns, inconsistencies, unspoken signals. They’re trying to make sense of a world that often doesn’t.

    And I think there’s something beautiful in that. In a world where everyone’s trying to look like they’ve got it figured out, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝑤𝑒’𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔.

    𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. That matters more than we know.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Michelle Mangette Avatar

      Thank you so much. I’m glad you found meaning in my words.

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