Where Nobody Knows Your Name
I worked with a woman many years ago who decided to change her name. She told me she was given her father's last name at birth, then after marriage, took her husband's last name. After her divorce, she kept her ex's last name for the sake of her children. When her children grew up and moved out of the house to start lives of her own, she decided it was time to focus on herself. Finding a new name would be a symbol for the beginning of her new life. So she took out a phone book and arbitrarily chose a page. She closed her eyes and then randomly picked out her new last name. I remember her seeming so peaceful and free. I met another woman at a conference who decided to legally change her name to "Digger." She had never liked the name her parents gave her so now in her fifties, she decided to change it. As she told me her story, she too seemed to share this feeling of freedom and happiness. Both of these women have stayed with me over the years. Words are powerful. There's just something in a name. Sometimes, it's equally empowering to go where nobody knows your name.
Many blessings,
Tiffany
Many blessings,
Tiffany
Comments
yes i found you. oddly at the time you wrote this blog i was toying with the idea of changing my name. Yoruba people do it a lot actually..your name is so important to you and in many ways can define periods or phases in your life. My mom told me to chnage mine when i was 24 and i thought she was nuts...now that im almost 30 i completely understand why she told me that. She saw her daughter changing before her eyes. But i wasn't ready at the time. Now though, i am. i just dont know what that name will be.
Posted by: boom | March 31, 2009 10:07 PM
Boom,
It's geat you are thinking about changing your name. I think this is a wonderful practice in the Youruba culture. Go for it! It's funny to me that a name has so much to do with how we view ourselves in the world. And because our names are off decided well before we are born, we rarely have any say it the matter. Let us know what you decide.
Posted by: Tiffany | April 18, 2009 07:57 AM
Your right there are great opportunities but paying for one isn't the best
Posted by: forex automatic | May 1, 2009 09:04 AM
Greatings, Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Posted by: Bodyc | September 5, 2009 01:32 PM