identity

"Who we are," our unique identity, is a complex combination of many things, some of which I mention here. Identity includes our physical body in all its glory and imperfection, the "form" we take in this world, what we see when we look in the mirror or when someone looks at us. It includes our genes and body chemistry and our health, what we inherit and of which we are composed. Who we are also includes our personality- emotions, mind, disposition, behavior, etc. It includes our cultural background and the influence of our environment, social group, family. Am I Italian? Am I Russian? Jewish? French Canadian? Mixed? Only child? Adopted? Gifted? We give these features of us names, some nice, some not so nice. Our social personality is included- extroverted? introverted? reserved? forward? friendly? hostile? taking? giving? Identity also includes our spirituality- our beliefs, values, tradition, life goals, dreams, philosophy for life, view of life, death, afterlife, relationship with "inner self"/soul and that which is beyond the self-universe/All/Spirit. There is so very much to think about when we consider who we are and we never seem to know it all, although some think they do. Each of us live our life, one might say, as a journey of discovery. We seek to discover more about who we are and, therefore, become better able to work to perfect our self. The more we know about our self, the less we are afraid to look, know and understand, the greater we may become "me...I...my self...who I am...MY UNIQUE IDENTITY. How great of a gift of life we may find if we seek to become our self. Maybe, in taking this journey, we will better see the gift of others, too.                                          Dr. Bob