We are not nouns, we are verbs. I am not a thing – an actor, a writer. I am a person who does things, write, act, and never know what I am going to do next. I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun.
Stephen Fry
This is a very interesting quote HJ.
This is such a huge belief for me.
There are no labels for who I am. I am action, I am always learning, growing, sharing, challenging, serving. I’ve always seen myself as a human BEing first DOing extraordinary everyday things.
I resonate with above quote too.
It is indeed. I am a verb.
Even though I believed that I am a human being, it was quite hard to believe in that when I was lost in my identity.
I needed to see myself as a noun first before I can start seeing myself as a verb.
I can now appreciate, “I” am the person who do all those things I enjoy in life. In other words, I am in control of my life that I live now.
After that, well I guess others need to label me, female, woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, speakers, teacher, netballer, mentor etc.
Yes. This list I belive this list can go on and on.
Sometime it is about the situation, other times it is about your role and social position. It is a convenience for others, I guess.
A genuinely happy person is one who has rendered others happy.
Daisaku Ikeda
I had a very interesting conversation with my sister-in-law one day. I admire her ability to juggle everything in the family which I am yet to have a taste. I was amaze by her ability to be so thoughtful about every member in the family. So I simply expressed that to her.
Me: I admire those who have married and able to care for others like you do. I guess, because I am yet to master that I am yet to be married.
Sister-in-law: No. It is not about whether you are married. It is regardless of whether you are single or married or whatever other status in life, you are happy.
I was stunned for a bit and knew she’s right. Yes, it is not about my status, in other word noun. It is whether I am happy where I am, in other word verb.
ok, let’s see what else I’ve been.
singer, piano player, painter, builder, landscaper, potter, gardener, writer, oh this is fun, trainer, embroiderer, knitter, seamstress, renovator, collector, reader, artist, jeweller, chocolatier, taxation consultant, bookkeeper, executive assistance, bursar, bar improver (loved that label), bar maid, cleaner, home carer, coordinator of crisis services, administrator of bequest funds, client services officer, education officer, project officer, special education support worker, behaviour modification trainer, netball coach, hostess, event coordinator, wedding coordinator, mediator, advocate, freedom fighter.
I am always fascinated by your background. I can gurantee you are a unique human being in this world.
All these things and more are things I’ve done not who I am.
I remember I had a dialogue with a friend saying that “I am more complex then those nouns can describe. I am who I am yet it is indescribeable who I am.”
Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes.
Daisaku Ikeda
Oh yes, I am a VERB and my life is a VERB.
I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, engaged, and come together to demand it.
Barack Obama
In Conversation 