Who Am I?

My long-awaited for "Speaker for the Dead" FINALLY came in at the library. I've been excited for this read since finishing Ender's Game. I was so fascinated with the Introduction of this book. It's always fun to "see" into the mind of the author. I wanted to share a part of this introduction.

"Characters, as most writers understand, are truly developed through their relationships with others. If there are only two significant characters, then there is only one relationship to be explored. If there are three characters, however, there are four relationships: Between A and B, between B and C, between C and A, and finally the relationship when all three are together. Even this does not begin to explain the complexity--for in real life, at least, most people change, at least subtly, when they are with different people. I have seen this time and time again with my friends, with other family members. Our whole demeanor changes, our mannerisms, our figures of speech, when we move from one context to another. Listen to someone you know when they pick up the telephone. We have special voices for different people; our attitudes, our moods change depending on whom we are with. So when a storyteller has to create three characters, each different relationship requires that each character in it must be transformed, however subtly, depending on how the relationship is shaping his or her present identity. Thus, in a three-character story, a storyteller who wishes to convince us of the reality of these characters really has to come up with a dozen different personas, four for each of them."

So my fascination and intrigue of these insights ran much deeper than I will even try to attempt to explain in words. But isn't it an interesting concept that our personalities are so complex and varied. We are not, and never could be, one way or the other--black or white. Who I am and how I act around one person, is not who I am and how I act around another. And yet, it's those differences that make us who we are. Isn't is amazing that we are capable of such complexity as human beings?

And so for the souls that are trying to figure out who they really are, this post is unfortunately dedicated to bring about even more questions and more levels on which to explore your definition of self. In truth, I don't think we can define our personalities so easily. I don't think we can label ourselves as a "red" person, or a "white" person. For sure, certain traits and characteristics will seem dominate over others around most people and in most circumstances, but it cannot be how we Always are in All circumstances. And if there even existed a "true us" or a "real me" (as we sometimes hear), who's the relationship that is privileged to know it? Can we even know it?

Okay, enough! I'm sure I've either bored you, or given you something to think about. I'll let it be at that. Here's to sunnier days and warmer weather. And since this is Paul and I's Anniversary, here's to my Sweetheart! Thanks for 8 glorious, fabulous, fun-filled, exhilarating, wonderful, fantastic, special, marvelous years!!!! I love you so very, very much.