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What Do You Mean That’s Not Your Name?
The chaos and choices of changing my name.
As I write this, I’m preparing for an enormous change in my life. Not marriage, BTDT…, Not another move- though I’m pretty certain I’ll be relocating once again in a year or so.
No, this time it’s a step that feels even bigger to me… I’m changing my name.
Let me roll it back for a sec ’cause I know that might not sound like such a big thing. “Why not?” You ask. “What’s the big deal?” “If you don’t like it go right ahead and grab a new name that feels right!”
I’m with you on all that! AND…
My mind is warring with itself over this.
Because, WHY…?
• Because my mother changed her name at least four times before I was 40, once not telling me until I walked into her classroom to surprise her and was confused to hear students asking for “Leah”. Also of course, on some level we never want to be like our mothers.
• And because I follow a spiritual path that says that my Guru is the one to grant a new name to me at some undisclosed moment marking my having reached a indeterminate at least to me level of devotion and awareness.
• Also because generally… I like my name, it’s short, easy to spell, pronounce iand sign in most languages.
• Because it’s hard for me to describe just why a new name feels exactly right.
•…
