How are you defined?  What labels do you use to describe yourself?  Mother, father, sister, brother, laborer, engineer, nurse, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, entrepreneur, poor, middle class, etc., and then there are the ethnic labels.  As you can see these are just a few of the labels attached to how people define themselves. 

When a label is used, are you sure that the label defines you in a way that you intend?  Are all mothers the same, are all engineers the same, are all people of an ethnicity the same?  Or are we being defined by stereotypes? 

Make a list of 10 labels that are used to describe you.  Then write how the label defines you in detail.  Then look up the definition of the label in a dictionary, ask friends/family/others their definition of the label and what the label suggests for them.

I would love to hear feedback on this post!  What did you think about this exercise?  What awareness or thoughts do you have about labels and the impact on people?  Please comment.

Debbie Hackett

“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”; Father Joseph Martin