If you had to create a self-portrait of yourself, what would it look like?
That was the question I asked myself this week. It was part of a school assignment. As you can imagine, because at this point in my life, everything revolves around school assignments.
To answer this, I began to ponder the items that I would list if asked to describe myself to another person: Journalism Student, Francophone (or a lover of all things French), Firefighter’s Wife, Devoted Christian, and Soon-to-be-College-Graduate. (I am leaving off my finest characteristics, as listing them would require much more space than this article allows).
Honestly, for a brief moment, I struggled with the notion that the above items defined me. Am I always to be defined by my red hair? Will I always carry the label of journalist or college graduate? Does my married status take away from my personal self? Does my interest in French culture limit me in any way?
And the answer to all of those questions: a swift yes and no.
Yes, I will be defined by those items, but in no way will they ever take away from who I am. In fact, it is those labels that paint the vivid image that is me. There is no Lauren Maddox without all the things above. If I tried to define myself, leaving out those essential pieces of the puzzle, then I would not be describing the true me.
I have decided to be a part of all of the things listed above. I made a conscience choice to go to college, get married, and stick with both of those until the end. See, it is those things that we choose to do, that we chose to be a part of that make up our true self.
Why does this matter? Well, it really doesn’t. That is, unless you care to ever change your self-portrait.
As for me, I am very content with the path I have chose, and intend to keep the same self-portrait until the next chapter in my life is revealed to me.