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| Abby: A meaning and origin |
If you ask me about my first name ever, you will soon come to find my disliking for it. My name is just a name. It is a construct of letters attempting to give me some type of identity. Because I am tragically named Abigail, I am just one of the thousands of girls stuck with this label. According to SSA data, in my birth year of 2002 alone, "Abigail" was among the top five most popular girl names in over eighteen states. Just imagine how original I felt in a classroom with six other "Abbys" and at least two "Abigails." But, if you were to ask my parents why they picked it-- my unoriginal, boring, horrible name-- their answer is simply, "because it sounds pretty." However, in a world where who you are is everything and finding your identity helps define your purpose, "it sounds pretty" isn't good enough-- or, at least, it never has been good enough for me.
I live my life trying to be the opposite of an Abby. To me: an Abby blends in, an Abby doesn't stand up for what they believe in, and an Abby doesn't make a difference. When you are given one of the most common American names, it is hard to ever imagine being an individual. Let alone an outstanding individual on a mission to change the world for the better. So, why not change my name you wonder? Well, changing my name just changes my label. For me at least, my label has never been who I am. Who I am is not a "father's joy" as the Hebrew meaning of my name would lead on. Who I am isn't even my last name of "Regan" that connects to my deep family ties and bond. And of course, who I am is not a basic girl with a basic name.
Despite this, it hasn't always been so simple to break free of my labels. Besides my name, I label myself and my feelings all the time. Presenting the battle of duality I face-- my labels vs. the real truth among them. It is easy to call yourself stupid. It is easy to brand yourself with expectations that you try hopelessly to fulfill. The human language has given us the means to literally express our thoughts. What language fails to do, however, is give justice to the truth. Just as my name doesn't define who I am, neither do the labels I call myself. I have learned that one must look past the "what" and develop the "how," the "why," and the "so what" to truly begin to grasp the truth. Words are just labels. They are the exterior walls that can block away all that lay inside.
So, maybe instead of just,"I am Abby," we should try something like...
I live my life trying to be the opposite of an Abby. To me: an Abby blends in, an Abby doesn't stand up for what they believe in, and an Abby doesn't make a difference. When you are given one of the most common American names, it is hard to ever imagine being an individual. Let alone an outstanding individual on a mission to change the world for the better. So, why not change my name you wonder? Well, changing my name just changes my label. For me at least, my label has never been who I am. Who I am is not a "father's joy" as the Hebrew meaning of my name would lead on. Who I am isn't even my last name of "Regan" that connects to my deep family ties and bond. And of course, who I am is not a basic girl with a basic name.
Despite this, it hasn't always been so simple to break free of my labels. Besides my name, I label myself and my feelings all the time. Presenting the battle of duality I face-- my labels vs. the real truth among them. It is easy to call yourself stupid. It is easy to brand yourself with expectations that you try hopelessly to fulfill. The human language has given us the means to literally express our thoughts. What language fails to do, however, is give justice to the truth. Just as my name doesn't define who I am, neither do the labels I call myself. I have learned that one must look past the "what" and develop the "how," the "why," and the "so what" to truly begin to grasp the truth. Words are just labels. They are the exterior walls that can block away all that lay inside.
So, maybe instead of just,"I am Abby," we should try something like...
I am courageous because I push myself beyond my anxieties.
I am kind because I know how hard life can be and how much a kind soul can help.
I am curious because the world is so wide that I can't help but dive in and ask questions.
I am open-minded because it opens new doors to growth and love.
I am unique because I project my off-brand weirdness to the world everyday.
But most importantly...
I loved this blog post! The idea that you make your own identity and that you are unique was conveyed really well. The structure was interesting and easy to follow. The pictures added to how you defined yourself. I enjoyed that the blog gave a sense of self discovery. It's well written and the content is enjoyable to read :)
ReplyDeleteAbby, to simply put it this blog is amazing. I very much so relate to a lot of your points made. Having a very common name myself, I understood exactly what you meant when discussing not feeling like a individual. I thought it was incredibly insightful when you made the argument that are names are just labels similar to the many stereotypes people place upon us. Overall this blog was creative and very inspiring. Good job!!
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