"What shall I call myself today?" What a wonderful question! We should all ritually ask ourselves the same.
We make far too much of what we call ourselves anyway. It would be nice if we had the mental charge to have everyone call us by a different special name, for that way we might custom-fit our selves with every other. Subsequently, having our own unique term of endearment for you, you and you might instill great personal meaning into all our interactions—that is intimacy.
Personally, I have been known to change my name once a decade.
It is utterly amazing how we do not realize that our name is often the very first impression. Especially in this increasingly anonymous and simultaneously open electronic age.
It is kind of curious how many of us choose pen names and then frantically explain away their meaning after we have divulged our given names. It is as if they feel guilty for some odd reason for expressing themselves. "I have always liked that name…, but…" But what? Take it!
And it is splendidly ironic how those we most revere in society, the entertainers: the artists, the actors, the barnum and bailey showmen of the corporate world, many, if not the majority of them, have changed their names to befit their passions. As you may know, Demi Moore was born "Demetria Guynes," Sir Elton John once was known as Reginald Dwight, Sofia Loren was Ms. Scicolone, "Tiger" was once just Eldrick (Woods), William Jefferson Blythe became President Bill Clinton and Marion Morrison became the rugged John Wayne, Other such names include: Allan Stewart Konigsberg (Woody Allen), Alphonso D'Abruzzo (Alan Alda), Jennifer Anistopoulou (Jennifer Aniston), Frederick Austerlitz (Fred Astaire), Stuart Leslie Goddard (Adam Ant), Cassius Marcellus Clay (Muhammad Ali)—and that is just a sampling of the As (check out famousnamechanges dot com should you be curious to know more).
For my next stunt, I'm going to take a mononym (MON-uh-nim), which is a term or name consisting of one word only. Examples include Madonna, osho, Prince and Moby.
My mononym will be a vain attempt at humility, but a sincere attempt nonetheless. Certainly, there will be those who will deride my singular success with vile and contempt, but these will surely be those who are too afraid to be original themselves or simply lack enough creative force to conjure or create anything worthy of recognition.
"Those willing to be individuated are more likely to have high self-esteem, and not be shy. They have more distinctive possessions and unique nicknames, make controversial statements, and are more likely to look directly into some one's eyes while talking to them. In addition, their attempts at being distinctive extend to hairstyle, clothes, signature and even the way they introduce themselves." ~ Psychology and Life, Richard Gerrig, Philip Zimbardo
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