I’ve always prided myself on being -er.  I’m not the thin, pint-size ideal woman.  I’m tall-er and don’t need a ladder to reach things on the top cabinet.  I’ve never been petite and feminine.  I’m bigg-er and can carry the heavy groceries.  I hope to never feel the need to play dumb for a man (or authority figure for that matter).  I’m okay – and rather enjoy – being smart-er.  Bigg-er, tall-er, smart-er, whatever.  I’ve embraced the -ers in my life.  Good or bad, they’re there and show no signs of changing anytime soon.  In that teenage period of “discovering myself”, all I really saw were the -ers.  They seemed to be all there was to me.  I had to define them or let them define me.

As I grow old-er, wis-er, the -ers become less of comparisons to others and more of titles.  Instead of -er than someone else, I am simply an -er.  Sing-er, writ-er, listen-er, lectur-er, runn-er, fight-er, learn-er, teach-er, lead-er, follow-er, and increasingly happi-er.

Not every -er is positive and that’s okay.  For the rest of my life, I expect to change and grow.  Things that were once sources of pride will eventually embarrass me.  Things that meant nothing will later mean everything.  That’s all fine.  I’m just beginning to accept all of my -ers and what they say about the person I am today.  Don’t like the way an -er sounds?  I guess it’s time to work on it.  Realizing a problem -er has to be my first step.  I think I’ll have to start with something easy like being a shopp-er.  (Oh wait, that’ just because of lent….)

What’s your problem -er?

Labeling herself before anyone else can,

Jo’van

March 14, 2009
Categories: Eye of the Beholder (Self-Image), Whole Truth, The . Tags:-er, feminine, happy, label, personal image, pride, strength . Author: tjovand

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