on what's in a name...

So, at birth, we were all given a name. Whether we like our names or not, our parents gave us names that they either loved, reminded them of someone/some place/some thing, perhaps was a beloved family member, or the name of their hero/heroin. For that, I truly appreciate my name. My birth name is Michelle Ann, and being born in the late 60's, I cannot help but think that I was most probably named after the Beattles song: Michelle My Bell! Over the years, I have had a love/hate relationship with my name. I often times like my middle name more than my first name. Many people say I don't 'look like' a Michelle. For some odd reason, many, many,many people call me Kim, and I cant quite figure that one out! But whatever the case, I am Michelle Ann, the name that my parents gave me, or am I??? Several years back, I was given the nickname Pink, but my college friends. I love the name Pink, after all, I am Pink! But I continued to think about things that I like, and I listen to the words that people speak to me. Many times people say I am like a flower, who is blooming. I take that as a very big compliment, as I love flowers, and I think flowers are amazing, unique, and beautiful...oh, and MOST times they smell good too! So what if my last name were Flowers, rather than what it is?!?!? How cool would that be? I would LOVE IT! So then I'm thinking, hmmm....maybe my name could be Michelle Flowers, nice, but still didn't really  jazz me. Then a friend of mine had a baby, and named her Daisy! Now we are talking....why couldn't my name be Daisy? Daisy Flowers?!?!?! We are getting closer to being excited! And then I was talking to another friend of mine. I told her the thoughts about my made-up name. I was telling her about Daisy Flowers, and how cool it would be to have that a name like then, when she said....you are: Daisy P. Flowers, and the P is for Pink! Yes, yes, yes...Yay, yay, yay...that is IT! I am, at least in dreams, Daisy P. Flowers! I love my made up name, Daisy P. Flowers. I can picture myself sitting behind a vintage typewriter, sporting an editors cap with a HUGE daisy coming out of it, with a name plate on my desk, that reads: Daisy P. Flowers! xo

Today's activity: what is your made-up name?

So how do you feel about your name, your birth name that is? Do you like it? Love it? Hate it? How did your parents come about naming you? Does your name tie back to a song, a loved one, or just a lovely combination of letters? Let's pretend you could pick your name...would you select the name your parents gave you? If so, great...you are lucky! If not, start thinking about what your made-up name could be. Do you hear people say you remind them someone, or something? Do you have a favorite color? Is there a food or drink that speaks of YOU, (you know Im sure Margarita didn't start out as a slushy cocktail!!!). Do you wish you had a more simple, or more sophisticated name? Would you name yourself after a famous actor or actress? Start thinking about this. You may not come up with your made-up name right away, but what is the rush? You may want to play with different words, until you find a combination of words that speaks of you. You may want to write out your made-up name, and see how it feels to you, feel free to tweak as necessary! This is a fun and playful activity...pretend you are flipping thru a book of "A to Z Baby Names" and see what fits you best. While we may never change birth names, we certainly can have fun creating our inner child! and here she is...Daisy P. Flowers ready for duty!