Who Do You Think You Are? (That's a Legit Question, Not a Threat)
When I say, “who do you think you are?” I’m sure many of you read that much like any other people would: with a bit of a sinister, threatening tone.
But that’s not how I’m talking about it today. On the surface, “who do you think you are?” or something like this is probably something you’ve asked yourself at least once in your life. Identity crisis is a real thing.
If a complete stranger asked you this, you may without a blink say, your name and what you do. Shallow and brief… which is also why I hate it when people ask me “what do you do?” at networking events. Even if my answer is different from anyone else’s, they’re just judging me off of a one-sentence answer.
But is that how you define yourself? Off of a one-sentence answer?
This is the essence of why I love doing professional cuddling: it requires enough trust and vulnerability for us both to feel comfortable that you may have to tell me more about yourself. Sometimes they might be things you haven’t admitted to anyone… not even yourself.
This is what I’m really interested in.
This is also the opening question for my book. I realized how I’ve identified myself over the years. I would, for instance, call myself a soccer player when I was younger (go Shamrocks!). I defined my value through winning and losing, scoring or not scoring, and things mattered to me and I took them to mean who I was.
So what matters to me today?
Learning. Teaching. Caring. Being there for you.
These things are what make me happy.
These things are what defined my value and worth and why I am a Professional Cuddler.
I decided to write a connection book instead of my work journey into cuddling because I tore my ACL and dealt with isolation early January 2019.
Having identities, such as I’m a runner, I’m a writer, etc., is what influences how we view ourselves and how we value ourselves.
What’s the real essence of you?
Who are you (no matter what role you take on) will always be you?