Don't Confuse Who You Are With What You Do (Part I)

The scene is repeated all through our lives and all around the world:

1962 - Kindergarten

Billy (to new acquaintance on the playground): Hi, I'm Billy Johnson. I live in the big house on the corner. My dad's a fireman.

1972 - 9th Grade

Billy (to new lab partner in chemistry): Hi, I'm Billy Johnson. I hope you're good at chemistry, because I stink at school. I'm really an athelete.

1976 - 12th Grade

Billy (to girl at party): Hi, I'm Billy Johnson. I'm the quarterback at Central High. I just got new mag wheels on my Charger. Do you wanna see 'em.

1980 - College

Billy (to girl at party): Hi, I'm Bill. I'm a Phys Ed major. What about you?

1984 - Happy Hour at the local watering hole

Billy (to a young lady at the bar): Hi, I'm William. I work at Merril Lynch. Can I buy you a drink?

1990 - 10 year college Reunion

Billy (to other alumnus spouse): Hi, I'm Bill Johnson. My wife's class of '80. I'm into investments. How about you?

2000 - Little League Game

Billy (to fellow spectator): Hi, I'm Bill. My son's pitching. Who are you here for?

2042 - Mortuary

Reverend to assembled Crowd: Here lies William F. Johnson III Devoted father, husband, grandfather and member of our community. William was known to all as a tireless worker in business, where he made a name for himself in investment banking and later in life as an active member of Sunset Village Retirement community where he spent the last 20 years with his wife Rose....................


Who was Bill?

Father?

Husband?

Son?

Brother?

Stockbroker?

Friend?

Sports Enthusiast?

I would say that most of us - including those who "knew" Bill the best would never have a clue. The vast majority of our lives, we confuse who we are with what we do.

We go to school so we say that we are students.

We marry a person and raise a family so we say that we are a father/mother and a husband/wife.

We work at a job so we say that we are that profession.

In point of fact we ARE none of these things. We DO all these things.

We ARE caring or harsh; honest or crooked; loving or cruel; spiritual or material; moral or immoral; courageous or cowardly; meaningful or inane; genuine or counterfeit.

We define our lives by the way that we do the jobs that we find ourselves in. Am I a loving son? A kind father? An honest stockbroker? A genuine friend?

That's what makes us WHO we are.

Don't confuse Who You Are with What You Do.