Amazing Personas

How often am I amazed at the difference between someones public image and who they are if I know them personally?

Honestly, sometimes I would not even recognize them as the same person if I didn't already know them as both.

I suppose that could be said of me, too. If you only know me as your teacher, or a volunteer at a public place, or one of my persona's, would you know who I was?

Watch small children role playing and I think you will understand more about what I am saying. We all have the ability to be who we are in the moment. It's what makes a name so important. Give someone a baby name and they will often live up to it. Give someone a highly formal name and they often feel responsible for acting that way.

I happen to like this phenomena. I have many sides and it is a relief to get to be some of them without all the baggage that being my public me comes with. Unfortunately, after a while I develop relationships with people in all areas and that in and of itself changes things. Once more I have a set of standards that I feel I must live up to.

For example: a teacher needs a bit of decorum and confidence that make it possible for her students to relate to if they are really going to accept and understand what she is teaching them. An on-line persona can be the silly, carefree girl that is always in here, but feels compelled to hide when people see that I am a mature, older woman.

Most of my choices are not particularly thought out, they really are pieces of me waiting in the wings for their time in the light. I just wish most of them had more time.