To Be or Not to Be... Gifted with a Label!!

How comfortable are you when your body goes belly up! and you’re gifted with a label. Think about a time somebody referred to you as a non person, a time you were objectified. Choose something simple like …move him/her over there and I‘ll deal with them later. Ugh right?

Instead of (t takes 2 seconds) asking you your name and referring to you by your name in a respectful way. What happens after that interaction will be the same, but a totally different experience for you.. I used to be really brilliant at remembering peoples names, and for many years now, I am not. It frustrates me and I have tried lots of different techniques but so far nothing has worked. If i was to use an excuse, I could say I remember the important information which is obviously important. It simply isn’t any more or less important that the person in front of me. Depending on the setting I write that persons name down. People matter to me.

Thankfully, I always remember the persons story, something that person told me about themselves and I always refer to an aspect of that story. It’s important, particularly in the type of work I do, that people feel they matter, they are heard and not simply a label. I have the advantage or training, many years of professional experience working in healthcare and the uncomfortable muscle memory in my body of what it feels like to be objectified as a chronic disease. I don’t ever want somebody I interact with, to feel that tightening of their neck and shoulders or uncomfortable in the pit of their stomach because I effectively looked through them as opposed to engaging with them.

I’d love to know what you think about labelling or being labelled?