"Who am I?" how I started answering that age old question

I sit here in the room at my parents' house that my mom has designated "the Julie" room." Pictures from my childhood adorn the walls and the dressers. My Kindergarten photo, my high school graduation photo, my college sorority photo.

​What strikes me about these pictures is that at each stage in life, there were different things that were important to me. When I was in Kindergarten, it was about coloring, playing, and not peeing in my pants. When I was in high school, it was about first dates, graduating, and not feeling awkward in my own skin. When I was in college, it was about partying with friends, figuring what to do with the rest of my life, and still not feeling awkward in my own skin.

And I'd say that at each of those moments, that's how I defined myself - student, daughter, friend trying to not feel awkward in my own skin. But when I sat down to put together this blog, the cursor stared at me as I attempted to write the "About Me" section.

Who the heck am I?

Yeah I know, loaded question. If I were to ask you the same question, what would you say? My default is, well, "Mom" of course. It would have been "Wife" too, as of a couple years ago. "Mom and Wife." Was that it?

What about "daughter", "sister", "coffee drinker", "sleeper", "teeth brusher"? Okay, I know those last two are silly, but hey, I do those every day so don't those define me too? Is who we are defined by the role we play or were born into, or by what we do?

As with anyone who's gone through a time of crisis or a drastic change knows, crisis has a way of bringing you to your knees and breaking you open​. For me, it was during my divorce. I began to examine who I really am. It became apparent that all the things that used to describe me could change. 

"Wife" for instance no longer describes me. "Mom" - heaven forbid anything should ever happen to my kids, but what if one day I wasn't a mom anymore. What then?

I realized that I'd spent so much of my life trying to live up to all the roles that I played, even if the pressure was self-imposed: Be a good daughter by fulfilling my parents' wishes of graduating top of my class, getting a well paying job, and starting a family. Be a good employee by delivering on all my commitments, operating within the rules. Be a good mom by baking cupcakes for birthdays, making sure they wear thick coats.

But when it comes down to it, is that really who I am? It's what I do. So really, what makes me...me? 

One day I decided to sit down with a pen and a journal and dive deep into myself to explore what makes me me. I decided that it boils down to two things: 1) what values are most important to me (i.e. If I am not operating in alignment with these things, I feel like I'm not living authentically). One might call them my "core values". And 2) what about me holds true no matter what role I'm playing?

So I thought I'd share with you what I came up with. I know this is deeply personal, but I share them in hopes that it may help spark some ideas for you.

My core values:

1. Show respect & compassion for myself and others.
2. Have integrity (i.e. my actions are in alignment with what I say and what I believe)
3. Honor family.
4. Live a life that leverages my strengths.
5. Surround myself with positive energy.

When I am faced with a decision in life, or find myself in challenging times, these are the things that I anchor to. These are my guiding principles.

What else seems to hold true about me no matter what?

• I love the beauty and awe of nature. Water brings me peace.
• I am incredibly moved by music and witnessing when the creator of the music is as well.
• I am fascinated and moved by the human experience - whether the story behind an old tenement building in NYC, or an experience today that brings people together with a common bond like music and sporting events, being a mom, or even a new employee orientation at work.
• I process everything internally and process through writing. I thrive on alone time and quiet introspection, yet I crave connection with other people.
• My life seems to always be summed up by a musical lyric or a Friends episode. :-)

These are just a few things, and I learn more about myself every day. So when I ask myself, "Who am I?" I know it's more than the roles I play because roles can change. Situations can change. What about me guides how I navigate through life as those things change? What about me naturally shows up no matter what situation I'm in?

That is who I am. Who are you?

-- Love always, Julie