I’ve been “listening” to television lately.

In other words, Lara will watch a television series on Netflix at night, while I’m reading, and I will pause to tune in periodically.  Or, I’ll get completely sucked in and want to binge watch.  🙂

The listening part is interesting, though.  When you listen, without analyzing body language or facial expression, all you have to go on is the tone of voice with the words being used.  So far, I’ve listened to a campus rape storyline that threw words like “skank” and “predator” around; I’ve listened to a program that has thrown anti-government terms around (sorry, guys, that’s all I have from that Making a Murderer thing); I’ve listened to fertility anxiety and gender roles (Private Practice, of all things).

All of this has led me to the following conclusion:

Labels stink.

They’re an oversimplification of identity, and they seek to pigeonhole people.

I don’t know about you, but I have zero interest in exploring my own reality from a pigeonhole. 😉

So, defy the labels.  And choose your own for yourself.

“‘You’re a psychopath.’  ‘I prefer creative.'” ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

“Definitions belong to the definers, not to the defined.” ~ Toni Morrison

“I hated labels anyway. People didn’t fit in slots–prostitute, housewife, saint–like sorting the mail. We were so mutable, fluid with fear and desire, ideals and angles, changeable as water.” ~ Janet Fitch

“People don’t want other people to be people.” ~ Gene Wolfe

Happy Friday – let people be people, beginning with yourself.  Blessings to you all, and never give up.