The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I've been thinking about this post for a few days now. I have been trying to figure out a way to do this that will not offend anyone, nor hurt anyone's feelings nor break anonymity. My intent is good in purpose as well as to get people to think (including myself). I hope you will take it the same way.
Over the years on this board I have seen many interesting names appear. Many of them can be sad in nature. For instance, we might label ourself as "Downinthedumps" or "Madasheck" or "Nevergonnagetbetter". (These by the way are made up names.) Maybe it's the anthropologist in me, studying human behavior. It always interests me how and why we choose these names. Some of us choose to use our real names. Others like me, choose to use a combination of relative's names. Much like the old saying: We are what we eat. How we label ourselves says just as much about us as what we eat.
So my question to you is: IF YOU COULD (and you can) CHANGE YOUR NAME, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Would you change it to something more positive because as you work this program, we get stronger and better? Would you change it to something more negative because at this stage you are giving up hope? (Never, never give up hope! The is always shining some place.
For me, I would change it to HAPPY LUNATIC. Why? Because for the most part that's what I am. If I am a lunatic (and I can be) I'd like to be a happy one. Life gets to me, and I'm crazy, but I also try to be happy most of the time. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. Much love and blessings to all of you, your families, and all the MIP critters. Make it a great day. We deserve it.
Live strong, The Happy Lunatic and the Mighty Mouser aka Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
P.S. After I read this post to hubby, he wanted me to tell you all that I really am just as crazy as he is! (and it's down on paper!)
-- Edited by Karilynn at 14:03, 2008-02-25
-- Edited by Karilynn at 08:17, 2008-02-26
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
Ok I would be superwoman because that's how I feel now. When I first came here I picked the name I have now so I guess I wasn't too bad off although if I went by my feelings at that time it would have been something like...pitofdespair or gonnabealoneforever or howwillievermakeit? And before I moved out when I really needed to come here it would have been theresgonnabeamurder or iswearitwasanaccident.
I came here last year and at that time I was completely HEARTBROKEN. As time has progressed I have realised that my heart is healing and I am finding hope so much easier to see in my life on a daily basis, not every day yet but more days than not and so as I have already done so, I started to sign off as HeartB.
As the days have gone on I felt that even HeartB was not what I wanted to portray and in the last few days, after a quirkly little remark from Marie123 I no find myself signing off as,
HOPEFULHEART! Yippee!
My long term goal is: Serenity - for then I will feel complete. Then I know I will have got through all the rubbish and the hurt and managed to forgive in the fullness of time.
SERENITY
Wish I could change my profile to reflect that but I do not know how to do that without losing the valuable communications I have in my messages that I go back to as I still work my 4th Step.
Hopefulheart
-- Edited by Heartbroken at 14:25, 2008-02-25
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"The highest form of wisdom is kindness." The Talmund
I think sometimes this is relevant. At the same time I think for many of us there is a long long greiving period. I am one year out from leaving the A there are days when I feel like the damage will never end. There are other days when I can see a chink of light in the surroundings. I did not put a note on my name but nevertheless I do feel this is one of the only places I can come to where I feel absolutely known and able to put it out there. For me it may be years before I can feel like I can put a positive face on it. The financial consequences for me are immense. I barely hold onto my health and I am very isolated. A lot has changed for me in a year but there are some days I do feel absolutely devastated and I do want to be able to put that out there.
I like to be called Hoot! It kinda fits me I guess! Since I was a baby in the cradle I was given this little nickname but nobody calls me it as an adult. When I was a senior in highschool, I used Hootin' with my last name on my Powder Puff jersey. I guess I am more optomistic than I used to be and willing to change some of my character defects. I don't know I am just a grateful happy camper! Even though, I have a sleep disorder, I manage to get through every day & get a lot accomplished, too! God continually (and I say this often at meetings) Is doing for me what I cannot do for myself. I just continue to do the footwork!
You are only as happy as you want to be and are willing to strive for I guess.
I LOVE this post Karilynn. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I chose Diva for a different reason than many of you think. I am an opera singer. Not your typical enormous woman wearing a Nordic helmet. I am actually very petite.
What would I change my name to? Probably would not change it, but one or two that would fit me are..."Doing Fine," "In Control of Me," or "Funny Girl." There was a time when I would have called myself, "Terrified," "Dissolutioned," or "Lied To." I have moved past that onto solid ground. Gut strength has carried me through.
Thanks again Karilynn and Pipers Kitty..eh, I mean Happy Lunatic and Mighty Mouser!!!!!
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
In retrospect sometimes I think I should rely more on my faith. I like names like faith in action or grace. I do think we have them otherwise we would never have survived.
I think this is a great post, very positive. Thanks, happy lunatic!
ddub is phonetical sound of initials DW (spoken d double u) but shortened to ddub (spoken d doub or d dub instead of saying double u for the W)
I often call myself wierd bird because it took a long time to find folks who thought like me. I guess I would label myself fondly with words like unique and integrity for standing up in what I believe. I am finding that again with al anon's help because I stopped standing up for myself, confused and sick with denial - then I would say the lable was REBEL especially when I got angry and didn't express myself but stuffed it. I could have an attitude, hmmmm. (o;
Diva, I like your response because as an opera singer you would have strong gut strength and a strong head voice too. Bravo!! (:
hugs to all, AKA my special friends
the REBEL hah!
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"Choices are the hinges of destiny." Pythagoras You can't change the past, but you can change the future.
Karilynn - Funny you should mention this because on more than one occasion I've thought about changing my screen name. I hate that it references "HIM". I had three "rounds" of dating "HIM", and that was the first thing that popped in my crazed, foggy, scared, confused head on the morning I joined this board. I realize now that my program is NOT about him. It's about me. Maybe a better screen name would be "itsallaboutme" ! haha I have a wonderful co-worker who confronts me at work (in a teasing way) when he thinks I'm getting too self-absorbed. He will immediately say, "Ya know, believe it or not, it's not always all about you!" hahaha But in this case (my program) it IS all about me.
Thanks for an interesting topic. And it's helping me learn new things about my wonderful "family" here.
Hi there friend HappyLunatic :) This is fun to think about and yes I have had the same reactions sometimes to the sad mad names. lol. I wouldn't criticize for anything, however; and another thing is when we become known in mip by a specific nick, possibly we would not be recognized by our buddies when or if we changed it.
Anyway, my nick just popped into my head with no thought at all....it only indicates that I am a small petite person which fascinates everyone except me. lol
Diva, I love your explanation, and would love to hear you sing!
Anyway, if I were to choose a new nick, it might be Catchingontoworkingprogramthankyouverymuch
Good thing I don't plan to change it soon for it would open the doors wide to typonese, wouldn't it?
Ya know, when I first registered with MIP, 3 years and 5 months ago, I used a different name...and for the life of me...I can't remember what it was! I think that is why about a month later I switched to my real first name augmented with the year I was born....I figured I would be able to remember that better!!!
If I was to change it now, it would probably be to Elvis. It is funny how that developed and became my "unofficial" nickname. When I first came to mip I was in the chatroom alot! nearly every day. I have satellite television and I have a channel on there that plays Elvis 24/7/365. I would listen to that station most of the time when I was in the chat room. So to this day, there is an association for me between my recovery and Elvis. One of my fabulous sponsees even sent me a Velvet Elvis painting which is proudly displayed in my living room!!! I won't say Elvis is my HP, but sometimes my HP looks a whole lot like him, especially that smile and twinkle in his eyes. Oh and that voice!!!
Thanks again for the fun post Karilynn!
Elvis, SerenityCat and LittleBigCat aka. David62, Norbert and Midori
This thread gives me hope that at some point I can get to a space of having a little levity. As I move through the journey from being a victim to a survivor (I feel there somedays) to a thriver I hope I will feel less desperate.
is always shining some place. 
Life gets to me, and I'm crazy, but I also try to be happy most of the time. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. Much love and blessings to all of you, your families, and all the MIP critters. Make it a great day. We deserve it.
HOPEFULHEART! Yippee! 
