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Monday, March 10, 2008

Labels

You labeled me
I'll label you
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN
Artist: Metallica
Song: Unforgiven

Album: Metallica (aka Black Album)

Years ago, I would bristle at the notion of any kind of label put upon me, unless it was indubitably positive.

Perhaps I'm maturing. Lately, I've tried to reflect a bit upon them. I still can get a bit defensive but I genuinely try to look into myself and ask why they may see me that way. Furthermore, I've labeled people myself and it doesn't mean that I see them one-dimentional and only as that label.

To wit: At my dealer school graduation the instructors literally had us come up one-by-one to receive our certificates. For each student, one instructor had a quip about them, mostly in poking fun harmlessly.

My label when I was called was "intense". It caught me off guard. At first glance into myself I don't really think of myself as that at all. I am usually reasonably care-free and go-with-the-flow.

For the rest of graduation, as the others were getting their certificates I kept saying to myself, "Intense? Really?".

So I stepped back and tried to see myself as the instructors saw me. Know what? I think they were right. I was very intense during my auditions. I was serious about learning, even if I joked around with the others at times, it was obvious when I distanced myself from guys screwing around too much. I practiced on my own a bunch too. I'm sure I came across as serious about being there and giving a shit about how I did. I'm not so sure intense didn't sum me up.

Looking deeper, I'm intense and emotional in athletics and other things I do and take seriously. While perhaps it can be a negative trait, I don't think it always is.

Label me: Intense. I can live with it.

By the way, my first night working in the casino last Friday, went so well I don't really have anything to blog about. That's a good thing too.

2 kind commenters:

Skeeter said...

First night behind the table. Congrats are in order sir! You'll be able to look back on the intense thing later on and smile, but for now, it's alright to have that single minded purpose and focus when you're learning the skills that will earn you a living. Best wishes with your work.

NouveauBlogger said...

Thanks Skeeter.