Names

This past weekend at a Toastmaster conference, one of the speakers talked about the power of words to create your life whether in blessing or curse. I got to thinking about a subset, the power of names.

Many creation stories describe a process for naming things, but one that is connected to the creation itself. We give names to pets to separate them from other animals and show possession. There are dogs and then there was MY dog Jeremiah. Nicknames are given to demonstrate connection to another person, secret jokes known only to a small group of privileged people. Last names demonstrate lineage, middle names at times are used to show respect to a family member.

Then there are the names that we use in our internal dialog. The same syntax is used (in present day English) to demonstrate a state of being such as I am hungry and names. I am Jennifer. Because of this, the phrase “I am” ties directly into our understanding of who we are as a person. “Names” such as Beautiful or Stupid when used in this syntax over time can become as much a part of ourselves as our given names.

While in Kenya, I was given a “second name” that means Spirit of the Cheetah. I love the second name concept. It isn’t a nickname used by only a few friends, it isn’t a middle name picked by parents. It is a name given after puberty, usually by the group, to pinpoint the defining characteristic of the person, who they truly are. In cultures where a second name is used it has at least equal weight to the person’s given name. Introductions use either name, often both. To the kids at the orphanage, not having a second name was almost as if I was missing part of myself.

In my life at the moment there are a couple intimidating situations. To me, my second name has become a reminder of who I am. Without having to do anything more, I am Wanguarai. Therefore, I already possess the skills needed to overcome the obstacles.

Plus, I’ve pet a grown cheetah. Even though she looks dead or sleeping in the picture, she definitely isn’t. If I can approach a full grown animal that has the ability to rip my arm off before I even start running, can the situations I’m facing now be that difficult? Incidentally, cheetahs purr like giant house cats when petted.