Labels

It has been a long while since I have been able to write on my blog. Tonight, I feel like I need to get back to that therapy. So I will start here. 
Labels
Have you ever thought about all the labels we are obsessed with handing out today? Some labels we strive to get and others we run from. Think about it. Maybe you want the label of popular or athletic or Transgender or upper-middle-class or snowbird. Maybe you run from the labels of poor, stupid, criminal, geek or "ex". Seems we have more labels today then ever before. I watched a news clip on how they have rewritten some history books in California to discuss historical figures sexual orientation. This made me think, do I care what they or anyone does in sexual preference? I mean I never really thought about Ben Franklin gave me some great inventions to make my life easier today....wonder if he was gay or transgender. Nope, never questioned that. Nor did I think, was he popular, cool, rich, a college graduate....nope didn't care. I did think, wow he has helped me and many others. They shared how women would dress as men to fight in the war so they must have been transgender. Ummmmm, no I don't agree with that. I was a tom boy and some girls just want to be included and help where they can without dealing with gender barriers. But again, never thought...hey is that soldier gay? Nope, not once. Likewise, we tend to label by color and religion. I recently heard a story that Jesus was Muslim and black. Ok, never once wondered or cared. I cared what he did/does and his actions. That made me analyze what I thought Jesus looks like...label him if you will. I guess I think he is a bit of all religions and non religions and a bit of every color. 
Well all of this then made me think back to history. For centuries we have fought against labels. We fought against the Scarlet A for those who participated in adultery....thank goodness or we would have everyone running around looking like Alvin the Chipmunk with a giant A on their shirts. We have fought against the labeling of class in transportation. We no longer travel by classes but we do choose to label ourselves by buying first class seating or suites on cruise ships and hotels. 
Why is it we don't want to be labeled, but then label ourselves......we are so confusing!
Do labels matter? Or is it what we do that matters, no matter how many labels we have behind our name? 
I know many very educated people with very impressive "labels" who never tell you about those labels, because they are humble and choose to show what they are as a person vs what the label says they are. Then I have known a few people who insist you call them by their label and can't do a darn thing, other than gloat about a label they have behind their name. The greatest label I have ever had is "mom". That is also the greatest I will ever have. 
I tell young adults all the time, it doesn't matter what you choose to do, just do it the very best you can and be proud of your work. 
I would love to see less labels. 
Like......Santa! He has fewer labels for us
He has just 2, naughty or nice....that is it! He did not ask my gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, political party, education level, income level, community I live in or anything else. Just was I naughty or nice. 
My wish for 2018......less labels.