.....it's all about the label

Labels are everywhere! I'm in Starbucks, the ultimate coffee label. For some the phrase 'shall we go for a coffee' has been usurped by shall we go for a Starbucks, or, to offer balance, shall we go for a Costa. And it means many things. It means coffee, it means experience. We are an experience culture now. We can't just go out for  a coffee. In fact, we can't just stay in for a coffee. We need a setting. We need an environment. The service industry dominates and takes our cash. And we love it. Well I do. But what we do know is that experiential purchases have far more durability and create a much greater sense of well being than purchases of 'things'. So if you are buying something for some one the research shows that they'll thank you for a gift that means they do something rather than than a gift that they end up sticking in a draw.

Labels are everywhere and we readily label people as well as things. I was pondering the labels attached to me yesterday and how you grow comfortable with some, accept others after time, and feel positively uncomfortable with others. The problem with labels is that people attribute things to people that are attached to them without knowing the person. We see this very evidently in our society today with stereotypical assumptions being attached to things like 'Muslim' for example. In the same way that, say, Christians are a diverse bunch, or vegetarians, or footballers, so are Muslims.

I'm labelled as father, son, partner, man.... all of which I'm happy with. It's taken me years to be comfortable with the label musician and it's only in the last couple of years that I've actually felt comfortable embracing this label. This is despite the fact that i've been a musician pretty much all of my life! I've played guitar (to a reasonable level) and sang (to a fairly good level) since my teens. Yet I've always shied away from the term. I've always been comfortable (and proud) with the label Social Worker I imagine because I have a certificate that labels me so! I am NOT comfortable and maybe never will be with the term 'academic'. It's a term that's used to refer to me at times at work as a lecturer because, I guess, in a sense, I am - but I don't feel it. Insecurity probably.  When I hear someone say it I just say 'yeah I've done alright for a lad from a council estate and with a comprehensive school education'. And I have. The label has connotations.... not always positive for some!

Imposter syndrome has plagued me all of my life! One day I'll be found out! Someone will discover I know nothing about nothing! But until then I'll keep telling people stuff about Social Work and playing my guitar in pubs and bars and wait and see if someone does 'call me out!'