A story about how I felt like myself even after my “tags” were gone

Lately, I feel as though I have lost my “name”.

I felt like a bottle without a label.

Even though the contents are still there, just because the label peeled off, I suddenly don't know who “I” am.

The title of “Physical Therapist” was a tag for me.

But after letting that go, what should the remaining me call myself?

When I was thinking about such things, the theme of “organizing your own tags” came up on Haru Oishi’s Voicy.

What kind of tags do I have?

And who is it that decides them?

Until a little while ago, I had a title.

“Physical Therapist”

But now, that tag has come off.

If I had to say, I have become a “former Physical Therapist”.

Isn't there a tag that represents the “now” instead of the “former”?

I decided to think about it.

In thinking about this, I suddenly remembered a picture book.

It is a picture book I love by Shinsuke Yoshitake called 'The I-Don't-Care-Bear' (original title: 'Boku no Nisemono o Tsukuru ni wa').

This book depicts the process of explaining oneself to a robot in order to have it become one's own fake.

I think it is a wonderful picture book for looking at oneself from a bird's-eye view.

I have even written down things I like and dislike together with my son.

I wonder if my current tags look something like this.

It has started to feel a bit dull.
Is it because I don't have a profession, after all?

Someday, I want to be able to write things like 'Occupation: Writer'.

What am I like from the perspective of others?

The version of myself seen through the eyes of others is also interesting.

On her Voicy channel, Hare Oishi also mentioned that 'the tags you think you have can be different from how others see you'.

In that sense, I think 'introducing others' is also interesting.

If we introduce each other as a family, we might see a different side of ourselves.

I asked my son, 'What kind of person is Mom?'

"Forgetful"

My tag was "forgetful".

I had forgotten the tag that I shouldn't have forgotten.

I am truly "forgetful".

There must be many tags that I cannot see myself.

Even if I cannot find a clear tag.

Even if I don't have a name that I can explain to someone else.

The me who is here right now is definitely me.

I think that alone is surely enough.

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