- You ever think about names?
- Specifically, of people?
- Like you hear a name of someone who’s doing something exceptional, and think, “well, yeah, with a name like that …”
- Like, I dunno, Laird Hamilton.
- Or (and I told you I’d been on a Nine Inch Nails kick) Trent Reznor.
- Sounds made-up.
- Pauses to go see if, in fact, he made it up.
- Nope, that’s his real name.
- What else would that dude have been but a superstar musician.
- Names have power.
- Thanks, Mom.
- Though technically, she did name me after a popular rock singer.
- I just don’t think my name has bestselling writer juice.
- I had more names on that list until I actually sat down to write this.
- Poof.
- Middle age sucks.
- So many dementia flags flying.
- That’ll be fun, too.
- Bring it.
- Baring my teeth at the world today.
- I can’t blame the aggressive music.
- I was thinking about what you show at work.
- How much of your authentic self is there every day.
- The outline, sure.
- The shape of the thing.
- But if you had a Self Dial™, what would your knob be turned to?
- (If you say 11, you’re foolin’ yourself.)
- I’d say, three, maybe four some days.
- And I think of myself as mostly authentic.
- But there’s just so much that comes up on the mental prompter we ignore.
- Yeah, no, that’s probably not a good idea.
- Probably Not a Good Idea would be a fantastic name for a memoir.
- Not mine.
- I’m risk averse.
- Hands and feet inside the roller coaster at all times.
- And there’s a good reason for that, but again, three, maybe four, on the dial.
- If you’re only seeing the low-hanging fruit on almost everyone you encounter on the daily, how much truth are you witnessing?
- I try.
- Nothing I’ve ever put in here is the least bit untrue.
- Filtered, yes.
- Untrue, no.
- I find the differences between public and work life fascinating.
- We all wear masks, is someone’s metaphor I’m borrowing.
- But yeah, names.
- Names are hard.
- I have changed the names of all the characters in my book at least twice, and some of them three or four.
- Names in writing are like clothes you put on your imaginary mannequin.
- They shape the thing, give it voice and manner.
- I’m writing this list the night before.
- Which is probably why it is what it is so far.
- Won’t have time to write it today (tomorrow).
- Okay, there is no fucking way I’ll post this list.
- I’ll write a new one tomorrow.
One I Wrote For Work Then Thought Better About
skepticlysm 
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