Friday, April 13, 2012

Your Face Tattoo

A  L  O  H  A !


" My role in society, 
or any artist's or poet's role,
 is to try and express 
what we all feel.

 Not to tell people how to feel.
 Not as a preacher, 
not as a leader, 
but as a reflection of 
us all.  "

John Lennon














" The role of a writer 
is not to say 
what we all can say,
 but what we are unable
 to say.  "

Anais Nin












" The role of a comedian 
is to make the audience laugh,
 at a minimum of once
 every fifteen seconds.  "

Lenny Bruce










 " So one day, 
in a fit of trying to do something 
different,
 I just dyed my hair dark brown 
and got my first role 
a week later, 
after which I thought:
 'People are closed-minded, man!
 Like a different hair colour 
changes everything! ' "

Emma Stone 
  ><}}(°>



We all play many roles,
in our families,
at work,
in our own eyes.


When I played the role
of working with
at-risk youth & adults,
we used to play a
"game"
that some call:
"Crowns & Thorns"


Small cards were labeled:

"Leader"  "Elderly" "Kid"
"Crazy" "Troublemaker"
"Support Staff"
and such.


The cards are handed out
and each person at the table
tapes one to their forehead
without reading it.

Everyone in the group
can see your label
EXCEPT you;
And you can easily see
everyone else's  label.

Then the group takes on
a task, like planning
an office party.

In a remarkably small time,
everyone is treating the "Leader"
with deference,
and rolling their eyes,
or even laughing
when the "Crazy" person
tries to participate.


At game's end
EVERYONE KNOWS
what their own unseen label
says,
because they have been
forced into that role.


And this is only a 
brief game!

What a huge role
LABELS
play in our interactions
with others,
and our feelings about
ourselves!


What roles
are YOU forced into?
What is tattooed
on your face?

Can we change
our label?


What habits and labels
guide your treatment
of others?


Label me grateful
for YOUR Visit!

Here at Comfort Spiral,
 YOUr label reads:
"Valued Friend "


'Take away PEACE - Leave a COMMENT'

Warmly, cloudia

 


20 comments:

Akelamalu said...

I love the label you've given me.

the walking man said...

Labels belong on boxes eh? Time to get away from the enclosures Sister of my Being. I can live with your label for us. But can I be the Crazy Valued Friend?

BALLET NEWS said...

loving this !!

Jeannie said...

This is so true.

Betty Manousos said...

sweet friend, love your photos, but that yellow flower caught my eye!
great lighting in the picture!

alohaa!!

Hilary said...

I suspect we tend to label our own selves more than others label us but we grow to believe it no matter the source. That sounds like a great exercise to demonstrate how visible those labels are.

Lori Skoog said...

A beautiful bird in that photo and a very interesting game you played.
I'd say that many labels are accurate reflections of us, like it or not. What is unfair, is generalizations. We say a lot about ourselves without even speaking.

21 Wits said...

If I could have a cup of coffee with any two people (not living) anymore it would be, Anais Nin and Henry Miller, sharing their readings! Imagine that! Enjoy your day in the sunshine, Cloudia - Karen

Myrna R. said...

I always fought unsuccessfully against diagnostic labeling, but labels of any kind do tend to lock us into behaviors and ways of thinking about ourselves and others.

What a wise post. The quotes and photos were so ...I don't have a word. Just loved them.

Isherwood Wildwalker said...

Oh, the labels I have willingly stapled to my own forehead.

My hesitation and fear keeping me from stepping out of this deep rut of self-imposed identity....

wanderoke.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

what an entry !

while thinking less than five minutes, assume, that I might be the 'good guy, who makes only the good things, who does not get nervous and argues' - wearing some ink meself, once I was able to hide my tats for more than eight years.

please have you all a good weekend.

daily athens photo

Windsmoke. said...

Labels are made up to make other people feel comfortable within themselves, the best place for labels is in boxes :-).

Full-On-Forward said...

Powerful Post you Bi-y.... I mean my Sista!

I try hard to be unlabelled, definable etc..except for the core Character qualities I choose to put out there consistently ie. a Good friend and trying to be a Spiritual Man.

You are every positive label or quality I can think of! And I want the Crazy Valued Friend spot Durfee!

J

Cloudia said...

what a great conversation!

thanks friends

Anonymous said...

Thoughtful insight into how other people's perceptions can greatly affect our own. It's a struggle (often) to be oneself!

Trotter said...

Aloha Cloudia! Everything ok?
Beautiful pics, wonderful words!!
Blogtrotter Two is missing you at the Virgin Islands... Enjoy and have a great weekend!!!

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you Cloudia. Beautiful and thought provoking. I have a sneaking suspicioun that I would not like my face tattoo.

Ruby said...

I loved your roles quotes and the game of roles. Great post! Cheers, Ruby

Cloudia said...

Thanks for sharing YOUr insights

Pietro Brosio said...

Beautiful post, Cloudia, perfect quotes and pictures!