Do you get tired of reading authors' long biographies on book jackets? Or are you simply not interested in reading endlessly of others' accomplishments? When it comes down to it, wouldn't you rather read about your own?
All of us want to be the centre of attention, which is particularly true of performers and other celebrities, as an actor friend of mine said recently. But here I'll resist the temptation of writing about myself -- you'll learn enough about me in further articles I plan to write anyway. Instead, I'll invite you to tell me, mentally at least, about you.
Which isn't necessarily easy. We all play different roles according to the situations in which we find ourselves. Our personalities are hopelessly split, which I've tried to illustrate in the photograph accompanying this article. You can probably figure out a few things from it about myself, but can you provide a similar photo for yourself?
Of course, you've probably at some time had to write a curriculum vitae (my, doesn't that sound grand!) for job applications, listing such things as career accomplishments, academic degrees or other awards, and your general qualifications and experience for the job in question. Or you might be applying for a grant or some other kind of cash award: you'll have noticed that CVs differ according to their purpose. For most, your age and native language (and perhaps others too) are important. You may have to list any publications, your place of residence, or even your current family. Most of you should be able to do this relatively easily.
But that isn't quite what I mean. What is it that most defines you? In other words, who are you, really? Can you, in a short space, tell me about your very essence? If you had to do this in one short sentence, what exactly would you say? There are so many possibilities for you to think of. What are you interests, your sports, or hobbies? What do you read, and what are your favourite books, newspapers, etc.? Do you believe in God or a similar force outside yourself -- and is religion important to you at all? If so, which? Are you interested in science, or can at least appreciate a scientific approach to life? How interested are you in politics: are you left wing, right wing, or centrist, or do you even care? How much influence do you think you personally have in your country or in the world? How important for you is the environment? How important is money or the lack of it in your life? Are you an extrovert or introvert, or at times one and at times the other? Have you a sense of humour, and can you apply it to your own shortcomings?
I'll ask in my next article who are your heroes and antiheroes. But would this really help to define you, or would it rather express who you'd like to be? In other words what are your aspirations? Answers to all of these questions can obviously tell you, and me, a large number of facts about yourself. And yet...
Have we by now found your essence? What about your secrets -- those things you're ashamed about and would never admit to others (except, perhaps to a psychologist)? Enjoyment, even, of your own shame and despair, as has been illustrated in the writings of Dostoevsky and Freud? Is your greatest desire for someone to love you, or, coming back to being the centre of attention, are you more interested in having others admire you? What are you addictions? Alcohol? Drugs? Gambling? Sex? Cell phones and computers, online games -- all of which are an important factor for today's youth in particular? Personal secrets, I think, come closest to revealing who you really are. Please think about them.
So in this article I've tried to avoid talking about myself. You'll find more about me in future articles, or if you're too impatient for that (and secretly I hope you are) you can always look me up on the web.
Next time then: Who are your (anti)heroes?