2009
Do you remember me…what’s my name?
It happened again today.
Somone who goes to my church, who I’m friends with on Facebook, who I should know, cornered me and laid down the awkward gauntlet. It went like this…
Me “Hey, how’s it going”
Her “Good. Do you know who I am?”
Me “Sure…you’re…that girl…who likes to make things awkward…”
Her “What’s my name?”
She got me. I didn’t know. I couldn’t remember. Which, not to make this bigger (and more awkward than it already was), reveals two truths about me::
- I am a forgetful person to my core. I’ll be honest, 5 minutes after she let me off the hook I already forgot it
- I am narcisitic and self-obsessed to my core. Most times when someone introduces themself to me I am thinking about what I’m going to say to them next. I’m thinking about what I’ll say about myself…if only they would stop talking.
I may have done it to you. If so, I am sorry. To forget someone’s name may seem like a simple social faux pau, but in truth, it is something much more.
To forget someone’s name is to be irresponsible with a part of who they are. Your name is your most basic sense of identity. And when I am too busy thinking of myself to acknowledge, honor…and remember who you are, I am in a small way showing you your value to me. LeAnne may not have thought that in the moment…but I did.
Your Turn :: Please, no matter how many times we’ve met, always introduce yourself with your name first. I’ll do my best to remember.
