Identity Theft.

I spent this past week cleaning out the linen closet.

Our linen closet doesn't just have linen-y stuff in it; over the years it's become a filing cabinet. A really disorganized, hanging-on-to-who-knows-what-from-the-80's filing cabinet.

Knowing that the closet contained years and years of financial and career history within pounds and pounds of paper was making me crazy. So I pulled every last bit out.

Holy crap.

Since we don't have a shredder, I've been sitting on the floor, being a shredder, if you will. And as I've been sitting, shredding, reflecting on who I was in 1998, or where I was in 2001 when I paid that Verizon bill, the thought occurred to me -

The reason I am shredding papers is because there are people out there who will steal your identity. They'll just take your name and info and try and benefit somehow from it.

Immediately I became much older and judgmental in my thoughts:

"What, they don't have anything better to do than to steal my identity? Good God, Get a job!".

And then I wondered about stealing identities, and how perhaps I may have done that a few times in my life - not stealing really, more like trying on another person's life.

Ex: What would it be like to be Katy Perry? Hmm...

Or, a six-figure Executive?  Hmm...

Or a woman who is super confident and doesn't care what anyone thinks. (yes, I like this one in particular).

Then my pondering went further -

What about thinking we know another person? Is that like stealing someone's identity?

If someone subscribes to a certain political party, watches certain programming, or has a nose ring, or likes to wear suits, or steals gum from the Walgreens, or sunbathes naked, or believes a certain way about anything, or likes to spend or eat or sing a certain way - do we come up with our own identity stamp of who they are behind what they believe, do, say? Do we steal their identity away from them with our commentary, or ideas, or judgment placed on it?

I wonder about our world and I'm thinking it would be a much safer and sweeter place if we just kept our identities to ourself, and stop deciding who and what others are based on our own personal assumptions.

I suppose then the only thing left to steal would be savory moments from our own lives and enjoying the time we have left here. I can definitely identify with that.

Love in the form of Friday ponderings,
XO Laura.

*** In the wake of the Charleston, SC Church shootings, I send love & healing to the families and friends of those lost, and to the families and friends of the perpetrator. I trust in our Leadership and the people of the USA to always make choices that serve the betterment of all humans, and I hope I don't ever have to write "...in the wake of xyz tragedy..." ever again because it is just enough. Lots of water today, a quick run, and tonight, retail therapy. ***