We each have a name that identifies whom we are, as opposed to a number or other form of identifier. Most likely, our parents painstakingly labored over what we would be named in hopes our name would be uplifting enough to stay with us our entire life.
Our names are our identity. They announce to the world that we are who we are and for others to know who I am.
This month’s tip is a simple one, about respect:
- Show every person respect by learning how to pronounce their name properly, no matter how difficult. Ask the person as often as needed to learn its correct pronunciation. Jot it down phonetically or in whatever other way you need until you can say it properly. It will show how much you care.
- Show each person courtesy by spelling their name accurately when writing, every time, no matter how difficult it is to spell.
- If a person changes their name to something other than the one you first learned, respect and honor their change by calling and writing the person by their new chosen name.
When I hear someone saying the name Cindy (how my name is commonly spelled and pronounced), I’ll answer it. However, when a person mispronounces or misspells my name, I think the person is calling or addressing someone else, and others often think and envision someone other than me.
Most people I meet for the first time mispronounce my name and often misspell it. I don’t hold any ill feelings when this happens. We are all prone to reading too fast and seeing items by our mind’s eye.
What bothers me is when someone mispronounces and misspells my name repeatedly after clearly seeing it as part of a written document or auto-signature in an email. This is clearly a need for more attention and care when perpetuating the mistake.
Am I wrong in thinking that there is no way a person should mistake S-y-n-d-i to be mispronounced as S-y-d-n-e-y? Oh well.
On a lighter note, many European countries celebrate a person’s name in addition to celebrating a person’s birthday. What fun! Another reason to celebrate who I am. My legal name is Cynthia, and I’ll be celebrating my Name Day on April 20, in addition to my birthday from now on. Whoopee!
Click here (also at https://www.mynameday.com) to locate your Name Day date to mark in your calendar to celebrate. Look up other family members and friends to surprise them with a special note of love and acknowledgment on their Name Day. There are never too many ways and occasions to show how much we love someone and think of them with gratitude and appreciation for being in our lives.
The celebration of Name Days has been a tradition in many European Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries since the Middle Ages. It is also celebrated in some Scandinavian countries. As a result, for unique and non-European names, you may need to search the country’s Name Day calendar to find it.
Happy Practicing!