Identity

Our identity starts
With the families
We are born into
 
They are the first
To tell us
Who we are
And what we are good at

Show us our place
As they see it
In our family
In our world
 
Later
Our identity
Is further shaped
By our friends
Churches
Schools
Workplaces

And it’s good to have so much shaping us

It’s good to have a mirror

It’s good to have who we are
Reflected back to us
So we know
What to change
What to keep

But lately
I’ve been wondering

At what point
We stop
Inviting others

To tell us who we are

At what point do we say
 
Thank you for the input
It has served me well
 
But I now have
Within me
A sense
Of who I am

And I
Will take it
From here