外刊阅读|我眼里的贴标签-活成一个悖论也很有意思

@友邻0801外刊My O.C.D. Diagnosis Was a Blessing, Until It Became Too Central to My Identity

Opinion

相比较于给自己贴标签寻求得来的归属感和独特性，活成一个迷人的悖论不是更有意思吗？

We need categories and labels. Without them, it’d be really hard to make sense of the world and ourselves. And also, the labels we use to describe ourselves are inherently reductionist. Both of these things can be true at once. As Walt Whitman wrote: “Do I contradict myself?/Very well then, I contradict myself./(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”

For this label topic,I have my own understanding and I can really connect with this topic.

As the author said,O.C.D used to benefit for him but later he has to disconnect from it.

For labels,especially for people,I always feel confused. On the one hand,I don't know what kind of label I can put on me. On the other hand, I don't know how other people give their labels.

I could say I am an introvert person even though I am most of time. But if I say so,it's like I am wrong to go outside hanging out with my friends because it seems to go against my nature.（a little bit weird I know）

Another example is that I do like reading but I hate people saying that I'm into reading because sometimes I don't.

I might be sloppy sometimes but when my dad mentioned that in front of me,I won't do the chores on purpose because I just think like "oh, you said I am a sloppy person,then I am". Of course, this is not good for both of us.

By seeing other people's so many labels,mostly their hobbies, I feel so anxious. Why other people get so many hobbies and labels but I couldn't dare to say I am one type of person. I am not cool.

Like the paragraph I cited, the world is so complex and so are we. Living like a unique paradox is totally fine. We just couldn't be a reductionist and catagrize everything.

Lastly, I am happy to put Chanel's advertisement lines here and it makes more sense.

香奈儿五号之水广告文案

I am night and day
Question and answer
Composed and excessive
Instant and infinite
Artist and muse
Vulnerable and invincible
You know me and you don’t
我是夜晚也是白天
我是问题也是答案
我内敛又张扬，短暂又无限
我是艺术家也是缪斯
我柔弱敏感又坚不可摧
你懂我，又不懂我