Do we know ourselves?

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

Jomarie & thebeeb: great to know you understand. I think some people haven't got the courage to go in for self examination, and sometimes it seems to me they aren't very observant about others either. I was in a group of people and found myself observing a stranger. I commented to a friend later that I thought this person was either depressed, or ill. She told me that he had a very overbearing wife!

What puzzles me is why I think I really like someone but then decide I don't! I think it's a defence mechanism which I bring out f someone doesn't seem to like me anymore. Pathetic, really.

Yesterday we were trying to decide which colour tiles to get for the kitchen - cream, sage green or pale grey. I showed DH the samples and he definitely said green, which is the colour I like as well.

An hour or so later DD called in so I asked her opinion. She was undecided so I said, 'Dad likes the green and so do I'

DH (the blighter) then changed his mind and said he preferred cream and finished his argument with, 'Not that it makes any difference what I think around here'

To which DD replied, 'That's very true, Dad'

I swallowed my indignation because she had a point!

The jury's still out on the tiles.

Probably best not to indulge in navel gazing!

Synonymous, after thinking about it I reckon you're right. What good does it do?

It doesn't help that our personalities are made up of so many parts. Others often see just a small part. No wonder sometimes we don't like their observations. We know there us so much more they could see, even if we aren't comfortable with it all.

I ended a poem about masks called 'Disguise' with:

'Now I'm disguised as an old lady*
But she's not me,
She's just what YOU see!'

*better pronounced 'laydee' I think.

I really do feel like that when I remember what I look like. I also, like some other posters, often feel as if I'm acting a part in a play. I'm happiest when I'm totally absorbed and oblivious of myself, maybe when I'm writing.

I can honestly say I have no idea who I am at the moment
I have spent my entire adult life from my late teens looking after my DH and 3 children
Now the children are grown and it's mostly just me and DH and numerous livestock / pets I question myself constantly as to who I am and who I'd like to be
But the days continue to pass in the same way and I never deviate. I think I've become reclusive and a bit scared of the outside world
DH is happy though, he knows I'm always here !

Merlot I think the green. It's you. (bringing the outdoors, in)

GrannyPiggy, same here. Choices we make and don't regret but it is true that when you see yourself as something it can then be difficult when that something changes.

Just been through huge changes, retirement, house move, adult children,but looking forward now to rediscovering who I am.

Retirement brings huge changes. I think we are through the worst and ready to embrace this new stage of our lives.

When I was doing GCSE psychology, the book said that we have several personas, .which we show in various situations. It's no wonder we don't know which is the real one. It's the only way to cope with life; you wouldn't be the same with a prospective boss as you would be with your friends! But if I'm ever asked to describe myself, I'm stuck. There's such a wide spectrum . From a gloomy introvert to a complete show off! (As you,'ve seen from my posts!)

I was really touched recently when my lovely step mum told me I was just like my mum, who died when I was thirteen and so wish I had known as an adult.