How many hats do you wear?

I’ve been thinking on how 2012 will shape up and whether I have enough resources (time, money, energy) to do everything I want to do and it got me thinking about all the things that I do that make me, me! Now my thinking on this is that we all voluntarily slot ourselves into categories, groups that we belong to that allow us to feel a sense of being part of something. And on some level lets us have a sense of superiority over others, after all its nice to feel better than everyone else every now and then.

So with that in mind and to make you all feel pity on this poor and tortured soul here’s my list of hats I wear:

Hat number one - Father

Yes I have two children who are both in their infancy and this demands a lot of time and energy. You see the one thing I really want to do is do it right. Not just raise them with the correct morals but also be there for them, teach them, help them when they need it and to have a sense of family that enables them in later life to understand their place in the world. Wow big list however (just a fancy way of saying but) I want my kids to love me and through that learn to love others (selfish but hey ho).

Hat numero deux - Musician

Ooh sounds fancy doesn’t it but yes I’m a musician. Not so much at the moment, what with having 2 very young children but suffuses everything I do. I think in terms of music and beats and rhythm. I’m always writing lyrics and poems, if I was more confident I would write as a poet rather than as a singer. If I had more discipline I’d write a book but I don’t. I find myself always listening to the way musicians play before appreciating the music and I can be very critical of others and myself.

Floppy cap 3 - Wargamer

This is where we descend into geek territory. I’ve played a variety of wargames now for most of my adult life (and most of my teen years) and let me tell you that’s a lot of dice rolling. This is one where I feel inferior and defensive about my hat and consequently feel superior of others because of it. Weird dichotomy.

Chefs hat number 4 - Vegetarian

This is where I get to be superior over all you meat eaters, and yet I always have to defend my choice. This is the wacky thing though when I look at my reasons for why I’m a vegetarian I can’t honestly find any that are defensible. I just am, its my diet and its how I lead my life. I’ve been doing this for so long now (19 years) that I don’t know how to eat anything else now. I enjoy cooking my own food and investigating whats on a menu. Its automatic now and I don’t want to change.

Crown of glory no. 5 - Husband

Yep I have a wife (kinda goes with the kids) and weirdly it does define me over and above just having a partner. Its hard to describe but I do feel like a different person now that I’m married (8th year this year). Always good to point out that I enjoy being a husband (and my wife reads this blog!!) and I enjoy how I feel having a wedding ring.

So wearing all these hats makes me the person that I am. Everything I do is based on my children first and foremost. Being vegetarian is instinct more than anything else and takes no thought. Being a musician and wargamer are the things that let me relax and being a husband is what I do when the kids fall asleep……

How many hats have you got?