So apparently I am a DiVA (sighs)…so I decided to visit my source of great knowledge #Google and type “diva definition” so that I truly understood what this label meant. A definition that comes up is as below:
“One who demands that attention be paid to his or her needs, especially without regard to anyone else’s needs or feelings”
I am grossly offended with anyone with this definition in mind when they call me a diva.
I am very much aware that I have certain standards and taste that I like to adhere to. Some say my standards are high but what does that mean? That I like to have certain things a certain way? Perhaps so but is that something out of the ordinary?? Who doesn’t have a preference for how things should be?
What I grossly hate about the definition is that it implies I demand attention to be paid to my needs at the expense of the needs/feelings of others. I don’t demand anything off anyone. I do not think my preferences supersede the needs of others. I certainly don’t see myself as a superior being. I do not ask for anything I cannot afford to work and pay for myself or reciprocate for others. I work hard for the life I live and if I choose to spend money on things that are of perceived higher standards to others so be it. Is it a crime to choose how to spend one’s hard earned cash? If I prefer to fly on private jets instead of taking commercial flights (this is a joke for illustrative purposes so let’s not find any new labels for me, I am not quite at this level…YET lol), Is that an issue to be frowned upon?
Anyways, the reason I bring up this topic is to highlight the broader issue with labeling. People use labeling without understanding what the label means, what it implies and whether or not it is truly relevant in a context. Labeling, I believe is even more damaging in that we bucket individuals into a certain categories, categories which we sub consciously have pre-conceived ideas about. We make decisions based on these ideas that can potentially tarnish the reputation of others.
I guess my hope is that when we use labels in the future, we should also bear in mind the perhaps negative connotations these labels have and also the impact that these labels will have on the perception of an individual’s character in the midst of others.
So to this, I ask of you not to judge people by the labels you have heard of them BUT to build your own connections and make your own decisions about them without the world’s LABEL.
What are YOUR thoughts/experience on this issue of labeling? I would love to hear them.
“Once you label me you negate me.” || Søren Kierkegaard