is a tag line in a current advertisement. And, when ever I see it, I start thinking about the concept that somewhere along the line as you age, people want to reduce you to a stereotype and take away your originality...I suppose that over time, as we go through life, we trade out originality for belonging --- it starts early in school when we do similar things because we want to be best friends with others - wear similar things, join the same circles, clubs, associations, etc. It continues as we mature -- we join a professional group of people, a neighborhood, a church, etc. and they all bring with them a set of rules, expectations, perceptions, etc. that gives us 'sameness'.
But, underneath it all and at the core of each one of us, is an "original' because even though we may subscribe to 'sameness', how that sameness is interpreted, how it is incorporated in our lives, and, how it affects us going forward is still unique.
As we age and approach the end of our lives, many want to put us all in the same category ---but, just as we are born an original, we should be able to die an original. And, that means with the dignity and understanding of who we are and what our wishes are.
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As caregivers, we must work hard to identify and understand the 'original' in those we care for -- it may be lost under layers and years of 'sameness', but, it is there, if you have the patience and persistence to recognize it.
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