Tuesday, September 11, 2012

What's in a Name?

I remember being really geeked growing up when I found out the meaning of my name.  Bernadette (not Barefoot Hippie Girl). Bernadette is French and means brave as a bear. That is pretty awesome. Pretty unique.

But, I've blogged about this before (here).

What I really want to discuss today is the name of my blog. For two reasons...

1) I saw the question on a couple Sunday Social link ups this weekend, "what is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it?

2) Somebody recently approached me with consternation that I would call myself a Hippie when the hippies were a bunch of pot smoking floozies.

Well, in case you haven't noticed...the name of my blog is the Barefoot Hippie Girl. On my "why barefoot hippie girl" page, I kind of explain the why.

But, the fact of the matter is-it is just a name. It doesn't define me. It doesn't even completely define my blog. And I'm not planning to change it.

I picked Barefoot Hippie Girl, because I person who I respect a ton, my BFF, when speaking about me to others, refers to me as her Barefoot Hippie friend.

Not because I am terribly hippie-ish. But if you were to describe a whole lot of the things I do-it actually sounds rather hippie-ish.

I do home births.
I make my own bread.
I have a garden that we eat from all summer long.
I home school my kids.
I go to a small church.
I eat very little processed food.
I like VWs.

And I love being barefoot. Like all the time. At home and around the house, or when I am at someone else's house, I am barefoot. No socks. No shoes. Just me and my bare toes.

So, about a year ago I was debating starting a blog, and I didn't want to use my name. But I was willing to use a nick name.

I have like 3 nick names. Bernie (call me that and we will NOT remain friends). Bernilla. I already use that for my email. And Barefoot Hippie Girl.

If you had a choice between the three for a blog name, you'd have picked Barefoot Hippie Girl too.

As a side note, a whole lot of blogs have three words in the titles...
The Tiny Twig
Modern Mrs. Darcy
Taking the Plunge
Random Writings of Rachel (that's 4, but 3 main words)
Harmon Baby Farm
Noel's Beautiful Life
Royal Daughter Design
Rags to Stitches

There is something of a ring to the rule of three. Collections, art and decor make eye-catching statements when grouped using odd numbers. Why not blog names?

Barefoot Girl just doesn't sound right. Maybe I should do Barefoot______Girl. Then everyone could fill in their own middle word description for me.


In a way, I have become Barefoot Hippie Girl. She is me. I am her.

I sometimes jokingly refer to Barefoot Hippie Girl as my alter ego.  My Batman to my Bruce Wayne.

But it just isn't true. I am not two totally different people. I write who I am. I share my heart on my blog. I am me on my blog. And I have grown into my blog, and myself this year.

I have become more bold. More artistic. Braver.

I have tried new things. I have taken pictures. Far more than ever in pre blog days.

I have grown to like poetry. And I am reading good books-not just fluff and stuff.

I have grown more unconventional, and more conventional. I have found my voice, and become comfortable in my skin.

Shakespeare put it very memorably...

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

-Romeo and Juliet

It doesn't matter what this blog is called, because the name doesn't change my purpose or goal for the blog.

It doesn't change my mission:
To challenge all my readers to
Wait on the Lord. to
Renew their strength. to
Run and not grow weary. to 
Walk and not faint.

And (hopefully) I'm sweet no matter what you call me.=)



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