WHAT will you do about your WHO?

Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

It happens a lot this time of year.

“What are you going to be for Halloween?”

The question is innocent enough. It’s been around for however long trick-or-treating has been a thing.

The costumes are another issue altogether. Outfits that used to be considered “aspirational” or even simply “cool” are now on the banned list as we continued to slog our way through a crazy 2020.

Police officer. Canceled.

Pocahontas. Canceled.

Member of the armed services. Canceled.

President of the United States. Canceled.

Historic explorer. Canceled.

Civil War general (either side). Canceled.

Supreme Court justice (one side). To be determined.

So WHAT, then, can our children be for Halloween?

Since each new social media platform delivers its own list of canceled words and occupations, perhaps a new question is in order.

I’ll get to that in a second, but first let’s hear from a voice of reason.

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of convenience, but where they stand in moments of challenge, moments of great crisis and controversy.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

I’d say we’re living through some of those moments right now.

So here’s what I’m proposing.

Let’s stop asking, “WHAT do you want to be?” Especially to the high school junior who’s struggling to keep his grades up, maintain a spot in the starting lineup, and work the weekend shift at a local fast-food joint. He has absolutely no idea what he’ll be doing in 30 years. He’s just focused on getting through tomorrow.

Let’s start asking, “WHO do you want to be?”

Here’s why.

We have been created as unique, gifted human BEINGS. We are not human DOINGS. Our worth should never be wrapped up in an occupation, sport, hobby or political party.

Labeling WHATS creates division, anger and violence. Your WHAT stops where mine starts.

On the other hand, WHO can build bridges. Any time of day. Any time of year. No matter who you’re voting for or whether or not you wear a mask.

WHO crosses all racial boundaries. All religious beliefs.

We can’t see WHO. But we sure know when we experience it.

“Figure out who you want to be. Have it inform what you do. Do lots of that.” — Bob Goff

Mr. Goff is a very wise man, too.

I don’t want to speak for him, but here’s what I think he means.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when there are 40 people in front of us in the pharmacy line. And the two technicians are both on hold with insurance companies.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when we’ve been looked over for the promotion we thought was in the bag.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when the subject of politics comes up at the next family gathering.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when your co-worker starts flirting with you.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when we discover a wallet filled with cash on the ground.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when our neighbors are gossiping about the new family.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when our classmates are picking on the quiet kid.

Let’s decide WHO we want to be … when the official’s call goes against our team. Or, worse yet, our child.

The bottom line?

We should consistently strive to be the best WHO we can be, no matter WHAT the circumstance.

Because if our WHO is in order, it really doesn’t matter WHAT we do or wear.

At least it shouldn’t.

(Tim Kolodziej is the creator of EnspireU.com and author of this piece. You can email him here.)