What's in a Name?

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
     - Act II, Scene II, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

I have to disagree with Sir William on that one. You can call me Cat. Or you can call me Catharine. Just don't call me Cathy. Unless you are my dad. He has special permission, due to playing a part in the naming process. I was named Catharine, though. Not Cathy.

I know this has been a sticky wicket for those of you who knew me pre-2014. Some of you have transitioned over easily (thank you for not skipping a beat). Some came to the Cat-side dragging their heels (I do appreciate the effort!). Some have vowed to never call me anything but Cathy because that is how you've always known me and changing things up now so late in life doesn't make any darn sense to you. Maybe I can help shift the way that you think about this when I explain why I broke up with Cathy and haven't looked back (often).

I'll try to make this as short as possible because I could write a book on this topic. In a literary nutshell, Cathy represents me as a child, adolescent and young adult. For most of those years of my life I was a shy people-pleaser. I was what everyone else wanted me to be. Read through my blog if you want to dig into details. I haven't written much in the past couple of years, but that's changing. I promise. At the conclusion of a particularly mentally and emotionally abusive relationship in early 2014, I walked away from that little girl who cared entirely too much what other people thought of her. I stopped listening to what I was being told about myself and I took the time needed to embrace the parts of me that I loved and the times in my life that I was strong and successful and being the person I wanted to be when I grew up. My work life brought me a lot of confidence and validated that I am the person that I want to be. It was the personal side that I just couldn't get balanced right, and I'd easily give my strength to others. I changed that in 2014 and have charged ever-steady forward since. I'm the happiest version of me now, with healthy, loving relationships in conjunction with a career that bring me fulfillment. It truly is a wonderful life.

I'm not Cathy anymore. Every time I hear that name it takes me backwards. It sounds out of place. It makes me grit my teeth. I'll try to understand if you can't let it go, but now that you know the "why" behind the change, I hope you'll understand Cat. Hear me roar!

💚Cat