Kilts and Self-Identity

[cloves]

hrmmmm......I'd like to "think" I am a warrior. Albeit a peaceful one.
Why? uhm...well much like when AlanH said being a builder/creator encompassed many facets of his life.....I think the term "warrior" works much the same for me. Besides the fact that for as long as I can remember I've enjoyed things of a "martial" nature....I always seem to be bucking trends and butting heads.
Always fighting for what I think is correct.

My self identity isn't about the kilt itself, so much as the need for me (or anyone) to be able to wear it politically, and about me defending that right.

[McClef]

Kiltio Ergo Sum.

I Kilt, therefore I am.

[Nick]

Kiltio Ergo Sum.

I Kilt, therefore I am.

You, sir, are my hero!

Do kilts define us? In the words of one wit, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." They may not define us to ourselves, but they do shape how others percieve or define us.

As for myself,

I am a husband,
I am a son,
I am a Catholic,
I am an artisan,
I am a blacksmith,
I am a sewer,
I am a maker of things but not materialistic,
I am a brother of the briar and a lover of whisky,
I am a reader of books,
I am a historian,
I am an eccentric.

And those are just a few. All these little things add up to create me, some come, some go, some stay. One can exist without the others, but no them, no me.

[McClef]

To be a hero is perhaps the ultimate accolade, many thanks Nick!

To be eccentric is good. No doubt many people see our kilt wearing as an eccentricity, at least initially.

We can all define ourselves in many ways which we see as essential and intrinsic to ourselves and can include our skills and abilities and our circumstances. As you say some come and some go and some stay. Our clothing preferences are not necessarily dependant upon these factors alone but they probably enhance them as when we feel it makes us look and feel better.

[Abax]

I believe what I am about is evidenced by my actions. This is the only way people will know me.

Everything else that people can see about me - including how I dress - are just symptoms of my particular self.

Abax

[flairball]

This is a subject which I believe most people never talk about, or think about. I feel fortunate that here at X Marks we have what seems to be a bit more open minded, aware community. Perhaps kilts do that to a person, but more likely I believe one must have a different understanding of the world to wear a kilt in the first place.

Ones unique identity can't be summed up too easily, and often is more complex than one realizes. In many ways ones identity can be reduced to a word, occupation, or activity. It's at these times that the other key traits you possess quantify your being who you are at that time. It is possible for one person to wear more than one hat, and have two identities sharing similar traits.

What I do, and who I am become one when I enter the fire house. I do not normally define my being as a firefighter, but I become one when on duty. It's all the other traits I proudly possess that make it possible for me to do so. These traits are the same traits I possess when not on duty, and what keep me being me.

So who am I, how do I identify myself, and what are these traits? I guess it all boils down to what's important to you. I value honestly, but know it's impossible to be 100% honest. I value humility, but often fall into societies narcisitic trappings. I value forgiveness, which allows me to move on and keep trying even when I've not been honest or humble. I believe in being a gentleman, which I know I am on the inside, but the outside is still in training. I value empathy, and selflessness. Two things which I believe greatly help me to be a good husband, and friend. I value efficiency, thought, thoughtfulness, and individuallity.

If I must label myself, I'm a firefighter at work, a hunter in the woods, a fisherman in the water, and a husband at home. These labels aren't so important though. They are things which are important to me, but are just labels. It's the above traits, all of which I try to adhere to no matter which hat I'm wearing that allow me to focus 100% on the label of the day. Does my kilt factor into my identity? I guess some what indirectly. Knowing my short comings in the gentleman department, I believe that wearing a kilt helps me to be more forcused on acting like a genleman. When I wear my kilt I feel good about my self, and my appearance, and I try to act like the gentleman I believe I should be, and look like.

It is my belief that in today's society too amny people really follow the status quo, and give no thought to questioning convention. I don't all convention is miss guided, but even if it does make sense, shouldn't one understand how it's become convention. Too Many people who do question convention become labelled negatively, rather than being seem as "thinkers, individuals, or progressive".

Where does the kilt enter this equation? Well, I belive a most kilt thinkers, what ever the reason for wearing a kilt, have probably encountered enough non-senseical resistance to their kilt wearing that they have come to question other conventions, become a bit more empathetic, and looked deeper into themselves as a result. And this is a good thing.

[MrLion]

Knowing my short comings in the gentleman department, I believe that wearing a kilt helps me to be more focused on acting like a gentleman. When I wear my kilt I feel good about my self, and my appearance, and I try to act like the gentleman I believe I should be, and look like.

.
I like how this was expressed. Clothes do make the (gentle)man, or at least they certainly help!