Self Description
On defining oneself and the pitfalls of bios.
Get on LinkedIn, Twitter, or any other platform and write a bio. Describe yourself in a sentence or two. I doubt you can do it fully. I certainly can’t.
It’s impossible to synthesize human existence into a neatly written paragraph. Life is too complex. My bio could include working as a private investigator, selling classic cars internationally, and a host of things many would find distasteful, things I find disappointing, perhaps things that would make my mother worry, but mostly, actions that would indicate I’ve led a dirty life.
Life is dirty though. Or, perhaps muddy or murky is a better word. I have an About page on my website. I’ve written and re-written it many times. It is long, too long, and sums me up well, but not well enough for you to know me very well.
Anthony Bourdain had a good bio. His Twitter account simply stated, ‘Enthusiast.’ That’s an excellent one-word description. One that speaks to an admirable quality. One would assume someone who describes themselves as an enthusiast possesses a general lust for life. Ironically, he took his. On the surface, it would appear he knew precisely who he was. Clearly, there was more lurking below.
Resumes are equally problematic. Tell me your work history and personal accomplishments. A highlight reel of good grown-up behavior. An often flavorless document that literally ‘looks good on paper’ and figuratively should finance a life that is, in fact, bio-worthy. A resume is proof of utility, not the story of someone’s life.
I was driving home from my father’s graveside service, talking to my wife about the eulogy. I had a different take on what was said. “He was a walking contradiction,” I remarked. “Generous but selfish, a loner yet lonely,” I continued. I’m good at reporting on what I see. I painted a fairly complete and cohesive portrait of my father. I can’t do that for myself.
It is hard to define oneself. That’s how it should be. We are not a niche, category, or type. Everyone is much more than that. Bob Dylan famously described himself as a “song and dance man” when journalists tried to pin him down in a 1965 interview. He was joking, of course. He refused to be defined.
The point is, human life can’t fit into 160 characters. It is forever changing. It is dynamic, not static. Fluidity is a feature, not a bug. We want to know who we are. We want others to know who we are. We’re often labeled, sometimes wrongly. The three rarely combine into a singular and preferable report.
Thanks for reading. You can find me on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to the Sunday Notes newsletter — a weekly email discussing ideas that pique curiosity.
Writing at BarryFralick.com
