h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*If a person loses their profession as a result of injury, for example, it may precipitate a personal crisis.*

Been there, done that, designed the tee shirt!

Interestingly enough, my other personal senses of identity got me through a very dark time.

It took me two years to realize I had been defining myself by the job I had been forced to give up. Fortunately I also realized that my identity as a husband and father outranked that part of my life.

Also my sense of identity as a biker, the fact that most of the people I associate with didn't actually give a damn about what I did for a living, helped me an awful lot.

I suppose we could have multiple levels in choosing what is important in a characters identity?

Nice article DG, thanks!

Thanks, FWR! Yes, that's true - it goes in layers. You can use that in a story, too, as the character decides what is most important.

That's a really good article, Dmitri.

I define myself in terms of what I do, especially things I do to help others (even if the others sometimes don't realize it ). I've passed the stage where I was primarily collecting stuff for myself. I don't need more stuff , except maybe for fresh veggies in the Summer, when I can give any surplus veggies to friends and neighbors.

But,of course, I may face a loss of identity when I get older and can't do things any more. My mother reached that point, and she was very self-aware. She still kept up a brave front, but you could tell it upset her.

Maybe I can still give other people advice. Probably I'll just annoy them with long, boring stories .

You've given me a lot to think about.

Quick DG, call the police, body snatchers have taken paulh...obvious error, the body snatchers have stayed on topic, rookie error for the aliens!

They might as well take my body.My mind is long gone anyway.

Cancel that, he's back and cracking jokes, phew, that was a close one!

well, acorn also crack acorns

Settle down, you two.

I claim brain damage due to being hit on the head by too many acorns form the tree in my yard.

(Actually, I'm kidding. To get back on topic, I think brain injury would affect my sense of identity.)