having legal names treated by authorities as "real" names has convinced so many people that its bizarre to have more than one name throughout one's life, when the opposite is true.

names are gifts. we receive many throughout our lives. we always give ourself this gift (though many of us lie to ourselves about it). and sometimes we share that gift to ourselves with others.

a name has power given the social world that carries it. remember this every time youre given a name, every time you gift others a name, and every time you share the gift of your name with others.