Often, we treat our identities as fixed.

Often, we treat our identities as fixed. And defend them if and when they feel threatened.

But, if all of our roles are stripped away, WHO are we?

If we strip away the roles of 'mother', 'brother', 'engineer', 'founder', 'academic', 'neighbour', 'car enthusiast', 'conservatist', 'national to a particular country', 'smoker', 'sober', etc., what is left that defines our identities we protect so fiercely?

And yes, of course, all of those roles ARE a part of our identities, but are they ALL we are to treat our identities as fixed and needing defending as such?

After all, there was a time when few, if any, applied. For example, before we became or became aware of being 'sisters', brothers', 'fathers', 'founders', 'liberals', etc.

If our current identity that we treat as fixed is our fixed identity, did we not have an identity before we became all those things we now treat as our identity?

Or is there something more fundamental, something more core that transcends and/or underlies all those other parts we now treat as our WHOLE identity and more fluid than fixed?

And if is, in fact, the latter, WHO are we when our everyday roles shift and change?

And how justified is our perceived injury when we are challenged on some part of what makes up our today's identity?