what's in a name? (Part 1)

[sanmagic7]

i've been fascinated by the various names used in this forum, and would love to learn more about them (without revealing personal identification, of course) - just how a name was chosen, its significance for a person, why that particular name.

mine is from my first name, my favorite number (7 - altho it's not necessarily my lucky number, it's just been my favorite as long as i can remember), and that i believe in the magic of life, the universe, and everything.  one of my mantras is 'trust the magic.'

anyone else care to share?

[woodsgnome]

Mine is derived from 2 circumstances.

I literally live in a cabin in the woods (those holiday greeting cards with the little cabin? It's 'mine', give or take some details). And it was my choice, how I wanted to live...and definitely related to cptsd. Walker lists traits common to what he calls the 'freeze' sorts of survivors. My dominant 'theme' starts with 'hermit'; it has both positive and negative qualities, e.g. I can be sociable (had to be for various jobs) but need the solitude to balance the overwhelm. Even if I became urban (I grew up in a city), the deep woods would suit my temperament the best. As a kid, my dreams of a better life always involved what I call 'wilderness visions'.

Tacking 'gnome' on as the last part stems from my interest in folklore, and forest gnomes (as opposed to garden and home sorts) match my hermit side with another characteristic--uncertainty about humans. Not contemptuous of them, just wary of where/why/how they can be so frightful    to so many, including their own kind.

[Three Roses]

Mine's from an old song, the lyrics are in part -

"Walking through a wonderland, I got you by the hand
Every move we made, just as if it were planned
Three roses were bought with you in mind
Three roses were bought with you in mind

I gotta stop and see what I'm on about
Stop and feel what I want I gotta
Stop and see what I'm on about
Stop and feel what I want with you"

[sanmagic7]

you've both brought a smile to my heart on a day when i really needed it.  thanks for sharing.  i find this just wonderful!

[movementforthebetter]

Mine is also from a song I love, The Soft Beating, by a band called Efterklang. It has an incredibly pretty melody and is lovely to harmonize with. I chose it because it's a positive reminder of why I am here. Makes a good mantra.

The soft beating
The sound of movement
For the better
Will make us walk

Stop load breathing
The sound will pour us
For the better
And make us walk

From that house
Letters will come and go,
To the rhythm back and forth

Never stop the day

The soft beating,
The sound of movement
For the better
Will make us walk

Stop load tweaking
The sound will pour
And I will let it go

From the house
In the woods
We can keep it, or watch it change

We might sleep, sleep comes the most
We can keep it, or watch it fall

Over the top till it all comes down
I can't imagine it
Over the top

(if you want to hear the album version of the song you can do so here https://youtu.be/Mbsl49KUa5s)

[sanmagic7]

beautiful!

[Wife#2]

Mine is pretty self-explanatory. I chose it simply because I came here in the beginning to research information for my uCPTSD husband.

I have thought of changing mine, but have no idea to what, so I've stuck with Wife#2.

Not nearly as beautiful or creative as the rest of you, but I'm OK with that. It's wonderful to read the stories, the lyrics (so uplifting in both songs). Thank you San, for starting this thread. Thank you, everyone else for your answers!

[sanmagic7]

wife#2, thanks for the thanks.  i think all the names, no matter from where they originate, say something personal about the person.  that individuality , to me, is beautiful in itself.

[Rainydaze]

Choose your favourite shoes
And keep your blues on cruise control

Mine comes from an Elbow song. When I was stuck in my teenage * where the CPTSD truly manifested itself this is one of the songs that kept me living and hoping for better times.

[movementforthebetter]

Choose your favourite shoes
And keep your blues on cruise control

Mine comes from an Elbow song. When I was stuck in my teenage * where the CPTSD truly manifested itself this is one of the songs that kept me living and hoping for better times.

omg Elbow! One of my favourite bands. They have so many lyrics that hit home. Nice choice, and glad you find peace in their music, too.

Another fave lyric of mine is "fear is not the respect you want but it's the best you're gonna get". It cuts to the core of an abuser's motivations.

[TwinCinema]

My username is the title of an album by one of my favorite bands, the New Pornographers.
I chose it mainly because their music has a very humane, upbeat sensibility to it, which is something I try to convey in my posts and in my everyday life.

[radical]

My handle "Radical' related to my first post here.  I was talking about the radical changes I had made in my life over the previous year, and also about the radical (ie fundamental) change I feel is necessary for overcoming my CPTSD. I wish I had been "radical" in my approach much sooner, but I was paralysed and blind to abusive behaviour in many of my relationships and it took another major trauma to push me out of my passivity in order to save my own life.

I realised I was prepared to do whatever it took, and go wherever this path took me, that I no longer had anything to lose.  I couldn't live as I was living any longer.

[sanmagic7]

wow, so many songs/lyrics as affirmations and/or influences for forum names.  but then, music has always been a powerful force.

my music is from the 60's, especially dylan and the beatles, movers and shakers all.  yet, i don't listen to music on a regular basis, never have.  this is so interesting to me.  the only time i purposefully listen to music is when i've been driving on a road trip, and it's always been whatever station my car antenna could pick up.  i'm so old school, i wouldn't know what to do with all the satellite gadgets that come standard in cars anymore. (i still drive a 94 escort - it doesn't even have gps and i'm glad.  i like the mystery and adventure and thrill of maybe getting lost and having to find my way back on track.  maybe a little like this whole c-ptsd thing.  i don't know.  maybe not.)

and radical, it sounds like your name is perfect for you as well.  thanks for all these responses.  i find this fascinating.  i never heard of 'elbow' yet here are 2 people who listen to it regularly and can quote lyrics.  wowser!  this is great!  and so are all of you!

[Three Roses]

I love this thread. 

[abcdefghijohnnyz]

Well, mine is from the book House of Leaves. I'm obsessed with that book and also with the companion album, Haunted. Both are really intense, cathartic, beautiful works of art that dig really deep into trauma.

The phrase "abcdefghijohnnyz" comes from a letter from the main character's mother. Something about it just seems to express this intense, desperate, overwhelming love. Like, replacing most of the letters of the alphabet with your child's name, as if it is just everything to you.