“If I am I because I am I*

The post below is by far the most read post of any published here at the Spinning Rabbi.  Every day, people from all over the world visit the site to read it.  So it’s time to publish it again with a little update, for those that don’t remember it or have never seen it.

See what it means to you and why you think it is so popular.

“If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But, if I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and you are not you”. – R’Mendel of Kotzk

Simply stated, what that means can be summarized by

“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” – Oscar Wilde.

While that’s correct, let’s look a little deeper and ask why be you. If your life has a purpose (and it does) then you cannot find and fulfill that purpose without you being you. Your value to yourself and the rest of us, is the unique you. There is no one else like you and therefore no one else can fulfill your purpose. Giving and sharing that unique you matters.

When you recognize and accept that, you will realize that your life has meaning.  With that you will be more than happy, you will find joy in expressing your purpose and meaning.

You are not just matter. It is you that matters.

“If I try to be like him, who will be like me?” — Yiddish Proverb

“If you want to be original just try being yourself, because G-d has never made two people exactly alike.” – Bernard Meltzer

“If G-d had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 “If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.” – Billie Holiday

 “The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.” – Walt Disney

 “Be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else.” – Judy Garland

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton

Be Good Do Good Think Good Be Grateful Be Healthy

* Oldie but Goodie published and updated for the fourth time