17 October 2005
My Name is Lame
Is character a reflection of name? Can it be true? My real name is Alexander. It means "Protector of Mankind." It is a great name indeed but does it make me a "protector of mankind?" Do I merely fall under a category?
I'm not thrilled with the idea of being classified but let's take a closer look at some examples of great people whose names were also Alexander or Hoy.
This one cannot be ignored. He was a great man who led his army to conquer almost all of Europe and Asia (and even the world many say). His men never lost faith in him (except for one time in the Indus River Valley...but let's not mention that) and served their leader even when their strength was gone.
Alexander took over the throne when his father was assassinated. Being a young man ruling a country in anarchy, he was stuck in a dangerous position. But being named Alexander, he eliminated all threats by hunting them down and killing them. Thus, he secured his kingdom and began building an empire, one of the greatest empires in history.
What can we take away from Alexander? Well, kill all opposition and you will be the best of course!
Believe or not, but the sweet purple Flavor Ice has a name! It is called, Alexander the Grape, indeed! Purple has been a traditional favorite flavor that kids fight for. What can we learn from Alexander? You have to fight for an Alexander if you want the best.
Now here's a winner. No athlete has impressed me more than Shaun. After joining a fantasy football league, I daily read the transaction and news section for my favorite player. I was surprised to see more than an inflated jock. Alexander sets goals for himself. That is something I admire. And he commits to them. He was very upset when he did not win the rushing title (missed by a yard I believe).
On the field, this man is a beast. Here are his career stats by year.
| Year | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Game | Average | TD |
| 2001 | 309 | 1318 | 82.4 | 4.3 | 14 |
| 2002 | 295 | 1175 | 73.4 | 4.0 | 16 |
| 2003 | 326 | 1435 | 89.7 | 4.4 | 14 |
| 2004 | 353 | 1696 | 106.0 | 4.8 | 16 |
| 2005 (as of 17 Oct 05) | 131 | 715 | 119.2 | 5.5 | 12 |
As you study the numbers, see each year he has improved. I believe that you can only get better and that belief can be confirmed by Shaun Alexander. So what do we learn by Alexander? Set goals and stick to them and you will achieve!
Now this is a classic. There aren't too many people out there named hoy. But remember, it has a double meaning. In Chinese, Hoy means Open. Literally opened. For example, "open the door"="hoy moon." I like to open doors.
Hoy can also make an added effect to a phrase. "Hoy sum" means happy in Chinese! "Hoy chee" means "begin!" It is a versatile name that can mean many things. What do we learn from Hoy? There are many sides to it therefore, hoy is a great door opener.
Wait! There’s more! My grandma had a friend named hoy and boy, was she great at cooking! Especially small Chinese pastries and snacks, like the ham-seray-gwok (seray is one syllable) and gow-chi. I would be excited whenever I got home from school and knew that mommy went to visit Hoy yee yee unless the gow chi had mushrooms in them. I hate mushrooms. They ruin days. What do we learn from Hoy2? Hoys are great cooks and hate mushrooms.
I hope this has encouraged you to look into your name. There are many great and horrible people out there with your name but nonetheless you are who you are. Labels aren't bad, but they aren't everything. I'm not great like Alexander the great, but deep down have the potential to conquer the world!
So is character a reflection of name? By no means at all my friends. Character is unique for each and every individual. A name does not dictate who you are, but it can contribute to what you are capable of, like the Alexanders and Hoys.
What can we learn from Hoy? Remember, you can be more than you think you are. Don't restrict yourself by saying, "I can't do this because I'm _____" or "I'm not great because I'm________." People who speak like this and do not live to their full potential are only cheating themselves. They turn me off like mushrooms. Make the most of yourself!
