Don’t Add the E!
Hey Celestial. Yes, you. The one and only.
It’s me, Celeste with an ‘e’ at the end. Future you.
You just signed up for Facebook (I won’t tell mom if you don’t) and proudly filled in the name section with your given name, Celestial, because well, that’s what your parents and small-town friends call you. But give it a few years and you’ll move into a bigger town where you’ll start introducing yourself as Celest with no ‘e’ for short, because it’s easier for these new people to remember. You’ll even eventually change your Facebook name to Celest so people can find you easily. Then a few years after that, you’re gonna move to a big city where you’ll attend university and add an ‘e’ at the end. Because that’s how everyone else is spelling it and you’re just too tired of correcting and explaining why there’s no ‘e’ at the end, or your real name to even begin with.
But, you see, I’m writing to you in hopes that this letter will reach you before you change your Facebook name. “It’s just a name. No big deal”. NO CELESTIAL, THAT’S WHAT STUPID ME WOULD SAY, BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL. DON’T CHANGE IT.
Mom is gonna tell you ‘Celeste’ doesn’t make you unique anymore, and you’re just gonna continue to rebel. But the moment you realize she’s right and that there’s a much deeper issue here than just a simple name change, you’re gonna break. And you’re gonna stay broken for a long time. Allow me to explain.
I just Facebook searched Celeste and over 300 results showed up; but when you Facebook search Celestial or Celest, literally only 11 show up all together. Every other conversation you have with a stranger, you get the typical “Oh wow, I’ve never met a Celest before”, and you’ll explain that it’s short for Celestial and that you were named after the Celestial Bodies. Then their awe for it gives you a tingly feeling of appreciation for the greater beauty of our universe. But listen, the second you identify yourself with an ‘e’ at the end, the conversation won’t even get that far. Eventually, you’ll start to forget about the beauty of the universe because it doesn’t even come up in conversations anymore. And soon enough, you’ll lose sight of your own beauty and identity. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you are made unique, Celest with no ‘e’. You see, when I changed our name to Celeste with an ‘e’, I lost our personal touch to things. Our vision for ourselves became hazed and confusing. Mom and dad named you after the Celestial galaxies for a reason. You are made to be an out-of-this-world individual who reaches for her out-of-this-world dreams. So please, don’t conform just because it’s easier. Don’t identify as someone who isn’t proud to be named after heaven itself. Don’t stay earth-minded, or should I say online minded.
In the coming years, social media will become a very important part of your life. Your addiction to Facebook now will spread into an addiction to Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. And that addiction is gonna turn into a cycle of online validation. And that online validation is gonna turn into a little-to-none self-worth.
(Trigger warning: the following will reveal your tragic downfall, read with caution but also read with intentions you won’t follow my foosteps, Celest)
On Instagram you’ll start off by posting incredibly hilarious and meme-worthy selfies with witty captions — because you love making people laugh. But now, your profile is filled with “aesthetically pleasing” pictures of meaningless food and buildings because you have to “stay on a theme”. On Twitter you’ll start off by tweeting inspiring quotes, along with the occasional “Jesus loves you” type of tweets — because you love receiving words of encouragement and affirmation, so why not give it too. But now, you just retweet what others have to say because you don’t think your voice matters anymore. And on Tumblr, you’ll start off by posting the most vulnerable pieces of yourself; your art. Your poetry. Your paintings. Your short films. Because you love to create beauty out of nothing. But now, you’ve deleted everything and you haven’t touched a paintbrush, pencil, or camera in years, so you just reblog other people’s art because it’s just easier than admitting defeat.
Tragic. I know.
You’ll spend most of your time on the explore page of every social media platform, looking at your friends’, and even strangers’, unique way of living. You’re gonna wish you were them. And you’re gonna really hate yourself too. But in these moments, please remember, you are Celestial. Both the adjective and the noun. You are raised to believe that God, the one who orchestrates the universe, orchestrates your life too. That it may seem like a solo act right now, but really there are instruments surrounding your still and quiet voice. That you are raised by parents who continuously show you that hard work leads to your heart’s desires and dreams. Most importantly, that you are loved by people who encourage you to be Celest with no ‘e’ at the end — literally and figuratively.
Now I’ll leave you with this: Who cares if people can’t remember your name because it’s too long or too uncommon. People shouldn’t have to remember your name, they should be remembering your actions. The things you do. The mark you leave. Continue to correct them if they forget or misspell your name. Your name is who you are. So, don’t change it. Be proud and confident in the person you are today. Because the person I am today, the one writing to you now, isn’t. But it’s not too late, Celest. You don’t have to add an ‘e’ at the end. Your name doesn’t have to end there.
