I’ve never thought of myself as a multi-hyphenated. Instead, I am a multi-faceted creative.

I play the violin and the piano. I am a public speaker. I am a writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and stage plays. I am a teacher.

I have directed high school theater. I have acted on stage. I have sung in several choirs.

I love swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, and hiking.

To me, the term “multi-hyphenated” seems like a long list of things I have tried. It reminds me of the paper chains I made as a child. Each loop on the chain is further from the original loop.

When describing myself, I prefer to use the term “multi-faceted.” I am made up of a number of pieces, and these pieces all work together to make ME. I even use the term on my business cards. Think of a diamond. Its facets are needed to make it valuable. Think of a mirrored disco ball. Its facets are necessary to make the patterns on the floor.

I need all those facets of “ME” to be the whole person I was meant to be, to be the creative that I know I can be.