Hello, Community! Here is my official announcement that I wish to be called Alexandra. Many of you know me as other names from past selves, but those names no longer represent who I am. I'm claiming my birth name, Alexandra, for the first time (again) in a public forum.
The previous shortened versions were my attempts at staying small, feeling afraid that FOUR WHOLE SYLLABLES was too much time for people to hear in their ears, that they'd lose interest before I could just spit the dang thing out. What an ugly thing to associate with MY NAME! I'm taking my extra syllables because they are MINE and I DESERVE THEM! *stomps foot defiantly/playfully*
Alexandra feels so much better, and so much truer to how I want to represent myself in this world. So, I ask you: in correspondence, please take the extra 5-6 keystrokes and type my whole name. In conversation, please do not call me or refer to me in any way other than Alexandra.*
I'd also like to encourage you to not shorten my name unless I personally ask you* to, regardless of what you hear other people call me. I've had the experience of one person calling me _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ post-name-change request in a group setting, and the shortened versions are the ones that stick in everyone else's heads. When that happens, I just get to continuously ask them over and over again to please call me Alexandra. I don't mind that much, but there's something that feels prickly to me when I keep asking the same few people and they keep just calling me the other names. If there is some confusion about whether or not you're in the loop about my latest name change, the best thing to do is just ask. I know it's hard because I was those other names to so many people for so long! It would feel so full of love and care if there was a way that I could tell you were really trying to re-wire the name previously associated with me, and I'd love to support you if it feels challenging!
Thank you, thank you in advance for honoring me, and honoring my name!
I love you!!!
*Five people get to use my other special witch-name at their discretion. It fits and I really like it, but I'm not quite ready to be known as that one en masse. I'll let the rest of ya know when it's time.