The Power of Names, Part Two

I wrote a previous blog about the Power of Names, and received some mixed feedback about whether my friends think that repeating names are important or not. Here are some more stories and data for your consideration.

My friend, Linda, did an autobiographical performance where she revealed that her first husband was named Joe. She explained how they had grown apart and she moved to Austin. Now she is engaged. Guess what her beloved's name is: Joe. When I brought this up to her afterward, she commented about how she had heard that her ex-husband had started dating someone named Linda after they had broken up. She said that she had thought that was so corny!!! And now, she had done the same thing and become engaged to another Joe.

I wrote about my ongoing recent experience with the name Mike and Michael. Someone had mentioned that Mike was the most common name. So, why hadn't Linda ended up dating a Michael. How come I have never dated anyone name Joe? How is it that each of us may be primed for certain names and not other names? What accounts for this: numerology, astrology, something else, anything?

I teach Psychology at DeVry University and I ran across this story that I wanted to share:

"Identical twins have shed even more light on the role of genetics. Consider the famous case of the "Jim twins." James Lewis and James Springer were born identical twins and then adopted out to different families 37 days after birth. They had no contact until they were reunited 38 years later. As boys they both had dogs with the same name ("Toy"), and named sons named James Allan. This may indeed be chalked up to coincidence, but what happens when it is noted that they both had first wives named "Linda" and second wives named "Betty," had part time sheriff positions, had pale blue Chevrolets that they drove to Pas Grille beach in Florida for family vacations, were fingernail bitters, and left love notes for their wives around the house? (Segal, 2000) Clearly the role of genetics is not to be dismissed."

I also wanted to add that my friend Linda gave considerable credit to two other Linda's that significantly helped her with her production. This reminds me today that I need to follow-up with another woman named "Lynda" about a volunteer opportunity. Plus, I have not yet contacted my friend, Linda, who moved away from Austin and I miss immensely. Could this be another reminder from the universe to contact her?

I bet my friend, Linda, believes in the Power of Names.

How about you?

Powerfully Submitted,

Pammyla Brooks
Author of the book "Choose Power: Tools and Techniques for Home and Work"
www.Pammyla.com