All mine?

There was this interesting thing that I read in the science fiction novels by Larry Niven. He writes of a galaxy of multiple species, including humans, interacting with each other. One of those species finds English funny - specifically the word 'My' - for a reason that seemed rather interesting to me.

The strange thing about English, in the view of that species, was the use of the word 'My'. And, come to think of it, it IS indeed strange...not just in English but in most human languages.

You use the word 'My' to indicate a part of you. Like, My hand, My foot, My heart, whatever. But, strangely, you also use the word 'My' to indicate that which YOU are a part of - My company, My club, My town, yada yada.

You also use the word 'My' to indicate your possessions - My house, My car, My phone...And you use the word 'My' to indicate your relationships - My father, My brother, My wife and so on.

AND you use the word 'My' for what you create - My thoughts, My opinions, My books, My paintings...

And, according to that alien, this is the cause of a lot of problems for humans. The hurt that you take when you have to part with a dearly held opinion is as much as amputating a part of your body! You mistake a relationship for a possession - the marital relationship and, sometimes, even the offspring - and either get into hot water yourself or create trouble for the others or both. You mistake your possessions for your personality and break apart when you lose them. And so on and so on.

How words mold thoughts is a thing that we seldom seem to realize. If a clear idea existed of what is integral to you and what is merely accumulated dross; what is controllable by you in toto and what is yours only by others' choice and so on, life probably would be a lot simpler...and a lot better.

But to KNOW all that, you end up having to answer that basic question - 'Who am I?' And THAT has been the conundrum for all eternity!