When you meet someone from the first time, the first thing you ask is their name. Until you find out their name, they are just another person on the street. You are a complete stranger. There is nothing personal, no life, no personality, no existence for a nameless person. It's just a person, a human being in a world full of human beings. A nameless person is a shadow on a moonless night; there is nothing to tell it apart from its surroundings, and you can barely tell it's there.
To not have a name is to not have a sense of self.
There is a difference between surviving and living. Surviving is the art of getting by just enough for you to see the light of the next day. You eat, sleep and fight. You do everything you can think of to cling onto life. Living is appreciating life; it is taking the time to observe and absorb. You take the time to sample and taste a dish, you lie down and rest, and you have disagreements and arguments. Survival is animalistic; living is human. The same thing applies with names. When you are called 'brat' or 'runt', nothing separates you from the hundreds of other humans trying to survive. It shoves your existence to the back of the closet, diminishing your humanity and individuality. Nothing is distinct; food is just food, water is just water, clothes are just that. There is no personal connection to others, no family, no friends, no home. You're just another stray on the street. However, when you have a name, you have an existence, an identity, a personality. You have so much more when you have a name. Suddenly, the small things in life become evident; flowers become daisies, tulips, carnations, roses. Food becomes pizza, dumplings, curry, dango. In other words, when you have a name, you start making fine distinctions between individuals in a group. You can identify what kind of food you like, how you rest, what you like to wear, and your friends and enemies.
A name gives you a whole new take on life. It gives you a sense of being, like you matter to someone. When someone calls your name, they are announcing to the world that you are here. So when a person tells you their name, they introduce themselves as an individual, one unique, special person out of many. An introduction may seem simple, but it is the beginning of relationships and bonds. It is special.
Hello, my name is Allen Walker, and it's a pleasure to meet you.
Kame: I wish to thank Modul, Hitsu-taichou, Shrimp Chip, komui love, and The Lone Eagle for reviews, and anyone who added this to their favorites or alerts. Weird as this may sound, this one is my favorite.