To Do or Not To Do.

I distain the question

"So, what do you do?”

How do I answer that question

authentically?

I do a lot of things,

among which are:

I breathe;

I eat;

I sleep;

and I think.

The list is extensive

even exhaustive;

but I think my point gets made

after reciting a couple from this short list.

Is not the real question being asked,

what is my profession;

how do I make money,
or who is your person in the world?
what role do you play?

Why is it important to know this?
Why is this foundational to a conversation?

Or is it?

Is this question habitually recited,

with no thought actually given

to what is being asked?

Who is the you who is asking?
Who is the “you” who does the doing?

My body, my mind,
my person,

does the things you are curious about,

but do I?

What about me?

Do "I"

do anything
worthy of your interest?

What I do

is not

who or what I am.

I once watched a guy melt down

when I asked him,

“who are you?”

He replied

by giving me his name,

after which I said,

“that tells me your name,

but not who you are.

Who are you?”

Would it not be better
that I come to know who I am
and discover who those around me are
rather than what we are all
being or doing?