In March 2024 I took the leap back to my maiden name.
After years of introspection and reflection on who I am, what matters to me, and what feels comfortable in how I present myself to the world… I lived in uncertainty until I got the big internal “YES”.
It's something I've struggled to find clarity on since my divorce was finalized in 2017. My intuition (my GPS, my go-to) just couldn't settle on what the RIGHT thing for ME was. Who am I now? #help
I don't know about you, but not having children seemed to make it slightly easier to lean towards reverting back to my maiden name, "Paula Alexander". BUT there was still a LOT LESS bureaucracy and paperwork if I stayed as "Paula Sergeant". #confusion
I wasn't married long enough to have an emotional attachment to the identity of "Paula Sergeant". #sigh
YET I've been on an unparalleled growth trajectory, evolving far beyond the person I was as "Paula Alexander" or "Paula Sergeant." So, while I was developing IntaConnect Consulting, just "Paula" sufficed for quite a while (for those Will & Grace fans, "Just Jack!" always comes to mind!).
I also wanted to share here because what is the impact on my social and professional networks? Apologies to SO many of you who have walked this path with me, including the confusion with Zoom names and email signatures not quite correlating over the years!
BUT FINALLY... the push came from my #southafrican passport expiring, forcing me to make a decision.
Paula Alexander. Here I am 🍃 #yay
While writing this post back in April, I asked ChatGBT what is the significance of this decision is (maybe some of you are going through the same thing?). The answer it gave?
"Whether personally or professionally, our names carry meaning and significance. They are a reflection of who we are, where we've been, and where we're headed... a maiden name isn't just a collection of letters; it's a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the power of self-discovery."
Not bad for relevance although some WILD jumps there and potentially a WHOLE different post linked to it! BUT what I DO know is that it has involved many years of introspection and reflection on who I am, what matters to me, and what feels comfortable in how I present myself to the world.
Who knows if this is the right or wrong decision? But more importantly, it's done.
LinkedIn post here
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