Q. Name Change: I’m in my early 40s and heading toward a major career change. I’ve always hated my first name and would like to change it. How can I notify people of this change without them thinking I’ve lost my mind—or maybe the question is how can I care less about what others think?
A: Women routinely change their last names and no one thinks they’ve lost their minds. You’re just changing your first name. You’re right that a break in your career is a good time to do it because you will have a group of people who will know you by nothing but your new moniker, or Monica. With everyone else you just say, “I’ve gone through life being a Gertrude who felt like a Monica, and now I’m going to become Monica.” But you must give people who have known you for four decades some leeway in making this switch. Keep your patience and good humor as you remind them, “Gertrude is no more, but Monica is fine, thanks.”
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I attempted to change going by my first to using my middle name when I went to high school.
Those from my middle school used my first name, those I had never met used my middle name.
It didn't work out like I thought it would.
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