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Dag – an affectionate insult for an odd, idiosyncratic person. -Hamish Alcorn, urban dictionary.com

I’ve often been referred to as a “Dag”. Usually by the same person and at first was rather insulted by the phrase. I considered my self strange, with a unique perspective on life mushed up with a peculiar sense of humour. I reserved the word to describe people who were untidy or didn’t care about their appearance, such as wearing their “daggy” clothes around in town with out a care meant that they were a “Dag”.

The first time I heard the remark to describe me, it was enough shock to stop me from laughing and look down at the ground as I took it in. I kept smiling to keep up appearances and changed the topic as not to look offended. But I was. I knew I didn’t have great fashion sense and could come across strange, but I didn’t think I was “one of those” people.

Since then I have come to the rather interesting conclusion the the term was used on me as an endearing term to describe me as someone with ‘character’ with an affinity for dad jokes and esentric people.

What label does you friends give you that you find insulting? Is it something that you can actually identify with? If so, then perhaps listen to your friends because they are the one who should be telling you the truth of what you are perceived to be by the outside world.

My lunchbox didn’t fit the word ‘Dag’ until uni, it took a while for me to comfortable with it fitting me. Now the word is graffiti art work across the walls of the box. Once you identify with who you really are, take pride in it then no one can insult you for being you. No one can call me a Dag now with out me smiling and replying “Why, thank you”.

An example of my daggyness, my assistant went to Hong Kong Disneyland and brought me back a very large and obnoxious mug shaped like the movie ‘Frozen’ Olaf character’s head. Now I’m a little old for Frozen and only recently watched it with my friends kids. The gift itself would be classed as “Daggy” and some people may even be offended by it. Not me. I love it. Olaf is an odd ball character which is exacty who I am in the really world. An odd ball and a bit of a Dag. My assistant could have chosen any other mug or character, but she knew me enough to identify with my daggyness and picked out the perfect match.

Everyone needs a dag in their life. Now where would Disney be with out these supporting characters? Little Mermaid had Sebastian, Beauty and The Beast had Cogsworth and Lumiere, even Mulan had Mushu. I don’t mind being the daggy supportive character in my world. Every fairytale needs one. Oh, there I go again thinking about unicorns.

Still, I don’t think anyone should have a label, but we all pick up one along the way. It is almost impossible not to fall into a category at least once in your life time.

So, what is secretly painted on your lunchbox walls?

Who are you really on the inside?