thefree-flowingmind

[thefree-flowingmind]

The Warrior | My Name

by Joshua RJ B. Sta. Ana

When we were born, every one of us was given a name. In my case, I have two—Joshua and RJ. It was given to me by my parents, who named me after a certain biblical figure, drawing a little inspiration from them. It was derived from the Hebrew language and prominently belonged to Joshua, an early Hebrew leader of the Exodus period. It appears in the Old Testament that its definition means "God is salvation."

In the context of my nickname, RJ, its origin came directly from the initial letters of my parents' names, Rodante and Juliet. At first, it crossed their minds as a joke, but it ended up on my birth certificate, for which I will always be thankful.

As I was growing up, I could count on one hand the number of people who addressed me using my name, as my family refers to me as RJ. I sometimes wonder why they gave me such a name if they intend to never use it. So, every time someone says Joshua in small talk, I remember its meaning, and it makes me take off over the moon.

In my daily life, I am known as a son and a brother who values his loved ones. In the same way that Joshua courageously leads the Israelites and his relatives, my lineage means the world to me. My name is a strong fighter that radiates from my qualities as a person. I protect everyone in my inner circle like a soldier, and I will do anything to keep them happy. And while Joshua used his name for good and fought for his people, I will use mine for the greater good of my family. Maybe I don't have the same charisma as he did, but I believe that I can be a warrior just like him.