What the ‘eff does “#wtfami” mean, anyway?

Featured Life as a Recovering Blogger (2009)Published July 4, 2009 at 05:11 Comments Off

Aussies might call it a “walkabout,” but mine was a “driveabout” – an Epic Roadtrip. WTFAmI was (is?) all about road-tripping to find myself. By now many of you have seen the hashtag #WTFAmI pop up in many of my Tweets on Twitter and occasionally in my status message on Facebook.

Some of you have asked me variations of the question:

“Does #wtfami mean what the fuck am I? Cause if it does I LIKE IT.” (@eocean)

Here’s the easiest way to explain it to you:

If you’re already web or text savvy, you’ll know that “WTF” means “what the fuck?”

“#WTFAmI” is my personal twist on the traditional “WTF”. It’s my way of asking (myself and others who’ve offered advice and insight) for more than a simple answer to “what,” but also to “WHO,” “WHERE,” and “WHY” – as in “who the fuck am I?” or “where the fuck am I?” and even “why the fuck am I [here]?”

Using #wtfami I’ve been able to group together and share my thoughts about my on-going journey of self-discovery.

I realized sometime after SXSWi in March that I had quite a few things to wrap my brain around and I needed a lot of time (miles), space (that wasn’t familiar), and music (Music = Life) to start figuring myself out.

Aussies might call it a “walkabout,” but mine was a “driveabout” – an Epic Roadtrip.

I say ‘epic’ because 1) I’ve never gone on a roadtrip alone, 2) I’ve never driven as far away from home with or without someone else, 3) I drove straight through a large chunk of the United States that I’ve previously had no desire to visit, and 4) the risks I took physically, financially, and emotionally were raw and bordered edge of reason.

So, on a whim on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 I decided it was “THE DAY” and within 24 hours I’d driven nearly 1,000 miles in my little Kia Spectra from Tampa, Florida to my friend’s house in New Jersey just across the river from NYC. I came home just shy of 3 weeks later.

I still haven’t completely figured out “#WTFAmI” or even if I’ll ever completely understand myself, but I’ve needed to take this journey (begin this journey?) for a very long time. The benefits I’ve received, and continue to receive, are priceless beyond definition.

Truly, I wouldn’t be where I am without those who’ve taken and are still taking this journey with me… especially (but never limited to!)