A Middle name often doesn't have any practical significance, typically an afterthought.
That is, for most people.
I recall a day in grade school when the topic of middle names came up; I was filled with instant dread at the thought of my rare, inherited middle moniker being outed.
I was the fourth of five children and the third of three boys in my family. My grandfather had a unique name. He never liked his name, and when his daughters began having children, he made a point of telling them to make sure not to name any children after him. But to my luck, my mom decided to go against his wishes and use his name as my middle name.
My grandfather's name was Merton Carl. When introduced, people often thought he was giving his last name first and would call him Carl Merton. The name I was given was James Merton O'Connell.
So, on that day in grade school, the kids thought it'd be fun to ask around to learn each other's middle names. "Oh no," I thought, as they all started to share common names like John, Michael, or Elizabeth. (Although I was buffered a little by the kid with the middle name "Aloysius.”)
When they came to me, one not to lie, I mumbled, "Um . . . Merton."
"What was that again?" they asked. "Martin?" No, I said only slightly louder, "Merton." "How'd you spell it?" "M-E-R-T-O-N", I said. They paused, a bit perplexed. "Oh." And then moved on to the next kid with a normal middle name.
Forward years later, when I was graduating high school, the teacher asked students if they would like to have their middle name read when their name was announced as we accepted our diplomas. At first, I declined. It was one thing to tell a couple of people here and there but to a crowd?
And then I realized my grandfather would be attending the ceremony. So, at the last minute, I hurried to the school office and had it changed. At that moment, I was liberated. From then on, I embraced my inner "Merton."
Over the years, I realized in a creatively competitive world, or life in general for that matter, it's your uniqueness that separates you and makes the difference, not what makes you the same. I have a common first and last name, shared with countless others. But when you throw in a Merton in the middle, the number drops dramatically, possibly to one.
So I thought, if I ever pursued a creative endeavor in the future, I'd go by J.Merton. Downplay the common and focus on the unique. In that spirit, my goal with J.Merton Creative Lab is to cultivate creative expression in an original, genuine way.
I encourage you to embrace your inner "Merton." Whatever that is for you.
