To Anglicize or not to Anglicise?

If, like me you live in an English-speaking country, it can be tempting to Anglicise your name to fit into a workplace, school, sports team, or the local community. No one enjoys feeling excluded or having to constantly spell their name, or in my case, being called Lidia, Lydya, Liddy, Lyd, or Lid countless times. However, true belonging means being accepted without having to change or modify who you are, especially your name. Your name is your birthright, whether you were born with a silver spoon or your parents struggled to put food on the table.

I am not suggesting that you behave coldly and indifferently towards the people or country that has provided you with a home away from home. Everyone can gain from learning to pronounce names from origins other than Anglo-Saxon. In fact, this can be the start of a wonderful journey towards learning another language and viewing things from a different cultural lense. Ultimately, the right opportunities will recognise your unique contributions to a workplace, school, sports team, and neighbourhood, beyond your ethnicity, skin color, and accent.