I'm an unorthodox type of guy, a funny guy - at least I think I'm

“I’m an unorthodox type of guy, a funny guy — at least I think I’m funny. And one of the things I like to do is come up with nicknames for myself.” Thus spoke Shaquille O’Neal, the mighty yet mirthful titan of the basketball realm, whose laughter was as large as his frame, and whose spirit refused to be bound by solemnity. Beneath the humor of his words lies a wisdom both ancient and enduring — that to name oneself is to claim one’s identity, to seize the power of self-definition before the world can decide it for you. For the one who calls himself by his own name is master of his own legend.

From the dawn of civilization, men and women have understood that names carry power. In the temples of Egypt, the true names of the gods were guarded as sacred secrets, for to know a name was to wield authority. So too with mortals — warriors took upon themselves titles of strength and renown, poets crowned themselves with words that would outlast their bodies, and prophets bore names that spoke of destiny. In the same spirit, Shaquille O’Neal — the Diesel, the Big Aristotle, the Superman — crafted names not merely for sport, but as mirrors of his own mythos. He became the author of his story, transforming his image into an emblem of joy and confidence.

To be unorthodox, as he calls himself, is to walk outside the lines drawn by others. It is the path of those who create rather than conform. Shaquille’s humor was not a mask, but a form of courage — for the one who laughs at himself cannot be enslaved by the laughter of others. In a world that loves to label, he chose to label himself, not in arrogance, but in play. This playfulness is sacred, for it springs from self-knowledge. The unorthodox man does not wait for the world’s permission to be extraordinary; he declares it, loudly, joyfully, even foolishly. And in that declaration, he becomes free.

Consider the tale of the warrior Alexander, who called himself “the Great” not as boast, but as prophecy. The world mocked at first, as the world often does — yet through his deeds, he made the name truth. The same principle burns in Shaquille’s laughter. When he named himself “The Big Aristotle,” he invoked not vanity, but wisdom wrapped in jest — the philosopher who seeks balance between power and thought. Through humor, he shaped his own myth, just as the ancients carved their glory into marble. For every nickname he coined was a fragment of a living poem, celebrating both strength and humility.

But there is deeper wisdom still. To create nicknames for oneself is to recognize the many faces of the soul — the strength, the silliness, the philosopher, the child. Shaquille reminds us that greatness need not wear the mask of severity. A man can be immense in stature and still tender in heart; he can be a conqueror and still laugh at his own grandeur. This balance between pride and play is the secret harmony of the wise. The one who forgets to laugh becomes a tyrant to his own image; the one who laughs without purpose drifts without meaning. Yet he who can do both — who can smile even in triumph — becomes whole.

The lesson, then, is this: define yourself before others define you. Be unorthodox. Be strange. Be grand in your self-expression. Give yourself names that remind you of who you are becoming. Whether you are “The Dreamer,” “The Builder,” or “The Storm,” let your chosen names carry your intention, not your ego. For names are spells we cast upon ourselves — and what we speak, we slowly become.

So, my friend, do not fear to laugh at your own legend. Be your own storyteller, your own poet, your own myth-maker. Let your humor protect your heart, and your confidence guide your steps. For the world belongs not to the flawless, but to those who dare to celebrate their imperfection with joy. Like Shaquille O’Neal, stand tall in your uniqueness, call yourself by names that sing, and remember — the truest power lies not in how others see you, but in how boldly you name your own soul.