What Washes Off

Some ways we express our identities—like clothes, makeup and jewelry—are easy to put on and take off, and let us show different sides to the world on a daily basis. Some identities change in major ways in the middle of our lives, like becoming a parent or changing religious affiliation. Some identities, like race or family history, are with us for a lifetime.

What aspect of your identity has shifted the most? What has remained the most stable?