Then they come home to more issues of maintaining a family, relationships, and their health. Each of them have different reasons and  inspirations as to why they do what they do; careers, economics, usefulness in life.

 

All noble reasons but how much time is left over for these people to reflect on their own lives, their own existence? ...probably not very much time. 

 

The engine of life seemingly requires us all to immerse ourselves in what we want to be, who we want to be, and to what extent we should pursue life’s riches. 

 

We are programmed early in life and labeled based on extrinsic perceptions. This girl is so smart, that boy is so athletic; he’s nice, she’s pretty, on and on and on.

 

Are we capable of having independent thoughts?  Are we capable of going against the norms? It seems society promotes cohesiveness and obedience and those who do are rewarded with titles and riches. 

 

There are those who dare to take a different path in life; those who wish to stop and smell the roses, those who may go to the forest just to be surrounded by trees. 

 

However, there are risks in thinking outside of the box and not following all of the rules and regulations. Such transgressions could have serious societal consequences.

 

Our society rewards the hard working and seemingly punishes those who spend too much time admiring trees.

Our reputations are formed early and can be ruined by one mistake. One word can ruin a relationship, one word can tear apart a friendship. 

 

We are constantly walking on eggshells, going through life constantly being worried about being too offensive, too political, too lazy, too this, too that.

 
-------------------------

As I near my adulthood, I see the gamesmanship that is played every day. I am not impressed by the theater, the challenges we create for one another. 

 

Instead of lifting each other up, we are constantly on the offensive against those who do not perform to our expectations and our beliefs.

Societal norms control us as individuals and collectively.

 

It seems we all have an opinion, even if we don’t care about the issue and have not researched the issues. It seems at times, we all need to be heard.

 

In living my life, I do understand the need to be part of the engine of life. After all, we are here to create a more perfect union;

 

I am an obedient subject, I will be helpful to society performing my duties as a doctor, a lawyer or whatever path I decide to take;

 

However, in performing my role in the engine of life, I will not allow society to dictate who I am.

 

I don’t have to be like everyone else. I will choose my path.  I will choose not to judge others. I will choose forgiveness over revenge. 

 

I may sit in a forest for an entire day doing nothing as long as I get my mind thinking straight. If I am judged harshly for wasting an entire day in the forest, I will be content because I know myself and I like myself. 

 

That is the lesson of life. How to get to a point where we are not only productive, but we look at ourselves in the mirror and we like what we see.