Live Independently
I’m certainly not saying live independent in the literal sense.
It would contradict my narrative on human connection.
But live it.
Feel it.
Be it.
I learn a lot about the lived experience in my studies so interchanging the meaning to ‘live’ and to ‘be’ is quite common.
They are two sides of the same coin as far as I’m concerned.
Why do I say this?
Why now?
Well… it’s quite simple.
Our ideas.
Our lives.
They are influenced by our lived experiences, our interactions, our assumptions and many more factors.
But when it comes to having an opinion.
It needs to come from you.
Can you honestly say you hold a belief?
Defend it, until truly proven inconsistent with your wider values?
I certainly can’t in all aspects of my life.
But I try.
People will have similar points of view and that’s how communities are built.
A shared vision comes from a series of negotiations.
Not everyone might agree at first.
But we get there.
This is one aspect of what I’m getting at.
The other part refers to taking care of yourself.
Self-regulation is so key.
Luckily, today I witnessed an example of a school instilling this at primary school level.
To know what effect it has down the line is unknown and immeasurable, but it’s a start.
These two ways of living independently coalesce in your identity.
Your identity.
I hate labels.
But your identity is an intermingling of these two tropes:
- Your values and communal interests
- Your self-regulation
One comes from the body and one comes from the mind.
I’ll let you figure out which one is which.
I feel I am someway to figuring out number 2, but nowhere near number 1.
This is an endless fight and why labels are pointless.
Identity is a fluid concept and changes dependent on lived experiences.
Labels allow control.
And subjagation.
It’s a conflict for me.
One I’m navigating every day.
Live Independently