Day by Day

The Power is in the decision.

Foregoing Individuality

I’ve watched my beloved country grow from 160 million to over 300 million people in just my lifetime. Where once we were proud and strong individualists, we have succumbed to brainwashing. Most recently, my suspicions were bore out when attending a large vendors’ tradeshow. Upon entering the convention center, I was astonished to see a snake-like line of people obediently weaving from one long row onto the next for nearly 20 rows.

Having an interest in 10 or so vendors among the several hundred, I asked two suits standing near the information both, “Why do we have to stand in line?” “You don’t,” they replied. “The first time we sponsored this tradeshow, the people automatically formed a line like the one you see,” they said.

Thousands of people attended that day but only a handful questioned the line. “We have been brainwashed at a deep level," I thought. "It is sad to see my countrymen surrender their freedom of choice and individuality.”

"Want" - What Do You Want?

“Want shall be your master.” When I think deeply on this, I instantly internalize a deeper meaning—a meaning that demands investigation. Want is a word that implies lack and places want-satisfaction in the future if I allow it to own me. There is nothing wrong in wanting anything; want is a necessary part of life, an emotional mixture of enthusiasm and motivation. It is when I allow want to become my master, I make everything beholden to it. If everything in my life is beholden to it, want remains in the future. Since the future does not exist except within my idea about it, what I want becomes a vaporous prison.