finding identity (May 29, 2007)
Everyone has physical characteristics that identify him to the outside world. The traits
that often mean everything in terms of how one is treated by those who know and do not
know him. Physical features define us because the world is relentless when picking up
those qualities, and making sure that we are classified accordingly. The effects are
profound on individuals because these determinations define us in much deeper ways
than just positive or negative attributes affecting individual interactions with culture.
The real search in life is to find out who I am for me, and pass that on to the world. The
real search for identity is within, and it requires strength to break away from the identity
placed upon us from the earliest of days. The people closest to you often chain you to
your labels the most. It is not in contempt or malice, but it is binding nonetheless.
Those labels define me when I attempt to know myself to find my strengths. I search for
others to tell me what my strengths or weaknesses are in a culture that competes for
being the best at what we do. It is difficult to find score in who I am, but whether
subjective or objective, it is easier to find hierarchy in what I do.
Activity and label is fun when it is attached to who I am with me being the moderator for
myself. The accolades and critiques are taken as people expressing themselves rather
than personal attacks. In fact, the frustration lies in the culture that holds feelings in,
rather than expressing them in a healthy way. A culture that is boiling beneath the
surface is not a strong culture. A culture that is easily offended by healthy dialogue is
not strong. A culture that expresses itself in absolute terms is not healthy. A culture
that simplifies judgments to efficiently build hierarchies passes over most valuable
sources of sophistication and talents. Life becomes an end solved by means.
A culture that allows expression without condemnation and absolute judgment is a
culture that learns and grows both collectively and individually. People may find
empathy and personal growth from the most unlikely sources in this era of information
about anyone. I am what my culture is, but I can question my culture, and find
uniqueness within that does not have to be hidden from my culture. That is strength,
and that is finding identity in a way that allows people to find who they are while applying
themselves to what they do.
(c) kenneth martin
Everyone has physical characteristics that identify him to the outside world. The traits
that often mean everything in terms of how one is treated by those who know and do not
know him. Physical features define us because the world is relentless when picking up
those qualities, and making sure that we are classified accordingly. The effects are
profound on individuals because these determinations define us in much deeper ways
than just positive or negative attributes affecting individual interactions with culture.
The real search in life is to find out who I am for me, and pass that on to the world. The
real search for identity is within, and it requires strength to break away from the identity
placed upon us from the earliest of days. The people closest to you often chain you to
your labels the most. It is not in contempt or malice, but it is binding nonetheless.
Those labels define me when I attempt to know myself to find my strengths. I search for
others to tell me what my strengths or weaknesses are in a culture that competes for
being the best at what we do. It is difficult to find score in who I am, but whether
subjective or objective, it is easier to find hierarchy in what I do.
Activity and label is fun when it is attached to who I am with me being the moderator for
myself. The accolades and critiques are taken as people expressing themselves rather
than personal attacks. In fact, the frustration lies in the culture that holds feelings in,
rather than expressing them in a healthy way. A culture that is boiling beneath the
surface is not a strong culture. A culture that is easily offended by healthy dialogue is
not strong. A culture that expresses itself in absolute terms is not healthy. A culture
that simplifies judgments to efficiently build hierarchies passes over most valuable
sources of sophistication and talents. Life becomes an end solved by means.
A culture that allows expression without condemnation and absolute judgment is a
culture that learns and grows both collectively and individually. People may find
empathy and personal growth from the most unlikely sources in this era of information
about anyone. I am what my culture is, but I can question my culture, and find
uniqueness within that does not have to be hidden from my culture. That is strength,
and that is finding identity in a way that allows people to find who they are while applying
themselves to what they do.
(c) kenneth martin
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