“This is what the Lord says:’ Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”’

Jeremiah 6:16

If I had been born in a world without television, radio, social media, or any mass media communications, would I have been different from who I am now?  Would I have valued the same things? Viewed the world a little differently?

How much has the media I have consumed over the years influenced me? Am I truly myself, or am I playing a character? How would I know if I was playing a character?

Such questions have been lingering in my mind for a while now. I realised that I don’t know much about myself. I have never fully reflected on myself. I never got the time. Many of us have never had time to truly reflect on who we are and what we want out of life because our lives have been pre-planned before we were born. We were born, then we got busy. Busy with school, work, and keeping up with our peers. No time to reflect. No time to think. No time to question. I want to take the time to do that. Reflecting on my experiences, the things I have been taught and the ideas that define me.

Which ideas define me? I have no clue.

I am anything and everything.  I am whatever’s convenient. I am whatever’s popular. I am whatever allows me to be part of a group. I stand for nothing; I stand for everything. Ideas don’t define me, people do. It’s safer that way.

I have played so many characters for so long that I don’t know. I thought it was harmless to lie. I didn’t want any trouble, so I never stood for anything. And now I am without a self. Without clearly defined values and principles

“To thy own self be true.”

I want to seek that self that I will be true to. This is my journey towards the truth.

What about you? How much of you is you?