Chapter 3 (Ix-XI)
June 15, 2024
IX
My personal mantra has long been "the personal is political" and I've talked about it several times before. I've talked about how my existence, and indeed the existence of everyone, is inextricably linked to the political. However, now I'd like to talk about what it means to be political. Truth be told, being political is about much more than the actions you take. To be political is to see the world through a variety of lenses that help you understand what you're seeing and experiencing. To be political is to reject a state of conformity and unawareness. It is recognizing that there is always more to do and more to learn in order to improve the world.
X
Sometimes at night, my mind wanders and some thoughts circle in my head. I think about life's big questions. I ask myself how I can be purposeful with my actions as they relate to my journey for growth and transformation. I know that change and growth can sometimes be hard, but it's often in those moments that I've learned the most. While I don't believe anyone or anything holds those answers, I've come to the working conclusion that the best way to have each day be purposeful is to keep what you want to accomplish and what you want to build for yourself in the front of your mind. I think about this a lot in the context of self-realization. I think the best way to ensure every day is purposeful is to take things one day at a time. I know what I want and who I want to be, even when I don't always know how I'm going to get there. Even so, I think I have a good sense of when I'm moving in the right direction, and right now, I think I'm on track.
XI
Everyone's journey is different, and everyone's journey is deeply personal. Those two things have certainly been true of my journey, however, it hasn't always been easy. The times when things were rough were also times that I learned a lot of things about myself and the world. Some things I learned were beneficial, others were dark. I guess that's just part of life... sometimes there's darkness. No matter how dark things get sometimes, it's worth remembering that there will be light again... find it. If you can't, others will help you find it. I think it's up to each of us to spread light to others when and how we can.
