Being a true original is difficult to do today. The media inundates all people with numerous messages of what we should aspire to be, what clothes are acceptable to fit our persona, what beverage to drink, and even which medications we should take to alleviate any minor problem.  You have to wonder if there is room for a person to be a total original. Then you meet or see one, and you know it exists, which means the authentic self exists in you. Blaze your path and leave a trail for others to follow.  Too many people worry about what others think of what they do. Just do what your heart tells you.  If you are experiencing fulfillment in the process, then that is all that matters. Let’s strive to make each of us the person we were born to be.

Show Your Unique Abilities

We live in a world that is full of contradictions. People have the drive to be unique but live in a hell-bent society to make sure we are never expressing this. So what can you do to show your unique abilities? One of the first things is to try not to imitate others consciously. Do your own thing. I struggle with this constantly because I see many great writing ideas and some I try to emulate, to see how they fit, but that only lasts for a little while. I have to be me and express my thoughts how I see them and, more importantly, feel them.  Each thing I write comes from the creation of my mind. Others’ ideas influence me in the many things I read, listen to, and grow from. I try to express my thoughts on all of these things in my words.  Words seem to be an outdated form of communication sometimes, but they are the method I have.

Your uniqueness will shine through the minute you start to think for yourself and do what your heart tells you.  If you want to create art, then create the art your soul is craving to express.  Some people I know with great talent are much too wrapped up in seeking an audience and creating things to do that rather than create what you have the capacity and will to do and let the audience create itself. I would rather die an original than live my life as a copy.

Don’t Waste Your Effort.

So many of us spend so much of our energy to make sure that we present a story of who we are to the world that we want them to see that we have no clue who we really are. It takes a lot of energy to do this, to wear the mask of perfection or whatever you want the world to see. When so much of yourself is spent keeping people from seeing who you are, obviously, you will not be your authentic self, and the only trail you will leave is one of anger, frustration, and personal disappointment.

Throw this out and focus on being you, regardless of what you think the world wants you to be.  You may not even remember who you actually are because you have been playing a part so long. Move off the path that others desire for you and move forward down the path of your true self. Your authentic self already knows the answers, it was a person you were born to be, and you were this person before society, and time reprogrammed you to think who you were was wrong.  Now we spend our remaining years seeking to find our purpose, and it is always to get back to that authentic individual. Some will make it, and some will never look. That is the choice of life. Choose to be your authentic self, and the world needs more of this.

Leave a Trail

Too many times, people do what others think they should. Rather than blazing their own trail, even in a small way, they spend their time looking over their shoulder for the approval of others.  We see this in the presentation of social media posts. People seem to be looking for ways to present themselves as they want to be seen rather than as they truly are.  Hiding their authentic self behind a facade of self-propagated propaganda.

Please don’t follow the crowd, and they don’t know what is good for you as a person. Only you can know what choices will feel good to you. Only you can determine your path because when it is all done, you will be held responsible for your life and who you are, not the crowd.  Be your best self and leave a bright, brave trail for others to follow.  You are the only one who can do this, don’t let yourself down.

Do Not Go Where the Path May Lead, Go Instead Where There Is No Path and Leave a Trail – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Through it all, I stood tall and did it my way.” – Frank Sinatra.