I love knowing that I have control over my own life by not having a need to follow others to meet my goals. Now that I am writing my blog and my novel, I have had all kinds of advice from others. Please don't get me wrong. I love receiving the advice and new ideas from others. This is where my own goals get met by me choosing what solutions I am going to use in order to meet my goals. I cherish this interaction when it is true constructive interaction. For someone to tell me that I can't do something a certain way is simply a taboo. Probably a certain guarantee that I will most certainly do it that way and more. It may be a combination of what other writers, non-writers, friends, family and others suggest to me. In today's world there is no one right answer for each person. Putting a label on me, lining me up on a conveyor belt and stamping me with the same stamp that other writers have will not work for me.
This mentality does not just exist in the world of authors. It is everywhere. Actually, what made me think of this herd mentality was a conversation that I had with my husband about Jon Anderson. Some of you may recognize the name. I didn't. He was the front man for the English rock band called Yes. Once I was told who he was, I could hear his very distinguishable voice singing some of my favorite songs. Other than that, I did not know one fact about him.
Steve heard him interviewed about having a state of independence. His thinking was that we are all as a whole more connected with the media, therefore we think that is what life is all about. We are listening to others tell us what life is all about based on their personal interpretation. In his words, 'stuff' is going on all around us; not just where you live or where I live. It is world wide, yet people, usually those independent thinkers, are getting on with life.
Independent thinking allows yourself to just be. Many times, this kind of thinker is called stubborn, radical, or just plain not right in the head. For me, it is a matter of not being controlled by sound bites in the media, which most definitely includes all social media.
Some of the so called facts that are spread throughout the media are quite unbelievable. I say this because people in general read it, therefore it must be true in their minds.
If more people were independent thinkers, they would search more for the facts, not twisted facts to help someone misguide others to move more to their way of thinking. I know that it is not always easy to accept myself and not care what others may think. Sometimes the best way is to just move away from all of the bologna and remain silent. There is no way that I want to pull one sheep away from his herd. He has to decide that.
What I have learned is that I determine my own happiness and have accepted that life is not always fair. (This was a favorite saying of my Mom's and most of my teachers.) It definitely had an impact on me. So, if life is not always fair, what am I going to do? A saying that is used more and more and that I learned from my daughter (so I must have passed it on the fairness of life, just like my Mom did) is to "Suck it up, Buttercup." We all need to be our own hero, not depending on others. It is all well and good to look up to others who are deserving...never leave yourself out of this group. Use your independent skills to find your answers.
The quote that I will leave you with is from George S. Patton, Jr., "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
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