During this “social distancing” period we have reached in time due to COVID-19 virus on our planet, I have found time to write and reflect on where I’m at in life. It turns out, while doing that, I’ve found myself looking back on my path of who I am.
One time when I was reading the “Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, I read a quote that read:
“The shape of a crystal is determined solely by molecular forces, and it is not surprising that dissimilar substances should sometimes assume the same form; but with organic beings we should bear in mind that the form of each depends on an infinitude of complex relations, namely on the variations which have arisen, these being due to causes far too intricate to be followed out,—on the nature of the variations which have been preserved or selected, and this depends on the surrounding physical conditions, and in still higher degree on the surrounding organisms with which each being has come into competition,—and lastly, on inheritance (in itself a fluctuating element) from innumerable progenitors, all of which have had their forms determined through equally complex relations. It is incredible that the descendants of two organisms, which had originally differed in a marked manner, should ever after converge so closely as to lead to a near approach to identify throughout their whole organisation. If this has occurred, we would meet with the same form, independently of genetic connection, recurring in widely separated geological formations; and the balance of evidence is opposed to any such admission.”
– Charles Darwin (Origin if Species)
I remember the exact moment when I read this. I was in a vehicle with a group of great people in the travel industry, on a Clark Kotula Sales & Representation FAM Trip driving back from Mashpi Lodge in the cloud forest of Ecuador to the capital of Quito in order to visit Galapagos Islands the following day. I could see mountains all around me and my life goal of getting to Galapagos was finally about to be achieved. This quote made me realize that we are truly unique, and no living being is the same as the other due to environmental factors.
We are all unique, never forget that when comparing yourself to others...
It quickly dawned on me that, in fact, not one of us human beings are the same as one another physically and mentally. At the core, we are all the same at the core — we need food, water, and nutrients to live. We all need a place to sleep at night, but we are also all products of our environment. Meaning the way we brought up by our family’s, our community, and our environment impacts who we are significantly.
The reason I began thinking about creating this blog was because my mother shared with me a hand-written letter that my sister Rachel wrote to herself, probably some time in 2001.
Dare to Find Your True Self
“I’m trying to make lyrics of how I feel to add some harmony to my thoughts. My brain cringes for every word, struggle and battles without fail to find words nailing how I feel. But I always end up jaded, with that I have been through a happy sensor so I sound like I’m not crazy, depressed, or as painfully regular as everyone else. I’m not supposed to be like them. I’m not supposed to commit to monotony. I’m not supposed to be simple minded or fat, lonely or desperate, addicted or in denial.
The two implies anyone in their right mind can save themselves from failing to severe weakness. After all isn’t that what we’re taught they are? You’re not depressed if you don’t dwell, not fat if you have self control or poor if you have ambition. These things only happen to “those” people. They don’t try and they don’t care. Examples to societies, they are faceless and soulless, mistakes to learn from.
No one asks to be born in a trailer, I know I would rather be there and human than dining at Rocco’s Grill every weekend. They feed their sold souls from plates we prepare and give the masses high end tax cuts and fancy republican masses. Their reputations give them dissatisfaction to have a tantrum when things aren’t right. A swipe of plastic makes little of the price that allows them to act like they had fun tonight. They greet you with a smile like you envy them. The Great Gatsby party crowd is who their social status pretends them to be, but take them and strip them down, their diamonds and corporations corrupting their judgement. Erase the walls that separate them from the streets. Leave them naked, alone with themselves.
Dare to look inside to discover who you truly are
Let their mind be faced with what they are about. Fill them with memories that bombard their thoughts, watch them flood with contemplation, and set them in a mirror room so that every direction they try to run stares at them back inside. No matter who we are we can’t help compare the differences between who we think we are and who the fuck we actually are. Tear us down and we are all tormented.”
Remember, that we all have the opportunity to be our true selves despite the judgement of others around us. Thanks for reading!