I am Strong (Part 1)

Because I did what I wanted.

Another two parter post; read this one first.

Being strong by doing what you already wanted to do. I know that sounds contradictory. You're probably thinking, doing what you want is the easiest thing. That's not strength, that's lethargy.

I'll have to politely disagree with you. I think, often, the hardest thing to do is what we want. I happen to take the (perhaps overly) optimistic view of people. I agree with Anne Frank when she said,

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart".

You understand from my Crucible excursion. We are all inherently the same. There is nothing fundamentally different from us. People aren't born wicked. People, for the most part, are genuinely good. We want good things. We want to accomplish good deeds. Society, friends, even our own bodies may tell us we want something else, but deep down I believe that what we all legitly want good things.

I think the world would be a much better place if people cast aside obligation, expectations, and the like and just did what you wanted.

Wait, so you're saying people should just shoot up drugs, steal from people, murder and the like?

I say; Yes, if that's truly what you want. I don't believe it's what you want. And I don't believe you, if you say it's what you want. And since it's not what you want; don't do it.

The only reason I say this is because I am very comfortable in my assertion that people want good things.

Take alcoholics for example. They don't want to drink. Many, many of them absolutely hate themselves for turning to drinking. They want to forget past memories. They want to be pacified so they don't feel the pain of their lives. They want to no longer focus on past failures. What they do NOT want is to allow alcohol to control their life. They don't want it, but they do it because it is the path of least resistance.

What they really want is to become productive members of society, to accomplish things, to move on with their lives. But they don't do what they want. Why? Because it's much, much harder than the alternative.

Instead of climbing out of the pit they are in, they choose an alternative that momentarily makes them forget they are in a pit. This doesn't make 'em happy. It isn't what anyone wants. But it's easier than putting forth the effort.

Is this making any sense to you? I hope so.