Comments on: Being Your Own Man

By: Timo

Timo — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:53:21 +0000

Be yourself (as long as yourself is worth being).

One of my favorite novels is Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. The message that stuck with me the most from the novel is the futility of following any leader, even if they are seemingly right. Listening to someone who understands is not the same actually understanding, which ought to be the aim. At the same time ignoring people who are right because you want to be “independent” is just as wrong.

I think the lesson to be gained from great men is not what they did, but the reasons they had for doing it.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:39:00 +0000

Good article, however I might point out that “Into the wild” is not actually a work of fiction.

By: Jimmy E.

Jimmy E. — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 20:53:02 +0000

I am currently fighting a battle between who I am and what the military is wanting me to be. 10 years in, I love what I do but the values have deteriorated. I hold true to my values of respect and integrity. Thanks for the great article.

By: abc

abc — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:26:46 +0000

What a wake up call this was for me. I’ve always felt like a chameleon of a man, every day, all the time i feel like im acting out of what i believe others think of me, believing that my thoughts about myself are the same. I will read this article every morning to remind me, so i don’t forget and just keep on going the same way, unchanged.

By: Joseph Walker

Joseph Walker — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:31:15 +0000

I identify very strongly with the content of this article. It ties in well with the “self-actualisation” series, and other articles presented on this site.

The image at the header is striking: a young, black biker – during an era in which this would not have necessarily conformed to social norms: neatly dressed, who is smoking. He is obviously going about his business, just doing what he enjoys. Iconoclastic.

What adds to the charm of this photo is that a wedding band adorns his left ring finger, so he is enjoying a sense of freedom whilst it may be assumed he has not shirked the responsibility of marriage.

As a happily married, tattooed biker, with 47 cm biceps, working as a scientist, I embrace what others may perceive as opposite spheres of being. My point is this:

Do what you love, and harm none.

Thank you to all the commentors for making this a constructive and positively influenced site.