I believe all people can think freely, yet many do not. It has been my experience that many people do not spend time pondering the fundamental questions of life: Who am I? What is life’s purpose — if any? Is there a creator, and what happens after death? What is the “right” way of thinking? Some dismiss these questions as trivial; others adopt beliefs and values through imitation. Wrestling with these existential questions produces anxiety, so conformity is a safe way of avoiding the unpleasant nature of these questions.

We live in a world with an abundance of information, statistics, facts, and opinions that flood our psyche, yet none satisfy our thirst for knowing who we are. Although the availability of valid data can be an invaluable tool for expanding our minds and understanding of life, each individual possesses a uniqueness that cannot be captured and quantified through solely an empirical sense. Each of us is a unique set of genes, environment, and experiences that have produced a single person; a person novel, unique, and unable to replicate.

Therefore, it is my belief and goal that everyone has the right to be free and embrace their uniqueness and individuality, living a meaningful life forged through the arduous individuation process. The shackles of dogma and social conditioning can be broken.

However, my experience and personal belief that this is only accomplished (or attempted) through ongoing reflection, doubt, and internal/external dialogue. Moreover, I believe writing to be a tool to refine, polish, and identify the truth that serves as a guiding principle for finding meaning, purpose, and direction in life.