Individuality-Walking Alone?

Individuality – Walking Alone?

June 8, 2009 in Just Thoughts Leave a reply

“I have no solution to the world problems.
I have nothing new to tell you.
Instead, I offer you one of the things that you
have known for the longest time; that, which you
are looking for, and have looked for, and love and admire,
is within you.  ”Maharaji
I offer you a way to be able to reach that…

Individuality-Walking Alone?
By Maya

Written as a response to the above question from reader.
Your question caught my attention, because I AM such a person…. Actually I became one due to how my life has been molded, due to life’s twists and turns and unusual life experiences, including living under three so very contradictory regimes.
Motto of my life can be expressed by following saying, and I can prove any time, that I earned it over and over.
“I’ve never gone where conventional path leads. I made my own path and left the trail.”

The truth is, and there is no doubt about it, that being able to accomplish something of worth, either in various personal achievements or simply overcome difficult life “hurdles” alone and at the same time helping others on the way, takes stronger individual. I think that one of the differences in how to approach life is also in upbringing, education, and reading. Obviously I am not talking here about those, who are just “shy” by nature and “keep to themselves” for that specific reason.
In history, all “big thinkers”, philosophers, musicians, poets, artists… took a path through their lives, which was a path of individualism. And more hardship in their lives, more prominent, or possibly more dramatic was their achievement.
There were times however, for example in Russian history, when superbly talented people, especially writers and “big thinkers” were absolutely forbidden to express themselves. The need for expression in such individuals is so powerful, that if their outlet for creation is totally suppressed, they “burn” themselves out. Such is the definition for this phenomena (expression translated from Russian). Their life expectancy was drastically shortened, not to mention that many of them were destroyed in camps, such as in Siberia.
What a thought comes to mind about loses in cultural contribution to history.
As an example I’d like to compare (being a pianist) compositions of Beethoven, being stormy and full of strong, dark emotions as an opposite of Mendelssohn’s pieces, that are light and happy, as his own life had been.
Then, also in times when and where individualism and talent had been supported well, we have priceless heritage all over the world, value and treasuring it. highly. As an example could be art of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
I have mentioned all of this, because I grew up under communist’s regime and at those times individualism was totally suppressed. Without a doubt this fact “killed” so much talent, so many inventions, so many hopes…. on personal note, even my own.
So, individualism should be respected and in every way possible supported. People should have a freedom to be what they were destined to be and be able to choose how they wish to live. But being looked at strangely or criticized as such is wrong and those who do that have no any right in that direction. They should look at themselves first and justify why they are doing it. Often it is just simple lack of understanding.
I am convinced that nobody should and can set limits on anything what is right of another, with no exception. Because once you do that, you try to limit person’s freedom and then another could be dissatisfied with some of your own characteristics and try to correct you? Value your freedom of expression while you have it. It is very easy to loose it and it might never be recovered.
I could be living proof that regardless of being strong and independent person, I am still very good and loyal friend to many and enjoy company of others employing wit, fun and other enjoyments.
It doesn’t mean that people who choose their own path to follow their goal and dreams are some kind of introverts, hiding from society and should be labeled as such.
On a contrary, I shall always make my voice loud enough to be heard by all who try intentionally or otherwise limit development of individual human being, or better say human being individualism.

“When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free.”
Charles Evans Hughes