The Tragedy Of Man

“The whole life of the individual is nothing but the process of giving birth to himself; indeed, we should be fully born when we die — although it is the tragic fate of most individuals to die before they are born.” — Erich Fromm

From birth, human beings are bombarded with the suggestion that following a traditional life path will facilitate a fulfilling adulthood. We’re conditioned to believe the key to happiness is formulaic. All we have to do is hop on the bus following the road most-traveled.
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“Coming up on the right hand side, you’ll notice a stable, lucrative job. On the left, keep your eyes peeled for a life partner. Don’t miss the luxury accommodations further ahead. Surprise, here are some babies you weren’t expecting. Wait, how did this dog get on the bus?” And as the tour comes to an end, if you’ve been a good patron, you may encounter a retirement party and a few vacations. And then you’ll die. And that’s how you will have spent your life — riding around on a metaphorical bus driven by someone else telling you what to experience, perhaps not even feeling the slightest sense of fulfillment generously marketed to you upon indoctrination.

My sarcasm isn’t intended to discount the value of career aspirations, marriage, family, and home ownership (or dogs) — I truly think these can be additive life components — however, I believe fulfillment comes entirely from within and not from reaching societal milestones. It comes from how you think, create, improve, love, and live, not from having copious amounts of people and possessions in your life. It comes from knowing you’re living an authentic life, not one defined by any form of external perception or expectation.

So, ask me again why I decided to leave my corporate desk job and travel the world.