Random thoughts from a disenchanted author.

We're going to die. When we go our emotions and goals and hopes and thoughts go with us. The world eventually, through other's deaths, forgets us. We simply cease to exist. Think of all the people who have loved, been successful, had dreams . . . all of the people who have felt that surely their lives will be remembered--and we don't know them. We don't remember.

Time will fly. Decisions will be made and years lost, wasted. So why is it so difficult for us to be impulsive creatures? Why does unconformity have to mean irresponsibility or insecurity? Why do we act as though there is a golden list for us to follow in order to make peace with ourselves or justify death? We want to learn so we can make money, we want to make money so we can retire, we want to retire so we can die. These things are fine, even desired in our society, but why are we so incredibly afraid to step outside this grand scheme?

Monotony is empty. It seems that recent generations, and especially the present one, have been taught from an early age that there is an ideal in life--a standard of happiness--that they should strive for. Anything less and they aren't considered a "success." Many of today's average teenagers have an idea instilled into their minds that money is the root of all happiness but you aren't supposed to believe it, just live it. And, so, in the name of the all-mighty dollar, imaginations are depreciated, radical ideas underestimated, and insecurity overrated.

Fear is our master. Because we are afraid of so many things-- of poverty, of pain, of rejection, of struggle, and sacrifice-- we convince ourselves that our minds, the origin of vice and manipulation among other things, knows what is best over our hearts-- the seat of our souls. It is not the common destiny of humankind to attend the best possible college, to hold the highest office, to control the most people, to be the most popular or beautiful, or to be the best at the best. So how do these things become the common goal? Shouldn't it be the common goal to simply be ourselves? I urge you, be the blue radioflyer wagon if it makes you happy with yourself. Don't choose the course of your life based on acquisition of material things or conformity; because you've only got one shot at this.