This is one of the maxims carved on the temple of Apollo at Delphi and that literally translates to - "Know Thyself"...and one that I've taken to heart over the last 20 plus years.
To "Know Thyself" is to be an ACTIVE participant in fashioning who and what one wants to be. Some may call it character building, others, discovering life's purpose - whatever descriptive phrase used, the goal is to put in the TIME to carefully craft and shape the SELF.
But the SELF is an incredibly versatile construct as I've come to understand and is only limited to the LIMITATIONS we place in our minds (or let others place in our minds...which really is the same thing). And so I've thrown myself at all kinds of things over the years that on paper seem arbitrary, random and unrelated. In reality they provided different avenues to practice the concept of putting out a challenge to the self i.e to be the best version of that self at any given moment and in any given situation - the invincible thread that has run through everything.
The true self comes from within (and requires a fair amount of solitude). The worthwhile self is however the one that can be fashioned in solitude and in conjunction with interactions with others. While the process of what I like to attribute to as "filtering out the noise" is absolutely critical, it is almost as critical to make the recognition that:
"most of what is best about us comes from our interactions with other individuals." - Nannerl O Keohane.
This is where you all come in - I am a better person because of you, my friends, colleagues, and family (by blood and by choice). Your encouragement, your unwavering belief in me, your patience when I go “MIA” for long stretches of time...and even the challenges you set for me - all have conspired to instill a tremendous amount of self-belief.
So I thank you - and hope to be able to return the favor.
On this journey of life, let the mountain climbing of continuous self-discovery...and reinvention…commence!!!
"Incipit Vita Nova" - Thus begins a new life.
- Ayo Yusuf