The Courage to Wander: Rejecting False Guides for True North

Fish are friends, not food.

I crossed the Gobi desert to be free and now I thought I live in a country where I can say what I believe and have my freedom to think. However, now I have to constantly censor my speech because in the name off a 'safe place.'

Park Yeon-mi

Stand

"You better stand for something or you'll fall for anything."

What exactly does that mean?

There's a lot you could read into with this phrase. Part of what I need to do today is delve into each potential interpretation. But I probably won't, because that's a lot. It's a phrase that's been around for a while.

There are many interpretations that have emerged over the years and different ways that you can interpret it. But the essence is, if you have a 'why,' such as standing for something—principles, or a goal—you may endure any how.

Right, if you've got a goal, a purpose, something worth fighting for or striving for, the trials and tribulations that come along can be weathered, can be withstood, can be dealt with. If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything. But if you have something to stand for, it's harder to knock you over.

It's important to understand that having values, principles, meaning, and purpose is crucial. Make sure you believe in something. Make sure you have a goal. Because if you're wandering aimlessly, you're easily swept up in whatever movement comes along.

Why wouldn’t you? You're not going to be fighting for yourself or your ideals. Instead, you're going to go with whatever the zeitgeist is at the time. You're going to be like plankton, essentially. You're fodder, just food.

Don't be food. As we learned in "Finding Nemo," "Fish are friends, not food." Don't be food, man. Believe in something. Stand for something. Look around, see where the nonsense is, point it out, and go the other way.

There's a carrot somewhere with your name on it, and you're a hungry little horse. Find that carrot and go to it. But don't let someone dangle it in front of you, moving it further away every time you get close.

Come with me for a metaphorical journey, if you would.

In this scenario, you’re a horse. Who doesn’t want to be a horse?

Now, there’s a carrot, inscribed with your name, somewhere ahead, beckoning. Chase it, by all means, but beware the illusory chase where the carrot retreats with each stride you take.

If, in your fervent pursuit, the carrot remains ever elusive, consider the hand that wields the stick from which it dangles. Seek out the holder of the stick and ponder their intentions. Often, they do not lead you towards your own good.

It's a quaint thought, being led to water when our needs transcend mere hunger. Sometimes, our guides lead us to stables far from our desired haven. When the choice stands between another's stable and the daunting expanse of a desert, the latter, though harsh, might just be the cradle of your liberation.

Every soul's journey from confinement to liberation traverses a desert—a realm of self-discovery and boundless freedom.

The desert, initially a desolate expanse, gradually reveals its hidden resources. Should you find yourself steered toward a corral by a dubious shepherd, remember, not all see horses as creatures to be nurtured; to some, you are merely cattle. Meat. Food. One to shoulder undesirable burdens.

Amongst the wild horses that have mastered the desert, there exists a testament to survival and sovereignty. This desert, a metaphor for the wandering after emancipation, signifies the trials that lead us astray, urging us to mistrust and blindly follow, only to discover the deceit in our paths.

A true companion on this journey seeks not to deceive with the allure of a carrot but to guide with genuine intent. Yet, as you encounter life's inconsistencies, you're presented with a choice: to continue in denial or to brave the desert, seeking a new truth.

Venturing into the unknown is fraught with fear, isolation, and the daunting task of relearning. Yet, it offers a canvas for rediscovery and living anew in a strange world. Stand firm in your convictions, unblinded by false promises, and relentless in your pursuit of truth.

If you have strong values and beliefs this wandering will not be as disastrous nor daunting than if you had none. Worry not, though, as if you weren’t steadfast in those values you likely would never encounter the desert.

Which is a shame. The desert liberates.

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