There was one thing that bothered me about the whole thing though. I could not put my finger on it, but deep within I knew there was something else I had to do. So, what did I do, or in this case, didn’t do? I never applied to any colleges. Instead, I visited the Marine recruiting office and talked to a recruiter about opportunities available in the Marines.

I felt that I had to follow my own path even though my parents had ideas about they thought would be best for me. I had different ideas of what I wanted to do, which was to take charge of my life. I know, I know, joining the military is not the best way to really take charge of one’s life because you give up so much to be part of the collective. However, joining the service was a path that I decided to take and it was my intention to make it work for me.

Jump ahead a few years and I arrived at another major decision point and this one dealt with the whole issue of religion and spirituality. I remember when I was around seven or so, I started asking myself questions about God and was curious about the rituals that were always performed in church. The rituals did not make any sense to me even though I learned about them all in catholic school. I’m older now and have more understanding, but I still find them to be too philosophical. I’m now wondering if my classmates, family, or even friends questioned some of the rituals and what they thought about it all.

One thing I read a while back and I recently reread by my favorite teacher, Osho, asks why we don’t question or have stopped questioning the things we learn instead of taking them for face value, especially all the dogmas of religion. This was what got me thinking to write this post. In a way, I guess I was early to the game of questioning the things I was being taught. An over the years I was able to see life in a different light.

Everything seems to be hand-me-downs and no one questions whether or not if that information resonates with them and if it’s something that should still be followed, or if different paths should be trail blazed because of questioning that brings new insight and experiences.

As Osho puts it, “It is only in questioning our beliefs, assumptions, and prejudices that we can begin to uncover our own unique voice and heal the divisions within us and without.” You can start with a belief, but I think it is through questioning that you get to really “know.”

I see a big change that has been occurring for a quite some time now. People are no longer interested in the dogmas of religion, of its philosophy. Why go on analyzing and dissecting when you can synthesize. Let’s look at the big picture and become conscious. How do you do that? You start by making an intent to create your own path, going from believing to knowing, and by asking questions of the things you’ve have learned and accepted without reason.

I know there are some who not agree with me on this issue. And that’s good! Now you should ask yourself why you don’t agree. As you ask questions, you’ll be on your way to creating your own personal path.

Namaste!

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