To thine ownself be true

A few years ago I had the pleasure of marching with Alabama State University's Mighty Marching Hornets. It is an experience that I will not only cherish but remember for a lifetime. We had a Director that used to say "to thine own self be true". Although I will remember Professor Davis' colorful expression and timing of the statement; I cannot credit him with the origins of the phrase. The original statement was actually advice in the Story Hamlet. It was Polonius' advice to his son Laertes. Today more so than yesterday, the advice holds even more weight for me. We live in a society where we design our character by the thoughts, wishes, desires, and regrets of others. If we become the imagination of others, we have not exposed who we are. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you felt lost, alone, and empty in regards to your goals and the direction of your life? If you have been there, and I know we all have, you may have been lost in someone else's definition of who you are. My challenge to you is to challenge your perceptions and everything you do with the auditing though of "who want this most". If you have doubt, it's probably someone else's definition of who you are and you should check yourself. To thine own self be true.


Be who you are, not what people want you to be. Many have failed in life because the goals and dreams they endeavored were the goals and dreams of other people.



Esaias