Don't follow the crowd

(picture courtesy of google)

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche

Usually I am easy going. Don't make much fuss about a lot of things. One of them is that as long as the house is clean that's fine. I don't care when books are lying around or when the place looks untidy. I am aware that others find this basically important so I do back them up when possible. I find it however difficult to compromise on living a relaxed live. Some people can nag continuesly about small things. Leaving a cloud of stress behind. It's not worth it. When I have the possibility to learn something interesting, give some kids a good time and teach them something or have a walk and talk with a friend. These things are much more important. I like having people around but I realise that I am not the easiest. Yes most of the time I am easy and fun loving, but......

I make up my own mind about everything. It is also a part of being Dutch. They have an opinion about everything and love to share it. They simply call it discussing something. When I was young there were nights when we would "argue" as friends till the morning about something and I enjoyed that. It keeps your mind fresh. You had to come up with good arguments and sometimes you had to admit that the others arguments were relevant and made your view invalid and so you changed your mind.

I often heard that people find that the Dutch are being confrontational and sometimes oppositional. When I sense that I can't speak my mind, mostly in a different culture than I just keep my mouth shut. Except when I see that the things I believe in are violated or when I want to improve something than I become a rebel. Which means I will be called stubborn and Difficult. This difficult woman doesn't care and hold no grouches against anyone who says I am.

Most people are other people, Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. Oscar Wilde, De profundis, 1905

Do not believe in anything (simply) because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything (simply) because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

But after observation and analyses when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of one all then accept it and live up to it.

The Buddha