New Year, New You

You may think I'm about to bombard you with advice on exercise or eating healthily.  While I am more than happy to share my knowledge on both these topics with you, I would like to leave them to one side and talk about a mutual enemy that we all share that is preventing the vast majority of us from reaching many of our goals.

So what am I talking about?  Who is this common enemy who stands in our way of self-fulfilment?  

The truth is that our own worst enemy is ourselves.  If I could wish you anything for the New Year, I would wish that 2011 be the year that you finally say "Back off 'society', I'm going to do what I want to do and not what you expect me to do".

As you may be aware, I have spent the last six months standing up to the perceptions and expectations that the rules of society dictate and, boy, let me tell, I have felt liberated.  While I may have upset or disappointed a few along the way, its has been incomparable to the amount of respect I have gained from friends and strangers from all around the world for standing up for what I believe in.  If anything, you really find out who your true friends are. Luckily, I also have very supportive parents who have, once again in my life, stood behind me all the way.  

Don't get me wrong.  I don't hate society.  I want to live in a society which is tolerant and close-knit, where people feel safe and connected. I just don't want to be dictated to by that society.

I appreciate many people come from communities and families where the pressures within are even greater than the general norms and practices of our given societies.  But things we never change if we just do what we have always done and continue doing it.  If you're happy with doing those things, then fine.  But if the pressures of these societies is holding you back then join with me and many others who are saying "its my life, I will live it how I choose".

I would love to hear from anyone who has their own personal story to share about how you stood up to society and its expectations.  However, big or small you think it may be, for others to hear that there are people out there who are, or have been, in a similar situation, may be all that is needed to inspire them to take life by the horns and give society the middle finger once and for all!