I WALK ALONE, TOGETHER

WHEN I FIRST QUESTIONED THE PATHS IN LIFE, THERE WAS A TEMPTATION TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WAS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THIS SPARKED AN URGE TO DRIVE A MASS SHIFT TOWARD THE “RIGHT” PATH—A FALLACY ROOTED IN OVERSIMPLIFICATION.

AS I MOVED BEYOND THIS, I SOUGHT OUT SMALLER GROUPS THAT SEEMED ALIGNED WITH MY DIRECTION. AT FIRST, THIS FELT PROMISING, BUT THE MORE I CLARIFIED MY OWN VISION, THE MORE I NOTICED THE NUANCES THAT DIFFERENTIATE INDIVIDUAL PATHS. EVEN AMONG THOSE WHO SHARE COMMON GOALS, PERFECT ALIGNMENT PROVES ELUSIVE.

ULTIMATELY, I’VE COME TO RECOGNISE THAT MY PATH MAY REQUIRE ME TO VENTURE OUT ALONE. THIS DOESN’T MEAN ISOLATION; IT MEANS CONTINUOUSLY REGULATING MY JOURNEY IN RELATION TO OTHERS. BY CONTRASTING AND LEARNING FROM THE PATHS PEOPLE HAVE WALKED AND ARE WALKING, I CAN INFORM AND REFINE MY OWN. IN THIS WAY, THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COLLECTIVE INFORM EACH OTHER, ALLOWING FOR A BALANCE BETWEEN PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND COLLABORATIVE GROWTH.