Anti-Social
- S. A. Gibbs
- May 23, 2017
- 2 min read
I’m Not Anti-Social; I’m Anti-Bullshit
The above post from the ManTalk blog rings a bell for me. I don’t see myself as being anti-social. Nevertheless, I do enjoy being alone. Whether it’s time spent in the coffee shop writing and reading, long drives to places known and unknown, flights to the west coast, or early mornings at the kitchen island, my times alone are sacred. As I get older, I hear comments from family members about my anti-social behavior. I’m not defending a lifestyle of a hermit, curmudgeon, angry old geezer, etc. Like anything, enjoying solitude can be taken to the extreme. But the fact remains; solitude recharges my batteries, sparks creativity, and brings me peace. Thank you Anthony Storr.
Here’s my defense. I still like people and typically I hate being totally alone; you know, like Jeremiah Johnson or Kevin Costner in Dances With The Wolves. So, what does that mean? Like the quote, maybe I’m not anti-social, I just don’t like being around the constant whining, complaining, gossiping and otherwise non-stop babble. There is so much anger out there that unless you develop the ability to filter it out, you will get sucked into the vortex of otherwise miserable people. Now, I’m not making the case against getting involved to make the world better. I’m just not sure that the motivation of the most vocal and vociferous of the change agents is as benevolent as they would like you to believe. Benevolence typically doesn’t include spreading the manure of anger over our communities, Nation, or the world.
I like being around people, which is why I like working out of coffee shops. Nevertheless, I believe that my greatest impact on the world is through the personal challenges I make. Be positive, treat others with kindness, dig deep to uncover who I really am, and commit myself to ongoing growth as an individual and a human. At times my quest is impeded by the large and powerful, but I still plug along with an unyielding focus. I want to discard the unnecessary and focus on the path of self-discovery, inspiration and hard work. In a world where individual agency, disaggregation, smallness, and resiliency are again in vogue, I believe if we all live our lives like this, the world will be a much better place. Onward!
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