I admit: I struggle with following the path of full resistance
I'm acutely aware of the many political and societal injustices in our world, the economic and monetary frauds, the war machine that continues to chug along with full fury and laying waste to anything in its path. The more I peel back the veil behind the fabric of our world, the more I'm simultaneously disturbed and angry with how things 'work'.
If you're paying attention, outrage seems like a completely natural response. How can one not feel simultaneously furious and saddened by the predicament we find ourselves in?
Yet, I've admittedly spent the last eight years living with a certain level of cognitive dissonance. I've got one foot in the wild with passionate rebellion running through my veins, but I still have another foot stuck in the world of domestication, caught between what is 'practical' and what is actually possible.
The road to hell is often paved with convenience
Living an existence that is fully in line with one's beliefs and ideals is a dream we all aspire to on one level or another. But it's also one that is often inconvenient, difficult, or seemingly impractical.
We may have goals of living more sustainably, yet struggle to escape the oil-based economy. We may have the desire to work for ourselves, doing the thing that makes us the most satisfied, yet we end up working a 9-5 corporate job that leaves us drained and unfulfilled.
The structure of modern society is designed to make many of our dreams an arduous, difficult, and obstacle-laden process that drives the majority of the herd back in line. Want to build your own off-grid home? Get ready to fight the code-enforcers or be prepared to move to the boonies away from most of your modern conveniences. Want to stop feeding the war machine with your tax dollars? Be prepared to invite the wrath of the IRS.
I am someone who is often caught between the urge to fight and the urge to go along to get along, to do the 'safe' option and find a comfortable job that will allow me to go the traditional route of 'owning' a home and all the usual American dream bullshit. I sometimes envy those whose eyes are closed, longing to be put back asleep so the American dream can become believable again.
And then, I see those living a path of resistance and realize that's not feasible
Steemit is full of inspired outlaws, rebels with a cause and a will to make it a reality. Reading blogs from people such as @dbroze, @kennyskitchen, @mountainjewel, @adamkokesh, and others is both inspiring and humbling. The commitment these individuals display in pursuing their own version of a life unbounded by societal and family pressures is a reminder that this type of existence is possible and not merely some idealistic fantasy.
More so than any other community on the internet, Steemit has exposed me to a large group of homesteaders, anarchists, and activists who have created a map for those still searching for their next step.
It's not as if anyone of us can simply follow someone else's personal liberation instruction manual and get there with ease. We all have to walk our own path, figure out what works for us, realizing what sacrifices it will require and weighing decisions with our own personal obligations.
But learning from the experience of others is a huge element in our personal journey. It reduces isolation and alienation and makes us realize that a radically different existence is possible.
In the haze of modern life, with the sophisticated shepherds attempting to herd us back to the domesticated flock at every turn, we need the wild soul role models more than ever.
All uncredited pictures from pixabay.com or my personal account
If you received value from this post, I would gratefully appreciate your upvote
My Latest Posts
- Obsessing About the Future
- How I Quit Smoking
- Gardening Tips from a Novice
- Just Reached 1,000 Followers: Thank You for Your Support! SBD Rewards from this Post to be Donated :)
- Turning Your Weakness into a Strength