I Am My Own

I am my own.  Before you stop reading this assuming it’s a piece written by a conceited blow-hard about to drum on about some phenomenal accomplishment, let me explain myself.  You see, there is a foundational truth in this statement that is profoundly humble.  In this statement the foundation of our universe exists and with it, the understanding that the millions of connections in my life and yours is what makes us each unique.  We are in fact, our own.

I am the product of the myriad of connections that created me and made me who I am.  Most of these connections I will never personally know of yet they all have contributed to who I am becoming.  The cushion I use for meditation contains within it the work of nature that grew the material, the hands that created the fabric, the dyes used to color it, the craftsman that made it, the people who shipped it to me, and the work of those I purchased it from.  From that cushion I have been inspired by the words of wisdom that came from my parents, loved ones, and the thoughts of others I have read over the years.  I am the product of my parents who came together through connection, who reared me and implanted within me a set of life values as well as those of grandparents and teachers that have inspired me.  My body is nourished by the food and water I consume.  Some of that water started as cloud vapors from far-away places thousands of miles from where I live.  I am my own not for what I have created, but because of my connection to anything and everything around me.

These words are my own but contain within them the seeds of knowledge and insight from the world I live in.  My Buddhist friend Greg has been an immense source of inspiration for me, yet his words are themselves the product of years of wisdom passed on to him by his masters in Burma who were also inspired by centuries of teaching.  Spiritual masters have long understood this truth and that is is why they can contemplate the wonder of the entire universe from the most simple of objects.  We are all connected.  I am my own yet at the same time I am not.

This simple truth though can be easily distorted and abused.  Take for instance the recent statement by President Obama that “you didn’t build that.”  What he stated was truth but used to make a very self-serving point.  His opponents then used those same words as a blunt instrument to make their own point.  In the end, the fundamental truth was lost in the noise of selfish chatter.  When Hilary Clinton made the point that “it takes a village” she spoke a truth yet those words were twisted into something negative.  It takes great humility to understand that we are never self-made people but we are unique because of the connections that converged in a way to create the person we are.

Even though the words I thoughtfully compose are my own at the same time they belong to everyone.  My thoughts and inspiration come from so many sources they could never be counted.  From the words passed on to me by family and friends to the innumerable authors whose works I have consumed and I’ll never personally meet, I acknowledge that they have all contributed in ways small and large to who I am.  When we realize just how intricate and essential these connections are we can begin to embrace with great humility that we are at the same time unique yet all the same. 

I am my own and I am grateful that each and every connection in my life has come together in such a beautiful way and expressed themselves through me.  I am my own because of each and every one of you.  Thank you.

Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action, a strategy execution specialist at the intersection of employee engagement and executive leadership, igniting innovation as a lever to accelerate your growth.  Follow Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.  Learn more by visiting www.connect2action.com.