Running Your Own Race

If you have ever read Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, you know that Howard Roarke 'ran his own race.' He was deaf to critics - not trying to win them over - just honoring his conscience and doing what he felt was right. He ran his own race. Wouldn't our world be better off if more people lived with this as their mantra? Are we all just too worried about what others think? Of course, this theme can be taken too far and become destructive to mind, body, and soul. I think we all have seen that scenario play itself out. That's not what I'm talking about here.

Life is a series of votes - votes that are made for or against us and votes we make for or against others. All these votes have consequences for us: who we choose as friends, who we choose as our spouse, where we live and work, what kind of fashions we wear, etc. It takes an amazing amount of fortitude to live a life like Howard Roarke. Because of this strength of conviction, he probably didn't have any sleep problems or bouts with depression, either. Are we creating our own circumstances or are circumstances defining and directing us? After years in the gym, which incidentally might be the best sociology lab anywhere, I get a kick out of trying to figure all this stuff out. We are funny, fascinating, and strange creatures...that's for sure.
by Chris Scully