Whoso would be a man would be a nonconformist. -Emerson If there is one part of Emerson's philosophy that I subscribe to the most, it is this idea. Few people actually follow their own ideas and decide for themselves what is good and bad, right and wrong, lawful and tyrannical. Most people are like sheep intellectually; who follow the rest of the herd no matter where it goes and what it does. When they are in the herd there is no thought of examining what they are doing, they just act and do like the others. In order to become a man, and if you so should chose a shepherd of these sheep, you must breakaway from the herd and find yourself and follow those truths which you hold self-evident. You will then be a man, thinking for yourself and doing what is right in your heart.
I myself believe that I have broken away from the herd. I am no longer concerned of what others think of me or my actions. I do only the deeds that I believe in and find rewarding. People often ask me why do I run? What is it that compels you to put yourself through such misery? The answer is quite simply I find it rewarding. It raises my self-esteem and allows me to take pride in myself for what I have accomplished. And every time I run it allows me another chance to break way from the herd and become a man again thinking about what I believe is right for me. The other question I hear often, usually from the same people, is "Why don't I play basketball?" People see that I am tall and athletic and when they find out that I don't play this sport they are puzzled. But that is all you can expect from the sheep as it is incomprehensible to them that you wouldn't use your gift and play a sport that you have an advantage in because they never consider whether something is rewarding! and if it is what they really want for themselves. They just become what society says they should be and as a result forfeit their reward without ever knowing of its existence....