What We Are

I've decided that, above all, we are who we are because of the experiences we've had. Simple enough, yet for me a profoundly interesting idea. Think about it-- what we've seen, done, haven't done even-- it all adds up to what makes us unique and special (I'll give everyone the benefit of the doubt).

Here's the kicker-- until we're a certain age, we really have no choice about what experiences and events we are exposed to. What shows we watch, what we eat, who we spend time with-- parents, legal guardians and the like all control those things with pretty tight fists until that golden age of 16. A car liberates us in ways we had never known, allowing one to choose and think about what s/he wants to do and see and experience.

The whole nature-nurture debate has been solved awhile ago and without much fanfare, because we are products of our genetic make-up and also of our experiences/ "nurture" via parents, adults, whatever. for me, the idea that I am who I am today largely because of the choices of others seems pretty ridiculous though, I guess, unavoidable.

Word.