This ones for you Fred.

Know thyself. Plato coined these words realizing that men must understand their own nature before they can accomplish their life's ambitions. It's simple right? A two word phrase designed to be clear and easy to understand must be equally easy to accomplish. For most however the truth of those words only becomes evident near the end of our lives. Many people of varying generations rarely ever sit and ponder their lives to the extent of self examination, because the truth of what they are is frightening. There are however others who wake up one day and realize that they've deceived themselves and require change to be happy, or at least survive.

The negative side of this idea is that in the knowledge of ones true nature, a person may find out that they are something truly terrible. Serial killers might emerge. World leaders could become heinous, and fanatical with fascist thoughts. A mother might awaken to realize they no longer want the child they've given birth to. To know thyself is a journey fraught with perils which may end in the darkest of places. Fortunately I'm a firm believer that these things are less likely to occur, and that knowing what our true nature is is extremely positive.

Therefore it's refreshing to see when someone sees what they've become, and elects change over brooding. So many people feel that not trying to change is the way to go, because the chances of failure seem too great to overcome. But really you fail automatically when you don't try, and never realize the potential for the truth. And personal change comes from seek your true nature. Very few people ever wake up and realize what they want to do with their lives, a sudden epiphany, a brilliant flash to transform them. You rarely ever hear of an individual jumping out of bed in the morning shouting "I KNOW WHAT I WANT!" For most it takes a lot of soul searching. It takes the ability to look in the mirror and acknowledge the things that are holding you back, to stare them down and cast them out. To opt for change for a better life is incredibly difficult. Just ask an alcoholic who's fallen off the wagon. They understand the pertinent need for change, and are likely to respect the challenges a person faces in order to do so. They've seen the truth of themselves and make the journey everyday.

So wake up, stretch, watch the sun become born anew again, and realize that what you've begun is dangerous only to yourself, but the prize is worth the fight.