What does it take to overcome the inertia of human arrogance, to mature beyond the point most do? What must be done to grow completely and irreversibly out of the self-centered, solipsistic state natural to young children and into the selfless, bounteous state of being which forms the basis of a meaningful adulthood? What does is take to grow up – to truly grow up – in a world that is ruled by children in adult bodies?
Relatively few people in recorded history have managed to throw off the shackles of the unconscious state, to pierce the veil of human hubris and live consciously in the freedom of a life governed by truth. In fact, virtually everything on earth today conspires against those who dare to try it. The gravitational pull of the unconscious state is stronger than you might imagine.
Keeping in the forefront of your mind and in the depths of your heart at all times requires an uncommon attention, a carefully cultivated awareness and an unshakeable discipline. In my own experience, I’ve used this blog as a means of keeping the truth up front. Each and every one of my now 1,405 daily consecutive posts (yes, every day for the last 3.85 years!) has forced me to bring truth to focus in relation to my quotidian affairs and I hope that it has done the same for my precious and devoted readers.
Now, as thankful as I am for those who receive daily inspiration from my blog, there is no substitute for bringing the truth to focus in your own heart and mind, that is, for developing a lusty and practical personal relationship with truth. How you do it will likely be different from how I do it. Your relationship with truth is unique; you cannot know the truth and be made free by truth from a second-hand, casual relationship.
I encourage you to take a few minutes to read or listen to David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech, delivered at Kenyon College in 2005. Follow these links and prepare to be inspired to live your adult life as it was meant to be lived: meaningfully and on purpose. The capital-T Truth is yours to discover, but you have to do the work!
Gregory Hake 
Thank you for the daily posts these past 3.85 years. Your blogging has had a great influence on this reader!
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Love it!!!
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Loved his address. I appreciate his candidness as I appreciate yours. Choosing how we think about anything is the pinnacle of being free. Recognizing that things I’ve thought have, on occasion, turned out to be almost opposite of the reality, has helped me to be slower to draw a conclusion and quicker to say I don’t have an opinion on something. I launch my day with the thought of being open to the impulses from our creator, perhaps it makes space for seeing from an entirely new vantage point. Great post!
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Wow, what a refreshing and thought provoking speech! Thinking is a conscious decision and we don’t have to live by default.
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Love this! My thoughts lately have been along the same line…stop labeling everything! I really love his statement – The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death. Great thoughts this morning even with all the big intellectual words. š
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