* The above is a short clip from a video on defining who I am (See Humor YouTube Channel). Checkout the full video RIGHT HERE

Are you a consumer or a creator? Think about that. There’s a time and place to consume information & inspiration, but one can’t indefinitely consume without ever creating because then it’s all just bottled up inside of you – and for what? It’s natural particularly at a younger age to consume, but at a certain point one has to be confident and competent enough to share their own creations with the world. For myself, I’ve gradually reached the point of optimal content creation and minimal consumption of information/inspiration from others. I’m committed to one major pledge: I refuse to live through someone else’s life.

What I mean by that is too many people watch a particular celebrity, tv show, sports team, any person or category on the outside – and they identify their life with that activity. People would rather watch someone else’s life than create their own. And most of the time, people are not even aware they are doing it & if they become aware, sometimes it is at the end of one’s days. For example, when someone watches a basketball game – what are they actually doing? They are literally watching someone else’s life – the players playing the game. When someone is watching a movie, what are they doing? They are watching the creation of the movie producer and staff. When someone is hooked on watching videos from a particular YouTuber, they are watching SOMEONE ELSE reflect and articulate ideas on camera. And again, those activities in short bursts may be okay – particularly when it involves multi-tasking such as while simultaneously spending time with a loved one, eating, or something like that – but often so many people JUST CONSUME, and never actually start creating their own life.

So my recommendation is to be very conscious of how much you consume of the world around you, and ask yourself how the person/show/thing you are consuming goes about their own creation. Perhaps over time, the roles can be reversed and people you are currently consuming will instead be consuming YOU. And note that ironically, if you’re reading this – you are consuming my creation of thoughts. I appreciate it – But at the same time, I wouldn’t take it personally if you stop reading blogs & the creations of the world, and instead sit quietly in a room for one hour and reflect alone on thoughts, perspectives, and creations you can offer the world. Actually, I am challenging you to do just that. I hope all of us create our authentic lives, and don’t get lost in the rat race of consumption.