That’s the question I’m always asking myself. I mean literally always. Because of the way we’re enmeshed with our environment, everything we say or do evokes some kind of reaction—in essence, a “reply”—from the world. You can call it conservation of energy, or you can call it karma. I sometimes think of it as a lifelong question and answer session between myself and the universe.
It can make sense to think of this enmeshment of self and environment as the one essential being, a single holistic expression unto itself. Furthermore, it seems the way I become aware of “my” individual self is by simply witnessing the effects my expressions produce in my environment. With this in mind, any expression—whether with words, actions, or even just mental attention—can always be considered an indirect, incomplete, or otherwise backhanded elaboration of that one essential question: who am I?
Unless, of course, I ask directly, which I shall do… um, directly: who am I? I would beg your pardon for stepping away from our conversation here to interrogate the universe, except I’m not stepping away at all, because you are the universe—a uniquely essential part of it anyway. So I’m actually asking you for the answer now—your uniquely essential part of it anyway. Who am I? Please reply in the comments below.
But you don’t know me, you might be saying to yourself, to which I would say that you really must have at least some small idea. Would you be reading this if you didn’t? Well, you may not have the whole story. Neither do I. I’m not asking for anything comprehensive, just some hints to help me in that direction.
While I’m waiting for your answer, here’s a thought about who I am that was delivered to me back when asking this question (which I’m always doing anyway) was one of my highest priorities. You ready?
I’m it.
I mean I’m all there is. And, as it happens, so are you.
Understand? Well, I’m still working on it, myself, and I’m asking for your help. Please take a second to share your idea of who I am—in a word, or in a page, but definitely in the comments below.
You are a writer, a poet, a dad by choice, a husband and a friend. You are a thinker who thinks he might do by thinking. You are bigger than your skin, your home, your city or country.
You are Kwame.
I’m not entirely sure what you mean by “… a thinker who thinks he might do by thinking.” But if you mean what I think you mean, I think you’re on to something.
Is it okay if I share this piece from you? It’s topical advice worth sharing! My crowd will get a lot from this too.
You certainly may. I’d love to hear back from you about whether (and how) they mine some value from this perspective.