Identity

Egoism is a trait often frowned upon by polite society. Humans are social creatures to the extent that even their identities are often created in relation to their chosen heroes. These heroes may be musicians, national leaders, religious figures. You name it. They'd follow it. Even in the formative teenage years, there is often a drive to become a part of something. Pacts are made between individuals. The emphasis here is on the group.

I wonder, though, since this all seems rather bizarre to me. Targets are set, like say this kid wants to grow up to be as great as Spiderman. Unrealistic, perhaps, but an ambition nonetheless. I guess I am rather more egoistic. Identity for me is something I'd draw from myself, not other people. Should my ambition be to strive for greatness, it will not be to be as great as Spiderman, but greater than myself. It will be an endless quest for refinement whereby the pinnacle of achievement shall only be acknowledged when I am satisfied by it.

This may sound strange or even unacceptable by those more socially-inclined. Still, I figure it better to refine oneself as an individual before one can contribute to a group. It sure beats diddling as a faceless member of the masses, feeling the false sense of wholeness through following everything else. Worse yet, that individual may become a leech, reliant on the shine of the masses and unwilling to improve oneself to contribute to that chosen group. If that isn't egoistic selfishness, I don't know what is.