we are told from an early age that success can be measured by the things we own and the opinions that others hold of us, that happiness is earned by hard work and that civilization is mankind's greatest achievement. it is drummed into us that society's goal is the common good and that the rules and laws of our society can keep us safe from descending into the barbarism from which we emerged. the golden rule, the american dream, the ten commandments; all of it in place for our protection. we know it's a crock of shit, but still we reach for that brass ring (it sure looks like gold, doesn't it).

but,

the choice has always been yours. follow the path cut by others to that illusion of comfort and safety or lead yourself to your own happiness. obey the materialistic constraints of society and live inside of that dream or walk alone and run the risk of losing what little you have. in both cases the destination is death, so i suppose that in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter which road you choose.