I am sure we have all heard the sayings (or idioms as they are correctly called) that a Leopard cannot change its spots, a tiger does not change its stripes, or a wolf doesn’t shed its skin. The direct translation of these sayings are that a person does not change his nature or who they are. I am sorry, but I do not believe this. It is completely bullshit.
Firstly, all of these analogies are directly corresponding to a less dominant and intellect limited species. It is also directly affiliated to the fact that a species or natural being cannot change the way it looks.
Let me have a poke at making one of these sayings; “A white man cannot change his skin to black”. [That wasn’t too hard]
Of course, these sayings were created in the past when civilization was at its infancy and everything in life was translated into a simple phrase. It is almost like Shakespeare but much easier to comprehend (if you have a little cerebration). The most upsetting thing is that most of the people in this world generally believe a person cannot change who they are.
It is basically saying a person who is evil was born evil?
No! We are all born equal and it is our social upbringing and life experiences that dictate who we are and how we think. If I was raised to be taught that no one can be trusted because of the experiences that life brought me, who is to say that I cannot one day begin to trust again due to new experiences?
Yes, sometimes the memories of the past haunt us and make us who we are, but more dominant memories play a bigger role and help overpower those older thoughts. I agree that much of what is basic is still there, but under a layer of change, sort of like a change of clothing. I think only severe amnesia could make a person into another person, different down to the core. Hence my initial argument, our experiences make us who we are, its not something god-given.
People who go into the service often come out with much more discipline in life. My father for example has told me that serving in the army has changed his life completely. He has a much higher appreciation for life and he is much more discipline.
It is no surprise that someone who goes through a near death experience changes as a result. It is more surprising if they do not change, unless the insights gained from the near-death experience were also gained previously. For example, a religious person who has had their religion confirmed by the experience would probably change less than someone who found the experience very unexpected.
People grow, and change everyday. To not grow and or change would be like standing still while the rest of the world moves. Some changes are for good, some are bad. If you look back at your life you shouldn’t have the same attitude or goals that you did 5 years or 10 years back. If you do then you need to move on and start growing before you get stuck in the past. However some people don’t like change. They are afraid of it. Nothing is more comfortable than the familiar. It is very hard work and most people aren’t willing to do that kind of work so it’s easier to stay the way they are. Life changes all of us in one way or another, some for the better some for worse. But to an extent that is your choice in what it does.
The whole point of this composition was to indirectly argue to a certain person in my life that I can change. It is my past experiences that have made me who I am, and only through newer experiences with you, can I begin to change into the person that you say I cannot be.
The one thing I hate is being told I cannot do something. I am who I am because of my past, it is up to my present and my future (you) to make me who I will be.