I was always disagreeable. I didn’t believe anything at face value, and it made my life much more complex and difficult.

I couldn’t just go along with the lies; I couldn’t accept them. I actively resisted deception.

I couldn’t take the path of least resistance and always chose the hardest option.

'Can’t you just do what everyone else does? Can’t you just go with the flow?' I would occasionally ask myself.

But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t respect myself if I knew I had taken the easy way out — I’m not that kind of person.

And the more I resisted, the harder life became. But the more I chose the harder path, the more respect I earned in my own mind, and the more competent and confident I became.

What is the purpose of life anyway? Maybe it’s to live it with pride, standing tall, knowing that you are the man you chose to be...