“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” 

Vonnegut’s warning about adapting and conforming to roles and behaviors is as true today as it was 65 years ago. 

It runs in the back of my mind all the time as I watch people sacrifice agency and personality. 

If you dehumanize people, convinced you’re doing it for profit, eventually you are not separate from the organization that financially motivates you to do it.

If you spout ideology, whether for entertainment purposes or views, at some point you become your words.

The positive aspect of this is that of course you can become kinder by using habit to constantly reinforce the behavior you want from yourself. 

The main focus that runs through my mind is that people are maintaining appearances and adopting personalities that serve them to make a living. Paradoxically, however, they often find themselves becoming what initially was a facade.

One of my favorite wood panels that I’ve made. I made it as a reminder of youth. And to never be the one on the sideline watching other people find a way to get the crayons and stick them out of their nostrils. I’ve not done well with this lately.