Choices vs. Instincts

Basically, every living creature enters the world as a blank slate. I'm no expert on animal behavior, but it seems to me that humans are the only beings that develop using discretionary skills rather than simply relying on natural born instinct. 

I mean, a tiger doesn't wake up one morning, decide to spare the buffalo for humanitarian reasons, and become a vegan. And, dogs instinctively know how to treat mineral deficiencies by eating their poop, whereas, humans have clearly figured out a better way. While other animals just do what they do without questioning why, human beings ponder the possibilities.

I do believe that, even though we are a species that thinks and reasons, we also have "gut" feelings. Some things we just KNOW are right or wrong. However, unlike other species, we often act counter-intuitively to our gut feelings. Interesting, yes? So how and why do we complex beings become who we are?

In the beginning, whether we like it or not, we are influenced by the people we're around most; mainly our parents. Then at some point, usually when we reach puberty, we rebel against everything our parents, and adults in general, represent. We switch our allegiances over to friends, peers, gurus, mentors, celebrities, etc.. Eventually we grow up, mellow out, get our bearings, start thinking for ourselves, and hunker down somewhere between faded youth and fuddy duddy. 

Sometimes I think I have finally become my mother. Don't get me wrong, Mom was a wonderful person, and I loved her very much. But when I was younger we disagreed about, well, almost everything. Now, more often than not, I understand exactly where she was coming from. Curious; did I choose to be like her, or did I instinctively develop into her mini-me? I wonder...

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. 

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson