Throughout my life, I’ve always been the type to form my own opinions. To not care what other people think about me, and to try my best to be my true self and not care if other people like it or not. I think that I’m really taking that a step higher lately and really working on forming my own opinions about topics.

Have you ever sat down and thought about the things that you believe in? I’m not just talking about religion, though that is part of it. I’m talking about ethics, personal beliefs, eating habits, politics, etc. Have you ever actually sat down and thought about those things?

I ask myself two questions. First and foremost: a) what do I believe about this topic? How do I feel about “topic x?” and b) why do I believe that? Is it because it’s an opinion that I’ve truly formed for myself, a belief harvested within me, of my own creation? Or is it because of some outside influence that has taught me that this thing is wrong, or something else is right, etc.?

These outside influences could be many. It could be something you’re taught as a child, either in school or at home. A belief that your parents or caregivers hold can be passed along to you just simply by being among them for so long. But that doesn’t mean that you have to believe that same thing. It could be something your religious or political affiliation teaches you. It could be something tradition-based.

But I’m going to challenge you, anyone who reads this little blog of mine, to really think about what you believe. And form your own opinions and beliefs for yourself.

It’s okay if you’ve always been against gay marriage because of “traditional” beliefs and then you think about it and realize it’s a belief that was instilled in you by your family, but that in all actuality, there is nothing wrong with two people who love each other. It’s okay if you’ve believed one thing and fought for it, only to realize that you want to change your beliefs. It’s okay if you don’t want to change your beliefs, too. Hell, we’re all entitled to our own opinions.

But I challenge everyone to make sure that your opinions really are YOURS. Not just an opinion you’ve grown to know because you’ve been taught it for years, or it’s instilled in your political or religious system, or whatever. After all, we’re not robots. Each and every human being that walks on this Earth is a unique individual. We each have a brain that functions independently, and while we’re all influenced by each other, our lives are our own.

So join me in not being a robot. Join me in really thinking about issues and forming your own opinions. Educate yourself on both sides of an issue and allow yourself to form your own opinions, unaffected and not pressured by anyone else around you. It’s okay if you don’t know how you feel about certain things yet — we’re all works in progress.