INCENDIARE

THERE ARE THOSE WHO RECEIVE AS BIRTHRIGHT AN ADEQUATE OR AT LEAST UNQUESTIONED SENSE OF SELF, AND THOSE WHO SET OUT TO REINVENT THEMSELVES, FOR SURVIVAL OR FOR SATISFACTION, AND TRAVEL FAR. SOME PEOPLE INHERIT VALUES AND PRACTICES AS A HOUSE THEY INHABIT; SOME OF US HAVE TO BURN DOWN THAT HOUSE, FIND OUR OWN GROUND, BUILD FROM SCRATCH, EVEN AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL METAMORPHOSIS. AS A CULTURAL METAMORPHOSIS THE TRANSITION IS FAR MORE DRAMATIC.

EXCERPT FROM REBECCA SOLNIT'S A FIELD GUIDE TO GETTING LOST