Nature vs. Nurture

ShayCarl has some thoughts regarding the Nature vs. Nurture question and I agree with pretty much everything he says. I’d like to add a thought or two.

Firstly, let’s eschew some obfuscation by defining the issue. The Nature vs. Nurture question explores the differences between a person’s nature (what they’re like innately) and what effect their environment has had on them (nurture).

I agree with the idea that we are in great degree a product of the world around us. I am interested in being the best Dad I can because I’m surrounded by my kids. I decided for myself to have a bunch of kids because I feel strongly that family is very important, which was probably influenced at least in part by my church membership. So, I do believe firmly in the power of Nurture.

But I also believe (as ShayCarl states) that it is possible for each of us to overcome Nature, overcome Nurture, and begin a new influence. We are shaped by who we are intrinsically and by the community around us, but we are also free to progress- especially in the Land of Opportunity.

And what’s even cooler (IMHO) is that in today’s world of constant sharing and community effort, we can become who we want to be for free. If I want to become an expert on video editing, I can use Youtube as a playground. If I want to report the news, I can use Twitter or a blog to publish whatever I want, whenever I want. It doesn’t matter how long it takes us to gain proficiency. What matters is that we start NOW.