The YouTopian Journey Begins
It all begins with you.
Build yourself a city.
Found yourself a state.
Do not cry for pity.
Grab and master fate.
Grab a swamp and drain it.
Cut the log and plane it.
Make the hill the valley field,
and on the man-made plain
breathe your last complaint.
Lay your shame,
forget your name,
do not cry for pity.
Build yourself a city.
Poem found on Pier 35 by Eric Hoffer.
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the YouTopian Journey. I am thrilled for you to be here. Each week I will be sharing unique wisdom as well as a more in depth overview of the art work that is featured on the Instagram @youtopianjourney.
WHAT IS THE YOUTOPIAN JOURNEY?
Simply put, the YouTopian Journey is a unique solution for unique times. Born during the quarantine as an animated screenplay, it became a personal call to arms. With Hollywood shut down, I could only wait until the pandemic passed or make something of it on my own. And since time is limited, the latter option was chosen. YouTopian Journey utilizes the graphic novel medium to tackle issues that the modern individual is facing. This includes anxiety, loneliness, mental health, and more.
BUT, WHAT IS IT REALLY?
A 21st century illustrated Self Reliance, an Odyssey for the modern individual, a hero’s journey for each and every reader. Illustrated by the talented Fernando Melek, YouTopian Journey is a unique force for helping each and every reader become mentally stronger and allowing them to awaken the hero within.
WHY YOUTOPIAN JOURNEY?
In the nineteenth century, the problem was that God was dead. In the twentieth century, the problem was that man was dead. In the twenty-first century, the problem is that wisdom is dead. The great books have been replaced with memes, powerful speeches with tweets, and expertise with selfies.
We need knowledge to sooth our souls and to inspire our minds!
Not knowledge from self-proclaimed gurus, but knowledge from history’s greatest figures!
Real and practical knowledge to help us not only survive in the new normal, but thrive, regardless of the circumstances.
“Human potential at its best is to transform a tragedy into a personal triumph, to turn one's predicament into a human achievement.”-Viktor Frankl
WHY NOW?
We live in an age of uncertainty. Technology is making the once paved roads to success obsolete. The pandemic has forced the world to adapt to a new reality that requires flexibility, resilience, and persistence. This pandemic will change us, but it is up to us to determine in what way. Will we emerge stronger, healthier, and smarter? Or become even more soft, frail, and weak? Will we remain forever lost in the digital gulag of our own making, unable to suffer through hardship, unable to pivot, and still remain inflexible? Will we return to old habits and just write off the corona experience?
That is exactly what YouTopian Journey is intending to prevent. It aims to provide priceless knowledge and wisdom to help you become the best possible version of yourself, regardless of the circumstances. It is an illustrated guide for a complete mindset reset. It is a collection of wisdom from human history’s greatest leaders, thinkers, philosophers, writers, saints, generals, and more. It was composed throughout the contaminated year of 2020, through painstaking research, and is meant to be a companion for life.
THE FIRST STEP BEGINS WITH YOU!
“Man’s main task is to give birth to himself.”- Erich Fromm
Whether you have a magnificent world altering dream or a small but important goal, it all begins with you. And by endeavoring to make that objective a reality, you separate yourself from the world. Your action on taking action makes you something different, something powerful, something that makes you stand out in your own unique way. I wanted to emphasize that in the page above, with our first full blown cover and post. It is very easy to see who is the dreamer and how rare they truly are in society.
Better yet, what does this piece make you feel? Feel free to drop me a line and let me know your thoughts.
ACT NOW!
“He who does not act does not exist.”-Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Do you want to remain hidden amongst the crowd? Do you intend to hide your ambitions and talents? Do you plan to postpone your dreams? Do you wish to follow the herd mentality of our society and play it safe? Or has the time come to truly embrace who you are? More importantly, who you want to become?
Look deep into yourself. See what you have been avoiding all this time. You must act. No one can do this for you. This is a task that cannot be outsourced. It may be postponed and delayed, but sooner or later you will need to take the plunge. It is your responsibility!
Realize that nothing happens unless you make it so! Nothing can bring you to your destination, to your future, without you endeavoring to make the journey yourself!
Understand that you may be just one person, but by reading these words, now we are two.
“He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence.”-William Blake
ONE LAST THING
I will see you next week after we launch our first posts on Instagram. As a newsletter subscriber, here is an exclusive post.
I’m Shaun Gold and if you are reading this, you are already on your journey. Catch you next week.