I don’t believe in souls.

When people first learn that I don’t believe in immortal souls they flip.

You must not believe in destiny? I don’t.

You don't believe in life after death? No, I don’t believe in that either.

I always get a retort that details how bleak of a life I must lead or how negative my views are. I just slide a slight smile and move along. To everyone, everything is different. Where others see grim, I see hope. I don’t live every day anxious about leading a life that is confined to a religion that promises a happy life-after-death scenario. I live my life in my life.

If I connect with someone, I know that it’s because as humans we get each other. I don’t put my faith in a higher power that has sway over our interactions. Fate doesn’t decide for me, I do. I choose how my day will go and after that, that’s it. I’m content with that because I live knowing that this is what I’ve got and I’m going to invest in it.

I live in the solid evidence of what I have. For others, it might be comforting to have sour situations out of their hands and the blame be placed on fate or God. For me knowing that it is up to me to succeed or to fail; that’s where I find my ambition.

Maybe there are others like me who fear the rejection that society slings when they find out your opposing view. I admit, sharing that I don't believe in what gives the rest of humanity hope sends an awfully bleak message about myself. It hurts when people don't get it. But I don't get them either.

I gain a certain security from believing that there is nothing more than this. That the afterlife is just that, after life — no strife just rest.