As much as we may like to think of ourselves as individuals with our own thoughts, ideas, and feelings, we create our individual selves out of the milieu we live in. Our thoughts are limited by the languages we have acquired, our ideas are (at least for the most part) based upon the work of others, and even our feelings are greatly informed by our culture. In this talk Bart explored some of the benefits and obstacles of our “borrowed” individuality and offer some ideas for making the most of our situations.

Bart Worden has been the Executive Director of the American Ethical Union, the national federation of Ethical Culture and Ethical Humanist Societies, since 2012. Bart is, in addition, the clergy leader for the Westchester Community for Ethical Culture, and is a Social Worker who has worked with programs that help people recover from psychiatric disability.