The Pros and Cons of Living My Life Like An Open Book

As many of you already know, my entire life has been on display for over 5 years now.

Through AntonDaniels.com, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, you get the full me without the filter. And it’s been an interesting ride to say the least.

Many of you were with me when I traded in my Cadillac for the Jeep Wrangler, seen me struggle building a restaurant, watched me re-live the pain of being set up and car-jacked on 8 mile, and documented my past journey as a casino high roller.

I’ve introduced you to my family. You’ve also watched as I endured the death of my best friend and father and journeyed with me as my curiosity got the best of me while exploring some of the most iconic abandoned buildings in the metro Detroit area (my favorite was the Pontiac Silverdome).

I have no secrets.

Oddly enough, living as though I am on the Truman show is interestingly weird. At first, I was incredibly fearful. Most of that fear came from what I thought my family would think of me when they were exposed to the unfiltered me. Also, what would people say that grew up with me? And people seeing me for the first time on social media?

Over time, I became super comfortable. After the gossip and second-hand feedback from people telling me about the negative things people would say about me, I was free. You see, once people do their best to tear you down and you find yourself still standing, you realize how powerful you really are.

I have read some of the most uncomfortable comments ever on my YouTube channel.

Most of the time people are just projecting their own issues and insecurities on your platform. Don’t ask me why, but it happens more often than you think.

However, now that I am a bit more seasoned and used to living my life with no secrets, I sympathize with people that spend time watching my content only to wish for my demise. It says more about you than it does about me.

Being accountable for your actions.

If I had to identify one of the most unique things about living my life like an open book, it would be making myself available and accountable to an audience.

When you put it out there that you are embarking on a specific venture, people hold you accountable. And that’s a good thing.

I understand that as I write this, there is someone waiting on my next upload that detail what my life is like now.

When you put yourself out there, you become accountable for someone else’s well-being. There are people that want the visibility without accountability. It doesn’t work that way.

I personally feel a great deal of responsibility for the content I make available for the world to see.

And for my next trick.

This is why I felt compelled to document my journey in the first place. It’s not just entertainment!

Somewhere, someone is going to be affected by my story.

I remember when I was exploring and documenting the state of the abandoned Detroit Public schools. I uploaded the videos, a couple went viral on Facebook, and immediately the powers that be allocated funds to secure all DPS buildings properly.

Honestly, I don’t think I am that interesting of a person. However, if my journey makes an impact in just one person’s life… it was a journey well worth documenting.

I’ll be sure to capture it (good or bad) and make it available for you to see on one of my various platforms though.