2014/05/21

RESHUFFLING THE CARDS

One of the things I love most to be remembered of is the perpetual change (both over time and from person to person) notions present. And so that it would be a costly mistake to evaluate, interpret and judge them from a set vantage point.

Instead, I can peel off a given idea, like a delicious red banana, from its thick layer of associations (positive or negative) I had previously formed, that long chain of thoughts (decent or flawed with loose assumptions, knee-jerk reflexes, etc.), to consider it every time afresh.

Take the color green. It may be the unpleasant memory of an embarrassing experience like parsley between my teeth during a formal dinner which enforces a strong aversion against it. But what about countless other greens?

Or happiness. Once seen and labeled as a vain pursuit, I’d likely miss a lot if I leave it at that.

Or discipline. Restraint. Involvement. Patience..

Instead of processing them as part of an ongoing digestion (with its familiar juices, strengths and weaknesses), I might turn them over from scratch.

Happiness you said? Explain it. Let me see the content, the context, how does your happiness differ from mine. Maybe they aren’t mutually exclusive at all, they might even be complementary, or you’re pointing out with that to a level outside my current understanding.

Notions with their meanings we’re attributing to them are our shortcut buttons, and shortcuts sometimes lead to nowhere.


Peeling them off from their existent definitions, giving them a second chance to build entirely new vistas opens doors.

.

No comments:

Post a Comment