My reflections for the last couple weeks have been around an old quote that we all know of…”ignorance is bliss”. This is an old quote that came from a poem way back in 1742 (I added it in the youtube area “What’s Jen listening to…”). It’s been 281 years since its inception, I think it is time to face reality people, times have changed drastically.
Way back, we could get away with being ignorant within our environment, in a sense. I’m not talking about being ignorant of our humanly duties of taking care of the earth, I mean with what was happening around us that wasn’t inherently dangerous. Example, as kids many of us use to run around the neighborhood at night and not be concerned of danger. There was not much consciousness around who or what we affected with our actions as we ran amuck. But as we got older and matured, and gained some life experience, we usually became more aware of ’cause and effect’. For most of us anyways.
This past couple of weeks, I experienced a few moments that got me shaking my head in disbelief. One day I went to a local restaurant close to work for lunch. I sat in my car enjoying the peace and quiet for a good 30 mins, that was bliss. I left and was waiting for traffic to go by so I could get onto the street when an older man behind me honked, like 3 – 4 times. I guess he was in a big rush and I was going to slow for him. Anyways, I was fuming at that point as I pulled out onto the street, I had even removed my seatbelt. I was triggered out of my calm, happy state directly into rage. As quickly as I took off my seatbelt, I put it back on. I know it’s not worth it. But it got me thinking tho, as the old guy was looking at me and making mocking motions and smirking. Is he really that ignorant and triggering people in that way often? Does he not realize the state of the world he is living in, or is he living in his own little bubble and is completely clueless? With how easily people fly off the handle these days, he will most likely mess with the wrong person at some point and attract real ‘negative actions’ towards himself.
Another example, I was watching a truck driver who never checked his mirrors as he was driving along in the right lane on the main road, I could see him clearly in his driver side mirror. At one point, there was a car ahead that had pulled over onto the shoulder, but it was still in the right lane a bit. The truck driver had decided last minute that he was going to move around the car, but he didn’t check his driver side mirror before making the maneuver, he just did it. The truck driver ended up forcing someone beside him over towards the left, and they in turn almost side swiped another vehicle. I still didn’t see the truck driver look in his driver side mirror, so I’m assuming he drove off with no idea what the effects of his actions could have created by his unintentional ignorance.
In the poem where the “ignorance is bliss” quote came from, there is more to it that our society could adopt and follow. It reads….”No more; where ignorance is bliss, ‘Tis folly to be wise”. In our current times, it would be advantageous of us as a society to become more responsible, knowledgeable, and aware of what we do that impacts others. Just look around you before you take an action. Think to yourself “how will this affect me and my family/friends/neighbors/community/people outside my community/the earth, etc”. I dare you to step out of your box and take a look at life from this perspective. I’ll definitely do it.
I don’t usually quote from the bible but here it seems fitting. In proverbs 26:4-5 it reads… “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes”. Basically, don’t answer to a fool, like the old man’s behaviours, for if I do, then I become like him. He becomes conceited and ‘wise’ in his own ways (in his own mind), and I’ll feel like a dumbass. Instead, answer to the fool by refusing to be drawn into his foolish ways. Or, just don’t answer to the fool at all. Choose your battles wisely.
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”
Very well written Jen!
Thanks cuz!!