"Well, most folks seem to think they're right and you're wrong..."
"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect or their opinions," said Atticus, "but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
That's from "To Kill a Mockingbird," a book I just finished. Surprising, given the fact that I'm an English major and never read it. But it came highly recommended by a respected source (thanks, Mary). That seems to be up a lot right now - opinions, and how to express them respectfully. I got an e-mail from a reader of my column, and she had some pretty strong things to challenge me on. We're currently in an ongoing dialogue about this whole process, and it's fascinating to me. She said that every column felt like it came from a place of love, but this one didn't. She felt that I was attacking her husband, so upon further thought, I suggested that maybe it was because she thought I was attacking her husband that she felt this current column wasn't coming from love. We are all definitely affected by our perspectives and personal issues. They are the lens through which we view the world. If we've been hurt by a dog, then we may see all dogs as vicious, even if they're wagging their tails.
I feel so fabulously great this morning - I walked 6000 steps over at the Arena, then bought my usual decaf skinny latte, and added my own sucanat to keep the chemical content down (it still has the decaf chemicals, but that's better than a racing heart and shaking hands). The sun is shining warmly (even though it's below zero), and again, I'm totally inexplicably happy AND energetic (which I am not always). I washed my book (yes, stuck it in the laundry basket and dumped the whole thing into the washer), so I won't be reading "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy anymore. Bummer - maybe the library has it. It's simply beautiful so far - I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read - it's my passion. Along with cooking - my root vegetable soup awaits, so I go. Life is deeper, more real, and increasingly more fabulous each day, no matter what actually HAPPENS - it simply is the best thing going for me right now - my life.
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1 comment:
Hello again Susie, (I do realize that I still have problems spelling your name... I had a roomate named Suzie with a z.)
Opinions are a challenging thing. I have been trying to seperate my emotional way of being from my opinions (and it is far from easy). I realize that it's incredibly important to be passionate about my convictions, but to let the fact that I do not agree with another person dictate how I feel about them would limit my ability to connect with them.
We have so much to learn from eachother. Some people have the virtue of patience, others have the abilty to get things done efficiently. These may seem like opposites, but I can appreciate both sides ...and I think that both sides of MANY ways of being (or opinions) are important for growth.
Maybe when we can love or appreciate even a person who has offended us we are coming closer to our true nature than ever before. Enough of this seperation, I support the unity that happens when we all step back and see the bigger picture (and I'm pretty sure that's exactly what you're getting at.)
Love and light Susie, thanks for sharing your world with us.
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