Sunday, October 2, 2011

What if?

                                                                                                                                 Photo by David Ralph Johnson


Each day I learn more than I teach:
I learn that half knowledge of another's life
Leads to false judgement;
I learn that there is a surprising kinship
     In human nature;
I learn that it is a wise father who knows his son;
I learn that what we expect we get;
I learn that there's more good than evil
     in this world;
That age is a question of spirit;
That youth is the best of life
No matter how numerous it's years;
I learn how much there is to learn.

             ~ Virginia Church

Do you ever think about the "what ifs" in life? 
What if she really didn't mean what I think she meant? What if he has that look on his face because he's tired? What if that person looking at me from across the room just thinks they might know me? What if that friend didn't call because she was busy caring for someone...maybe even herself? What if the car that just cut me off honestly had no idea I was there?
So often, we think we know. We attach thoughts, ideas, reasons, emotions and energy to things that we think we know. But do we, really?

What if, just for today, we assume we don't know? Maybe even, assume the best, not the worst? 

Holding onto the idea
 that no matter my age, 
today, 
I will learn how much there is to learn.


2 comments:

deb aka murphthesurf said...

I find that when I keep my mouth closed, I learn so much more in general. I am learning, the older I get, to also turn off the negative thoughts that can so often infiltrate the mind. That one is more difficult but slowly and surely I am finding ways to do it! And yes, we all have sooo much to learn :-)

Theresa said...

For me, it's not so much about turning those negative thoughts "off" as much as realizing that they probably don't even exist in the first place! I always ask myself...how do I really know? Am I sure? Almost without fail...I don't! So, I might as well think the best and save myself the suffering! Oh my...we ALL have so much to learn!!