The Blog Less Traveled

Back in July of 2008 I had written an article about tattoos. It discussed why I had a change of heart on my perception of people who got tattooed. I think I’d like to expand on that idea a little bit more.

Over the years, I’ve formed many opinions on a variety of subjects. Whether it relates to politics, religion, relationships, etc., I have a definite view on what I think is the correct conclusion to draw based on the facts presented. In all honesty, I would have to categorize myself as a bit judgmental. As you get older, I think you have a wealth of experience to draw on. Some might call that wisdom. But that “wisdom” can sometimes be misleading or at least give you a false sense of righteousness. I’m not saying that basing conclusions on past experiences is faulty. On the contrary, experiences, good and bad, are valid barometers on which to base conclusions. However, I think as we get older, we tend to think we’ve seen and heard it all. Our opinions tend to get cast in stone and there’s little anyone can say or do that will change it. Basically, our preconceived notions cause us to rush to judgment. I can honestly say that I’ve been guilty of this on occasion so I’m definitely not throwing any stones from my glass house. I’ve been critical of people and some of the choices they’ve made. On further reflection, some of my opinions may have been too harsh. Just because you have experiences to draw from doesn’t mean they’re enough to form the correct opinion or make the right judgment. You might not have as complete of a picture for the given situation as you think. Sometimes there’s a lot more information that you’re not privy to or maybe the other person is not willing to share that information with you at the moment.

So there you have it. I think I need to do a little more reflecting on occasion or at least make a more earnest attempt to see the other person’s viewpoint. I need to listen more. Some things just aren’t as cut-and-dried as you think they are.