Friday, May 15, 2009

Ignorance IS Bliss

Now don't get yourself all up in a huff. You are probably thinking, "What do you mean 'ignorance is bliss'??? In this day and age with the internet and kids and cells and...and...and... You can't ignore the world. You have to be diligent and listen and read and be current." I totally agree with you. TOTALLY. Give me a second to explain where I'm coming from.

I met a gentleman last evening who is a publisher of a magazine. Do I know anything about publishing? All the jargon and the deadlines and the pressures of that industry's competition and the organization of putting a monthly together and the hierarchy of staff and.... No, I don't. I am ignorant. I sat listening to his presentation realizing that in the time frame he was given I had just been exposed to the mere tip of the iceberg. But I was learning. I was blissfully learning.

My young adult son just had his tonsils removed. Did I know anything about tonsils? Sure, I know they are located in your throat and I had mine extracted when I was five. I was satisfied with that. But do you know what I found out this week? Tonsils get pitted by Mono and Strept. Food settles in those and harden becoming what is known as Concretions or Tonsilliths. You can actually see these white 'pearls' when you look in someone's throat. Did you know they pop out on occasion? Did you know tonsils get warts? Aha! They do indeed. I didn't have any idea. I was ignorant. I blissfully learned.

Flip a coin. On the one side Ignorance gives us the precious opportunity to keep growing, to soak up information and knowledge for ourselves alone or to share with others. Then there is the darker flip side where this chance is shunned, ignored. Even reviled. I urge you to keep your eyes and ears and mind open to absorb all things new. Makes this journey of life much more interesting and makes you more interesting to be around. For instance when you play Trivial Pursuit next time and the question is: What are concretions? You'll know!!! and you can astound your fellow players when you sweep them by casually saying the right answer!! They will be shaking their heads mumbling "how did she know that?"and you will be sitting there smiling ever so sweetly.