Sometimes I know better, but....

Under this posting you will find Lessons Life Taught Me by Regina Brett. I like them, they are thought through and cover most aspects of life, as well as being down to earth and achievable. Only thing is: lessons are something wise being taught, and you may both learn and understand what has been said and done, but it doesn’t mean you instantly embrace it as something you include in your life, or evolve and revolve your personal growth around. I understand that my truth is not quite like everybody else’s, and sometimes the good guidelines you get to lead a good life are not even compatible to your life.

Even though I appreciate how the lessons of old age can enlighten my own being, they don’t always appear very significant to me. Maybe I am just being stubborn and like to make my own mistakes, but still. How my many mistakes might have a negative impact on me, my circle and the world peace in general (always important to want world peace… and to pronounce you really wish for it in the future) is a totally different story.

As I was reading the list of lessons, it struck me how easy it is to find objections. It also struck me how strange it is for me to give in to the urge of objecting to what I deep down, in my heart of hearts, know is right. I refuse to believe I am the only one like that. We like to make our own mistakes, even though others have made the exact same mistakes, or made the same bad choices, and we know for a fact it never has a good outcome. We think we will do better than everybody else. The inherent belief in ourselves that we are in control of ourselves and our lives, is strong. We reject the thought of us being as weak as everybody else.

Another thing about lessons (being a teacher I know this is something which is hard to avoid, but which we all should be aware of and try to avoid) is how they often come across as a big NO. I wish I was better at saying YES.

We don’t like the feeling of someone pointing a finger at us. We want to be individuals; we want to be accepted for who we are even though very few of us dare to stand out and show who we truly are. I don't know why this is, why we pretend to be or act different than the way our instant instinct tells us to be and act... maybe we think we are better people doing so. It's just that it backfires, because all we accomplish is to feel and come across as fake. We can't pretend being someone we are not. Sooner or later we slip up and give ourselves away.

The need to be approved of is really strong!  

I am far from perfect, but it doesn’t mean I am a lost case, and I need for someone to tell me I am both ok and fine the way I am; flaws and everything. Same thing goes for my work, my looks, my taste, my choices…