Is
ignorance really bliss?
Yes.
End of blog.
Seriously
though… is it? The righteous, ever curious side of me shouts “Of course not!” Always
gather as much information as you possibly can to make well informed decisions.
Intense recon (for me that means “googling” and/or asking my Daddy) is critical!
If you don’t, you’ll end up looking like a fool and oh my gosh I hate that.
BUT,
sometimes you are joyfully trotting along (dare I say… blissfully trotting along) when you encounter information that
brings your whistling peppy step to an abrupt halt leaving you falling flat on
your happy little face. You pick yourself up and try to merrily continue, but
your step has lost its pep and your whistle sounds more like a funeral hymn. You
speak differently, you act differently, and you even think differently. Ignorance is sounding pretty darn good right
about now...
The
problem is, unknowing something is not an option just as unsaying something is
not an option. In real life there are no “backsies,” eternal sunshine of the spotless
mind or that handy little blinky tool from “Men in Black.” Once it hits your
ears, your brilliant mind is already getting to work decoding that information
to let you know how you should respond, how you should act, how you should feel… Ooh so wise, right? So now knowing
this information, all you have to do is be completely careful and intentional
of what you say and do (and pray everyone else in your life is too) and just accurately
convey exactly what you mean all the time… Easy, right?
Of
course not.
Because
we all make mistakes. A LOT of mistakes. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes
not, sometimes they’re big mistakes, sometimes they’re small ones. Sometimes we
say and do things that hurt people, even (or especially) the people we care
about the most, and sometimes we hurt ourselves. Sometimes we know exactly what
to do to fix it… Sometimes we don’t. Ignorance can certainly shelter us from a
lot of painful situations that life throws at us. So is there a point when ignorance
is no longer an option? Yes…
When we know better.
Making
mistakes is fine, it’s normal, it’s even human…
But if we aren’t learning from our mistakes; if we are intentionally ignorant
of the opportunity to grow and learn from the faulty choices we make, then we are
choosing the path of a fool. And I
don’t know about you, but I am foolish enough on accident without choosing to
be one.
So…
Is ignorance bliss? Eh, sometimes… but I’d much rather aim for bliss without the ignorant part.
