Not as sweetie sweet as yesterday's
Ok, so no more flowers, birds, or countdown references today. I just really liked seeing that one on Kelly's blog, so I took the idea for mine own. Today, though, on this dark and stormy day in the Megalopolis, I share some thoughts on discussion. What I mean, is, I was involved in a discussion last night with a few good friends (on a porch over some beer) and I really appreciated it. I appreciated the content (government, church involvement therein, and things of this nature), but I also appreciated my sort of evolving understanding of opinions and how discussions work.
By nature I am a somewhat non-confrontational person (I'm being generous with myself in that comment) so I am, by that nature, led to feel sometimes that discussions/arguments = fighting, which is untrue. Sometimes going back and forth in an argument doesn't always feel comfortable, but its OK, because if you just push through the argument, and all involved parties are generally respecful of each other, you come out having learned something, and the discomfort rarely lingers, but in fact often serves to both make me feel better about my opinions and be more positively connected with the others involved (who would've thought).
Also, I've learned in the past few months about the practice of asserting one's opinions in discussion or argument, but at the same time not holding those opinions too tightly. Again, not something that comes naturally to me. I've learned not to necessarily worry about that opinion getting shot down, because I'll be the better person if it does, for the most part. (If the other parties involved are not terribly obtuse, or known by the name Sauron.) But, its a simple but difficult lesson, because there is humility involved. And I must give credit to Sam for helping me develop this, mostly by loving me and wanting to hear my thoughts, regardless of their lack of succinct-ness, what a dear. Good thing I'm marrying him.
So, to sum up, I think many people, myself included, could stand to get their opinions out there more often, but with the attitude of wanting them critiqued and changed. And, I guess on the other side, we should critique others in such a way that helps them want to get their opinions out there. Thus, we all move toward more clear thoughts, better understanding of truth, etc. Those are my thoughts on that for today. Man, its really coming down out there.
By nature I am a somewhat non-confrontational person (I'm being generous with myself in that comment) so I am, by that nature, led to feel sometimes that discussions/arguments = fighting, which is untrue. Sometimes going back and forth in an argument doesn't always feel comfortable, but its OK, because if you just push through the argument, and all involved parties are generally respecful of each other, you come out having learned something, and the discomfort rarely lingers, but in fact often serves to both make me feel better about my opinions and be more positively connected with the others involved (who would've thought).
Also, I've learned in the past few months about the practice of asserting one's opinions in discussion or argument, but at the same time not holding those opinions too tightly. Again, not something that comes naturally to me. I've learned not to necessarily worry about that opinion getting shot down, because I'll be the better person if it does, for the most part. (If the other parties involved are not terribly obtuse, or known by the name Sauron.) But, its a simple but difficult lesson, because there is humility involved. And I must give credit to Sam for helping me develop this, mostly by loving me and wanting to hear my thoughts, regardless of their lack of succinct-ness, what a dear. Good thing I'm marrying him.
So, to sum up, I think many people, myself included, could stand to get their opinions out there more often, but with the attitude of wanting them critiqued and changed. And, I guess on the other side, we should critique others in such a way that helps them want to get their opinions out there. Thus, we all move toward more clear thoughts, better understanding of truth, etc. Those are my thoughts on that for today. Man, its really coming down out there.
posted by Laura Negus at 8:59 AM
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