Learn To See Things Differently
Most often, when we are stuck, it is because we are limited by our own vision of things.
This concept is a recurring theme in many of my blogs, just in other words. For many of us, once we learn something, we become attached to the method and to the result of that acquired knowledge. We become duped into thinking that knowledge is truth and that knowledge is forever.
If that’s how you think, I’m sorry to have to burst your bubble. A good deal of what you learned and believed is not true or real. It may have been true and real when you learned it; but today is a different day and a different time. You are free to cling to the past. Many people cling to the past because it is comfortable.
A world of constant change and uncertainty can be maddening.
Do you remember when people thought the Earth was flat?
Do you remember when people thought the Sun revolved around the Earth?
Do you remember when people believed smoking had no serious health consequences?
Do you remember when people of color were property?
Do you remember when it was foolish to think that man could fly?
Your first computer (more than 5 years old) is practically useless.
Last year’s TV is obsolete.
Those 8 Track Tapes?
Is it possible that some of your current beliefs may only be convenient for today?
If you were to see the scrabble board differently, what would it look like?
On Monday afternoons I frequent a scrabble club that draws 30+ people each week. Most of the players are seniors. Most of the players are casual players; they come to socialize and enjoy some cookies while playing with words. They play words like ‘house’, ‘family’, ‘fireman’, and ‘hope’. If I play ‘dhuti’ I am chided and suddenly unwelcome. They know what they know, and they don’t want to be pressured to know any more than that; these are their golden years and reserved for comfort without challenge.
They live in a world where less than 5% of the words in the dictionary make up their total knowledge, as if the other 95% doesn’t even exist.
There are one or two persons in that Monday set of players who are different. One 92 year young women just published another of her books and is already writing another. An 88 year old gentleman is developing his skill at using the clock and studying some of the word stems.
There are only a few, a small 2%, who are willing to imagine and see things differently. The two-percenters are the ones who took us to the moon, developed nuclear power, and can squeeze 100 miles out of a gallon of gasoline.
A lesser player will look at the rack ‘A’ ‘E’ ‘E’ ‘I’ ‘N’ ‘S’ ‘T’ and play ‘eat’ or ‘site’ or ‘stain’ for 6 – 12 points.
Another player who took the time to learn ‘satine’ + ‘e’ will see things differently and play the word ‘etesian’ and earn a 50 point bonus.
It all depends on how you look at things.
Are You Looking?