Sometimes people ask me what I think about something. I used to freely give my opinion and perspective on specific topics if asked. It is true that I blog and post my opinion about things here as well. Most of the stuff I post is therapeutic and I had the perspective that maybe I was helping someone. At work, I definitely lean in heavily like a laser on certain things. I have morals and values assigned from the 1980’s NY American for whatever that means. I guess they are Judeo-Christian (like) values.
What does this mean? Why do you care?
Yeah, I get it, really. Stacey and I were raised to help people. We also have this dynamic installed in us where we sort of want to be left alone. Help but be left alone. That is strange, I think.
It got me thinking about how I feel about other people’s opinions. We are certainly impacted by opinions. Nothing new here to discover but something to talk about. We are living in history repeating itself over and over again. People feel the need to influence and control each other. We don’t truly have rights, we have privileges. We live in a republic, but a very small percentage of people understand what that means.
OK, we live in a Democratic Republic, and we are told that we have individual freedoms enshrined in the constitution and bill of rights. I am not challenging the existence of this doctrine. In fact, I took an oath on multiple occasions to protect these written rights. The key to everything here is the idea of balance. We are supposed to live in a fair society where the government represents the common good of the people in such a way that the common good doesn’t bleed over to individual rights.
I guess that is where I am struggling these days. It feels like smoke is blown in my face no matter where I go. People are pushing their opinions and their personal agenda to the limits.
I am struggling with the idea of imbalance. I am not just talking about political imbalance. I am talking about imbalance in the world. I think the people who were raised to help others are going the way of the dinosaurs. Helpers were silent, quiet and a bit hidden. They didn’t go out and seek praise, they were caught doing something good.
It was act of kindness based on a perspective of service. A personal belief, and opinion. Now, I don’t care much to hear opinions I don’t ask for. I don’t actually care to share my opinion anymore either. I have debated and deliberated ending my blog. I’ve been writing for years now but Sundays are getting harder to keep clean so to speak. I’d rather follow my sisters lead and help without anyone knowing. Keep the light alive and the fire going until whenever. Not sure yet what I will do. For now, I have some thinking and studying to do.
Happy Sunday
I feel you, brother. I went through the same thing myself a number of years ago. I decided that I’d just switch over to answering direct questions on Quora and LinkedIn and otherwise keep my unsolicited opinions to myself. Ironically, when I did blog, the vast majority of the feedback was positive but it was the rare a-hole that would stick with me and make me regret ever putting myself out there.
Now, with people feeling empowered to be brazen sociopaths without repercussions, I can’t even imagine being a blogger or journalist. You need to have a thick skin and, preferably, a good security detail.
It would be a shame to lose your voice, Howie. But, I totally get it. If you do abandon the blog, at least come join us on Quora and LinkedIn. You have a lot to offer and it’s a safer space than the open blogosphere.
How odd. I was actually logged in when I posted that, but it filtered my name. I wasn’t hiding my identity deliberately.
🙂