Kept in the Dark

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"It is possible peacefully to separate yourself from the dysfunctional collective whose message is that we are helpless and must accept the world as it is, that we are powerless to change it or our own lives."  

 

Catherine Ann Jones

Writing As Healing

 

 

There was a rather lengthy article I was sifting through the other day.  A person was being criticized for being present with Democrats, but then again received the same criticism when appearing with Republicans.  In the article, the man was expressing his right to be seen with a variety of people without necessarily identifying with their belief system.  He also expressed his practice in choosing individuals for their character and his own desire to make a statement to others.

 

We all have opinions and they do not always align with our loved ones, community, or organizations.  It is vitally important for us to listen to what others believe.  Then we have the choice of disregarding or embracing the information.  We are not always allowed an outlet to do this. 

 

Writing provides an outlet for the writer holding the pen, to express the self uncensored.  It may even take a little time of digging around inside to discover what is actually important to you.  It is necessary to challenge our own thoughts to understand where they come from.

 

Belief systems are passed down through families.  Many are just accepted without any inquiry as to how the belief was developed.  Grandparents often say, "That's just the way we always did it."  Is that really enough? 

 

Two of my favorite falsehoods were told to me by my mother.  I began to doubt her lack of reasoning and blatantly began running my own experiments.  One of her favorites was, "Never wash your hair when you are menstruating."  In high school, I had very long hair that required daily washing, with or without my period.  The second favorite was, "Don't go out with your hair wet.  You will catch pneumonia."  These favorites began my questioning of oh so many things.  Laughing was not acceptable, I so began the habit of storing my thoughts inside.  This is fine except when these thoughts are not ever harvested.  The seeds of thought will not thrive if kept in the dark.

 

In the past, women especially were ignored and not revered for important input.  I can somewhat understand especially when I remember the common directive:  "Don't sit on the sidewalk or you will get hemorrhoids!"  Thankfully, education, respect, honor, and freedom of speech have increased the wisdom of women.  It is our right to do our own thinking and it helps to express it in private writing when personal input is not well received.  Be in tune with inner thoughts and recognize the power within.  We have the right to question.