I believe that the process of maturing is just figuring out what a schmuck I’ve been up to this point.  Poetic? No. Accurate? Well, yeah.

Given how we’re chatting right now, it may surprise you to learn that I’ve never really journaled.  I mean, I did in Ms. Quall’s English class in high school and I did a little when my mother was dying; but, for several reasons, it’s not something I’ve done much of.  One reason is that it’s just dangerous.  What if a journal fell into the wrong hands?  There could be blackmail fodder for years! (Or maybe worse, it could become a best-selling sleep aid.) Another reason is that if I write honestly (and what would be the point to do otherwise), my true innermost thoughts are reflected.  When I have read back over the few journal entries I had before Hurricane Katrina got them all, there was a whole lot of wincing going on.  It was the reading equivalent of watching the qualifying rounds for American Idol – there were a few good thoughts, but a maaaaany more that should have been stopped long before they hit the stage.

Some of those thoughts involve my opinions of other people. My opinions of others are not always sweetness and light – shocking, I know.  I’ll give you a moment to recover.

This week, I had the opportunity to review my attitudes and opinions regarding two people I once knew.  I’ve held solid and not necessarily positive opinions about them for years.  Turns out, my opinions were based on incomplete information.  My opinion was, frankly, wrong for one of them.  For the other, I was right on the money.  Still, it was refreshing and freeing on both counts.  For the one, I was able to begin appreciating the journey and talents of the individual for what they are.  For the other, I was able to see that my intuition is still right, at least some of the time.

Alan Alda said, ” Begin challenging your own assumptions.  Your assumptions are your windows on the world.  Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.”

You know that I’m forever issuing one challenge or another to myself and you just get splattered with them, too.  Well, this week, the splatter is to scrub off a few windows.  Let’s challenge our assumptions about others, ourselves or some sacred cow concept.  Let’s let some new light in and see what happens.

P.S. – Just heard from a friend who was approaching One-derland for the first time in over 20 years…She’s IN!!!!!  Well done!