You. At the grocery. At your workout club. On the golf course. At your son’s school, your daughter’s soccer
Wherever you are — or were — think about that thing you overheard. Or that juicy little tidbit Suzy swore was true because John told her and Matt told him and, well, you know… it had to be true because why else would Matt have said it.
Uh‑huh. Right.
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
We forget that. Constantly.
When you’re driving down the highway and some guy cuts you off without signaling, speeds away, and doesn’t even glance back — you swear at him, call him names, assume he’s a major jackass. But maybe he just got a phone call from the hospital. Maybe the love of his life is in a coma. Maybe he’s racing toward the worst moment of his existence.
We don’t know. We never know.
If I could go back, the thing I’d start doing earlier is this: Stop assuming the story. Start allowing the possibility.
Because what if — for one day — we could see the truth behind every action, every circumstance, every situation? Would we treat each other differently if we understood the whole picture? Would we?
If I had a vial of truth serum, I wouldn’t waste it on politicians or mysteries or answers I think I need. What would be the point? Life is a lovely, enigmatic thing, and I’m finally learning to let people be complex, to let situations be bigger than my perspective, and to let myself be wrong sometimes.
Now… if you find me a vial filled with aqua de vita from the Fountain of Youth, that’s a whole different story. That one I could use.
Cover image created with Google AI … maybe I should ask “him/her” to make me a vial of aqua de vita.
If this spoke to you, be sure to “like” and share it over social with someone who’d appreciate the flavor …
DISCLAIMER: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic advice. Also, I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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