Shallow Minds ...

Ignorance is bliss ...

Ralph Waldo Emerson taught us, "The unexamined life isn't worth living."  Does that mean people who exhaust themselves, over-thinking every issue, may actually be doing something useful?   No, that's not what it means at all.

If Emerson had known idiots like me would be coming along behind him, he'd have said, "The unexamined life isn't worth living, so examine yours carefully, but for God's sake don't over-do things!" 

As the years tumbled past me, kaleideoscope fashion, I often said, "By the time I figure out how to live this life, it'll be over."

I thought I was joking.  

Turns out I was serious.

Today, I have a million bits of trivia, concerning a thousand moments of foolishness, stored neatly in my brain.   I've also retained a few serious facts about things that really mattered ... but only a few.   So, when the books are balanced it becomes painfully clear that I'm not much smarter now than when I started my journey eight decades ago.   

One surprising thing I did discover along the way is that there are only two kinds of people in the world ... Shallow and deep.   "Just right" doesn't exist outside the Three Little Bears story book.

Shallow people seldom know they're shallow.  They go merrily about their days, filled with enornous pride each time they pass a mirror, believing their good looks are tremendous assets, capable of opening any door they wish to enter.

They seek the kind of happiness that comes only from external sources and they place the greatest value on material possessions.  Big houses ... expensive cars ... smart clothes ... exotic vacations to far-a-way places.

Shallow people have smug attitudes.  They feel superior to the rest of us because they maintain positive attitudes through all weathers.

They smile a lot.

Of course they smile a lot.   They have no thoughts serious enough to cause a frown.  Shallow people are nothing more than vacant shells with plastic smiles and empty heads.

The lower their intellect the higher their happiness level.   That's where the old saying comes from ...

"Ignorance is Bliss." 

Some days I almost envy them.



email:  MelindaGerner@yahoo.com