Vault 07.16.2010 - Open-Mindedness

Today, while checking in books at the library, my co-workers and I got into a discussion about open-mindedness. "What does it mean to be open-minded?" asked Stephanie, one of our Library clerks. I admit, I describe myself on occasion as an open-minded person. I think many people describe themselves to be open-minded as pertains to their religious, political, social or other views on life. But what does that really mean, to be "open-minded?" The question has been nagging me all day, and it's only noon.

I guess the simplest way for me to describe how I view the world is with an encompassing practicality. There is nothing political in my body that innately makes me open-minded. Governments are the first to let us down, as each of you know, because they are comprised of fallible humans. They are comprised of people, like you and me. Nor is their anything innately religious in my body that makes me open-minded. I was raised Baptist-Christian, attended Catholic high-school, and was advised against religion in college (although, I admit, I still go to church - I love to sing the hymns). But again, this is human intervention in my life. Every day, I realize, that though I may not ascribe to any of the above, these are all still my words, and still my feelings. We are all connected - we are all all mortal.

The practicality of which I speak is a personal experience. It is my willingness to listen, and to learn, for the sake of bettering myself. When we listen to our peers - our fellow thinking and feeling humans - we hear the mortal side of every story. We can then empathize, and feel with them. I think we tend to forget that our time here on Earth is only temporary, so I try to stress the importance of really understanding the mortal essence of every problem, and of every joy.

Each and every one of us is affected by our government, each and every one of us is affected by the people we interact with on a daily basis. My best advice, for anyone, is to listen to those people - they feel, think, hear, touch, taste and smell just like you. Learn from them, take their thoughts and feelings into consideration, and make your decisions wisely. Every decision we make affects not only our minds, but also affects our feelings, our bodies, and the minds, feelings, and bodies of our neighbors. Who are we to cast judgment on our neighbors, us mortals? We are casting judgment on ourselves, just as well.

On the topic of open-mindedness, I really loved one of the quotes I took from a story I wrote yesterday about the Chris Silkwood and John Ross Palmer Exhibit at The Nave Museum here in Victoria. Dave Green, a local resident, really captivated me with what he said about how he appreciates art - his visual predisposition toward any art, anywhere, anytime.

"It's really neat to see somebody else's impression of life and beauty - to see it how they see it," said Green. "That is to be enjoyed."

That, indeed, is to be enjoyed. Thank you for those beautiful words of practicality.

Speaking of practicality, does anyone else find a little humor in this note I saw today hanging at a stop sign in my neighborhood?



Wait, if the phone is GPS tracked, then shouldn't it be found already? I know it's not really that funny, but seriously. I do know what it's like losing irreplaceable data. I think I'll circulate this on the advocate website to see if we can't find the thing. No questions asked ;)

-P