As I get older, there are some things that become evident. We, are programmed. We are a product of, among other things, many ingredients, varying experiences, and multiple influences. Sometimes, we have thoughts like, “this person doesn’t look like they are {fill-in-the-blank}” or “they don’t look like they would {blank}” … what does that even mean? As if humanity had uniforms. I’ll circle back; but regardless, it’s become increasingly apparent that age, or the longer one spends on this planet, the more difficult it is to turn the ship, if you will. Let me explain…
So we are living in some crazy, crazy times. There’s this virus, not sure if you’ve heard about it… right? Any whoo… it has given everyone a very real opportunity to observe our fellow humans. Some, panic. And by panic, I mean… PANIC. Others, swing in the polar opposite direction, not out of malice, they are just oblivious. Then… there’s all the other people.
Within, “all the other people” there are degrees, or notches, or levels, of programming that one can observe through behavior. Your local grocery store has become the best place to people watch since we’re all currently on a form of house arrest. We see the diligent, the rude, the kind, the courteous, the selfish, the clean, the dirty, the scared, the irreverent… all of' ‘em on display. But… this post isn’t just about actions, it’s more about what get’s us ticking … what is the “why” behind what we do? Behind how we think. How we react to pandemics. Are you walking the wrong way in the grocery store because you’re an under-cover rebel? Or, are you a permanent resident of your own world, who doesn’t really notice crap on the floor, or people giving you the stink-eye?
I was programmed. I was raised by immigrant parents, grew up in a big city, big Cuban family, and was influenced by multiple generations. All of that contributed into my programming, as did, what I watched on TV, the books I read, what I was exposed to, what was regurgitated to me in the form of stories from both educated people and ignorant people. As I grew, as we all grew, we developed somewhat of a sifter. We eventually, with time, were able to sift through and differentiate between valuable insight and B.S. All of that, though, contributed to how we as individuals were programmed. The younger we were the more non-existent or not-effective our sifters were, allowing for a lot more BS to make its way into our programming. And all that programming… those seeds of thought… they’re all up in us, all-the-time, maybe skewing, or motivating us to act and react and think about things in our own, programmed way.
Our programming is the “why” to a lot of things we do, and to the perspective we have when it comes to each other and to the world. When we think, “oh, they don’t look like they should be … " {a business owner, a parent, a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a police officer, a fire fighter, an executive} where do you think that thought comes from? Who told you that people must look a certain way to make a career choice, or a life choice? Who planted that seed and why haven’t you uprooted it yet?
We all get very upset with each other. There’s an assumption that we should all be so enlightened that we can see the deficiencies in our programmings and uproot them, change them, flip ‘em up, rub ‘em down ooohhh, but it’s not that easy. Some of our crap is so ingrained that not until we’re pushed, do we even know how messed up it is. The challenge from someone, or an event, causes us to look a little further in the “why” we think what we think. AND THAT’S GOOD! There are conversations that need to happen. There are moments in our lives that can, if we let them, turn the ships of our thoughts.
For me, personally, it’s my faith in Christ and my belief in scripture that has been able to reset my programming. My perspective is now shaped by something outside of my upbringing and past experiences; however, do I still feel challenged by prior programming? Of course! It’s my responsibility to dig and challenge myself regarding a perspective (a thought) that may creep in, that doesn’t line up with what I know to be righteous and prudent, and therefore, that requires an internal analysis. My original programming is not always 100% aligned with biblical truths, so for me that’s my push-back, my challenge.
If, we as humans can acknowledge that we each have unique programming, then we can perhaps be a little more malleable when it comes to differing opinions, right? Or, are we existing in a foolishly disguised, enlightened intolerance? I struggle to reconcile the old with the new nature, but… it’s a good struggle to have because it produces growth and real insight.
I lovingly encourage humanity to do the same. Let’s have those weird, uncomfortable discussions grounded in truth and love. We never know where a person is coming from in regards to their thought process until we unpack it a bit. Perhaps what we’ve already written-off as ignorant, just comes from an experience that has never been dissected enough to really allow for the growth, and clarity required. Our varied experiences CAN bring us together if we could simply approach one another as individuals. Individual people, shaped by their unique experiences.
I may think, “woah they don’t look like a librarian” and then, it’s your job to ask, “what does a librarian look like?”… the “why” we do things, “why” we think the way we do, is way more important then what it is, we do.
We are finding ourselves getting closer and closer to a world of constant discord. It’s sad. Just because people cannot see eye-to-eye on every topic, doesn’t mean that those that don’t agree with us aren’t worth our time. We’re getting so quick to discount people with differing opinions, I invite you to ask yourself, “why”. Why do you find it so challenging, so upsetting, to encounter a person with a different perspective than yours? Maybe… you aren’t comfortable unpacking why you think, what you think.
What’s your “why”?