Bliss

Ignorance is bliss. Not paying attention can leave you unaware, and therefore happy. I know many people make that decision on purpose: to stay away from the news of currents events, to use their time in other ways.

Many young adults are pretty busy with new jobs, and new marriages, and children, and just keeping a household together. So, they really do not often have the time to delve in to political and social needs of where they live. They rely, blissfully, on those who came before them, or who now do have time, to keep the country from turning upside down.

Young people also don’t want to get into debates on issues they think should not be debate-able anyways. Racism. Gender equality. Sexual identification. Religion. They say: “Come on, aren’t we over it by now?” Live your life. Stop judging others.

One of the things I have learned as I am now in the second half of my life, and I have more time to learn more is this: It’s harder to be blissful. In some ways it should be easier, right? No more worries about raising children, and hopefully not as many financial worries. Okay – Health issues overtake those early life problems I suppose.

But, knowing more… reading more, watching news channels more, and just thinking more, can lead to losing the ability to be ignorant and therefore blissful.

Later in life, we sense the clock ticking and we know the time we die is not that long away. So, putting ‘knowing more’ with lack of time, and wanting to improve the world for our children and our children’s children… it can be daunting! It can make days challenging. It can make time precious.

My hubby used to say the Kenny Chesney song “Don’t Blink” will be us. The lyrics tell of an old man, at 102, giving advice on life… his answer: don’t blink, because just like that your babies grow, and then they will turn in to moms and dads, next thing you know your better half of fifty years is lying in the bed, and you’re praying God takes you instead.

The lyrics continue: so I have been trying to slow it down, I’ve been trying to take it in… in this ‘here today, gone tomorrow world we live in…. so, don’t blink. Life goes faster than you think. Don’t blink.

Yes, it goes fast, and along the way we learn, and worry, and get nervous about running out of time. As Kenny sings: when your hourglass runs out of sand, you can’t flip it over and start again. We need to use what we have learned for sure. We need to use our lives to the end. Find a purpose. Make a better change… but, also…

Don’t blink – and find the bliss!