When my sister and I were kids, every once in awhile, our dad would tell us that we could have ice cream before dinner if we could give him three good reasons why doing so was a good idea. I can’t remember what age we were or what three reasons won out, but at some point, we presented a strong enough rationale to talk him into it. Little did I know at the time that I would turn those tables on myself for the rest of my life.
Both a blessing and a curse, I’ve now become very well practised in the art of looking for (and evaluating) a rationale for almost anything that I want or don’t want. I’ve talked myself in and out of where to live and work as much as how to live and think. I suppose that’s something we all do — look for reasons to justify thoughts, words, actions, feelings. It can get a little tricky, though, if you’re willing to really investigate. If I ask myself the question — “Why do I want (or not want) to say this, do this, think this, feel this?” — uncovering the answer(s) can require more than I expect.
That, right there, is the sound of the tables turning … because sometimes, I can’t come up with three good reasons, a sound rationale, a defensible position, no matter how much I want or don’t want to say, do, think, feel … something.
Drat.
And it all started with a little ice cream before dinner.
a few words ... from Montréal 