Mmm Mondays, Longing
Will You Devour Life or Nibble With The Crowd?
Devouring. Longing. Yearning…
Looking for the one
The feeling of longing is extremely strong when you want a person. Yearning for only them. Nobody else will do.
Oh, yes I have experienced that sense of longing a couple of times in my life. The funny thing is I am not sure if I would recommend it.
It can really suck you in, chew you up until you are a wreck. Changed. Not who you were.
The last time this happened to me was with my partner. We couldn’t be together due to my commitments so for a while I literally pined for him. But then I had to become stronger than this huge feeling taking me over. I had to put my head first and push my heart aside for sanity’s sake.
Eventually the time came where I had space to let the longing return and quenched it by spending wonderful times with him. The rest is history. So now even though I desire him I do not have the same sense of longing. He is here with me. I am with him. That makes me content. Story over. But no… there is so much more to longing.
Yearning For Clarity
This type of longing isn’t necessarily so all encompassing. But it is crucial. To know what you long for in your own life as a whole. Or what you yearn for in the world. And feel a sense of clarity. These are important concepts.
Over the last 10 years this has changed greatly for me. My union with my partner has afforded me time to reflect. Time to grow, think clearly and recognise there are things I long for on a wider scale. These are massive. Out of my grasp. But still I can long for them.
Open Minds
I long for people to open their minds and look around. To believe in themselves and not follow the crowd. To question what they are told rather than being all accepting of anything an apparent authority tells them.
I am not after anarchy but I long for many to take off their blinkers and be brave. This means exploring ideas that may actually be out of their comfort zone — causing cognitive dissonance:
This is triggered by the person’s original belief clashing with new information. The individual tries to find a way to resolve the contradiction to reduce their mental discomfort.
But cognitive dissonance isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can prompt you to make positive changes when you realise your beliefs and actions are at odds to more insightful facts that you have analysed.
However, it can be problematic if it leads you to justify your original views so as not to have to evolve, and move on, in a different direction.
I long for people to use their cognitive dissonance to evolve and learn more about an opposing topic or viewpoint.
Silence is golden
I wish people would turn off the TV now and then, put their devices away and sit and contemplate. Listen to silence and let their minds quieten and find focus. By doing this they may find a way not to be so manipulated by others or brainwashed by powers.
The lockdowns have had a positive effect on some. Those who have learned that walking in wide open spaces, and breathing in air oxygenated by age-old trees is beneficial to their mental and physical health. That’s a good thing.
Individuals
Atticus Finch — a character in To Kill A Mocking Bird — says,
“A Person is Smart, People are Dumb”
It is incredible how poignant this 1930s book is even today. Atticus explains that in a group anonymity exists and so accountability disappears, and ‘mob-mentality’ ensues, leading to people (the group) becoming dumb.
I think differing opinions are healthy, but I long for people to own their opinions because they have researched that topic, or it is their personal-experienced view point — rather than listening to the herd, and taking on the leader of the pack’s school of thought.
Many will use groupthink, as a way to define themselves.
I long for people to stop feeling scared of being an individual. I understand the need to ‘belong’ but be an active member, not a door mat.
I wish that anyone making a decision would take responsibility for their actions first rather than putting themselves over as the victim — and therefore undervaluing real victims.
Stand Up
Lastly — life is short — once in a while it is important to risk rather than remain safe. Often by doing this a person can grow and gain so much. By sitting back they may be left with long term regrets.
I long for people to see that life is to be lived standing, running — not sitting on the couch…
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Another Mmm Monday story from May More 💜 Tales
and one from Marsha Adams
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