If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people happy?
A friend of mine recently met someone. Unfortunately said friend is taken. He looked at me and said "I wish I'd never met her. I wish I didn't know who else was out there. I wish I didn't know there was something better. Ignorance is bliss."
It's an interesting wish - to want only to know what you have vs what you could have. It would help to make the choices along the way easier - more justifiable. It got me thinking though, this doesn't just apply to relationships, it applies to everything. If the vegetarian never has filet mignon does the veggie burger taste that much better? If the Oklahoma girl never goes to Paris, does it make the wide open plains seem blissful? Do the beds at the budget hotel feel like heaven if you've never slept in the 600 thread count sheets at the Ritz? Does the Camaro feel like a sports car if you've never been in a Ferrari? Does the tinder date go as smoothly after you've met a soul mate?
I hold the belief that anyone with a natural curiosity knows there is something amazing out there, even if they haven't experienced it. I've never been on an African safari but know that once I go the zoo won't seem nearly as interesting. That doesn't diminish my childhood trips to see the lions, tigers, and bears - it just takes it to another level. The goal is to maximize something I already enjoy doing.
I've been a vegetarian for 11 years, but in the past 6 months I've eaten meat a handful of times. I was starting to wonder what I was missing, what food pleasures was I denying myself all in the name of sticking with something for the sake of sticking with it. Recently in San Francisco I ate a burger - with bacon on it. HOLY.SHIT. It was amazing - beyond anything I could recall tasting in recent years. Now I don't really have anything to compare it to, however my TC (travel companion) also found it to be phenomenal so I know my taste buds aren't completely desensitized from pleasure. I'm not suddenly going to become a carnivore, however, it's my own rule to be vegetarian and if there's something that looks worthwhile to break it, then I'm sure as hell going too.
I've dated so many different types of people - different in looks, talents, jobs, education level. I'm willing to break my own rules towards my "type" because who knows who I might miss. One of my girlfriends pointed out that when it comes to members of the opposite sex I tend to gamble and gamble big. I've won and lost - and lost in many a cataclysmic fashion. However, I'd rather have battle wounds and emotional scars than be ignorant to the goal. I know what I could have, I know what I want.
There is nothing wrong with the budget motel or the veggie burger. All things serve a purpose. All people are put in our path for a reason. There can be much contentment found on the plains of Oklahoma or on that tinder date. But there is a fine line between contentment and complacency. There is always a risk in veering off of the path you know so well, the one that is safe and comfortable - what if that burger had given me food poisoning? What if you leave your partner and end up alone? (as I did) What if you spend the money to travel to Paris and realize you hate foie gras? (as I did) Most things in my life haven't turned out exactly as I planned, however, I've found that the times I've gambled are when I've met some of my best friends, learned the most, had blissful experiences and ended up with the best stories.....
If you obey all the rules, you miss out on all the fun. Don't be ignorant. Take chances. Go to Paris. Fall in love. Get hurt....
Eat the burger.....
It's an interesting wish - to want only to know what you have vs what you could have. It would help to make the choices along the way easier - more justifiable. It got me thinking though, this doesn't just apply to relationships, it applies to everything. If the vegetarian never has filet mignon does the veggie burger taste that much better? If the Oklahoma girl never goes to Paris, does it make the wide open plains seem blissful? Do the beds at the budget hotel feel like heaven if you've never slept in the 600 thread count sheets at the Ritz? Does the Camaro feel like a sports car if you've never been in a Ferrari? Does the tinder date go as smoothly after you've met a soul mate?
I hold the belief that anyone with a natural curiosity knows there is something amazing out there, even if they haven't experienced it. I've never been on an African safari but know that once I go the zoo won't seem nearly as interesting. That doesn't diminish my childhood trips to see the lions, tigers, and bears - it just takes it to another level. The goal is to maximize something I already enjoy doing.
I've been a vegetarian for 11 years, but in the past 6 months I've eaten meat a handful of times. I was starting to wonder what I was missing, what food pleasures was I denying myself all in the name of sticking with something for the sake of sticking with it. Recently in San Francisco I ate a burger - with bacon on it. HOLY.SHIT. It was amazing - beyond anything I could recall tasting in recent years. Now I don't really have anything to compare it to, however my TC (travel companion) also found it to be phenomenal so I know my taste buds aren't completely desensitized from pleasure. I'm not suddenly going to become a carnivore, however, it's my own rule to be vegetarian and if there's something that looks worthwhile to break it, then I'm sure as hell going too.
I've dated so many different types of people - different in looks, talents, jobs, education level. I'm willing to break my own rules towards my "type" because who knows who I might miss. One of my girlfriends pointed out that when it comes to members of the opposite sex I tend to gamble and gamble big. I've won and lost - and lost in many a cataclysmic fashion. However, I'd rather have battle wounds and emotional scars than be ignorant to the goal. I know what I could have, I know what I want.
There is nothing wrong with the budget motel or the veggie burger. All things serve a purpose. All people are put in our path for a reason. There can be much contentment found on the plains of Oklahoma or on that tinder date. But there is a fine line between contentment and complacency. There is always a risk in veering off of the path you know so well, the one that is safe and comfortable - what if that burger had given me food poisoning? What if you leave your partner and end up alone? (as I did) What if you spend the money to travel to Paris and realize you hate foie gras? (as I did) Most things in my life haven't turned out exactly as I planned, however, I've found that the times I've gambled are when I've met some of my best friends, learned the most, had blissful experiences and ended up with the best stories.....
If you obey all the rules, you miss out on all the fun. Don't be ignorant. Take chances. Go to Paris. Fall in love. Get hurt....
Eat the burger.....