Some people use the word ignorant as an insult.
\nAnd if it is used related to an area about which you are knowledgeable, it could be taken as an insult.
\nBut the truth is, I’m ignorant.
\nYou’re ignorant.
\nEverybody on earth is ignorant.
\nAbout more things than you can mention.
\nThere is so much to know, you cannot know it all.
\nYou can never not be ignorant about something.
\nThe intelligent thing is to decide what you need to know and what you don’t need to know.
\nTo identify about what things you can afford to be ignorant, and what you can’t.
\nTo make a conscious decision to “not know” certain things.
\nAnd to make an effort to acquire the knowledge and knowhow that you decide is important for your survival.
\nAnd that has to be different for everyone.
\nAnd different at different times in your life.
\nFor instance at present I can safely “not know” how to show a horse.
\nBut don’t advise that to someone who keeps horses.
\nNow some of the “I should know that” topics are pretty common to all of us.
\nHow to take care of a body.
\nHow to manage oneself.
\nHow to focus and persist.
\nHow to relax and unwind.
\nHow to resist the urge to be dishonest or unethical.
\nHow to spot who you can trust and who you can’t.
\nHow to spot a person who would lead you astray and how to decline their manipulations and stay out of trouble.
\nHow to build the courage to do what is right regardless of how uncomfortable it is.
\nHow to communicate appropriately to others.
\nHow to understand our fellow man.
\nHow to maintain our liking for our fellow man despite all invitations to not do so.
\nHow to earn enough to provide for ourselves and our family.
\nI guess this train of thought came about because my purpose in life is to understand.
\nSo I could quite happily spend all day reading and sharing with people what I learned.
\nBut there are other things to be done.
\nA dog to be walked.
\nMeals to be prepared.
\nA body to be exercised.
\nGroceries to be fetched.
\nBills to be paid.
\nA living to be earned.
\nAnd because there are only so many hours in the day that force one to prioritise one’s time, if we are to be maximally effective we need to prioritise our learning.
\nTo be continued… …but in the mean time… …start to compile a list of what subjects, topics and areas of life you personally wish to know more about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Some people use the word ignorant as an insult. And if it is used related to an area about which you are knowledgeable, it could be taken as an insult. But the truth is, I’m ignorant. You’re ignorant. Everybody on earth is ignorant. About more things than you can mention. There is so much to … <\/p>\n