Presidents

“Neither believe nor reject any thing because any other person, or description of persons have rejected or believed it. Your own reason is the only oracle given you by heaven.” – Thomas Jefferson

One of my pet peeves is when someone tries for force their opinion on me. I like to look at, research – if I want – information and then make my own decisions. I don’t want someone to put their spin on things or interpret something in such a way that it would seem stupid to disagree with them, anymore than I like someone taking my choices away.

If you truly care about someone then don’t blind side them with tainted opinions. If you respect someone then respect their right to make up their own mind about things.

My parents taught me to think for myself, to take the time to consider things from different angles, to think about the consequences, and ask question and seek different perspectives. I am thankful for the time they took to teach me to reason and think things through for myself.

Mentors, parents, teachers, managers, friends, when you take the choices and options away from the people you are around – who does it benefit, you or them? You might avoid an argument, or make things go faster, but if you don’t let that person work through things for themselves or be fully informed of the situation, then they won’t be able to handle the real crisis’ life loves to throw in the mix at some point. We all learn by experience.

Be kind to yourself, it’s not your responsibility to rescue every person. Be kind to others and trust that they will figure out what is best for them.

Cherry Coley (c)