Two Cents Worth
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Why?
To help you stay young and vibrant you have to be curious. Doing new things and learning new things helps your mind stay active and alert.
I have always been curious and why is my favourite question. I want to understand what motivates people to behave in certain ways or to comprehend the reason they take certain actions. I also feel the need to make sure others understand my motivation so I explain my reasons for any action I take.
If it doesn’t make sense to me I question. Over the years I have seen the same look of desperation in the eye of my parents, teachers, bosses and a few friends, when I continue to question long after they felt their explanations should have been enough. My Mom would quickly say, “Because I said so,” to many of my whys. Teachers and bosses would shudder and tell me to not worry about it and get back to work. Friends have been known to say in exasperation, “It’s just Linda.”
That inquisitiveness has not waned over the years so mentally I should still be a teenager, right?
Details are something else that I feel are important. I don’t like to assume anything but it seems many of the younger generations seem to go on assumption rather than facts or details. They seem to think everyone should just automatically know or it’s not important.
Recently, Morgan was setting up an appointment. Being me, I told him to explain he works midnights and sleeps most of the day so he needed to have a late afternoon time. This seemed important information so the other side of the arrangement would be considerate in accepting his needs. What does he do? Without any explanation he just states he wants a late afternoon time. To me it is difficult for people to understand his motivation if he doesn’t explain his reasons for the request. When I mentioned it to him he just looked at me like I was nuts.
Before I do anything I need to know the details. How long it will take; who all is going; when are we leaving; is there a cost involved; when are we expected back; what’s the plan if it rains; what’s everyone wearing; will we be eating out or taking a lunch? You know, all the relevant information. None of this seems to be of interest to some of today’s youth.
Statements like, “Don’t worry about it,” or “I took care of it,” or “I’m not sure,” are acceptable responses to questions and are inherently interpreted differently by the one talking and the one listening.
A while back Morgan found himself stuck at an event a long way from home, with people he would rather not be with, without enough money and no way to get home. All of the issues could have been prevented if he had just asked more questions and not accepted vague answers.
Asking too many questions may be annoying but it’s much preferred to finding yourself in an uncomfortable predicament. Do you think he learned his lesson?