It’s all Greek

Have you ever wished you could peer inside the mind of someone and find out what exactly they were thinking? Whoa! I am proud to say that I can easily afford the luxury of jumping to confusions because it’s all Greek to me. The best writers have enlightened me that I am not alone being confused. It’s like being caught up in a match and have no clue of the rules. But why, why can’t we mortals just say what we mean? Life would be easy if people always precisely said what they meant instead of having fun confusing others with their little white lies. Owing to the fact that there are consequences for speaking out, most of us don’t know how to say what we mean and sometimes mean what we say.

In school, students are afraid of reacting to what teachers say. Children are afraid to speak out to parents who react negatively. In romantic relationships, people are concerned about fairing well and modify their expressions of feelings accordingly. An employee refrains from being assertive in order to avoid conflicts. Friends lie in order to be polite. Telling the truth is simply hard because we are taught to be nice to people. People who speak their heart could be looked upon as a problem. We don’t want the collateral drama that unfolds when we speak the truth. Do we?

At workplaces, it’s all Greek because people may say only what you want to hear and not what you need to. It’s either fear of ramifications or fear of misperception. Engaging fellow people to be outspoken can fill the gaps.

As a parent, communicating well with children is imperative to development. Knowing all the specifics about a child’s life such as preschool scenes, fears, talents and suchlike can seem all Greek. Knowing the ways to naturally communicate with your child takes many a moon. Respond to your child with genuine emotion. Let them speak and build up emotional proficiency. Ask for your child’s ideas and give your directions. Trust me kids these days are articulate beyond our comprehension. Warm and gentle language helps moderate the confusion hitherto. In his book ‘The Pleasures of Life’ John Lubbock says “Our great mistake in education is, as it seems to me, the worship of book-learning–the confusion of instruction and education. We strain the memory instead of cultivating the mind. The children in our elementary schools are wearied by the mechanical act of writing, and the interminable intricacies of spelling; they are oppressed by columns of dates, by lists of kings and places, which convey no definite idea to their minds, and have no near relation to their daily wants and occupations; while in our public schools the same unfortunate results are produced by the weary monotony of Latin and Greek grammar. We ought to follow exactly the opposite course with children–to give them a wholesome variety of mental food, and endeavour to cultivate their tastes, rather than to fill their minds with dry facts. The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. What does it matter if the pupil know a little more or a little less? A boy who leaves school knowing much, but hating his lessons, will soon have forgotten almost all he ever learned; while another who had acquired a thirst for knowledge, even if he had learned little, would soon teach himself more than the first ever knew.” Need I say more?

In social or romantic relationships, the drama breeds on confusion and interferes with the ability to get along. Much misery comes from things left unsaid. The madness starts when you convince your heart about something that your mind knows is untrue. It’s pretty confusing. Isn’t it? But I feel awakening comes from every confusion. One possible remedy is to sit together and unravel the misunderstandings. However honest you can be, it doesn’t stop you from being misunderstood. If you feel the emotion of love for someone, let them know. Just be appreciative of the wondrous feeling and make merry that such a wonder should exist. If you don’t feel the emotion of love for someone, don’t insinuate it. Set the record straight and never live a lie. I know it’s not easy because words and reality are two different things.

Human beings are well known for their ever changing mind. Words can confuse others as well as ourselves. While shopping, we want to pick a thing but end up buying something entirely different. At work, we may make a verbal commitment but don’t follow through. At restaurants, we waver constantly while ordering. Fleeting thoughts about our own selves and others can occasionally make our lives miserable. I guess, a dialogue brings less confusion than a monologue. At the end of the day, any human bond that makes us thrive and reaffirms our existence is good enough for me. As long as you have someone to turn to, count yourself lucky. And it’s not exactly going to be Greek, all human languages have the facility to confuse each other. But cordially confuse each other in a lower degree with your whimsical language. God willing, rope in elements such as love, care, affinity, affection, encouragement, and companionship.

Now that I have scrupulously confused you, let me wrap up with a quote by Julia Woodman “The world is full of confusion and contradiction. We cannot expect to do anything that is absolutely right. We can only measure rightness by the truth within ourselves. And our own truth will never be quite the same as somebody else’s. I wish that I could touch you and be sure that it was the right thing to do. I only want to touch you briefly. Just once so that you will know. We are flesh and blood and full of faults. But we are also full of warmth. The world is full of confusion but there is compassion in its midst. Communication via simple touch can transmit so much of us in just one minute. Like a painting or a piece of music. I want to touch your soul. I only wish I could be sure it was the right thing to do”.

Before I take leave, farewell!