Open Minded and Enlightened

The idea of conversation is an equal exchange of information or opinions between two people. It isn’t necessary for the two people to share the same thoughts, in fact if they both agree it will be a very short conversation. I have always believed that if someone disagrees with you, they are generally a close-minded, ignorant boor; but if they agree with your opinion, they are open-minded and enlightened. That may not be true, but it is often the case.

There was a time when I enjoyed a good conversation more than anything else. Well, with those open-minded and enlightened people who were my friends back when I thought it possible to change the world. I don’t meet enough new people now to have stimulating discussions and the people I do meet will either share my beliefs or we have long since decided that certain subjects just aren’t worth talking to each other about for the sake of our friendship of course.

To tell you the truth, my mind isn’t as flexible as it once was. I can still see where the other person is coming from but I don’t see how they can be so wrong and not be aware of how wrong they are. I will often have trouble getting my point across to them, as they seem to be stuck on their point and just refuse to acknowledge that they are wrong and I am right. I used to believe that there was no wrong or right, but I was wrong because I am right.

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I am becoming one of those people that I don’t like talking to. I will be in the middle of a conversation with the other person making points and all I’m thinking about is the response I am going to make. I will often miss most of what is being said because I have to concentrate on my gem of wisdom or it will fade away like smoke in the wind. I find myself wanting to interrupt in the middle of a sentence and say “Yeah…yeah…yeah, that’s fine, but I have been sick for most of the winter!” It doesn’t matter that we initially were talking about the missing Malaysian airplane, but somehow I needed to blurt this out.

I hope that this is just a symptom of S.A.D. (Seasonal affective disorder), but somehow it seems I may be stuck like this. It would be nice if it was a lack of warmth and sunshine, but I suspect I am becoming a person that will wander down the streets spewing insane opinions about anything and everything. Maybe I need a few million milligrams of vitamin C, E and D.

Maybe I should get out and talk to some new people, but only those who are open minded and enlightened.