The Perceived Truth.

People, including you and I, will hold steadfast to what they believe.

Let's all take a moment to pause as we look a little deeper. There is a heightened sense of anxiety and fear we are all living in, whether you choose to admit it or not. While I freely admit this new fear is present around and even within me, I will also commit steadfast to my increasing faith and conscious contact with my Higher Power that this fear only has as much energy as I choose to allow it.

The truth in any particular subject (Evolution, Deep State theories, Democrats vs Republicans, climate change, what color the scoop of ice cream popping out of the top of your cone is...you name it, you get it) is a compilation of a person's perception, comprehension, upbringing, experiences, exposure, their develop(ing) beliefs and values, and life events. These factors and more build their (our) perception/opinion of what is real and what is fiction. Is it universal, or should we look at it more through the lens of flexible interpretation?  Put another way: what is truth and what is a lie? Sounds more dramatic & so much more damning putting it that way, doesn't it?

I came to know a man who informed and vividly shaped my concept of this over 20 years ago. Many, perhaps even most of the things he said and truly believed were actually falsehoods. Not merely concepts, but situations and events that clearly happened one way. Black & white, open & shut case, done deal. This man would profess with vehement conviction that it was indeed not to be. His reality was so askew that it was in direct conflict with what was happening before the eyes of those surrounding him, witnessing the same scene. Simply put, it was in direct conflict before the eyes of anyone else. Quite literally, his beliefs and proclamation of those beliefs were 180 degrees from reality, yet he believed it, TRULY believed it, with all his heart. This concept led me to recall a thief's fable (yeah I just named it that) being:

"If you believe in ANYthing fervently enough, even a complete and utter lie, it becomes YOUR truth. No evidence is needed, none whatsoever, only your belief. This was the concept that repeated itself around me so often with this person (at the time a character in my lifes' story) that it became a regular occurrence. So now that I know (years later) and to a point have come to (begrudgingly) accept this, I have come to see it happen with others over the years with more frequency. I look more closely for it, and it appears.

These people (let's not forget this includes you and I, natch), will cling to the concept of reality and the false truth that they themselves fabricated. This is no fault of their (our) own. This is how they are. THEIR (our) history, THEIR (our) experiences, THEIR (our) journey, up until this very moment. My (our) job, as a friend, as an acquaintance, family member, as a fellow empathetic and compassionate human...is to acknowledge it, then either engage, or "let that shit go." Forget fb posts and messages, LawdKnows we've had enough debates on there since it's inception, let alone since March of 2020. Even a face to face debate or a phone conversation will almost always prove fruitless. To try to dig into why that person believes what they do (especially in direct proportion to how their beliefs differ from ours) is psychological suicide. Why try to look for diamonds in a coal mine? Let that shit go. Many times I've caught them in their lie. Equally as many times that persons' reality has remained unchanged; so why bother? Gather all the facts you want, present them as evidence. It will change nothing in them, in their opinion nor in their perception.

What about my (OUR) children? Well, maybe there is a chance with some. Maybe not. Mine, I will try because it is my job as their father to help them identify and understand the truth. They will in turn develop their own truths, hopefully being as close to the unfiltered reality as possible. Does MY truth not have it's origins in reality and fact, just like any rational human I call my brother, my friend? If you think that's a trick question, you're right. Touché.

The fear, angst, and guilt that has mounted over the trauma of a mother whose son was stricken with autism after being given a vaccination is without comprehension to me. It is this guilt, fear, anger, and ~100 other emotions that drive this mother to believe in what she believes in, to do what she does. Informing others of her truth (which she, rightfully, believes to be THE universal truth) has become one of her life's missions. I must respect her for it, applaud her efforts, and acknowledge that her path is different than mine, leading her to believe the way she does. If it moves me to action, or to some form of active empathy, I will lead with my heart. If, however, her truth does not match mine, well...then I must let that shit go.

I do hope this essay has offered some perspective, and perhaps with it the ability to grow, heal and move forward with more peace and grace in each of our own lives.
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Namaste.