Knee-Jerk Reactions

This may be an unpopular opinion with some of my readers, but I enjoy reading my Harry Potter books. I have ever since I discovered them many years ago. I wasn’t on board though with them until about twelve years after they were published.

Do I agree with the current views the author has stated or things she has said in the past? No. Not at all.

But I still own a collection of books and DVDs that were bought long before she became controversial. I’m not going to trash them because they were mostly bought second hand AND to trash them now would be futile. Any and all monies she made off of me have long been spent. I do however attempt to make a habit to not support any of her future endeavors, but the stories are a part of me now. Their themes are wonderful and inspirational, even if the person who made them seems to no longer hold some of the themes as truths.

There seems to be a culture lately of knee-jerk reactions. There also seems to be a culture of telling other people exactly what to think and feel and do. And the problem with that is it makes people feel exhausted just trying to keep up with all of it. This “all or nothing” knee-jerk reactional culture is quite frankly driving me insane.

I eat at certain restaurants. I shop at certain stores, often because they have certain things I need. I do this because I may not feel as strong a conviction as others do about certain topics or certain items. Simultaneously, there are other establishments I avoid because of my own beliefs. Do I tell others “don’t go here or we’ll never be friends?” No. It’s not my place to decide who spends what money on what, since each one of us has a story to write that is our own.

But one thing I have noticed is this; We cannot say we promote tolerance and acceptance if we bash others for their choices. If we want others to accept us and our ideas, we also must learn to accept theirs. There must be a common ground to start from. We have to be willing to meet people and learn to bridge the gaps that separate us rather than continue to dig the trenches deeper.

Have your convictions but learn to honor those of others, even if you can’t understand them fully. Everyone has differences of opinions. Everyone sees life in ways that don’t equate to your own views. But that is what makes us all human. That’s what makes the world go round and continues this wonderful story called life.

So let’s find a way to stop with the knee-jerks and begin again with the embraces.

For that is part of the magic.

Stay magical.

Write your own story.

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