The Scales

I think what truly makes us human is the fact that what our brain tells us to do is right, we can't ever follow because our heart may disagree. And sometimes it's the heart that tells us to do something right, but our brain is following a different logic entirely.

You see, if we could just get our minds to meet our hearts in a common middle ground where everything can be agreed on, I believe we would have superhumans. We would still make mistakes, and although that makes us very human in itself, it is that pull of logic and the pull of our feelings that causes our species agony.

Why bother making decisions in life? The thrill of surprise can come from external sources, it doesn't always have to come from within. Although I am sure that the benefits are there, right now I am not in the mood to care.

I wish we could all just do whatever the hell we want.

Wouldn't it be nice not to follow rules? Or care about following rules? You see, that's the difference. We all have a conscience, but I think it's just our brains and our hearts finally meeting head to heart in a clash of ideas. One usually wants something on a factual basis (our brains) and the other wants something on a emotionally spiritual basis (our heart). They are like two morons with nothing better to do but watch out for our welfare, yet never come to a satisfying conclusion.

Well maybe sometimes. Sometimes the brain will say, ok fine, just eat another bowl of ice cream just this one time, but don't cry when you feel guilty and fat and I can say 'I told you so!'

And sometimes the heart might say alright, I'll stay home and study on this beautiful day, but don't feel upset when all you did was daydream.

It's like a never ending tango, where some of the most important decisions in your life are based on two sources of uneasiness. Who is to say which is the most correct?

Do something now and regret it later? Do the logical thing and play it safe?

Ahh, the things we humans have to go through. And don't even try throwing in the gut. Your instincts may just be that middle ground that is always correct...but it is like that really smart kid in the back of the class that only speaks when he/she is compelled to do it.

I remember my psychology teacher in high school showed us a very memorable thing. He said, "I'm not trying to be cute--" (I think he was though) "but there is one thing I want you all to remember from this class if you didn't come out with anything else."

He proceeded to move through the motions of a Catholic person who is motioning through the cross. First he pointed to his head, "You don't ever want to listen here." And then he pointed to his, ahem, groin area, "You certainly don't want to ever follow this." His hand went up around his right shoulder, close to his heart, "You should not really follow this." Finally it landed at the stomach, "But you should always follow this...your gut. It is the one place that you can depend on getting you through life."

Interesting piece of advice.