I don’t know who has noticed the comment on my post “Who am I really avoiding?” but it sure has me thinking. Actually, a few things have me thinking – specifically about opinions.
an opinion:
1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
Everybody has an opinion. Last week, due to the opinion of a person, I was reminded that I don’t have to be friends with everybody and their brother on Facebook – I can pick and chose the people on my friends list. But I posted a status that was fishing for opinions, and that is exactly what I got. Agree or disagree, like it or not, but that’s what I wanted.
I was also faced with an unsolicited opinion on FB, that made me wonder why I’m even on FB.
I’m noticing that every one has an opinion (who knew?) – and sometimes I agree, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I want to hear it, and sometimes I don’t.
You know the hardest opinions to hear, for me anyway, are the ones from the people that are close to me, and who are allowed to give their opinion freely, at any time? These opinions are often the ones that can hurt the most, no matter how intentionally or unintentionally.
And some opinions are so far from the truth that they can leave a person scratching their head in wonder, and broken hearted inside. I know, because a very negative, false opinion of me was shared recently, and cost me a role that I apparently had vested too much of identity in. I am struggling with what I want, what is truly possible, and what is best for my family. And I’m having a hard time making my points in the debates – maybe because I am having a hard time truly seeing them myself.
I can’t just blame the sea of people around me for having an opinion, because when it comes right down to it, I am just as opinionated as the next guy. And some of my opinions are ones I can keep quiet about and let others share their opinion and never think twice about it. But some of my opinions are important to me, and I can debate them heatedly, or get quietly frustrated when I’m not being heard or understood.
No matter what, we all have an opinion, and my opinion on this subject is this:
Sometimes it is best to hold my tongue and let another person express their opinion, no matter how much I agree or disagree, because in the end, some of the strongest opinions are just not that important in the grand scheme of things. And sometimes, no amount of arguing will help another person see how important my opinion is to me, so I think it’s better to keep the peace in the majority of situations.
What’s your opinion about opinions?
Regina Walker 