bona fides

  I read where a blog is supposed to be centered upon one topic, one area of expertise. I don't have that. I make no claims either publicly or privately to being an expert on anything. I have always had just a passing interest in things. Now, I have lingered longer over some things than I have others and so I would say gained more knowledge than the average person in that area. I just have never become fascinated or fixated on one thing. But it is a funny thing really, I write and post these blogs of mine, I share my thoughts and opinions on Facebook and sometimes get called a know it all. Someone that knows it all is apparently a very bad thing. I guess that is why you go to college and get those degrees, in that way having the proof that you don't know it all, but you do know whatever it is that you studied. Then you can compare that to what others in your field know and see who is the smartest one. Me, I'm not in the contest. 

  It's a common enough phrase, you hear people use it all the time when they are trying to avoid an argument, or trying to hide something, "that's all I know." I have used that phrase many times myself. I find I use it mostly when I just don't want to talk about the subject anymore. That's all I know about that. It's nonjudgmental and noncommittal. You could be right or wrong, I don't know. When I offer my opinion however I might get called a know it all. Well, the truth is there are some things that is all I want to know about that. No matter how many facts you present I'm not interested in learning anything more about whatever it is. I think of that as, having made up my mind. My philosophy in life is a simple one, you have to decide, make up your mind, and act upon that. And yes, some decisions are final. 

  I know, I know we should never stop learning. I can't argue with that, there is certainly something new to learn every single day of our lives. What you need to understand however, is that learning doesn't always mean agreeing with you. It doesn't matter how many advanced degrees you may hold, how many years of experience you have, or how long you have been doing whatever it is, you really don't know it all. You don't know anything until you have learned the lesson. I've known lots of people that just haven't leaned the lesson, although they can recite the textbook verbatim. With some folks the more information they receive, the more confused and indecisive they become.

 I do think we are all born with some innate abilities. Some of us will discover and develop those abilities while others will not. Seems to me the bigger challenge is in getting others to recognize your ability. That's the reason for your "bona fides" as they used to call all of that. It's the proof. We tend to think of that today as certificates, licenses, permits, deeds or whatever but the original meaning of "bona fides" was your honest intentions, your integrity, your word or bond. The proof was in the pudding, as the saying goes. The original version of that proverb was, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The meaning there being, that's all the evidence you need to present. Just let the person eat the pudding. They can then decide for themselves. It really doesn't make any difference if you like the pudding or not. 

 Well, that's all I know. I'm hoping to learn some more today, and tomorrow, and then I'll share that with you. You know you can learn things that simply reenforce and bolster what you already know. It is new information to you, it may or may not be new to someone else. Personally I find it comforting and reassuring when that happens. What I mean is learning something new about a subject that just validates what you have already determined. The only frustrating thing about that is you can't go around telling others, I told you so. That's when you will get called a know it all. Thing is, I don't know it all but I know enough. Enough to know better anyway. What's better for me may not be the best for you. And that, that's your problem, not mine. That's true even if what is better for me isn't the best that it could be. It's what I have decided upon that counts.