The Lesson of Consciousness

 

 

Out of the Ghomeshi scandal comes a scathing indictment of laissez-faire society:

 

 

And who among us doesn’t have some thinking to do? What exactly are we afraid of? What is that we dread to lose, that is more important than someone else’s dignity? More important than our own dignity? How weak and fragile are we, how needy that we would rather close our eyes to what we can plainly see, than look and speak? How cowardly must we be, to survive?

 

We are all afraid of things. Fear can be our friend – that’s why you run from a tiger, after all. When my daughter has been afraid – of a sport or a spotlight or a test or embarrassment (a common risk of adolescence), I have told her this:  “You can’t be brave if you’re not afraid.”  Unless you know there is a potential loss – unless you see the risk but are prepared to take it, in order to do or be what you want – unless you can feel the fear in your bones but still do what you have to do, you can’t call yourself courageous.

 

To feel fear but act anyway.  To feel desire, but withhold.  To year to react, but to be patient.

 

Such is the stuff of consciousness. 

 

It's a lesson I'm happy to spread around - I'm selfish that way.