If we didn't ask questions

Human nature makes many people inquisitive.  From childhood, we ask our parents why the sun shines, why it rains or why it snows. We ask why its time for bed or why we must get up and go to school. We ask why we must finish the food on our plates when we'd rather not. We ask why we have to try to go to the toilet before a trip or why we can't stop when we're 'almost there.' We ask why we can't have something someone else already does, why we're treated differently than a sibling.

And, later in life? During adolescence, we ask our friends why someone does or doesn't like us, why someone does or doesn't wish to be our date for a dance. We ask prospective employers why they won't hire us or why we can't get paid more for babysitting overtime. We ask why we didn't make a sports team or the cheerleading squad. We ask why we can't extend curfew, go to sleep later and grow up faster.

Later still, as adults, many people ask why they don't experience the fruits of their labor or why the car happens to run out of gas on the side of the highway. People also ask why they can't seem to meet prince (or princess) charming, or the right people in the right places. They also ask why they had to end up in their conditions, why they couldn't be blessed with a different 'lot' in life. Older people ask why they they can't look and feel younger. Sick people ask why can't they just die to end their illness or, find another way to put themselves painlessly out of their misery.

If we didn't ask questions at all, if we became content where we are, doing whatever we're doing, then, what would happen? We wouldn't be asking why, but we could be grateful to just be. We could rethink the value of 'here and now.'

Comments

[Jenny]

I don't have much to say except this is a great post! I was starting to wonder where you were going with it as all the "why" questions in life start to wear me out, got to the end and had to smile. You are a smart woman Liara. :)

[Liara Covert]

Its useful to examine the reasons we ask questions at all. We can often learn from our underlying motivations. To feel satisfied or not with aspects of your life, behavior, perception, or anything else, is sending your internal messages. How will you decode them? Apparent dissatisfaction reveals a lot about who we really are.

[Mark]

I agree that the situational "whys" are a distraction from appreciation of the present moment. But there are some whys which I think are worth answering. And how, what, where, when, etc. Without asking why we'd miss one big part of the puzzle which is a greater understanding of the universe. And for those who value knowledge, the suggestion that they not ask why is almost incomprehensible.

You mentioned dissatisfaction. All those "whys" you posed reflect a dissatisfaction with the current situation. It is possible to ask why from a place of satisfaction.

[Liara Covert]

Good points Mark. At the end of the posting, I focus on the issue of not asking any questions at all. Some people figure curiosity isn't all its cracked up to be. Those same people don't assume there's more to life than they know. They're content just as they are.