As I get older, I am beginning to question some of my long-held beliefs and feelings about different things in life and society. For example, in the past I felt a particular way about certain issues and would never have even thought to consider feeling differently. However, with age comes a new type of wisdom–the realization that everything you think you know and believe was taught to you by someone else. In most cases, you were never told why such and such was perceived to be a certain way; you just accepted that it was. It doesn’t mean that what we were taught is necessarily wrong, but I have found that I want to believe something because I personally believe it to be so.

One interesting note is that I feel less prejudiced when I allow myself to determine how I actually feel about an issue or person. It’s causing me to do a lot of thinking and rethinking. While it is sometimes frustrating going through this process, I know that I will be satisfied with my results because I am taking the time to think for myself.

If you’re like me, you may not have actually thought very much during your lifetime. Instead, you have reacted and behaved as taught. Again, I want to emphasize that this doesn’t mean you are less of a person or that what you have been doing is wrong. That’s not necessarily the case. But wouldn’t you like to know that your opinions and beliefs are ones that you actually believe in because you’ve researched and thought about them yourself? Once you start thinking for yourself, you open up a whole new horizon of living. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.