My Chosen Corner of Crazy

Intent vs. Impact

I find more and more as I write here in my blog that I see myself pontificating, or waxing poetic. I don't know why that is. I think that this outlet for me has become a place where I can put my ideas on life and people out into the ether. I think that I do this hoping that it will resonate with someone, or help someone, or maybe just make them think for a few moments.

Sometimes I wonder, am I really doing this for someone else? Am I really hoping to be of use? What is the real reason that I choose these topics? Could it be that I am hiding my true intentions, even from my self? To these questions I have no answers, but I hope that by thinking of them and honestly questioning my own intentions I am weeding these other reasons out of my thoughts.

I believe that while what we do is important, what is paramount is the intention behind it. This is and easily agreeable sentiment, but think in those special cloudy situations. Everyone has had someone lie to them, steal from them, or hurt them. Life is being affected by others, and their actions. What I am saying is that even if they hurt you, even if they do something horrible, can you still just judge the situation based on their intent? Can we ever really know their true intentions? In those situations I can not say I have the answers. In our everyday life though I have seen how this is true.

Who hasn't had a son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchild suddenly spout a curse word? Often we tell them these are bad words and that they shouldn't use them, or that they should say something else instead. Is the issue the word though? Sure we don't want them cursing it is not appropriate in most situations, but the intent behind the word is the real issue. Changing the language to "gosh darn it" doesn't change the meaning, sentiment, or intention. This superficial change is often all that we care about, not the deeper meaning of how to properly deal with things like anger, pain, or disappointment. If intention is truly what matters, if we are to be judged base not on circumstances, but on intent, then an already difficult task of teaching a child how to deal with pain becomes that much harder.