I've spent years and years of my life trying to figure out my taste in music. And I'm ashamed to admit, I have learned that I am pretty close-minded. I'm not really genre-based or musician-based per se, I just either like a song or I don't. No ifs, ands, or buts. I have no desire to explain why I don't like it, or ponder the deeper meaning of my dislike, I just know that I don't want to listen to it. End of story.
So, in the realm of music, I may be kinda lame in the eyes of others, but I'm happy as a clam when I've got my jams. And really, my lack of ambition to determine the reasons why I like the music that I like and dislike the music that I dislike doesn't negatively impact anyone else. Except when they're stuck in my car and have to listen to me jamming out to "Fat Bottomed Girls", in which case, I preemptively apologize. But not really, because that song rocks. Hard. And something is deeply wrong with you if you don't like it.
However.
In the grand scheme of things, my unwillingness to try to understand why I like/dislike or believe/not believe certain things actually does greatly impact those in my life. That is scary, and no awesome Queen song can fix that. So, I have a responsibility to others to know what I believe and why I believe it.
Why?
Because "I just do" isn't a good enough answer for anything really. Except for maybe "Why do you like that mustard?", which is something I've always felt very personally passionate about. I just do, ok? But big life stuff, like, "Why do you think you should marry her?", "Why do you think you should quit your job and put your finances and your family at risk?", or "Why do you believe in God?". Those are big questions that guide even bigger life choices, and ultimately, impact the grand scheme of your life and the people that are in it. While you may feel tempted to answer with a "I just do" or, the always popular, "I just know", I'm gonna go ahead and throw out a big yellow mental CAUTION sign for you. Why? Because if you're saying those things because it's just easier than arguing over semantics with someone, that's one thing, and I think that's fairly harmless. But, if you're saying those things because deep down you know that you don't know, or worse, you want to live in a state of blissful ignorance - well then, I got news for ya kiddo, you'd better check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.
I'm kinda preachin' at myself here, because this is something that I really struggle with. And it's just so gosh-darn hard! Do I have to? Yes! But I don't wanna! Tough luck bucko.
You need to know what you believe because it guides the way that you live your life. But, you need to know why you believe what you believe because it helps you understand how you look at life (and therefore defines the "what"). If you have the "what" but don't know the "why", the what can be changed with a passing thought. The why provides the foundation for what you believe, and without it, you're like a ship without an anchor. And when you start challenging the "whys", well, that's when life gets really interesting.
So, I guess I have my work cut out for me. While I will never feel the need to know the "why" of my shameful love of great music like N'Sync or 50 Cent, I do need to spend some serious time trying to figure out the "whys" of the bigger beliefs that guide the way that I live my life.
Checkin' before wreckin', that's how we do :) Good luck with all of your whys!
