some messages are timeless

Today I received an email from the Daily Inspirational, which oddly arrives weekly, and one inspirational quote immediately grabbed my attention over the others. There were several about speaking your truth or how life begins in this moment and at this point, but the following quote seemed more poignant than the others for me....at least it did today...in this moment....at this point.


"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."


It made me realize how much time and energy we waste tiptoeing around someone else's feelings. Not that I'm saying we should discount the feelings of others or disregard the sting of our words, but simply that we often avoid our own truth by giving more power to the thoughts and opinions of others. I know many people who could take that quote literally and use it quite indifferently. My sister used to say "the truth hurts"...always when she was jabbing at someone else, never when she was the one getting jabbed. That's typical for most of us. We have one set of values and morals for how we want to be treated and another for how we dish it out. We also have a tendency to adhere to things I like to call "temporary truths". Some of these "truths" are driven by society while others develop from our own inexperienced lives. Both my parents can remember when their world was filled with "whites only" signs at lunch counters, in public bathrooms or buses. Segregation was a truth driven by society and accepted by most... minorities were labeled as inferior, disease-ridden and unteachable. Even those who felt uncomfortable with the concept would rarely buck the system. But now, that "temporary truth" seems impossible to believe for my generation who never experienced such a ridiculous lie. The bible talks of how a man should treat his concubines and slaves or how women are unclean during menstruation and should be separated from the family...both temporary truths that wouldn't fly in today's world.


The world was flat...until it wasn't. The sun revolved around the earth...until it didn't. Cigarette smoking was good for you...until it killed you. Landanum was heralded as a medical remedy for sleeplessness, diarrhea and nervous disorders..Landanum...is...opium...is...heroin...is hydrocodone...is one of the fastest growing addiction this world has very seen. Eat eggs...don't eat eggs. Oatmeal- yeah..or not so much. 


It seems these temporary truths are addictive in themselves. We have a tendency to accept them without question but in hindsight, dismiss them as ridiculous. Why then, do we give such merit to something that will most likely be proven wrong in our own lifetimes? Why do we grasp so tightly to these false truths while overlooking and ignoring the timeless ones?


The quote listed above is a timeless one. It was written long before I was born yet it's message is as relevant today as when it was first quoted.It will never be considered a temporary truth. And do you want to know the thing about it that I find most funny? It wasn't written by Confucius, the Buddha or the Dalai Lama. Not even Deepak Chopra or Dr Phil. The wisest words of all were written by Dr. Seuss! Admired as an author of whimsical children's books, Dr Seuss offered the most poignant advise to anyone willing to sift through his lyrical rhymes for their hidden messages. Did he do the world a disservice by burying his wisdom in fanciful phrases and pink fuzzy trees? Maybe. Or did his message reach his intended audience...those who look deeper than the surface, who are fascinated by what lies between the lines? Hopefully. Either way, his wisdom runs deep...here are a few more examples of his work....


"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the 
one who'll decide where to go...”


“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”


"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”


“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” 


"Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.”


“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”


“You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”