From outside the box

It's always a risk to try something new, propose a new idea, or suggest anything that goes against the status quo. But aren't we lucky that there have been folks throughout history who have done just that. They have always been the bold few among the masses who did not listen to smaller minds. These innovators, scientists, authors, artists, adventurers, explorers, inventors, musicians, philosophers, and new age thinkers were not swayed by the closed minded masses who did not have the capacity to understand their vision. Had it not been for those bold visionaries who were not swayed by ridicule and harassment, we would still be living in the dark ages.

And the thing is, even though we understand history and what many of these individuals (progressives) endured to enlighten and advance the world, we still continue to ridicule new ideas just because we don't understand them or because they threaten to change the established "truth" that we are comfortable with. As the saying goes, you can't put a 10 pound idea in a 5 pound brain. But isn't it funny how 5 pound brains eventually accept the results of the 10 pound ideas once they are proven or after the finished product has won mainstream acceptance. They have to accept them at this point or they would be the ones who stand outside of the mainstream or status quo and that is a place that closed minded thinkers are not comfortable being in.

It is a fact that when you approach a new idea, try out a new theory, or test a whole new way of doing something, you are going to be wrong sometimes, you make mistakes, you get lost, and you hit walls. A true visionary is never discouraged by failure, but rather encouraged to try a different approach. Sooner or later they get it right or sometimes their just plain wrong and they never figure it out. Sometimes they take an idea so far and then it's left to somebody else later on to carry it further. The 5 pound folks are always quick to jump on the failures of the visionaries with their "I told you so" mentality because they do not have the vision to see what possibilities lie behind the failures plus it is very important for them to be vindicated so they can continue to justify their own lack of vision and limited imagination.

Mainstream thinkers are victims of their own illusions. They say that they are open to progress and new ideas, and in a way, they are. Their illusion is this.... they do not realize that they are really only open to the progress and ideas that are within the perimeters of what already is mainstream acceptable i.e. advancements in cancer research, new types of televisions, new wireless technologies, etc. But when it comes to areas that require a philosophical or spiritual change of view, they draw the line, that is until the unthinkable becomes the thinkable. For example....40 years ago yoga, meditation, herbal nutrition, hypnotherapy, and chiropractic healing were considered new age boloney, but now that they have proven themselves, they are mainstream acceptable. So the question is, were the ones who pioneered these areas 40 years ago kooks because they were defined as kooks or was it the ones doing the defining who were in reality defining themselves as reality challenged, denigrating, play it safe, sightless simpletons who lacked imagination and vision. They walk among us still.

So before we ridicule things like quantum physics and string theory that postulates that there is nothing solid in the universe and that intelligence may be permeating the whole fabric of existence, or reincarnation, plant consciousness, water crystals, flying saucers, multi dimensions of reality, tree huggers, auras, the healing (as well as the destructive) power of harmonics and vibrations, animal intelligence, psychics healers, astral projection, plant fairies, or anything else that threatens our comfort zone of reality, it might do us some good to remember that there was a time when much of what is now known or accepted as truth was just as far out an idea as many of these things are today.

And here's the thing....a lot of new age and progressive ideas may, in time, prove to be a bunch of crap. But we don't know what we don't know, therefore we shouldn't be too quick to ridicule something just because it challenges our set beliefs. Just as the Greek mathematician Erotosthenes knew and was able to prove the earth was round over 2,200 years ago, there are those among us now, as there always was and always will be, who understand things that many of us believe to be absurd. That is, until the absurd becomes the acceptable, thanks to those who have the vision, fortitude, and courage to manifest the absurd into mainstream acceptable realities.

One last point....Timothy Leary was a visionary when he said 40 years ago that the whole world should get high on drugs, but his vision proved to be wrong. Al Gore has a vision about global warming. George Bush has a vision about Iraq. Visions need to stand the test of time. I may one day eat crow over my belief in global warming or my stance against the war in Iraq. I honestly hope I do. I want to be wrong about global warming and I want some good to come from the war in Iraq. My views of today, like anybody who has a view or a vision, may prove to be sightless and dimwitted in some areas, and visionary in others. I try to keep an open mind. However, I speak out vehemently against the war because George Bush's vision involves other people dying, not to protect our country, but to promote his own agenda which seems to change every few months. Visions and agendas cannot be justified when other people have to die for them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food.