We all have principles, or at least so it is assumed .Until one day, sooner or later, some principles fail us. We can betray our principles, that’s for sure, but they can fail us, too. Either way, we find ourselves wondering: what the hell is it that I believe in? What sort of life do I want to live?
I personally believe in time as a teacher more than I believe in my own ability to legislate. I may have the best intentions but, however intelligent I could be, who am I kidding? I’m too young. If I were the smartest, wisest, most mature of all the 21 year-olds on the Planet, I would still be ignorant.
Maybe I’m just not a person of principle, if by principle we mean a guideline that is never to be taken back. However, what if it’s not just me who needs to reconsider things? Maybe most principles are simply over-rated. I know my own have been. I’m not saying my principles are wrong, I’m just saying they could be narrow-minded or oversimplified. They could be partially based on fear and misconceptions.
They could also be right, of course. And this is where the actual dilemma lies: would you stick to your old principles fiercely even in lack of trust? Or would you break them and try to prove them wrong? Because I think I might take a chance.
So, from now own, I’ll question those principles and ask myself where the line between wisdom and fear lies. And even if the principles I’m breaking turn out to have been wise rather than cowardly, I’m taking the reckless way, just this once. All I can say is that, if I end up broken, at least I’ll be a little wiser and my principles will be empirical.
