This episode is a little different. The story shared was written by my father Ron D. Kingsley who is a clinical and school psychologist. After listening to the episode I would invite you to share your take away at [email protected] I will share your take away on the next follow up episode and perhaps, your thoughts shared, might be of help to others. All names will remain anonymous.
Thank you
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It’s interesting how in life we can easily perceive ourselves being the blind man victimized by the judgement of others. The story is a bit too short and doesn’t go into the various permutations or combinations possible.
While it’s easy to see how others might be quick to cast judgement in the hopes to curve, shape, and modify behavior “Why did you eat the poisoned sandwich you “Idiot”? The example of the story is a relatively bad one (with all due respect to your Dad) because it ins’t 100% illustrative to how real life works… although it would certainly apply to certain scenarios.
The answers to the one observing the scenario practically mislead the obvious intent of the person answering the question. Granted there might be some scenarios where incomplete answers may be given.
I have a daughter struggling through depression, whenever things don’t go her way a suicide tantrum ensues. This is extremely hurtful as parents as we can no longer provide discipline or corrective feedback least the “Idiot” actually goes and carries out the threat to kill oneself. Please note my daughter is extremely intelligent, yet her depression can temporarily render her with the emotional intelligence of that of an “Idiot”.
I may sound harsh when attributing her idiocy, it’s true that she can’t see the world, herself, and her options clearly when the depressed state is triggered. But just like the blind man eating a poison sandwich doesn’t know any better in which he continually gets sick or even dies those of who know which options are poison can also not be held responsible for being continually present for the individual to ensure proper choices are made.
I suppose we are to just let people get sick or even die. When possible, we should avoid people killing themselves and help them get better through their illness, but this can overburden the otherwise healthy individual. After children are legally adults, continually helping them to avoid harmful choices is too exhausting.
The whole scenario sounds way too dramatic, and for my daughter’s case I hope her mental health reaches a point where she no longer requires of our assistance. Even though, those of us with relatively good mental health can at times make wrong choices and the last thing we need is someone chastising ourselves or calling ourselves “idiots”.
Note the word “idiot”, may never be employed but the end result may very well be leaving someone feeling like an idiot by the well intended correcting actions of and by others. Life is to precarious, and perhaps the best thing we can do is to acknowledge that we are just “idiots” doing the best we can.