For Today: September 27th

Clever people seem not to feel the natural pleasure of bewilderments, and are always answering questions when the chief relish of life is to go on asking them.

Frank Moore Colby

It has been said that children are the true explorers.  Filled with wonder and curiosity, they set forth each day on a journey of discovery, completely open to the new, asking questions without fear of looking stupid.

In the world of grownups, not knowing is too often regarded as lacking intelligence.  Luckily, one of the first lessons I absorbed in OA was a gut-level understanding that it was OK not to know how to manage my eating, my weight and my life.  Everyone there freely admitted they didn’t know either.  Since that time I have been freed of many old hangups, among them the idea that I should have a fund of information that enables me to answer any and all questions about any and all subjects.  How delightful it is to have a child’s willingness to question, to approach the new without regard for appearances.

For Today:  I want to be free of old patterns that stifle growth.  I treat myself to the pleasure of admitting ignorance and the fun of asking questions.

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Freedom lies in being able to say I Don't Know.  Where did I get the impression that I had to have the answers for everything, all the time?? Isn't THAT a sign of 'cleverness'?  Or a sign of 'intelligence'?  In our society, it seems to be a sign of weakness to say I Don't Know............somehow, human beings are supposed to know everything.

I suppose the need to have All The Answers ties in to the Quest for Perfection that compulsive overeaters insist on putting upon ourselves.

For today, I will stick to my Food Plan as written; I will say I Don't Know at least 3 times, even if I DO have the right answer; and for today, I will force myself to LISTEN instead of speak.