The World of Grandpa Don

A friend asked what part of my web site I wanted him to read. It was a question loaded with humbling thought. Of course, everything I put on these web pages is of interest to me but, ...  not so to everyone else. 

To believe that everything I think, say, or believe in, is interesting to everyone would be not only stupid of me but it would be the epitome of self-centeredness. 

But that is a common fault among us. We develop an attitude of self importance that overrides the rights and privileges of others. When things don't go our way, we become impatient and even hostile. 

We see it in checkout lines, and any place that people need to wait for other people, or wait for any reason. We see it when people do not agree for any reason and to various degrees. In stead of asking ourselves, "How important is it to win this point?", we charge ahead as if every conflict is the one that will change the world, even if it should never have been a conflict in the first place.

The place that this self importance is at it's worse, is when we are driving our cars. It may be that we feel sheltered within the cocoon of the car and feel invulnerable. We also are in command of this powerful vehicle. It responds to our every whim. We are POWERFUL! After all, isn't this what the automakers ads are telling us?

Then some other driver offends us in some way. How can he/she do that? I am Me, the important one. I should be first in line. Lead, follow, or get out of my way! A car comes into my lane too close in front of me. In my self important attitude, I know I was intentionally cut off. Does it occur to me that the other driver just made a dumb mistake? No, I cuss and present a crude sign of my displeasure. If both drivers are of like mind it could escalate and result in deadly "road rage", and too often does.

• Self importance is when an athlete cheats to win because for him to lose would be humiliating.

• Self importance is when a politician slanders an opponent because only he is competent to hold the office.

• Self importance is when a person degrades a fellow worker to gain an advantage for advancement.

• Self importance is when an individual steals because he has a right to get whatever he needs any way he can.

• Self importance is when a person argues with a spouse because he/she puts being right over love.
  Self importance is when we purchase luxuries and don't have money to contribute to our church. God is simply not important in our lives.

• Self importance is when we insist that the other person must apologize first.

• Self importance is when we arrive late or leave early for our convenience, especially at church.

• Self importance is when we expect everyone to agree with our viewpoint and feel affronted when they don't. 

• Self importance is anytime we place ourselves ahead of anyone else for any reason.

 We are never important because we proclaim it. We are as important as others say we are and even then we should question their motives or their correctness. 

How do we see ourselves?

And so, in humility, I placed How to read this web site on the Nuts and Bolts page.

Humility is the virtue that as soon as  you realize you have it, ... you've lost it!.

(Also see Thoughts-Ourselves )

Don Plefka
12/5/02