What do we really know?

"Our stories of our own past are heartfelt and yet are fiction. All we know that is true is that we were born. We may know for sure who our parents, siblings, and other key players in our drama were. But our vision of all of them, the meaning and memory that we narrate to all who will listen is our creation. Made up. Fiction." (Block, p. 35) 

What do we really know about our neighbors and friends? I really liked the quote above from the Block text. What we may perceive to be the truth and reality is not what others may believe. People create their own realities, they see what they want to see. Many people choose not to see their flaws. Most memories that people have of their younger years, are altered. That's just the way the human brain works. There have been medical studies done that claim that many of the long term memories that people have, are molded together with different long term memories. Studies say that the memories people have, are often changed. 

Do we really know anyone? The stories told to us by others are what they want us to know about them, or are stories that can benefit us in some way. The way we tell their story, is the way we have perceived those stories. We weren't there when these events happened so therefore, we do not have a first hand account. We don't really know what it's like to be another person, we will never perceive the world the way another person perceives it. A popular philosophical question is, "Do we all see the same color blue?". The color blue that I perceive, may not be the color blue that you perceive. Maybe you perceive my color red. We will never truly know what another person is thinking, perceiving, or feeling. 

Do we really know ourselves? The world that we live in is so fast paced. We hardly have time to think. We have so many deadlines, meetings, classes and jobs. We function for society, we don't focus on ourselves. Once a person starts focusing on themselves, they become scrutinized by society. It's almost unheard of a person missing a day of classes, because they need a "mental day". A person needs to complete their societal duties. For students it means showing up to school prepared and ready to learn. Even the weekends are full of catching up on work that needs to be done. I believe that most people have really lost touch with themselves. People perform that tasks that they do because, someone else has told them to do so. There is always higher authority over someone. Is that what makes community, response to higher authority? 

How can we really know others, if we don't know ourselves? Maybe we need to pay more attention to ourselves, and our wants and needs. Everyone keeps on talking about getting to know their neighbor. Get to know yourself, and introduce yourself to your neighbor! Find your honest self, good AND bad qualities. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Flaws are what makes you, you. 

I believe it is important for educators to really know themselves. Students know when a teacher is being "fake". Before teachers teach, they should know their own strengths and weaknesses. Music students know when their conductors portray "fake" emotions. It's most important to live and act through your soul. If more people lived and acted through there souls, people may know more about each other. It's all about honesty, and how honest we are with ourselves. 

We should all get to know ourselves better.