So far 2010 has been pretty challenging, but through it all I've come to realize that ignorance is not bliss- it's scary. As humans, I think we tend to imagine the worst when faced with something we know very little about simply because we don't know any better. Then we base our reactions on our assumptions, which only makes things worse. It's part of that "fear of the unknown" thing. So what's the answer? Get educated.
It doesn't matter what the issue is - finances, drugs, health, laws, war, you name it - there is a way to make the scariness go away. You will always be able to find someone who knows more on the subject than you, especially with the technology today. Fifty years ago things like Google and Wikipedia didn't exist so learning about something took a bit more effort, but today you can find answers in fifteen minutes. Now I'm not saying that Google can solve all your problems, and certainly not in fifteen minutes, but I am saying that it can ease some of your fears. Knowing (not imagining) what to expect and being able to develop a plan of attack puts you in control. You end up merely taking a detour instead of being completely off the road - in the forest at night without a map.
Maybe the saying should be changed to "Denial is bliss." If you pretend that something isn't happening then maybe you can go on living a happy life. At least until the problem becomes so big that you are forced to face it. One way or another, eventually you will have to face it. You can't run away from your problems forever. Life just doesn't work that way.
The fact of the matter is that life is going to give you challenges. You need to decide what you are going to do in response- ignore it, fear it, or take control of it. Personally, I'm tired of living in fear. Its time to take control so that I can live a life of bliss - genuine, educated bliss.
