MORONS AND OXYMORONS

Category: Think 

As we grow older each one of us should acquire one unique skill that is often left underdeveloped -radar for detecting morons and oxymorons in life. It's kind of hard to explain why I think so but will try my best. 

Most of us believe it has been quite easy to detect morons around us but it's not always the case. At least it was not for me. One of the explanations I came up with is that most of your childhood and adolescent life you were most probably the similar moron who in most cases wanted to fit in with other morons in your surrounding. Then in one moment you realize that desire to fit in is one of the stupidest intentions you practiced for quite some time. In fact, this switch from "desire to be part of the mass at all costs" and "not trying to fit in every time" is one of the key differences between developed and underdeveloped mindsets. Or one of the key differentiators between grown ups and ones still-in-development if you want. Here we actually indirectly speak about linking (or not linking) someone's self worth with acceptance in the eyes of others. In the first case you depend/count on in, while in the other case you simply couldn't care less about it. It's an important process to understand that your self worth is generated through various other sources and to realize that "trying to impress others you actually don't care about" is a sort of an oxymoron.

If everything goes according to plan, sooner or later should come a day when you will realize your "yesterday's role models" actually become your "oximorons of today". You suddenly realize what life of grown ups consists of and reminds yourself of true values that actually matter. On the other hand, those who refuse to grow up end up stuck with their "Peter Pan syndrome" or often experience rough reality check at a certain point in life. The tides turn at one moment - morons reveal themselves and turn into oximorons. Here are few illustrative examples:

• from fitting in so nicely they end up as misfits
• they may be bigger but they are actually smaller
• glitter from the outside often masks their hollow inside
• they might be richer but they are actually poorer
• those who were followed ended up as followers
• from you looking up at them, they may end up wanting to be more like you

Harsh reality is that some persons manage to progress through life in more or less natural pace, while some end up stuck somewhere in between certain stages. It's quite natural to lose contact with some of your prior acquaintances, more or less intentionally. Over time you realize that with someone you're simply worlds apart and that due to "irreconcilable differences" you're better off pursuing separate ways.  Some of them you intentionally label as morons. Just to be clear - among those morons there are most probably some great people, but you simply never felt the need to dig deeper and explore it. And vice versa.

As usual, choice where to (or not to) fit in and to what extend is always yours. But before making choices with whom to surround your self with, which stream to follow and which label to stick, be sure to sweep in front of your own door. Consider the costs of fitting in. Be sure your "moron radar" is well maintained and set to right frequency. And don't beat around the Bush :P