TROUBLEMAKERS

Chances are, what comes to your mind when you see this word is a person.  Someone who bugs you or seems to make your life difficult. 

I assure you I can very quickly come up with a name or two myself. 

I’m going to flip this a bit.  I was reading about someone who had a friend, a good friend, who challenged his thinking.  He said this friend was not a troublemaker, but he did cause “good trouble.” 

So, what is trouble?  One definition from my trusty dictionary app says it is unrest or disturbance.  Yes, that fits what this person was talking about.  His good friend was causing a disturbance in his thinking or belief about something.

I know a few people who have done that for me.  They’ve said or questioned something that goes against what my thought or feeling was and my initial reaction is usually being uncomfortable.  Probably because there is a part of me that wants to keep a steady grip on that thought or belief and not admit there could be other possibilities.  

Do I think a certain way because that’s what I was taught, do I really believe it and have I ever even asked myself?  I want to explore the other side of me that wants to remain open and not be too afraid to really look at and question my beliefs.  I want to make my own decision.

I’m not suggesting that people quickly change their core values or foundational beliefs when they hear opposing thoughts.  I do believe, however, that not every single thing is black or white.  There is a whole lot of gray in the world. 

I believe we can have a better, kinder world.  The more we can get people to just listen, hear each other’s stories and allow themselves to feel some disturbance, the closer we can get to that world.

Cheers to the good troublemakers.