History repeats itself…

…they say and it’s true for individuals, families as much as it is true for nations and the world. But why is it that it’s always the bad, stupid stuff that gets repeated and the good stuff has to be built anew over and over again?!

Why is it that everyone knows this and no one does anything?

Why is it that we don’t learn from our and others’ mistakes?

Why is it that even though we fail over and over again, we still think we know the best?

In fact, how is it that, some of us all the time, and all of us some of the time, have the total conviction that we know what’s best for everyone even if we have absolutely no proof of it?

How is it that we learn everything but we never learn to let others speak and to truly listen to them when they do?

Why is it that most mistakes are made and repeated because we can’t talk to each other?

Why is it that despite learning that we don’t really have to be afraid for ourselves or for others (of whatever), we still are and that fear is what locks our lips and closes our ears?

Why is it that we sometimes make the life most difficult for those we love the most and that our life is made difficult by those who love us the most?

Why is it that we assume our title entitles us to automatic respect, when we should full well know the respect needs to be earned?

Why is it that we continue to try to speak to deaf ears?

Why is it that instead of writing this, I can’t just pick up the phone and talk the person who needs to ask these questions to himself before making yet more mistakes of the same kind – the kind that made me / us sad so long and continues to make others sad, too?!

What’s the answer to all this?