When and how is it that we - some of us - come to expect to understand everything?
Infants and children don't understand everything they hear and read, and don't particularly mind. They don't expect to understand. Some people never expect to understand. Others do.
For those who do, everything changes. It's hard to go on reading the book, watching the film, joining in the conversation when something's not understood. Not understanding becomes a disruption. Rewind please. Say again.
Deciding that we should understand everything has taken us in a certain direction. Useful, except when it prioritises chopstick-in-the-mouth rationalism over lived experience.
Perhaps a week a year when we let go of trying to understand everything would be handy.
Infants and children don't understand everything they hear and read, and don't particularly mind. They don't expect to understand. Some people never expect to understand. Others do.
For those who do, everything changes. It's hard to go on reading the book, watching the film, joining in the conversation when something's not understood. Not understanding becomes a disruption. Rewind please. Say again.
Deciding that we should understand everything has taken us in a certain direction. Useful, except when it prioritises chopstick-in-the-mouth rationalism over lived experience.
Perhaps a week a year when we let go of trying to understand everything would be handy.
RSS Feed
