14. Not making a Choice IS a Choice

Earlier today, I asked my husband what he would like to eat for dinner, and gave him a few choices. His response was … you decide and surprise me. This happens often. It could mean that he likes everything I cook (not likely!) or that he could not be bothered to make yet another decision. This made me aware that not making a choice IS a choice in itself – It’s just taking a passive option.

I wonder what this could mean in our lives. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to choose, when we don’t know enough, to make a judgement. When we are little, our parents or elders make choices for us, because our capacity for critical thinking may not have been developed enough to enable us to make beneficial choices. However, as we grow older, with education, life experiences and hardships, we soon develop our preferences. When I was younger I made my choices based on knowing what I disliked rather than knowing what I actively preferred. A few years ago, I wanted to learn an instrument. I did not know which one to take up as I had never studied music in my school years. Practical reasons suggested that it had to be a hand-held instrument. The first teacher I found that was willing to come home to teach me played the piano and the acoustic guitar. That made the choice for me- I took up the guitar! Fortunately, this proved to be a happy choice.

From a world-wide perspective, I realise that having a choice is a privilege and luxury afforded only to the ones living in a free country. In a true democracy we have the right to vote for the candidate of our choice to represent us in Government. If I do not cast this vote, then that means I have thrown away the right to influence the outcome of that particular election. Most of us take this for granted, because only when it is lost that we learn its value.

These days, it can be easier to decide what I would want to do because the choices have shrunk when operating from home! Are we not fortunate that with technology we have the capacity to get all our basic needs delivered to our homes, including information, education, entertainment and communication?  In fact, I have too many options to choose from that can be bewildering (rather like my husband with his dinner choices!). It is more a case of controlling my mind to ensure I choose something that I enjoy. What a luxury!