Knowledge

I am bursting with knowledge. I am so full of it that I don’t know what to do with it or where to store it anymore. But when you think about it, it is rather normal… after all, I am an octogenarian, and over the years I have accumulated a lot of (often useless) stuff.

I feel like a pack rat aware of the problem, but reluctant to get rid of the rubbish. But I know that I must because it is becoming burdensome. Knowledge is like money. When you have too much of it, it weighs on you and becomes difficult to manage… and you cannot take it with you anyway.

So occasionally (like many seniors) I do some “cache “cleaning. I purge the attic of some unimportant dates or facts such as anniversaries or birthdays.  Some mean-spirited people call it dementia, but I prefer to view this as a salubrious Spring Cleaning operation.

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” ― Alan Alda

Regrettably, knowledge lacks tangibility or marketability. It cannot be bequeathed to relatives or donated. Thus, it is better to jettison some of it to gain altitude and fly above the clouds.

In many ways, knowledge is akin to money… and it is often squandered. Despite the universal understanding that wars are a waste of time, money, and human lives, some individuals persist in initiating new conflicts. Is territorial expansion really necessary? Smaller countries are often more prosperous and happier than their larger counterparts. Would you not prefer residing in Switzerland rather than Russia?

Finally, many individuals should opt for a cerebral flush rather than resorting to plastic surgery to mask imperfections. Presidential candidates, in particular, should undergo a form of brain drain to eliminate the rubbish and fabrications accumulated over the years.

Finally, the sanitized candidates should write about what they know before we vote for any of them:

“Write what you know. That should leave you with a lot of free time.” ― Howard Nemerov

 Never be afraid to jettison some rubbish to gain altitude.

Alain