Mystery Unraveled

Should some things remain a mystery?

My husband, bless his little heart, recently shared with me an unusual fact, which I’m going to guess will be news to you, too. Did you know that a shrimp’s heart beats forward and backward with each beat? Yes, I too, had a similar reaction. And while this is an interesting insight into the physiology of a shrimp, I wonder whether or not some things should remain a mystery. Such as why we fall in love, and how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? 

I’m of the belief that my daily angst is attributed to far too much information.  Although, I must admit that I have become a bit of a news junkie, to the point where my mind and body desire otherwise.  And as wonderful as these small crustaceans are, does this information truly serve a purpose both in my life and at this time?

The saying, “Ignorance is bliss” has a special meaning in today’s fast-paced, AI generated world.  Do we really need to know the extent of what we know? And how much of this mining for information is actually based upon genuine curiosity and interest?  Is our need for information ego-driven, anxiety-driven, or mandated for job performance?  Anything in excess will seek balance and moderation.  Knowledge is power, but it can also become most overwhelming and used for the wrong purpose.  And most important, what will the future hold as we become evermore dependent on a technology that grows exponentially based upon its data?  Will it, too, reach a point of saturation mimicking its very creator?  Will AI be able to self-soothe?  I wonder.

Now, I’m pretty sure you would be hard-pressed to find a cheetah studying after-hours in a dimly lit library.  Animals and sea life live on instinct and know when to rest and replenish.  They also know how to read the energy of a room, in this case their surrounding environment in order to sense peril or prey.  An important skill set for humans in these coming days of artificial intelligence, where the delivery of truth has become most blurred.

And as we search for the truth, I know that I will be continually asking myself this one important question: Does this make any sense?  I am of the belief that we will now need to rely upon our innate instincts in order to discern fact from fiction.  Tuning into what is known as our second brain, located in the stomach area, will help us sense and feel our way through to what is being presented to us. Hopefully, in the near future, AI generated material will feature a distinguishable form of identification.

In order to curb my at times angst ridden brain, I have chosen to reduce how often I avail myself of the news. I also tend to gravitate toward the type of reporter or news outlet who delivers their information in a non sensationalized manner. This helps to maintain my equilibrium and to ensure greater receptivity.

The news is not going to go away nor our access to information. It is ever available and on demand at a moment’s notice. However, this window of time, sans the news, allows me to fill my body and mind with other forms of interest: companionship, literature, music, nature, and creativity.

My ultimate goal is to release the need to be in the know and to truly trust that what I need to know will find its way to me. This has already happened on several important occasions, which left me both mystified and grateful—perhaps this is the way it should be.

Postscript: Upon finishing the first draft of this story (which no one had seen nor heard) my husband came into my office and stated, “I’m an information junkie!” What are the odds? Welcome to the club.