The Constant Question...Why

We all know, at about two years old, every child learns how to say the word "why."  They ask "why" about everything once they realize it gets some attention.  Any kind of attention.  It's a good word to know when you're only two and you want and need lots of attention.

It's also a good word to use when trying to figure things out.  As we grow older, it's a word we begin to use more towards ourselves and understanding why we do what we do, or why we feel what we feel, or why we like (or don't like) what we like.  Why, why, why.  A simple three-letter word that results in an often unfathomable number of words to answer the question, why.  And, of course, "why" begets yet another "why."

Long ago I recognized a very strong need to understand things in order to deal with them.  I use the word "why" a lot.  Go figure.  If you want to push me into a mumbling nerve-wracked state of anxiety, just don't tell me "why."  That will do it every time.  I found if I asked myself the "why" questions, I could keep busy trying to find or develop answers for days, if not months or years.  Sometimes I would actually find the answer to "why," and then there are so many "whys" I've asked over the years that I'm sure I've forgotten most of the answers to them, if indeed I found the answer.  Yet, I still keep asking.  Why.

Is it an effort to validate or invalidate, perhaps?  To accept or reject, maybe that?  Or maybe it's an effort to relate.  To find some corner of kinship with someone or something.  We are all connected, right?  Why?  It's certainly a good word to use when you want to keep a conversation going.

When you have the answer to "why" does the process stop there?  Is the answer the wherewithal to the question?  I don't think so.  There are things I've learned along the way of finding the answer to "why" that I didn't know I would find.  Things that may have caused me to ask a few more "whys" along the way.  With that in mind, comes the familiar phrase:

Perhaps the "whys" should be considered as what fuels the momentum of life.  What keeps us moving along towards some imagined destination.  If we didn't ask why, what would happen.  I'm guessing there were be fewer conversations in the world.  In fact, I'm pretty sure the world would become even more chaotic than it is right now if we didn't ask "why."

So, "why" aren't more people asking "why" our economy is so trashed; "why" we have so many homeless people; "why" so many people have insufficient income to get the medical care they need.  "Why."  "Why" can't we seem to get anything done to fix these issues?  Those "whys" should create an avalanche of answers.  The "whys" get some attention, just like when you were two years old, but the real question is "how" do we fix those things.  The "how" is where the work actually begins.  Then again, "how" usually drags a few "whys" along with it for company.

So, "why" is still a good word.  It still gets attention where attention is needed.  I think I'll keep using it.  Will you?

Blessings on your heads,
G