Opinions matter.

Warning: The following blog-post contains no humour, attempt at humour or even a picture. Bear with me.

Every person on Earth has an opinion. It’s what makes us, what defines our personality, our beliefs, our values… it defines who we are.

And while there are many things in this world that beckon our opinions, the scary thing is that none of ours may be the same. While one person may think that peanut butter is the shizzle-dizzle, another may hate its rubbery texture. While some people are just good at sport, keeping fit and enjoy healthy foods, other people may prefer watching movies, just chilling out and asking the waiter for an extra side of fries. It’s all opinions. And a difference in opinion can go different ways. For example:

An argument
Both persons argue about why their opinion is better and do not care to see another perspective.
A discussion
Both persons explain their opinion and try to understand one another even if they may not agree.

The reason why I’m discussing opinions is, because in med school, opinions are EXTREMELY important. If you cannot determine how you feel about something, and effectively communicate that without inflicting your view on the other person, you’re in trouble. And to be honest, I’ve not only been challenged to think more about certain things since I’ve been at med school, but my own values and opinions have been drastically challenged and changed by the rather more informed opinions of those around me. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’ve been easily influenced, because of what others think. But rather, I value my own opinions more, because I know I think it through 50 times more carefully than I would have in the past.

I was just a bit baffled to realize that some people choose to not have an opinion, to remain neutral and uninformed. I’m going to make an example of a situation that demands an opinion, ESPECIALLY AS A MED STUDENT, which is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. I mean, this isn’t just about whether you prefer butter on your bread or not, or whether you actually like going on the see-saw, this is about human lives. Life matters. And while I won’t state my opinion on the matter here (to avoid any impending conflict); the great thing is that I do have an opinion. I have one, and it’s what I value. Whether it’s based on what I saw on the news, read online or even heard from a neighbour, what matters is, that I’m somewhat informed and I have an opinion.

How will we move forward as the human race if we choose to live in ignorance?

What is your opinion?

[This is just food for thought… if you feel like thinking? ]