7 Ways To Practice Common Sense

heamcb99@yahoo.com May 7, 2016 2 Comments

A few days ago, my husband said Math people are smart. It was just a casual conversation that had nothing to do with Math and it really, really upset me. “Not all Math people are smart! Not all Math people have common sense!” I fumed, and then stormed to my room.

Perplexed, I sat there with my face in my hands with tears streaming down my face. “Why are you this upset about him thinking math people are smart? Well, it doesn’t help that for a period of time he chose a math person over me.” Yeah, that really, really hurt. But, after a few minutes, I realized that it really wasn’t about what he had done or what he thought at all.

It was about me and how I perceive myself and my intelligence level. I could blame it on my educational experience, if I wanted too.

I grew up moving all over the U.S. as a Coastie brat. Every school I went to was at a different math level than the last school. Sometimes the class was ahead of me and sometimes I was ahead of them. Kansas City inner schools couldn’t even keep up with me. They had to farm me out as a teacher’s assistant to keep me challenged. Other schools, like in Astoria Oregon, had to assign a student to tutor me in math.

I don’t know what it is like in school now. But, when I was growing up you were considered smart if you did well in Science and Math. I was great at English and the Arts, which weren’t considered the smart classes (and I believe still aren’t valued as much, hence the dismal financial support of the Arts in School). I really struggled with math, especially Algebra. I think I took pre-algebra three times during my secondary education. (Strangely, I was really good at Geometry in Roanoke, Virginia.)

Math became the monster under my bed. In my late twenties when I went to college, I waited until the last two semesters of my Bachelor degree to take the required math because I dreaded it so much. The first night of College Algebra, I drove home and literally rolled around on the floor sobbing thinking Math was going to keep me from graduating from college. Thankfully, I had a great understanding professor that helped all of us “adult” students step-by-step. Man, I owe that teacher a debt of gratitude. (I think I’ll write him another thank you letter.)

It really messed with my self esteem and undermined my self confidence in the corporate world. I went to great lengths to hide my mathematical disability. LOL!

So, back to the issue. I have always thought that Math and Science people were smarter than me.

Yep, some are. But, some aren’t.

CASE #1
Most people agree that Phds or Doctors are considered “smart”. For instance, Veterinarians are good at science and math and get their advanced degree, which proves they are smarter than the average human. Right? Wrong.

Let’s consider, this individual.

Kristen Lindsey got her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, killed another family’s pet cat with a bow and arrow and then bragged about it by posting the picture on Facebook. Now, all of that schooling and $150k student loans later, she has or is on the verge of losing her Veterinarian’s license. (And, being a cat person, I’m ecstatic.) I just recently learned she is also facing a DWI charge on May 9th.

I would like to argue that her actions weren’t very smart, or humanistic, on so many levels.

(For more information: Tiger’s Justice Team)

 

 

CASE #2

Now, I am going to get very controversial. A lot of people in the scientific world think Robert Oppenheimer is smart. This is the guy, along with a few other scientists who invented the Atom Bomb. Look at where that has gotten us!

What about all those scientists creating biological warfare, viruses, bee killing pesticides (I can’t stand you, Monsanto) and a multitude of other scientific inventions that are destroying our environment, our animals and creating new diseases in human beings every day?

People. Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should. Doing harmful things isn’t using common sense at all.

(For more information: Pesticides kill pollinators)

 

 

COMMON SENSE IS SMART

Google defines “common sense” as good sense and sound judgment in practical matters.

I speak from experience. I admit it. I have done some pretty dumb things in my life. It took doing dumb things, and applying the learning, to figure out what common sense is. Wish it wasn’t that way. I really do.

With all this said and done, it is important that I give myself credit for all that I have done that exhibited common sense and proved to myself and the world that I have the intelligence to contribute positively to my life and to the world. I have worked hard to build a successful career and business that provides for myself and my family. I have developed deep friendships with amazing people. My three children survived their childhood, are healthy and are making their way in the world. I figured out how to build this blog on my own (no easy task for me) and have the courage to share my thoughts in word to the world. LOL! There are other things to say, but I’ll leave that for blogging another day.

7 Ways To Practice Common Sense

So what makes good common sense and exhibits sound judgment in this world? Here is the list my headline promised:

1. Figure out how to learn the skills to do the work you want to do and work hard to pay your own bills.
2. Have and express gratitude for everything you have in your life and make sure to thank everyone that contributes positively to your life.
3. Don’t steal from others. It belongs to them. Earn your own stuff!
4. Don’t lie or cover up your actions. If you have to lie or cover up your behavior that is a hint that you just might not be exhibiting sound judgment and you just might be doing something that would hurt you or someone else.
5. Don’t invent or use things that will harm others or our environment. I mean, come on! You are just hurting yourself, and that doesn’t make sense at all.
6. Don’t post your crimes on Facebook or other social media.
7. If you have a feeling you might be doing something wrong, listen to your gut. You’re probably right.

Would you like to help me build my list? Send me a comment.

Thanks for reading!

© Heather McBride-Anders, 2016