A new Lent Resolution

My parents have always told me to stay away from Philosophy. Heaven knows why. They've told me that the world has no use for philosophers, and that I would not benefit at all from being a philosopher. Though I do not feel that this is my calling, I cannot help but wonder what causes my parents to be so uptight about such a topic. Is it wrong for a man to sit and philosophy by himself, or with a companion? My parents are frankly not the only people who have advised that I keep away from the topic of Philosophy. These people have not only been teachers and other adults, but even people who are my age, very young. So why, I ask you, should I keep away from philosophical topics? Are there any hidden dangers that lie beneath the finding of deep answers to deep questions? I'm sure that there are circumstances under which being philosophical could prove dangerous, but before I specify those factors, I must clear one question (for my own sake).

What is Philosophy?

Wikipedia (as of right now) calls it "the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language."

Merriam-Webster calls it many things, including the "pursuit of wisdom", or "a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means."

I personally consider it the combing out of the tangled mess that humans like to call reality.

With this provided information, I gather that I am being philosophical when I am in highway traffic each morning, debating over whether or not I should allow my mild road rage to kick in when a lunatic driver decides to pull in front of me in a dangerous fashion. I am being philosophical when I am choosing between celery sticks and toast for an afternoon snack, based on which would benefit me more. I am also being philosophical when the accidental topic of abortion comes up in everyday conversation, and I am offered to speak my mind against a friend's views.
Is there anything wrong with these factors? I personally think not.

But what if I am consistently trying to find the right and wrong in things?

I suppose this where I come to realize something about myself. The world is made of balance. There is no good unless there is evil to accompany it. There is no health unless there is sickness to fight off. There is no light without darkness to push against it. There is no true peace without letting things go. If a man is constantly thinking about what his next action will be 5 minutes after he has made another action-based decision, not only will his life pass quickly before his eyes, but he will wear his brain to the core in the process.

Lately, I've been worried about my actions. I've been worried about my actions a bit too much, it seems. Perhaps it's time to to let things be.
This does not mean that I'll stop being philosophical. But I think I understand now that there are just some things that need to be let go.
Hopefully with some discipline, I won't have to worry about thought to bring me true peace. Wish me luck.

Out,
Cheryl-Buddy