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We often sit on our back patio after dinner, observing the "wildlife" that shares our large fenced back yard. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, a toad and swarms of butterflies go about their business as we enjoy the evening breezes. It occurred to me on one of these evenings how different our human reality is from that of our "wildlife." We are all living creatures inhabiting the same planet. We breathe the same air, are warmed by the same sun. Our survival depends on safety, food and some form of hydration. Yet the reality of a rabbit is much different from ours. Obviously, our human reality is shaped not only by our senses but also by language, culture and abstract thought, while our visiting creatures' reality is largely shaped by instinct, awareness of the moment and sensory perception. A big difference, yet the physical reality that surrounds us and the happy rabbit we are watching is identical for both of us.
This evening back yard scene got me thinking about reality and truth and how they affect our lives. By definition, reality is "the actual state of the world as it exists, independent of our wishes, fears or imagination." Reality is based on scientific fact; truth is a concept based on reality. Unlike the rabbits and other animals and birds that visit our back yard, we, as humans, don't always accept reality. Denying reality plays a small or large part in almost everyone's life at some time. Denial is the first stage of grief when someone we love deeply dies. It is not unusual to deny those things that cause emotional pain: toxic relationships, failing health, changes aging brings, our own flaws, the loss of someone dear to us.
Not only do we sometimes deny reality, we also at times have difficulty ferreting out the truth in a complicated situation. We come to understand the truth of a situation through objective facts, critical thinking and our own personal perception. Our own truths walk hand in hand, not only with reality, but also with our belief system and how we see the world. A sad example of this can be found in our Declaration of Independence. The second paragraph of this important document reads: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal." Thomas Jefferson was the main author of this document, yet he was a slave owner. His own truth, his own belief that black slaves were not fully human, allowed him to view the words "all men" through the lens of his personal bias.
If we follow daily television newscasts, it is hard to deny our country is going through a hard time. Not only are we struggling economically, but we as citizens are struggling to find the truth as it fits with the reality of our situation. Social media is no help in this search. Social media has a habit of masquerading its users' opinions as truth. This can be confusing to those who rely completely on social media or a single news program for all their information. Now, more than ever, it's important to make sure the information we get from any source aligns with reality, instead of trying to change or hide reality behind a curtain of falsehoods. One path to the truth is tuning in to several news programs. We need to look for the facts beyond any commentator's views. The best we are able to do is carefully consider information gathered from several sources, then find our own truth and use it as a touchstone for our lives and our decisions.