"Opinions are like..."

I won't finish that phrase, as this is a PG blog, but we all know that sentence!
Each of us has opinions on a myriad of subjects. Some come from life experiences, some come from reading, watching news shows, or even hearing others speak on a specific topic. We might even overhear things at times, that color the way we determine we'll feel about any given event, philosophy, ideal, moray...
Lately, I've decided to try to get past having an opinion, and instead concentrate on having a stance. Do I need to have a stance on everything? No! But, when developing an opinion, which can sometimes happen simply on the turn of a phrase that pique's the listener's interest, we begin to use our mind. My argument in this piece is that having an opinion, be it on one or many different subjects, has only started us thinking. Like a gear with many cogs, we might have clicked one or even two or three in to place, but the gear stops, unable to continue on its relentless circular path because there's not enough energy to keep it moving. Having a stance-on anything-takes energy to develop. Sure it can be hard work digging in, finding information, making a judgement call-and accepting that others' might end up having a stance that is diametrically opposed to yours.
In today's world, having a stance is dangerous. Yes, I said dangerous. We've gotten so used to instant gratification, and being spoon-fed what we'll think, feel, reason, and do, that we've begun to completely ignore our ability to think and reason for ourselves! We've lost the art of using logic to come to a rational conclusion, and taken as gospel what's being crammed down our throats as truth. We live in a society where we chant the sing-song phrases of inclusion, but fail to see that the current trend of inclusion leaves behind anyone who dares think for themselves.
Taking a stance on something doesn't mean you will always be right. Far from it! That's the beauty inherent in reasoning! The ability to form a conclusion based on gathering information, and in the same vein to kind of...correct our course as new information becomes available. Who among us truly believes that ideas, opinions, and stances don't grow, change, and evolve as we grow older, have more experiences, and more interactions with others?
As always, the thoughts expressed within the confines of these brief missives are mine.  Whether you agree with me, or find the words saved within these pages on the ridiculous side, my goal is to get us all thinking. Feeling. Reasoning. There's not enough of these things done these days. I believe you'll find that when you take the risk of thinking for yourself, you enrich your world, enlighten your mind, and engage your brain. Take a stance!