Years ago, I wrote this: “The grandest illusion of them all is attempting to explain away reality.”

When I saw this quote this morning, I was reminded of how much spin we attempt to put on reality, to reinforce a personal point of pontification that is as weak as a cardboard box in the rain.

Reality has no governor. It’s a stark, undeniable, un-refutable, emperor has no clothes, fact.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the book Ishmael: “We can argue about it for a thousand years, but there’s never going to be an argument powerful enough to end the argument, because every argument has a counterargument.”

That said, there is no argument that will counter reality.

When we wear rose-colored glasses, we are attempting to change the look of reality – to reframe it so it looks like what we want to see vs. what is really there. You can shade yourself from the sun, but not from the heat- seeking missile known as reality.

Reality has a way of sticking around and bringing your knees to the ground, especially when you attempt to explain it away.

If you doubt that denial of reality is rampant, talk to any elementary school teacher about their discussions regarding a student’s behavior with the child’s parents. The teacher presents a hard, cold, fact: “Your son punched a girl in the face on the playground.” As improbable as it seems, there will be no lack of arguments coming from the parents justifying why their son shouldn’t be suspended.

I guess the reminder to us all is to stop hiding behind our protest placards for a moment and take a look at what’s really happening in the moment. Just notice the situation without explanation, and you’ll put a pin in the grand illusion bubble, instead of arguing to the point where the only thing left is rubble.

All the best,

John

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