Why?

‘Why do you sit out here all alone?’ said Alice, not wishing to begin an argument.

‘Why, because there’s nobody with me!’ cried Humpty Dumpty. ‘Did you think I didn’t know the answer to that? Ask another.’

I am what you would call a "WHY" person. My mother would say that if “WHY” was not the first word I spoke, it was most definitely one of the most frequent words I said!  Why am I such a WHY person?

Why... 

adverb  

1. for what reason or purpose.     

 I think. That would be the reason. I think a lot! I wonder about things. I take things to little pieces and try to put them back together again (in my thoughts mostly!) I may not be the brightest spark in the fire but I don't do too bad at the analysis game. I like to know WHY! 

“Why” can be very useful when you need to know something.

Why does the engine rattle like that when there is no oil in it?

Why do I need to sleep more than 6 hours a night?

Why is this policy in place?

Why do I have to hold me fingers out of the way of the chopping knife?

Why can be frustrating for those on the receiving end. Those questions that are hard to answer.

Why is the sky blue?

Why did that man say that?

Why did they call it Paris?

WHY don't you like it when I ask “WHY”? (sorry, Mom!)

I can't explain the desire to know. It is just there, and to set the record straight, I don't want to know everything! There are things out there that I am 100% NOT interested in! However....when I AM interested in something...LOOK OUT! I want to KNOW WHY!! My brain starts to unravel the item, unpack the contents, look at details. Sometimes it is doing this in the "back room" and my front room is blissfully unaware of all the activity.

(Does that sound strange to you? Hmm, it is something I have been doing for years so it's quite normal to me  J)

When I may need the information or I have some time to wander through my brain rooms I can stumble across the most interesting stuff! I probably need to learn how to store that “stuff” in a more orderly fashion.

I have been know to ask the "question" in the middle of a lesson....only to find if I had been a bit patient I would have found out the reason in the next few sentences. Ah! Patience. I wonder why I don’t have more of that?

Of course, there are plenty of times when the brain is just too tired to think and ask the “why” questions, unfortunately those times seem to come during the day when I most WANT it to be firing on all four cylinders!  

My brain sometimes thinks it is most effective to ask the question in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping! It goes through a well-worn path of whys, wonders and how comes. 

I keep telling my brain that 3 AM is not the time for that (unless I am working a night-shift) Those night time “whys” can cause one to not only lose sleep but also to lose perspective. It is too easy for the imagination to jump into the fray and provide the “answers” to the whys, but these pseudo answers only lead to more whys and on it goes.

There have been a few long periods of SILENCE where my brain was filled with fear rather than wonder. These periods come and go for all of us but for some they linger a bit longer and can be daunting. Fear can overshadow the ability to seek out, learn, and conquer the Why’s of this life. Fear must not be allowed to squash the wonder. It must not be allowed to overshadow the desire to be more, learn more, experience more.

“Why” is like a ticket to the next level. As long as you ask the right “Why” question.

What is the right “Why” question? I can’t answer that for you. I can only go on with my journey and share what it was/is and will be for me.

I may even discover on this journey that it is not necessary to ask Why as often as I do. 

The ultimate answer might be  "Just because."

You can always check back on me periodically and see where the “Why’s” of my life take me.

Until next time I shall be off.....

….you’ll stay and see me off first?’ ...... ‘I shan’t be long. You’ll wait and wave your handkerchief when I get to that turn in the road? I think it’ll encourage me, you see.’