Ever wonder why people come to different conclusions after reading the same book? Or why we draw different impressions from the same movies, people, and life experiences? Maybe it’s because we’re all playing Carmen Sandiego.
Carmen Sandiego was a popular computer game back in the 1990s. It involved solving multiple mysteries along the way to finding a final destination. Solving each mystery yielded a golden key, which helped with the end pursuit. Perhaps, this is comparable to everyday life. And if so, it explains why so many of us have varying opinions.
For example, I read the book, The Road Less Traveled, and it taught me three things:
- Life is difficult
- The concept of delayed gratification
- Competence is love
The Buddhist tenet that life is suffering has been reported in many places but this was my first time seeing it. For me, it was a key. Same goes for delayed gratification. I was a procrastinator famous for bringing home piles of work on Fridays only to cart it back on Mondays, totally undone. But when slapped with the principle of “do your work first, then have a good time,” I had an epiphany the likes of seeing my first stripper. Instantly, I stopped lying to myself and got down to the business of getting my work done. For me, this was a big deal (and I taught it to my kids).
Lastly, when discussing love, M. Scott Peck says that by doing a good job you’re in fact loving. This affected me deeply and later led to my own concept of give love. So for me, this book held three keys (and I’m forever grateful) but my luck doesn’t mean you’ll experience the same. If you go online, you’ll see a number of reviews that are negative. So is this book special or not? For me it was. For you, I don’t know.
Oprah called them “aha!” moments and they come in many forms. It might be words you read, a scene from a film, or something you were taught, overheard, or witnessed out in nature. And not everyone is looking for the same stuff, which is why we don’t all cherish the same things. In the end, life is a mystery. One where we never know why. But maybe while you’re here, it’s good to pick up a few keys.