Listening to a podcast this week – I picked up on this comment – “Who said we should do it this way – why does anything have to be a certain way”.

It was funny that an old proverb sprang to mind – “There is more than one way to skin a cat” – and it got me thinking.

For I recognise that many times in my life – I have gone about things in a certain way – simply because I was told that’s how it should be – when – the truth is that – “There can be more than one way to do things – you don’t have to be like everybody else”.

I remember a funny story – about a new young wife – who was asked why it was she always cut her joint of meat in half – when she cooked her Sunday roast. Her reply was that it was the way her mother had always done it. Her mother – on being asked why she cut her joint in half – said it was simply because she couldn’t fit it into her roasting pan – in one piece”.

So many times – I have failed to see another way – just because I have never thought to look – and sometimes I needed to have someone – to show me different.

As someone put it here – “There is only one way to see things – until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes”.

Yet – as I agree – that there is always more than one way – to see things – and – to do things – it’s important that I remember – that the way I do things – isn’t the only way to do them either.

I have to confess that I am often guilty of just that – of thinking that my way of doing things is the right way – even the only way – and want to insist that – that is how it must be done.

I like the way – that thought is put here – “6+3=9 – but so does 5+4 – the way you do things isn’t always the only way to do them. Respect other people’s way of thinking”.

When I heard that initial comment – “Who said we should do it this way” – my immediate response was that I was so glad that I was learning – to walk away from that – and to dare to find my own way of thinking – and doing.

However – the more I think about it – the more I recognise – that the emphasis I need to have – is to respect other people’s way of thinking too – allowing them – to be who they are – as much as I want them – to allow me to be who I am.

Giving them the right to be different – for – “When we lose the right to be different – we lose the privilege to be free”.

Blessings – Lois