Live and learn, observe whilst not conclude...!



This is a quote my dad has tought me, and I find it a great lesson in life.

They say that we learn as long as we live, and I believe "they" are right, whomever they are. But sometimes we forget the most important part, and that is observing!
Now, I can only speak for myself, and I have had many situations where I have forgotten the 'observe' part and interpret this and that without really double-checking if I got it right,  and thus I make my own answers - I conclude with something without realizing nor checking if I may be mistaken... now this leads often to misunderstandings, arguments, fights or some other kind of big fuss that really isn't pleasant for anyone, not me and certainly not the other(s) involved... unless one reads people extremely well, in which cases I don't.

So what makes this quote so important to me is that such situations as mentioned above could have easily been avoided had I not been so quick to make up answers for myself, and observed the situation instead.
You see, when I observe something I see it in perspective, I distance myself going "hold on a minute, what's really going on here?" and I put myself on hold, observing not only what's going on, whether I'm right in the middle of it, or a less involved part, I also get to observe myself and my emotions.
I get a perspective on things, seeing it clearer and thus makes more sense of them, as that is the meaning of the word "observing".

What my dictionary describes the word as:
observe
verb [ trans. ]
• notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant
• watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively
• take note of or detect (something) in the course of its progress

So I have found that when I succeed in doing just this: observing whilst living, without concluding (making my own answers based on my own interpretations [that may or may not be right]) I learn.
I learn more than I possibly could've imagined I would if had I had not been aware of this particular phrase. By observing I learn to reflect on all matters, to reflect on myself and thus I grow within myself.
I grow to be a better person, I learn and grow to understand others better, I learn how to better handle certain situations better, and I learn to watch the world around me with attentive eyes, observing.

And I also learn to realize when I'm mistaken and when I screw up, and when it's my responsibility to apologize and make up for what or whom I've wronged.
I grow to be humble, and to take care of others just as well as I take care of myself.

However I am still human, I still might forget and screw up, but I will still remember the phrase: Live and learn, observe - do not conclude.

It's never too late to observe situations, it's never too late to reflect on a matter or ones own actions and emotions, it's never too late to get to know ones self, and it's never too late to see something or someone from a new point of view!
I know, I do it all the time.

And this I am immensely thankful for, cuz all this I learnt from one phrase.
A phrase my dad has tought me.
Thank you