Life is the sum of our choices and experience. Yes, it is. But is everything we do based on our own choice? And if so, are all these choices right?

Probably not. The question is, in how far does it matter? Who is to judge?

Alcoholism is a spectrum. There is a broad range of consumption, intoxication, addiction, abuse, even enjoyment. And yes, even that is legit at first glance.

The thin line between controlled alcohol consumption and a substance abuse disorder is sometimes very hard to see.

And, it’s the same with choices, especially if you are reflecting on them from a distance. It is attributed to Charlie Chaplin having said: “Life from a distance is a comedy, at close range it’s a tragedy.”

There is a very legitimate point here. How deep do we have to analyze and reflect on choices we made, and who is to judge if it’s right or wrong, a disorder or normal behaviour, something that needs to be sanctioned or therapied or just accepted as a quirk? What is good education, what is bad education?

These are a lot of questions. Of course, this post is not meant to answer them all, let alone answering one of them. But I want to point out something:

Everything in education has consequences for the future life of our kids. Of course it’s not ok to deliberately harm our children. But where are the boundaries? What is good or bad education style? And who is to judge? Basically, it doesn’t matter what you do to choose educational methods, it has an upside and a downside. It’s depending on the current view of how the values of a society. It has to do if there are complex patterns of emotional instability in the family or if parents are overwhelmed with their kids.

It’s the same with diagnostics: When is there a point where a neurodiversity becomes a disease? Where is the point that a phase of emotional hardship is being diagnosed as a depression? When and where is alcohol consumption alcoholism?

There is no simple answer. The only answer one could give is: Is there a threshold of the pressure of suffering that has been overstepped? And for whom? And how is it societally accepted to act in certain ways?

I can remember, when ADHD was considered a damage to the brain. We know better now.

I can remember times when it was allowed when kids were beaten by their parents. We know better now.

And then there are things we tend to believe that are better now and things we tend to believe were better back then.

There is no simple answer.

There is only the possibility to consider choices done as choices done and to deal with the consequences without condemning them afterwards. And to preemptively make well reflected choices, taking into consideration possible consequences these choices have. But we can never be 100% sure.

And we need to accept and forgive ourselves for making mistakes, as long as it is a learning process and we are willing to compensate for our mistakes.

Until next time: Take one step at a time and keep up the faith in yourself.