Misconceptions

Gathered from dozens of various sources, each are farther from reality. Leaving the light on in the car isn't illegal the way our parents would have us believe. The pinky is not the equivalent of the middle finger in China—much to the disappointment of our elementary-school selves. Vasectomies are not easily reversible. Shaving does not make the hair grow back thicker. Astrology does not make or break a relationship. Gum does not take 7 years to digest. While they are common enough to be believed by countless, I wonder how much of your life choices have been rerouted thanks to these misconceptions?

As much as I tried to become more knowledgeable about the gym, for a solid 4 years I refused to do any arm workouts because I thought my arms would get too big from doing three arm curls. As a kid, I always thought traffic lights were manned by trained hamsters and inch worms pushing the buttons. Lighthearted misconceptions are funny to think back on, but certain newer ones are quite enlightening. I had a friend who was happy to hear there was a clear reason as to why he couldn't find a job. Not because your ex-friends think you're a bum, or your parents think you are lazy, but because of the current economic climate—several of his fellow graduates also have not found work thanks to the PLUMMETING employment rates. Before I spiral into political topics on here (which I avidly try to avoid) let me discuss what sprouted the idea for this post in the first place: ghosts. Allow me to cook.

I have never liked scary movies. I sort of dubbed them all the same whether it be ghosts, or demons, or mass serial killers I have just never liked them. However, it is the spooky season so I decided to watch Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor. I can wholeheartedly say it made me change my perception on ghosts. I had never once truly given them a second thought, I just thought they were scary myths. Ghosts are those taken from the world who were not ready, thus getting lost on their way towards the afterlife. Sometimes they will get stuck where they died or stick around to complete unfinished business, and half of the time it's unbeknownst to them. I am not sure why it took me so long to really think about how much that tracks with every single other ghost-related story I have read or film I'd seen. I'm sure it sounds ridiculous to you, a reader who probably knew what a ghost really was, but I genuinely don't know why it has stuck with me so much. Especially their depictions in The Haunting of Bly Manor was done so wonderfully and it is rare for a TV show to move me in such a way. It brought me to think of religion and how countless other cultures perceive the afterlife and what their next life might entail.

But the thing about misconceptions is that they don't just change what we believe—they have the ability to factor into who we become. To believe the common (slightly true) misconception that all men are dogs, might result in someone who doesn't believe in love. One who believes only money can buy happiness may develop the money-driven mindset. I believed that being tall was a flaw of mine, so I chugged green tea and coffee after reading online that it stunts your growth, neither of which is true so now I am 5'9 and I HATE tea. If you grow up believing one thing about yourself, even if it's false, it still carves a path. Maybe that's why some of us crave validation, or perfection, or certainty—because we still try to rewrite misconceptions we've inherited about ourselves. So whether it's thinking traffic lights are run by handheld animals, or believing your worth depends on your paycheck—we all fall for something. The difference is what we do once we learn better. I, for one, have convinced my little sister that does indeed take 7 years to digest. Some misconceptions make us laugh and others make us change. Either way, they reroute us in small ways towards enlightenment.