What’s the most precious thing in life?
Some might say life itself, or love. And they’re right, in a way.
But I think there’s one clear answer, that stands tall among the rest.
Trust.
You see, trust is one of the most difficult sensations to describe, yet one of the most encompassing. It provides us with a sense of security, and its absence can literally destroy our health.
Trust is one of the most difficult things to attain. (Heck, we often don’t trust ourselves, or our ability to trust others.) And if trust is earned and broken, it’s nearly impossible to regain.
Trust allows us to share secrets, to step on the roller coaster, to pay attention to our teachers. Lack of trust is why we lock our doors at night, why we scour Web MD every time we have a slight headache, why the thought of someone else driving our car for the first time gives us angst.
Trust is what draws us to our routine, or allows us to stray from our routine.
If you’re looking for a common theme in all this, well — there are two.
Trust is about protection, but also about control.
These feelings are at the heart of human nature, which is why trust is the Holy Grail of all commodities.
So yes, trust is precious — and increasingly scarce.
As bad things happen in our increasingly connected society, we become inherently suspicious. Trust erodes, tensions flare — and more bad things happen as a result.
But there’s an alternate ending to this narrative. One that — surprise, surprise — relies on our collective ability to trust.
If we get to know our neighbors, or at least give them the benefit of the doubt, we can set a common foundation. A foundation of trust.
With this foundation in place, we can more productively respond to the crises our society faces with one voice. A voice of multiple perspectives, but of unified purpose. A voice free of the divisive seeds of deceit.
Now, this process ain’t easy; the important ones hardly ever are. But it is necessary.
For while we may never leave our doors unlocked, we should be able to unlock our hearts.
Words of the west ring true in the east. Trust is an old-fashioned virtue hidden well in today’s society but it is indeed time for its comeback. However, I do believe we must reach many of our leaders that have eroded this virtue by example. The rich and poor alike have stamped on this value and ground it in the faces of the middle class. If we can get people to reach in their souls sans politics and religion and spread ” inspire trust, ” like a movement, maybe we can bring this important value back
Dylan, I enjoyed reading all of your ‘wise words” from the West; put me on the mailing list. i do think there is some naivity about human nature. Viewed from above the experience of living 80+ years of an active and fulfilling life it seems to me you are preaching to a limited audience. I think it is possible to change people’s minds and attitudes on a very limited basis and only on things that are not core beliefs. Most people are comfortable with their ideas about sex, politics and religion and that is why we rarely discuss these subjects in polite company. It is difficult to build trust when you disagree on basic ideas that may not be provable. I like your thoughts even though I think you view ” Texanism ” thru rose tinted glasses. ‘respectfully, Uncle Ellie