Many people have heard the saying “you’re better off not knowing.” Most people may be offended by this saying, wanting to know what they didn’t already know. But as life gets more real, some may be better off not knowing. Think about it, the more you know the more upset you become at society in general. Why do people have to be so cruel for no reason? Why does it seem like people become more and more greedy? Why does it appear that life was more fun as a kid? All a kid ever does is run around a play ground and picks his nose all day, but that is what people miss most, the sense of carelessness, endless adventure, and ignorance. 

Children come into the world not knowing what lies ahead for them. From birth through to their toddler years they are sheltered by their parents from hardships. But as they grow older they are exposed to what society has in store for them. For example, girls, trying to live up to an impossible physical standard, and young boys being pressured to gain more muscle than humanly possible, and that’s only the begging. As puberty hits and peer pressure begins to hit a high and kids begin to face reality. Girls begin to ask if their new outfit will catch the attention of the crush of the week and boys begin to learn their friends are hanging out with Mary Jane. But even with that life doesn’t seem too hard. School is still easy, friend groups unchanged, and all that is on kids minds is how much better things will be in high school. Until kids get caught sneaking out, cops are called, and a fellow classmate dies of drugs overdoses. Then and only then do people begin to realize how harsh the world is, how with every action there are consequences, and how people may not be as genuine as they appear. Then the kids that use to run from the boy with the bugger on his finger are done growing up and want to go back to the days where they can feel that sense of carelessness, endless adventure, and most of all the innocence of ignorance.

A new puppy, excited to see every face that passes him, wagging his tail in excitement to make new friends, not knowing anything but friendly interactions like children always wanting to play catch or pet him. The puppy will continue to live this way throughout his entire life unless the cruelty of the world peers its ugly head. A puppy lives in ignorance unless it experiences some sort of animal abuse. Any dog that has experienced any sort of animal abuse is timid and shy. They do not come out when new people come over and flinch when anyone raises their arm at them. At this point the innocent ignorance is broken, no longer will that dog be able to enjoy the new faces of children that want to pet him or play catch with his, no longer will his tail wag in excitement, no longer will the rest of his interactions be friendly or positive.

Everyone wishes they can go back in time to when things were easier and the hardest choice was deciding what to eat for dinner, when life seemed as simple as a counting to three. But then curiosity takes over and one is dealt hard cards to play. “You’re better off not knowing” they say, they may actually be right.