The title above was one of the questions asked during a screening interview to evaluate my eligibility to participate in a research study about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  The theory of CBT, as far as I can tell, is that once you become aware of thought patterns that keep you locked in undesirable situations you can begin to change the way you think about those situations and find solutions that seem impossible as long as you continue to think of things from that unhelpful cognitive point of view.

So the graduate student reads that question:  “is there anyone whose insight you value more than your own?”   These are posed as yes or no questions, so I answer with an unequivocal no.   I think of everyone I’ve ever met, what they understand of life, how they live, what their deepest values are and why they sometimes must put certain of those values aside in the onrushing exigencies of life, and my answer remains an unequivocal no.  

Thinking further, I imagine everyone I’ve ever met would likely answer the same way, given the yes or no format.  Unless one has a wise counselor in their life, a sage parent, a mentor who sees the big picture and restores perspective, a religious person connecting them to a meaningful philosophical viewpoint when they become perplexed.   I wonder if the question were posed “do you believe you know anyone smarter and more moral than you are?” if the answer would remain the same.

I muse in this fairly pointless way as the snow continues to fall outside and I wait until it’s done falling to shovel it up.  It’s either clear the sidewalk and driveway or cause tremendous additional stress to someone I love, who would be forced drive through hell to get where I already am and do it if I don’t.  It is the least I can do, and as I love doing the least I can do, it is a blessing to wait for the snow to finish falling so I can do that eventually.