Is Ignorance Bliss - Are You Ignore-ant?

I used to live my life in a perpetual state of ignorance. Last week while meditating, a light came on that helped me remind myself when I am moving in that direction. It was as if a tiny voice inside me said, "Sandra, do not ignore what you see, feel and listen to. Be aware and listen to the sights, sounds, and be with your senses." As I began to understand that many of my problems, in fact, most of them, stem from being, ignore-ant, I felt revelation. We really cannot ignore or tune out what we dislike. Do you find yourself in a state of ignore-ance where you are being, ignore-ant?

The television news program is announcing another disaster, and you try to overlook the negativity in the world. The neighbor's dog is incessantly barking, and you strive to shut out his voice. The children have created a disaster in the bedroom, and you try not to become bothered. As I thought about this, I came to realize that life, the world, and I deserve my full attention. I have become resolved to allowing myself to admit when I am trying to shut out negativity. I welcome the chance to grow and expand the childlike wonder that carries me beyond, my ignore-ant attitude and me. I understand now that my defense mechanism is simply a method of ignore-ance.

Is this how the world has become dispassionate? Has our compassion gone into hiding behind a veil of ignore-ance? Instead of ignoring the barking dog, I can choose to wonder what he is saying. When negative things come across the television, I can choose to wonder. When someone is complaining, I can choose to wonder what I might do to help and even ask. If only I listen and care, I am not listening with ignore-ance, but being attentive and compassionate. Must I surround myself with positive people and avoid negative ones? Is this a form of ignore-ance or a simple matter of avoidance?

I will not ignore or attempt to overlook what is happening in the world, I am alive! If I ignore the power struggles, I see does it all go away? If I give it my full attention, does that make me accountable? I think we ignore things because we feel helpless and hopeless if we look too closely. We may even think that someone's negativity has an adverse effect on us. If we ignore negativity, how will we look beyond it and recognize the goodness, behind the ignore-ance we witness? Life is too precious to ignore! Children cannot ignore anything until they reach a certain age. We even advise them to ignore, "Oh just ignore that mean kid, and he will leave you alone." Do we really believe that a cultivated ignore-ance is mature? Is Ignorance Bliss?