My Virtual Reading Room

...We have fabulous nervous systems--particularly when we are young. In later life it can, at times, leave something to be desired. It is believed that only human beings can predict the future. Can we really predict the future? You bet we can and we don't even need a crystal ball. If you decide to feed your two year old brussels sprouts, do you know what will happen? If your 15 year old daughter calls up and says she is spending the night with her boyfriend, do you know what will happen? If you get on that freeway at that time of the day in that city, you know exactly what is going to happen.

Because we can predict the future, it can save us a lot of grief. Other animals can have a negative experience and learn to avoid the circumstances, but humans can look at a situation and say, "That doesn't look like a good idea to me!" and never have the negative experience. What a wonderful technique for preservation of the species. You don't get on the freeway at 5 pm, and you don't call your mother up and tell her you are spending the night with your boyfriend.

(From "Crisis prevention: Subclinical signs of impending doom" by Carol Whiteside, RN, PhD)

P.S. LOVE this book...:)