OPenminded
A basic definition of an open minded person as someone who is open to new ideas. I believe however, that in order to be open minded it is important to be open minded to potentially beneficial new topics. I say this because, as thrilling as it is to try new things, some of them will either waste your time, money, or even threaten your life. Things such as jumping off of buildings are usually looked upon negatively, but they do fit the definition of an open minded event. I believe that the benefits of open mindedness can be intellectual, physical, or social.
This year, I rode my first horse. The fact of the matter is that I am from the inner city. The nearest horses are many miles away on some of Wisconsin’s reserved farms. I came upon this opportunity after I visited some family in Ohio. They offered to take my brother and I on a trip to a horse ranch. Being open minded I quickly accepted the offer. Riding the horse taught me many things about control, and even more things about living creatures. I'm so used to technology and automation that I failed to realize that animals are living creatures and have their own control. As I desperately held on to the horse, it began to speed up. I thought to myself that it might be a better idea to gain control over the horse. In order to do this I calmed myself down, sat up straight, and eased my way into control, which led to the horse stopping.
In school I've applied open mindedness to my Politics class. Intense debates often spark up out of nowhere, and it is imperative that I am able to argue both sides of the situation, no matter what my beliefs are. Doing this allows me to see where others are coming from. For example, we recently had debates on populism; I learned that there might be an economic benefit to dividing Europe, or leaving the European Union (Brexit).