Perspective. A way of looking at things; a point of view. We all have positions on various subjects, backed by facts or gut feel. But how often do we step back and look impassively at issues and embrace the possibility of wider angles or deeper layers?
Take wintertime… we playfully whine to our mainland friends about waking up and it’s a numbing 63-degrees! Freezing. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, they’re experiencing yet another snow/ice storm, whiteout, nor’easter, blizzard, et al., that renders travel and other daily activities nigh impossible. It’s reallyl about where you’re coming from and what your perspective is. When we talk about “sweater weather” for our winters here, New Englanders must think: hmmm, thou doth protest too much.
A local acquaintance of mine just returned to provide care for an aging parent after being gone for 25 years. He says he never felt like he left home, but he’s now fully re-integrated into local life, and loving it… with a caveat. He commented on how “different” people seem today- more harried, fewer smiles, more traffic and rudeness on the roadways. Perhaps he’s right, but I’ve semi-consciously gotten somewhat used to it and just sorta accepted that it is what it is. Ah, I haven’t been gone for 25 years. Perspective.
2+ years of COVID angst and isolation didn’t help our frail psyches in many profound ways. Socializing dissipated; loneliness is a growing ailment among all ages nowadays, though people find themselves more entertained and engaged than ever with electronic devices to “connect” them (not really) as we have streaming opportunities ad nauseum. So many digital options take up so much time, resulting in so little effort being made to connect with one another in person.
You think you’re happy… but maybe realize that you’re kinda lonely. Derek Thompson in The Atlantic recently wrote a solid piece about “The Anti-Social Century”. Eric Barker’s excellent tome, “Barking Up The Wrong Tree”, provides anecdotes and supported analysis on what it means to be successful and happier, exploring attitude, resilience, and ultimately, being listened to and feeling cared for.
The great divide in this country and on issues locally (TMT, HART, a new O`ahu waste site) grow when firming up one’s perspective without caring/listening where the other side is coming from, and why. Finding commonalities and choosing empathy can help. But those are just my thoughts. What’s your perspective?
Think about it…