「perspective」
A particular attitude towards something.
True understanding of the relative importance of
things.
"To choose a perspective is to choose a value system, and unavoidably, an associated belief system"
But do you really have the freedom to choose? Is it not partially a product of the environment you're exposed
to?
After living in Japan for 5 months and meeting all sorts of people, I've learnt that many point of views exist.
What is considered the norm, and what is considered
socially acceptable?
As a society the Japanese hold very firm beliefs about how you should think and act, what you should strive
towards, and achieve.
Anything outside of this and you're ostracized, you're
abnormal - there is something fundamentally wrong
with you!
Recently I spoke to someone who had very different
views from the "typical" Japanese, and they truly made me think. Hard.
Call me indifferent, cold hearted, whatever; but I find
that many young people here are very shallow and
naive.
But I don't fault them.
If they don't know any better, if they're expected to just be satisfied with what they have, then they won't try to step outside of their comfort zone.
If they don't know any different, how can they choose
to widen their perspective?
Frustratingly, young women seem to think that
marriage is the be all and end all.
Get married you're set for life.
Marriage = stability = happiness
Find a husband with a respectable job, is educated and has a good family background.
Preferably before you're 30, because after that you're chances of marriage are next to none. You're socially
undesirable if you're unmarried and already at
THAT age.
In other words, there's something wrong with you!
Parents worry when their daughters don't seem any
closer to bagging a husband.
Daughters stress when they don't seem any closer to
finding someone that can tick off the boxes.
Apparently there are now marriage events, conventions and parties held all for the sake of finding someone to marry.
Excuse me, but what happened to finding love?
Finding THE ONE that you want to spend your life with because you love them?
And not because they're simply a person that's raking
in the money so that you don't need to worry about the financial future, can happily produce children and play happy family.
Hang on a sec! Let's rewind a moment.
Who decided that marriage is necessary in achieving
happiness?
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
And I'm gonna spend that life enjoying every amazing
opportunity that comes my way.
And when they don't, I'm gonna make my dreams come true with my own two hands.
I've stepped outside of a tiny box, and found that the
world has so much to offer.
Crossing paths with interesting people, and throwing
myself into every new experience, I'm seeing things in a fresh perspective which keeps me growing as a person
Each day I'm grateful that I can experience, feel,
ponder - this is my freedom and my happiness.
Much love,
La'Belle
