Perspective · 4:38am Aug 22nd, 2014
Alright, before we kick this opinion blog off, I wanted to apologize for me recent blogs. Looking back at it, I feel like a petty, whiny bitch for even making them. The second one was a knee-jerk reaction o a comment posted on the first one, and the first one was just me venting my frustration about the lack of attention my new story got. I won't be deleting them, as for the most part I do agree with what I said in them, but in the end I just shouldn't have posted them at all.
Anyway, with that out of the way, onto my opinions.
A friend and I had a discussion recently, and while the path we took was long, arduous, and very confusing, what's important in this case is the destination. What it boiled down to, is what's more important to you; your own happiness or someone else's. He lives in the U.S. and I in Canada.
First off, my perspective. As far as I'm concerned, if there's something I can do to make someone else happy, then I'll do it. I don't care what I have to do or what ends up happening to me, if it honestly, truly makes them happy I'll do the best I can. I later figured out where this desire came from, but that's for later.
My friend prioritized his own happiness, claiming that if he was happy, he could then in turn share it with others. He put himself and his family before other people, accepting the fact that he simply couldn't make everyone happy, and was not willing to sacrifice to make other happy.
I watched a video a while ago, I'm sure some of you have seen it, of a couple guys who went out, found two homeless people (somewhere in America; I can't remember why) and had them arm wrestle. The winner got $100. For those of you who haven't seen the video, basically one guy won and was given the $100. The people hosting the show were always intending to give the loser $50 as a consolation prize. However, the guy who won immediately took half the money and gave it to the other guy, and wouldn't take no for an answer. He was willing to give away half his own money to someone just as in need as he was.
Perspective changes everything.
My friend explained that he thinks the way he does because of the atmosphere he grew up in; America, capitalist, so on so forth. My view comes from the fact that I basically value myself at less than nothing, and feel that if I can make other people happy. In my mind, it doesn't matter what happens to me as long as someone is happy because of it. The homeless man value both himself and the other guy as equal, and spread the happiness around. The different view points from different environments makes all the difference. Most people who are rich today were born rich, and those who made their fortunes normally have a very different view than those who were born into it.
I'm going to say it flat out; not everyone is equal. Not in the way that one is more than the other, but in the way that everyone is different and has had different experiences. This is why social equality is so hard to achieve in our world. Everyone has a different perspective, and as long as that continues to be true no two people can ever be truly equal.
But that's not really the problem.
The problem is that governments are controlled in most cases by only one group of people with similar perspectives. like in America, where the government is controlled by those with the money. I'd say the same for Canada too, but honestly I don't pay any attention to what's going on in our government. It's not as interesting to me as America. Until we get an equal amount of multiple perspectives involved in government, our world is not going to change at all. But that's not even going to happen, because those currently in power don't want it to happen, and they have the power to stop it.
So we're stuck in a rut, a rut growing deeper and deeper with every passing year. Not just Canada or America, but the entire world. This same problem can be seen everywhere. The difference in perspective between groups is simply too big. A middle ground is too far away from either group.
My friend asked me, during our discussion, if I would rather myself be happy or someone else be happy.
I'd rather see another happy than be so myself.
My friend asked me what I'd chose if I had to pick between my job and making someone else happy.
I'd gladly lose my job to make someone happy.
I'd be damn proud of it.
Because people should be happy, and someone has to work for it. Better me than them.
Robin Williams understood this concept, I think better than anyone. Day in day out he made people laugh. He battled with his depression every minute of every hour, and still he found the time to brighten someone else's day.
To be the only person around a group who's unhappy, because he's given all his happiness to the group, is an interesting perspective. it's not quite like looking through a window, but more like a mirror, with the group of happy people standing behind you. You can see both them and yourself, and it looks like you don't belong. You're the odd one out. You can see them in the background, smiling at you, silently thanking you for making them happy, but when you try to join them, you just walk towards the mirror and away from the group.
My life is a cake; everyone gets a slice, but there's none of me left behind when everyone's had their fill.
Maybe one day, things will change. Maybe perspectives will eventually grow closer together and we can find a middle ground that is within both our boarders.
Maybe one day I'll turn away from the mirror, and walk into the group.
But until then, I'll donate every last drop of happiness I have for the betterment of other's lives.
These have been my opinions, and now I have some stories to write.
Until next time,
Kodeake out
Interesting philosophy. Sacrificing the needs and wants of the self for the happiness of others. I think there are some Buddhists or something that live the same way. Anyway, living like that must sure rack up some karma points for the next life!
If it makes you feel better, none of my blogs really ever get any significant amout of views, regardless of their importance.