We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be like other people. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
In movies, on television, within songs, in books and newspapers and blogs, we read and hear and see about other people and what they have and what they've done. Does this mean that we covet those attributes and accomplishments? I think not neccessarily.
These things we do can be ways to connect to others. We read and watch to learn about others, to learn to connect with others. The world is not supposed to be a self-centered place, but an other-centered arena. Once we get the hang of that by understanding others, we can become more about others. The learning process takes longer for some than for others.
In make-believe, we learn methods of communication and dealing. It makes us who we are, more of who we are, not less like we are, but to be truly who we are. In reality, we can decide if there's a learned attribute that we would like or we would not like. The quote above could very well also say that we forfeit a part of ourselves NOT to be like other people, but to show others a better way. Giving and taking, taking and giving. That's connecting, a relationship of sorts.
What can we do and say for one another? We can be the best person that we can be. We don't forfeit ourselves in order to be like other people, but we may temporarily forfeit a part of ourselves for the sake of another person. That is the life of a person.
1 comment:
I agree. I believe we use each other as examples from clothing and hair styles to attitudes to the things we overhear being said by somebody else. It is all examples of things that we would like to implement or try in our lives OR items that draw our attention to them as things to stay away from in life.
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