Idealism? No: creativity.

I used to think I was a realist. Santa didn't exist, friends wouldn't last, and money meant success. But sometime between my childhood and now, this cynicism turned into idealism. While I am yet to believe that there exists a man with a belly too large to fit a chimney and can travel the world in a single night, now, I reject these remaining "universal truths." Call me an idealist, but I prefer to think of myself as a creator of possibilities.

One of my greatest ideals lies in people. Although the infamous Golden Rule--treat others the way you want to be treated--was one I never believed in, I subconsciously started applying it to my relationships more recently. Because I surround myself with people whose presence I genuinely enjoy, doubts about whether they feel the same for me never occur. Why should I doubt their actions and intentions? Of course, many friendships fail as a result of a variety of seemingly uncontrollable factors. But, what friendship would succeed when even its involved parties don't believe in it? (Beyond friendships, do prenups set a precursor for divorce? I'll figure that out in fifteen years.)

The other is in the world. Yes, I am aware of the millions of political, social, and economical flaws that hold us back from complete peace; but to think that our regression toward Earth's destruction cannot be reversed is cowardly. Why not pursue net zero emissions? This simple question leads me to doubt and simultaneous reaffirmation: A couple weeks ago I told my uncle that I want to major in Urban Studies. And in response, he told me he would add me to his will. As much as I worry that I won't be able to afford the lifestyle I dream of with whatever job Urban Studies can get me, I know this lifestyle would much better match my expectations if the globe didn't lie in ruins.

Looking back on who I was as a child, I realize that I wasn't a realist, but a pessimist. Why give up on the best by labeling dreams as unattainable?

Comments

Pick Your Poison

Would you rather find out that your significant other is cheating on you or never find out? Though very far away and presumably irrelevant to your and my current circumstances, this question raises an issue that's not so far from what we know: Is ignorance really bliss? Sure, I typically respond to the opening question by selecting the latter choice of oblivion as I imagine the pain and hassle it entails, but after I contemplate and fight my instinct, I choose the wiser option. The more daunting one. I choose to pop the bubble of ignorance and learn the truth. Let's break it down. Your significant other is cheating on you. This action may be a result of a few reasons, the major being dissatisfaction in the relationship and/or sole disloyalty and a lack of integrity. A cheater is prone to cheating more than once, and if one continues it may just be a sign of bad character. Do you really want to be with someone who isn't committed to you? Someone who doesn't find satisfa...

Welcome Back

Every meeting, email, or letter begins with a greeting. "Good morning," "hello," or "dear *recipient.*" Only once an opening has been made can the intent of communication be addressed. However, though unnecessary in content, such polite phrases serve to transition and maintain friendly relations beyond just solemn work. In Korean, the staple greeting comparable to "hi" or "hello," literally means, how are you? However, no one interprets it that way or responds to the question. Despite not staying true to its meaning, it is a necessary means of easing into the meat of a conversation. Very isolated from the other employees, I often found myself asking for favors or questions at work without saying "hi" or "how are you" first. I noticed I was disrupting their work and disregarding their existence as a person and instead only seeing them as a source of inquiry. By bypassing any greeting, any conversation becomes too a...

The Fiction of Eye Contact

This picture makes me so uncomfortable. While it's eye-opening to find reason behind the normalities of point of view in film, the eye-level shot appears far from normal in my eyes. Is it the purple suit? The hands crossed? Or the specific positioning of the viewer on a table that makes me so uneasy? It's probably a combination of my suspicions, but I've decided that to its core, it's the eye contact that creates my discomfort. Most of these types of shots never reach the extent of eye contact. Instead, the similarity in levels creates a feeling of similarity shared by the character and viewer. There is no power disparity, no difference in viewpoint. Look at Forrest Gump and this eye-level shot (note that he's not looking at you). But once eye contact comes into play, the connection is too strong. Of course, any good producer will aim to form a connection for an audience to a film. However, there's comfort in a screen lying between a film and its viewer. It...

Thoughts Behind...

Search This Blog