2023-02-05 - Perspectives

A while ago I was walking down the street when I saw a hotel employee carrying the luggage of a fancy looking couple into a hotel. This started me thinking about how different some people's lives are. Having someone carrying their luggage probably feels normal for them but I would find it weird. "I can do that, you don't need to do that". Maybe they do find it weird. Maybe they only recently came into money or this is a special trip to commemorate their anniversary or they just find it weird even though it's how things have always been for them.

I've also been thinking about this in regards to pastimes. I look at people who play instruments or cook amazing meals and wish I could do that. There's no reason I can't except that I have my spare time ear marked for other things. Writing stuff like this, learning about computers, working on programming projects. Those other people aren't doing those things which is why they can cook and play music. I can't not program though just as they can't not cook or play instruments. Different people have different things that interest and excite them.  

I enjoy my life. I think I had a pretty good childhood. I think I have good opinions about things. I think I'm productive in my free time. But I also think a lot of people would look at my life and go "huh?". I would probably do the same about their lives. The human experience is so varied that it's almost unnerving to think about. The number of people living entirely different lives. With different opinions, thoughts and priorities. There's people who can waste a billion dollars without blinking and there are people who would do anything for 5 cents.

It's difficult to understand people when you only see them through your own perspective. Through your own experiences. They don't share those experiences or perspectives so it's very unlikely that they will make sense in that context. To make sense of people you have to shift into their perspective, think about what they've experienced.

People are complicated.