A Different Perspective

How often do we view things from others' perspectives?


So Mr. Trainer told this awesome story in class. It would be a crime not to share with my fave 5.


Brian (young Mr. Trainer haha) was taking a journalism class in college. Everything's running smoothly until his best friend, Casey, walks into the room. Casey makes a loud entrance, sits down firmly in his seat and slams his books onto his desk.


After his disruption, the teacher walks up to him and asks him, "Do you have a problem?"


"Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I DO!"


For the next five minutes, Casey rips on the teacher, calling him unmentionable names. Casey hits the teacher, and then teacher gives him a good push back.


Finally, the teacher demands that Casey leave the room immediately. Casey storms out of the room and slams the door behind him.


Immediately, the teacher asks the entire class to pull out a piece of paper and pen, and write down everything that they just saw. After everyone writes down their version of what they saw, Casey walks back into the room, takes a seat in the back, and starts laughing.


It was a set-up.


Gotcha?


Yeah, he had me going there for a minute, too.


So what exactly was the point? When his teacher collected everyone's paper, everyone had told the exact same story - but differently. Everyone noticed different things, highlighted differences, and used completely different words. Yet they all witnessed the same event. I love it.

How often do I look at things from other people's perspectives? How often do I put myself in other people's shoes? I'm not really looking for a rebuke, but just trying to think about how often people try to see things from others' perspectives. Everyone sees things differently. Sometimes, it's a struggle to try to see life how other people see it - afterall, we all think differently.

I think you find the people that you are supposed to be the closest to, your closest friends, that significant other when you realize that you think most like those people. How can you establish a close relationship with someone when you think on completely different pages all the time? It's one thing to agree on a matter - it's another when you and that person really see most things the same way.

It's hard to really get close to a person when you just don't see things the way he or she does. I don't really think I'm in the dark in this conversation.

Thinking the same way (or in a similar way) is what really breaks the barrier between people and connects them. When you don't view things similarly, on what foundation can you establish a friendship, a relationship, or anything that's deeper then a nice acquaintance or distant friend?

I'm learning this semester to be more open to how others see life - and I'm also learning that I am closer to those who think more like I do. I know that since everyone is an individual, no ONE person will think exactly like I do, but I'm thankful that I'm not alone in how I feel about matters.

Those are the thoughts of the hour.