“In a city teeming with …

"In a city teeming with people, it is easy to be seen by many but never truly seen." - Michael Jay

Riding on a packed Metro, reading a great book in an happening park, eating at "OMG! Can't believe I got a table at blah blah blah!" a.k.a the new 'it' restaurant, standing in crowded sports bar cheering on the local team or running for miles and miles through the clogged streets of a bustling downtown  - all of these can describe the loneliest places a city has to offer. Didn't you know, crowded cities are the new lonely.

Living in a city is to live in close proximity to large amalgamations of people, most of which will never ever know a single thing about you.  Leaving your small town, where yes everybody does know your name, was surely stifling and unsatisfying so a major change was in order. Little did you know that more people does NOT equal more friends, connectivity and, least of all, concern about your well-being. Until you make new friends, you are more alone then ever.

The more effort you put into going out and doing fun, exciting things, the more depressed you feel. If you build up the courage to leave your brand new amazingly tiny condo, you'll soon find walls of people that all seem so content and even friendly--just not with you. Why would they be? They don' know you or even reason to...

The scenario is the classic 'damned if you do, damned if you don't.' Going anywhere means leaving the loving walls that surround you in your home and in it's place are walls of people that couldn't care less about you. Doubt creeps into your head as you hear the whispers of your hometown getting louder and you begin to doubt your choice. Maybe cities are too big, too uncaring, too unfamiliar and just too lonely.

And then...

...you make friends. You laugh your way through hours on packed Metros, you horse in happening parks, you eat at "OMG! Can't believe I got a table at blah blah blah!" a.k.a the ALL new 'it' restaurants, you stand with others in crowded sports bar cheering on the local team or and you look forward to running alone for miles and miles through the clogged streets of the bustling downtown to have a few quiet moments. The world wasn't tilted, it was just flipped upside down; now you are as well. Soon you realize that, like with finding jobs and getting ahead in life, it's always always always about who you know!

“One person’s craziness…

“One person's craziness is another person's reality.” Tim Burton

Everyone has their own perspective when it comes to nearly everything. Putting yourself in position to truly see a situation through the eyes of others is typically pretty unimaginable. How can anyone who isn't you truly understand your perspective since shaped by your experiences, who you've met, what you've done, what you believe and who you are overall.

It is absolutely possible to gain perspective through new experiences and interactions. The best thing anyone can do is to be open and attentive in the situations you encounter. Yesterday, did my best to be open while driving a massive Penske moving truck, easily the largest vehicle I've ever driven, on a highway for 4 hours. It was quite the revelation. For the first time, I felt connected to Semi trucks, I rocked the slow lane and I was the immovable object that I would typically zip around.

For me, the Penske truck driving example is what I call a "small potatoes" example but it opened my eyes and I could feel it changing my perspective. I challenge anyone who reads this to make yourself open to finding ways to expand or manipulate or simply gain perspective as you live your life. I certainly didn't anticipate what I would gain in the Penske situation but I'm happy for it and I can't wait for more opportunities!

 

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