Embrace The Differences
December 8, 2009 | 7:51 pm ShareIt is without doubt that each and every one of us humans are unique and special.
And because you’re so unique and special, there must be some differences in interests between you and your parents, your friends, your lover, your colleagues, and everyone else in the world.
There may be a lot, or there may be little. Some may upset you, some may excite you.
The challenge is, how to embrace the differences and make it something that excites you, not otherwise.
Three Different Girls Jumping
We Have Different Tastes
I have a friend who lives in UK. He’s enthusiastic about law studies, works as an IT support, an ex-trumpet player and loves jazz music.
He works night shifts and with his nocturnal vampiric times he chats with me about a lot of things. Indeed, he is very different from me. I’m a designer, a piano player, loves classical music, and I know nuts about law.
But we embraced our differences. We know that we both have different interests, and we both are eager to learn from each other. I always ask him about jazz music and he’s very willing to share. In fact after reading my blog on The Girl From Ipanema he recommended me some Bossa Nova classics that I couldn’t stop listening to.
Empathize
When I introduced Philippe Jaroussky singing “L’Heure Exquise” a few days ago, he listened and replied very honestly to me,
“I don’t know much about classical music, and I don’t get guys singing in high voice, but I guess it must be a pretty big thing for a 15yo.”
Yes, it’s that simple. He knows our difference, talked about the difference, and tried to find a middle ground both parties can stand and agree upon.
That, my friend, is the golden steps to empathize with your partner and embrace the differences between you two.
But I Can’t Stand It! Or Is It So?
There are rarely any really bad interests out there. Unless we’re talking about your boyfriend being a hardcore alcoholic or your girlfriend is an obsessed card-swipper, then embracing the differences may not be a good idea.
Otherwise, if you’re not a football fan and your friend is, why not try to understand him and ask him about it? Chances are he is very enthusiastic and very willing to tell you all about it.
Same goes to your Hong Kong drama-chaser friend. If you talked to her about the latest drama (ungh, the Chinese palace politics!), even you may have not watched it before she’ll probably brief you from episode 1 until the finale. Just give her an hour or two.
Interests are cultivated. That applies to your interests too. If they learned to love it, there must be something facinating about it. And it’s up to you to find out.
Learn From Each Other
While we all have at least a certain level of ego in us, usually it’s not a good thing to keep them high. Put your ego down and open your mind. We make friends, and especially lovers, to learn from each other.
You can see friends or lovers who have been together for years probably has more similarities than differences. I think it’s safe to say many of those similarities are not inherited, but cultivated. And they embraced the differences to make it that long.
So, what have you learned from your friend today?
Filed under: Life
Tags: differences, friendship, love
Comments (30)
Evan
December 8th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I agree,
some people dont get it
they want things to be their way
they never try to understand others
but by doing so
they have doomed themselves
William
December 8th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Being with many friends has taught me that people will never really see eye to eye, nor would they really want to.
kenwooi
December 8th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
we all learn throughout the process of living..
obstacles and challenges are inevitable in our life =)
Grey Ang
December 8th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
evan: yurp! so we should never be the “some people” who are ignorant :D
william: aww… well i’m sure people will eventually open up, especially when you’re together with them for some time :D keeping to oneself is a very tiring task!
kenwooi: yurp, very true! have to grow eventually :D
Seng Aik
December 9th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Great words, indeed!
learning to embrace the differences in each of us will lead to a better and peaceful world…when we stop being afraid of differences, that’s the end of discrimination…
dhar
December 9th, 2009 at 8:13 am
You know, I did realize a thing or two from this post. Sometimes I’ve been really intolerant towards loved ones. I expect them to be able to like what I like and yet I can’t like what they like… It has caused me so much of heart breaks and problems.
I feel that maybe I need a change. And I hope there is a second chance. I’m waiting for a reply from someone this morning. And if I do get that second chance, I’ll keep up with what I learnt from your blog post, and you’d get a “thank you” comment :)
Wish me luck…
bengbeng
December 9th, 2009 at 9:08 am
i have learned to unexpected coz no two persons is similar 100%. this post u wrote well.
Paul
December 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Great looking template! Certainly different from the last one :)
Dhar
December 9th, 2009 at 6:02 am
here's your
THANK YOU :)
get well soon… i'll keep you in my prayers :)
willie
December 9th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
hi,
Thanks for visiting my blog in the first place. Yes, there are things that we can do to carter for our differences. Good thoughts there.
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 8:07 am
no problem! you got a good blog there too :D and yurp, i'm sure we can do many stuffs for a better world :D
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 8:08 am
haha sure sweetie! :D glad that you're all good now!
Gratitude
December 9th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Agreed with you totally!
Attachment to self''s familiarities and ego is often the cause to ones own downfall. I always tell the peeps I know that we should be thankful for the bitter lessons in life for they are our teachers, and not rejoice too much in our successes, bcoz it makes us complacent and depletes our merits.
I also believe that we should be more open, to step out from our comfort zone to embrace the differences. It gives us the adventurous edge and would probably create new interests in us too.
Another good post! Meow!
+Ant+
serious_sam_hk
December 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
8 out of my 10 labmates are malays,
so basically we have lunch together everyday..
one day one of them asked me:
“kamu setiap hari ikut kami orang makan makanan melayu, masih ingat lagi kamu orang cina tak?”
“haha, kamu nak ikut saya makan bak kut teh pun boleh ma…”
“nak nak! tapi mak tak bagi la…..”
“hahaha, kesiannya….”
my point of view, treat those sensitive aspects of difference with a bit sense of humour…
but it is only applicable those those open minded de la…
Joanna
December 9th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I think the things that make us all different are the things that makes this world such an interesting place with its diverse culture, interests and talents to indulge in :) Diversity unites people in some ways ….
Great post by the way :)
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:25 am
haha thanks Ant! yup, it's true that if we are to embrace the differences we can create a much better and tolerant world. after all, what's more important for us humans than to interact and build relationships for the better us? :D
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:25 am
thanks bengbeng! yup, no two berson is the same at all! ;)
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:27 am
haha, i like your malay friend! yurp it is pretty great if they can treat those small thing with humor :D
i have a vegetarian friend and we joke about it all the time. we called him a cow and he called us dogs (cause we eat anything, lulz). but we took no offense, it's all just pure fun :D
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:39 am
thank you Joanna! and yup, it is diversity that makes this world interesting and makes the world a living playground. and life is a journey to learn and grow :D
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
seng aik: yes, i do agree :D if we can just embrace the differences in each one of us the world could be a much better place :)
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
dhar: aww! well i hope that you will get your problems solved soon… we all have problems definitely, we just have to get it solved eventually :D
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
paul: haha thanks! made some modifications on the template here and there all the time :)
techna
December 9th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Ehh so cute, your comment section changed! I like this better, can see your replies to the individuals :) I think you have a lot of great ideas when it comes to blogging, every time I come, I see something new, and I feel inspired as a person :) GREAT JOB!! :)
Ed
December 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
damn! your blog is fabulous!!
Grey Ang
December 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
haha thanks for the compliment Ed! :D
conancat
December 9th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
haha thanks Dhar! I guess you can say that I am constantly looking for ways to improve the blog, lol. and you're my no.1 supporter, i appreciate it Dhar!! :D
ericlee
December 9th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
well….we are special because we are different from each and everyone. wait? since all of us are special then what's so special about being special? hm…i wonder
anyway, i guess our differences could eventually leads to attraction since each and every human being long for something the don't have…that's why in most case, opposites attracts..
Dhar
December 9th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
OMG I am :) that's nice to hear. I do like all your posts especially the one on undies and gays. Some of your posts are funny and light-hearted, others are serious and makes me thing. I've changed within the short span of looking through your blog, to become a better person. There's so much to learn in so little time and I'm glad you've placed a great avenue for people to laugh and think through your blog :)
omg I just realised my name changed back to Techna… hmph!
conancat
December 10th, 2009 at 4:17 am
haha… well just because we're all special, so being special is nothing to feel special about. if you're able to make the best out of your specialness, then you're really, really special then :D and yurp, i agree thats why opposite attracts!
conancat
December 10th, 2009 at 4:18 am
haha well glad that my blog posts made you thinking! your blog posts made me think too, thats why i read ur blog often too! :D and meh, techna and dhar, split personality? lol. which is which? xD
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