"Since I was 21, I have never been lonely. The opportunities granted to me at the beginning helped me not only to lead a happy life but to be happy in the life I led. I have been aware of my shortcomings and my limits, but I have made the best of them. When I was tormented by what was happening in the world, it was the world I wanted to change, not my place in it."
This particular quote rings true with me when I was turning 20 and absolutely freaking out because I was no longer a teenager and thus leaving a safety zone. The future seemed vague and scary, a grey mist of which I fumbled in for a very long time. I sank into a state of mild depression that was not easily detected by my loved ones. For a whole year it seemed, there was lots of soul searching and plenty of reflection. I was in an industry that was demanding and stressful. It robbed me of spirit, soul and youthfulness. At 20, I felt awfully young and inexperienced. It reflected in my appearance, my ideas and most embarrassingly of all, in my speech My vocabulary was painfully limited for a job that called for all kinds of twisting of words. When I decided to return to school and pursue a degree, things finally started falling into place. This occurred after my 21st birthday and it symbolically marked a new matured me.
"The word love has by no means the same sense for both sexes, and this is one cause of the serious misunderstandings that divide them."
When I read this quote a couple of years ago, a light bulb suddenly ignited in my head. This was in essence the argument that I have been trying to explain to past boyfriends on the reason why "I love you" has different contexts for either of us. I don't mean to be difficult, but my idea of love does not and should not be completely identical to my partner. I think the variation creates layers of depth and possibilities to explore. When two people only have one thought or idea going on between them, I think it destroys any sense of intrigue and mystery.
"In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation."
This is often how I feel when someone spouts lyrical over the complexities of human relationships. Why are some people gay, bisexual etc. The fact of the matter is, sexual orientation is part of a person identity and yes, it shapes and dictates certain behaviors, thoughts and dress sense. The notion that a person is asexual, is often perceived to be an oddity. One who free floats above the norms of society. It perplexes me because I have been guilty of such judgement. Yet, there is wisdom in this theory. If human beings really are to be tolerant of one another, then they should strip away every (mis)conception of peoples' sexual orientation and view them as merely a fellow human being. I know, easier said than done.
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