"If You Come Softly".....

I’m currently reading If You Come Softly which tells about a love story between 2 teenagers of different ethnic identity and religious belief. Their relationship was not easily accepted by the society and even the people close to them.

It reflects the time that most of us may have gone through at least once in our lifetime. It is the time when we feel that the whole world is against us. We feel that what we are doing is appropriate and makes perfect sense to us but others cannot see it our way. We believe that it is the fault of others and not ours.

This feeling is normal when we go through the teenage period. Feelings of uncertainty of what may lie ahead are paramount. Trying to assert our independence by seeking the freedom to exercise our preference is also of utmost importance during this period. Others fail to understand us but we certainly know what we want.

After the phase passes, we would remember it as a stage of confusion. It is considered as a phase when we were so focused on ourselves compounded with lack of experience of life that cause us to neglect others’ viewpoints.

I wouldn’t regret my attitude at that time. I believe it happened for a reason. I understand now that it was normal to feel that way. Most importantly is to learn the lesson from it. I learned that we should listen to others to broaden our perspectives and not be too focused on our own limited view of the world. Sharing does not necessarily mean agreeing but it would certainly enrich our lives and help us to strengthen our personality.