My first book is EXTREMELY repetitive. It is all about us. It is all about relativity, value, and perspective- three concepts that only exist the way that they do because of us- and three concepts that ‘could’ exist differently within each of us and as a species as a whole. We are not only the only beings that can perceive, relate, and value like we do, but we are also the only ones that can improve our selves and/or the world, by changing the mentality that spawns those thoughts.

I have already, or will make separate posts about relativity and value, but perspective is the sum of both and I want to address it ‘on its own’ so to speak… or write as the case may be. We already realize what perspective is in a general sense- it’s our point of view- what we see and determine. It’s our likes, dislikes, imagination, analyses, beliefs, knowledge, dreams, nightmares, thoughts, and everything we actually see visually. It is what we see and how we see it.

“Okay great, so since we know this, why write a post on it?”

Like I mentioned (I wrote it’s repetitive), perspectives can change. Because they can change, writing about them, thinking about them, and challenging them ‘can’ matter. Changing the cause (your mind) can change the effects (your actions and of ALL of the results of them [refer to relativity]). As I sit here writing, and as you sit there reading, we both have some specific perspective. We look at all the information in our brains a certain way. We rarely, if ever, even question if we are looking at it ‘right’ or if the information we have is incomplete. Us humans happen to be very fallible and very capable of getting better. We can easily make mistakes, but we can also recognize what’s needed to fix them, and do so. We have a very contradictory mentality at our core. And we (at least you and I) will for as long as we live. Because we have the ability to ignore change, and the ability to actually change, taking a fair and honest look at our perspective potentially matters… A LOT.

I want you to think about what you currently perceive- what do you see as an individual human being?- and how do you see it? Do you visually see or think about sex, cars, money, TV shows, movies, celebrities, your family, a significant other, trees, pets, polar bears, the atmosphere, gravity, galaxies, unicorns, god/s, a lack of a god/s, food, bills, work, government, taxes, morals, corruption, war, traffic signs, buildings, streets, books, computers, internet, errands, abuse, violence, clouds, stars, light, school, clothing, your looks, others looks, sports, video games, comics, your safety, starvation, economics, dancing, music, drinking, racing, dragons, and/or something else? There is just AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT TO PERCEIVE and that is a tip of the tip of a possibly endless iceberg. It is a tough thing to do, and something we don’t do impulsively, but taking a look at this HUGE amount of information differently is the only way to progress. This is because it’s just much easier for us to absorb and accept or deny information. In order to ever take on a new perspective, you have to see the one you have first however.

“I see brown and green things. I learned that they are called trees and have no problem with that, so I accept trees. I learned about government and how the three branches work. I see no problem, so I accept government. I learned about gay people, but I don’t like it, so I accepted that they’re different and deny that they should have the same rights. I learned about playing football, christianity, and blonde white girls. I like it, so I accepted it and play football, love jesus, and married a blonde white girl. I absorbed and accepted all the things I like around me. I consider them to be who I am- ‘I am’ a football player. ‘I am’ a conservative christian. ‘I am’ a husband.”

Everything we absorb without thinking about it (most stuff) still gets used to create our perspective. You have to RECOGNIZE that you can and have assumed much your knowledge and beliefs. We don’t go to school, or send our kids to school, after weighing our options. We don’t believe in driving by considering it. We don’t believe in working after questioning the alternatives. We don’t ever look for a down side to going to the movies, watching TV, raising a family, paying taxes, buying things, and our entire lives as social beings. We don’t create our perspective by choice. We create it by assumption- absorb and subconsciously determine.

The point of all this is that THERE ARE OPTIONS. There are always options. There are different paths we can take. We don’t have to accept or deny existing information in order to live. In fact, it’s often better if we don’t in this day and age. To deny our humanity the chance to even see these options is often very negative. There are often far better perspectives and in turn paths to take for us.

Do you honestly believe war, hate, fear, greed, or bigotry is ever the best option? Do you think our prison system can’t be improved? Do you think government can’t be more effective? Do you think your child learns exactly what is best? Do you think you could do something more productive than watch TV? Do you think that considering your impact on the environment could matter? Do you ever think about your contribution to anything you don’t like about your society? Do you think you could be a better person- improve your own personal humanity- by dealing with your impulsive faults and incredible potential?

Our perspectives are HUGE- they determine our actions- and our actions determine all the effects we have. Those effects are WAY BIGGER and BROADER than we can possibly understand. We matter a lot. Our effects matter to all other life on this planet… but most of all we matter to our selves. We can improve our lives by just taking on new perspectives.

I don’t know about you, but I ‘see’ that as plenty of reason to keep trying to do so.