One of the most important lessons I've learned from becoming more involved with on-line communities is perspective. One simple little word, but it holds so much meaning. There really is a great big world out there. Sure we can watch the nightly news and get an idea of what's going on in the world, but the nightly news doesn't tell us what makes people in different parts of the world tick.
Most of us go through life with blinders on. We know what we want out of life and it must be the same for everybody else. Don't get me wrong, there are some universal needs, such as a desire to provide food and shelter for our families, but beyond that our interests often diverge, and that's perfectly okay.
Sitting through one of the coldest winters on record in North America it seems easy to dismiss the idea of global warming as a myth. But in a discussion with someone in Serbia, I was reminded that things can be very different in other areas of the world. In fact they've had a very mild winter, very little snow.
I don't wish to discuss the arguments for and against global warming here, my point is simply that we need to keep ourselves open to different views of the world. The on-line world really can enrich our lives, by introducing us to people we would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
Perspective, it really is a powerful world. Don't get me wrong, in order to be successful in life you need to soak up all the experiences that you can. This must include a healthy offline lifestyle as well. Engage with your family and friends. Maintaining diverse interests will provide you with the keys to success.
When you find what you're passionate about remember to use all that you learn from others to drive you towards success. For me that passion is writing, and in this medium it is important to draw upon all of your experiences to grab and maintain your readers attention. Broadening your perspective gives your material substance. It speaks to your readers.
If there's one thing I would want someone to take away from this post it's that we should never dismiss the point of view of others. We don't have to agree with everyone on everything. That's simply not possible. What we should do is try to understand there point of view, we'll be so much richer for it. How has interacting with others on-line helped you gain a little perspective? Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.
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