Switched-On :: Blog

In an earlier blog entry, Phy discussed the idea of vulnerability in relationships with others. Although I would love to agree with that view on how being vulnerable opens us up to the possibility of love and being able to truly live, it also opens us up to being hurt. Now, that may sound like a bad thing, but it allows us to learn. To learn who we should trust and who we shouldn’t trust. I believe there should be a certain set of ambiguous criteria that we use to determine who is worthy of our trust. Of course, time is one of these important factors to take into account as you can see who sticks around for your bad times versus those who are only around when your life is all nice and glorious. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing to be vulnerable because no one can be strong all the time, but it is only ideal to give them the chance to see you vulnerable (never perfectly sure) after you’ve spent some portion of your life with them.
- Vivian

We all want to think of ourselves as winners, as the strong and resilient in love and relationships. After a break up, we’d like to say: “I’ve come out stronger.” And when someone we dislike like us, we’d love to brush it off and say: “I deserve the better.” However, love simply means someone is willing to be vulnerable to embrace one another. Rejection, thus, is just the lack of a similar response. But only when we are willing to be vulnerable would we be able to open ourselves to the possibility of love. Our vulnerability forces us to depend on and empathize with other people. The next time when you think: “Will that make me look desperate? Will that hurt my pride?,” you are shielding yourself from the possibilities of truly living.
- Phy

Cheating is a big topic. I see it a lot with my peers and on television. I am very opposed to cheating. If I find out that someone who cheats on their partner I become very disappointed. People should not have to cheat and there is no reason for it. If you are in a relationship, you are in it for a reason. Do not go off and be with someone else. People give so many excuses for why they decided to cheat but those are just stupid excuses and are not valid. Just recently Ashton Kutcher and his wife decided to get a divorce. It is most likely caused by her finding out that he was not faithful to her. That just loses my respect for Ashton. He seems like a good guy, why would he want anything else besides his wife. People can be very unintelligent at times when it comes to relationships
- Tatiana

It is easier for us all to hang around people we know or like. It is easier for us all to consider someone who holds a different point of view as an idiot – after all, we like to think that our opinions are right and we are the smarter ones. But it is necessary for each of us to inquire into others’ perspective. If others’ perspectives are so idiotic, why would there be people holding those views? “Because they are stupid or evil” is not a valid answer. Would those people think that you are stupid and evil as well? There is a lack of understanding between people from different points of views, cultures or ideologies. If only we all can engage in a thoughtful conversation, how many arguments would be resolved peacefully?
- Phy