The freedom to have your own perception
Since I left Brazil, I’ve been living a unique experience here in the U.S., specifically in Seattle, where I’ve been living for six years. Why a unique experience? Because each person has a relative perception of their own experience. Thus, I came across the contrast between the culture I grew up with and the one I am experiencing now. Why does traveling and learning about different cultures broaden your mind? Because you are noticing contrast, perceiving differences without judging them as right or wrong, but instead gaining more knowledge.
If there were only one musical note, we wouldn’t be able to hear it, but it’s the contrast of other musical notes that makes it perceptible. Since every experience is unique, depending on each person’s perception, it means we are individuals. If God is one and is within us, we consider ourselves individuals, and the fact that 8 billion human beings are incarnated and living on this plane shows that each has their own value and something to add to humanity.
In MY perception, I noticed that here in the U.S., I have more freedom of choice than I did in my country. Don’t be foolish in thinking individualism is something selfish; when we talk about altruism, we are talking about individual choices to help others. It’s about seeing others as a part of myself, with my own responsibility, under the idea of unity. Feeling the desire to be closer to others in a way that caring for them is like caring for myself—and it’s not what we see on the internet with people posting about helping others; that’s not altruism, but a false desire to appear useful in a superficial way.
No one needs to tell others what to do; if God has given us the tool of contrast and perception, we should use it on our life journey. If you encounter a “toxic” person along your path, you might think of distancing yourself from them because they might hinder your journey. But perhaps this was the perfect moment for you to teach this person something good, something that could even improve their life, but you chose to distance yourself for your own benefit—self-interest, in other words. Nothing and no one can take you off your path.
Altruism crosses your path precisely at that moment, because you have the potential to help and listen to others, regardless of class, color, or gender. I still need to experience many other cultures to perceive more contrast, but the life experience I am having right now, with all its events and encounters, is one of freedom to be who I am.”