Two books I’ve read recently, The Sympathizer by a Vietnamese author, and another about a Latvian protagonist, have led me to think about our cultural stories and how they help shape our identities—and also our personalities.
More specifically, the amount of time I’ve invested in my mum’s life stories—listening and recording them—have made me see her as a deep, complex and unique person. And I love her as I didn’t before. This has been rewarding, but also humbling. Because isn’t it what we all are? My instinct, which is to invest similarly in all the people I care about feels overwhelming because it’s impossible to do. What’s doable is to accept and treat people as unique individuals who are worthy of respect and love.
What a roundabout way to reach a truth.
July 13 2024
