To change is to lose.

They teach you in grade school that if you want to make friends, all you have to do is be yourself. But what didn’t tell you was, it’s just a lie.

In the real world, being true to yourself will never get you acceptance. It would most of the time be a fodder for criticism rather than a catalyst for progression in the eyes of society. In the end, the only way to receive acceptance in this world is to change.

You'll need to change your line of thinking to match the preference of the world, wear different masks when mingling with different people in your social circles, and put up an act and try to please everyone around, in order to gain their trust and acceptance. And once you do, lies and deceit will become a part of your everyday life. You'll be living a complete and utter lie. A life that’s filled with nothing but superficial acceptance and self-deceit. Sounds stupid if you ask me.

Nevertheless, no matter how impractical it may seem, you have to do it. You have to do it in order fit in to society’s standards. Those who fail to cope with those standards are forced into isolation, and are cursed to walk their days alone as a loner.

But if you look at things in a different way, what's wrong with being alone. If you ask me, having all your time to yourself while being yourself is better than giving other people your precious time, pretending to be someone you're not. Human relationships also wouldn't be much of an issue since you keep your social circle to a maximum of two to zero. In short, you'd be leading a completely peaceful life. Although I'm sure they wouldn't understand. They only see one side of the box. That’s how society works.

Even if I have to be alone for the rest of my life, I won't change to be accepted, my resolve won't waver even a bit.

I won't lose to society.

_________________

Hiraoka Hiroshi

Class 2-E

A short reflection on today's soceity