Hello fellow city dwellers! I know you're all familiar with the old saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", but most people hear or say it without really thinking about what it means. Typically, once you get to the other side of the fence, you realize that it's actually no better or worse than where you started from - just different. And on the other side, perhaps are people wishing they could be where you are! Then, where do you think is best place for you to be? How can we decide?
Many people move to the city to attend school, find work or enjoy the excitement of city life. Many of the younger generation come to Tokyo for the endless variety of diversions. They'll also have a wider range of job choices, coupled with higher pay. According to an Asahi newspaper article, 91.9% of last year's university graduates in Tokyo found work in Tokyo. Unfortunately, regardless of whether people come from somewhere else or have been here all their lives, a common thread seems to be the feeling of not wanting to spend the rest of their lives here. Why? Is it because this is "The City", devoid of nature and wildlife? Are Tokyo and all the other large cities of the world, really such terrible places to live?
Now I'm living in Tokyo, but originally I'm from Morioka and hated Tokyo upon arrival. Of course I was able to enjoy myself when I got to do something fun, like going to theaters and game centers, trying out the wide variety of restaurants, or just being with my friends. But even so, Tokyo was suffocating for me. So many things I both heard and saw brought me down, and the tall buildings were weighing me down. The dirty air, exhaust fumes and noise - even now, everywhere I turn, there are people hurrying on their way to some destination that justifies them cutting me off. Bicycles coming out of nowhere overtake me. You know what I'm talking about because I know it's happened to you too! What else can we do - we get out of town!
This is the One of the reasons why traveling has become so commonplace in this day and age. People feel trapped and there is no other choice but to get away. Travel books appeal us, saying, "Come on! Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city!" "Forget the stress and strain of city life!" What a pity. We become incapable of tolerating city life and we have to go somewhere else to recover. Then it's back to the city to start all over again - caught in an endless loop. By traveling we can remove our stress for a while, but it's just temporary solution. The secret to a completely enjoyable life is in learning to enjoy our daily lives, no matter where we are or what we're doing.
I truly feel that we can remove the feeling of inescapable stress simply by changing our point of view. In my case, this summer I started walking more and found enclaves of nature hidden here and there that I would have previously believed could not exist in the city. Preconceived notions made me so blind, but once I opened my eyes and found a few places of interest, simply by diverting my course slightly, I became more and more adventurous. One night I walked from Ichigaya to Ebisu - it was so different from riding the train! After hours of walking, I eventually reached my destination, tired of course, but spiritually recharged! And sometimes the night sky is so beautiful, filled with the moon and stars. There they are, looking back down at you! And I feel that Tokyo exists for people to live. Change your point-of-view and change your life!
Life really is what you make of it. Even if you make complain about present situation, nothing will become better. If you feel uncomfortable, why not try to make progress from where you are. You're the one who can do it. because life really is what you make of it. The grass is just as green on your side of the fence as the other!
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", then, where is your best place to be? Best place is what you make of it...