Hope

One of the main reasons I’ve immersed myself into anime the way I have is because of its great wealth of optimism. In almost no other medium can so much hope be found. Like everything, anime has its fair share of darker themes, but even in some of them there is often subtle optimism deeper in the presentation – Texhnolyze would be one perfect example of this.

Honey & Clover is always amazing, and the second series if you haven’t noticed from my recent entries is just as good and looks to shine as bright if not brighter than the first. One of the main themes of Honey & Clover is unrequited love, and it’s something I’ve both felt myself and encountered throughout my life.

Also in anime, there is a partiucalrly Zen-like focus on enjoying everyday life, or a celebration of the mundane and commonplace. Not being a religious person doesn’t stop me from appreciating such perspectives, and I’ve found that in my own life, much separated from the any possible influence of anime, I’ve grown to think quite similarly. In the west sometimes I think cultures become far too focussed on grand exaggerated things, and people can be tempted to see what life they live in-between those moments as uneventful and invalid, sometimes a waste.

Progressing further along this line of thought, in regards to emotions, desires and our actions to love, sometimes I think we’re tempted to believe that unless we enter into a perfect relationship with whomever we love, that our efforts are in vain, or amount to nothing unless they end in perfection. We always seem so focussed on this illusive destination that in reality doesn’t exist. Joining with someone in intimacy is only the beginning – not only the beginning of challenges and difficulties, but only the beginning of endless opportunities for joy, happiness and understanding.

In my life I’ve learnt to treasure all things – be they exciting or not, be they grand momentous occasions or everyday mundane actions. Further to that, I’ve learnt that nothing I’ve ever felt has been in vain. All the precious emotions I’ve ever felt are still a part of me today – all the people I thought I loved and tore myself up over, stayed up all night worrying about, distracted myself to madness obsessing over them in my thoughts, and equally as important, all the mistakes I’ve made and continue to make along the way.

Nothing is wasted. The way you feel about the one who doesn’t love you, the way you try and try and try to resolve things in an endless cycle that often ends in dispair and separation, all the bitterness and helplessness you feel when things don’t work out – it’s all valid. Don’t supress it or erase it from memory, don’t worry at yourself that there’s something wrong with you for not being able to cope. When things don’t turn out for you, you’re supposed to be upset about it – well, to be more truthful, you’re supposed to feel whatever it is you feel. When I think back on every moment I was distressed, I really do reflect on them in fondness, and now when I feel equally as distressed, there’s a part of my heart that celebrates the feeling, and a part of my mind that knows that the feeling is good and valid and won’t last forever.

I had so much more to say, so much more enthusiasm and encouragement, but I’m at work and it’s the end of the day. Perhaps I’ll elaborate on certain elements later on, but in short – bad stuff is good, watch anime, don’t stop loving.

I’ve turned somewhat into a hippie…