Perspective is Valuable
The Crown series on Netflix is all about Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. I think the fact that she has one of the longest reigns in history makes the story of it one that offers us valuable glimpses into what is involved in leadership as well as in responsibility. Last night I watched an episode of where Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is invited along with her husband to spend a weekend at Balmoral castle with the royal family. Mrs. Thatcher doesn’t seem to be an outdoor person that takes to the hobbies the royal family enjoys. This is factual, I know. She was reported to be dressed inadequately and as dreading these trips to Balmoral.
At one point, Mrs. Thatcher gets excused from an outdoor endeavour to go and dress more appropriately. Being a workaholic, she utilizes it as an opportunity to do some work. The Queen’s sister Margaret walks in on her and rather rudely tells her that the chair she is sitting on used to be queen Victoria’s and that no one should sit on it. The provocation leads to a subdued conflict between the two. Mrs. Thatcher lets out that the activities she is invited to participate in, brings her “absolutely no enjoyment”. Even though I took Thatcher’s side in all of this, princess Margaret gives a brilliant response. I cannot recall her exact words but it was along the lines of: “Maybe the value of participating in them lies not in enjoyment but in gaining perspective”
I think we have given whether we enjoy something or not, way too much influence in our decisions. People who do only what they enjoy, become selfish people who spread little joy to others. They become people unable to see the world through the eyes of others. Ironically, Margaret Thatcher saw things from the common man’s perspective much better than the royals did in my opinion. I doubt if this exchange is factual and we will probably never know as both of Margaret Thatcher and Margaret Windsor have passed away.
What do you do that challenge you? What things should you value for the perspective it gives you even though it offers little in terms of entertainment? Do you perhaps need more such exposures to grow?
The world could be a very lonely and boring place if you only view it through your own perspective.
Gabriel J Snyman
November 17th 2020