The first thought that popped into my head when I started writing this post was “am I a cynic or a positive person?”, and to be honest Im not really sure. In regards to myself and the people aroud me, I’m more inclined to look for the good rather than the bad and focus on that, but in regards to the world at large, I’m almost completely apathetic. I see no reason to look for anything good because there’s so much crap in the world that it seems pointless. Even those occasional moments of heroism or miracles just end up getting drowned beneath the constant stream of death, scandal and destruction. On second thought, I’m definitely a cynic.
I think it’s ineivitable that you’ll become somewhat more cynical the older you get, especially in your teen years. Just how much depends on your surroundings and experiences, but (from a cynic’s point of view) being critical of things is essential so that you can live your life without being taken advantage of by others. The key idea here is that this is only necessary as you get older and need to learn independence. When you’re young and (presumably) safe and in the company of loved ones, this type of thought process isn’t necessary. You really can enjoy life to the fullest.
And that’s where Yotsuba comes in. TheBigN wondered why people can’t take her philosophy to heart, and though I was exaggerating, I really think this is the case. You can levy all sorts of arguments agains the manga and how it’s unrealistic or how Yotsuba’s childhood is idealised, but there are a couple of things wrong with that. First, saying in itself coming from a cynical point of view, believing in the worse aspects of childhood, and second, realism isn’t the point of the manga. As an outsider looking in, we may be able to see what’s strange about Yotsuba’s point of view and recognise things that she can’t, but regardless we’re meant to empathise with her and experience the world though her eyes. It’s strange, really – my mindset always changes drastically whenever I’m reading a chapter of Yotsubato. It’s impossible for me not to feel good while reading it. I think Azuma’s got something special in how he’s able to create this feeling of wonderment and joy in the most mundane of daily events and have it felt so strongly by anyone who reads the manga. Yotsuba’s positive and energy is just so infectious, not just to us as readers, but to the people she interacts with. Everyone’s able to act as childish as they please and experience those moments and feelings they once had themselves.
But nevertheless, I don’t think I’ll be able to take on the philosophy of “ENJOY EVERYTHING”. It would be more foolish and ignorant than anything, because as much as I’d like to think otherwise, everything isn’t always enjoyable. “Enjoy what you can” would work better, or “treasure the good times”. Thinking this way is better (and probabaly healthier mentally and physically) without delving to far into naivete.
Let’s make things more confusing: I want to “ENJOY EVERYTHING”, but I can’t, but I could but I won’t. Label it as being self-conscious or insecure if you will, but that’s how I feel.
Despite this, I’ll still love reading Yotsubato for what it represents. Even at 18 with the world as my oyster, I’ve lived long enough to miss the world through a child’s eyes. The nostalgia, the innocence of youth, a time you’d like to return to and the ability to look for the best in the world all around. It’s the manga which encapsulates remembering love, and I’ll only be able to appreciate more as I grow older.
I can’t enjoy everything, (Basquash ughhh); but I’m committed to do so. I deserve nothing less than being intentional about my actions, to give everything I experience all I got, in the pursuit of happiness.
If I don’t, do I end up blaming someone? That too, is a trap.
So I can enjoy this post, even if I think it’s foolish not to ENJOY EVERYTHING.
My dear Omi, you are focusing on the result: that is to arrive at a conclusion that X is enjoyable after the experience. The philosophy of ENJOY EVERYTHING is something to bring into an experience prior to its resolution. (I too, gave Basquash all I got, so I can be at peace with my disgust with it).
Ah, that makes sense.
If you enjoyed everything, what’s to distinguish anything from anything else? It’s all enjoyable right? Would there be different degrees of enjoyability? In that case, how less enjoyable would something need to be to be deemed “not enjoyable”? Or can nothing be “not enjoyable” only “less enjoyable”? Would the technicalities of those semantics destroy the point of enjoy everything?
For the record, I haven’t read Yotsuba&!
You could just say everything is equally enjoyable, but some things are more equally enjoyable than others 😀
You really must read it, it’s one of the best mangas ever written. Ever. Srsly.
What omi said. READ EEEEET
I enjoy everything. Except some vegetables.
No joke, though. I really do enjoy most things. Life is a lot more fun when you take it slower, and I’ve been taking it slower for a couple of very enjoyable years.
Actually, scratch that. I don’t enjoy the fact that I have to wait another month for Yotsuba&! volumes 6+ to come out. Or the fact that Yotsuba&! volume two is practically nonexistent.
The best things in life are free…..I mean meat and sugar.
Cynic and positive idealist are in the end flawed labels because they are heavily dependent on perspective. If Cthulhu devours the world, that’s bad for humanity but a great outcome for him (he was hungry, and a man’s gotta eat!)
For most things in life, I find, bad or good is a matter of perspective.