Go out and see more

Something happened while I was shopping with a friend today that I want to record. We passed STUDIOUS, a Japanese fashion store, and its exterior caught my eye. Inside, the clothes looked simple and Japanese in style, almost like Muji. I went in with my friend. The staff were stylish, dressed like people I had seen in Tokyo. I felt a little out of place, though I liked the store. I already had a rough idea of what the prices might be.

A few minutes in, my friend asked, “Can you afford this?” I froze. I could not tell why he had said it. Later I realized it was not the first time he had made a remark like that. I said nothing, walked around awkwardly, and left.

After a while, I decided to go back in alone while my friend looked elsewhere. This time I could browse properly. I found clothes and trousers I truly liked; apart from the price, I saw little to dislike. It reminded me how I used to hate shopping for clothes when I was expected to buy things I only half liked. I had not found what I really wanted until I saw more of the world. A wider view can help me recognize what I love—if I can afford it.

When nothing around me makes the world feel worth anticipating, perhaps I should go somewhere new and widen my view. It becomes easier to choose what I really like.