markofthewise | Sokka the 78th

[After ditching Ed in the tunnels, Sokka has had some thinking to do. He's lost Suki and now he's lost Edward. His relationship with other people has seemed strained too. When it comes down to it, he doesn't particularly feel bad about this, but he is worried about ending up alone. Being alone is bad. But then, so is the life he had before. Well, if the journals are good for one thing, it's for sorting out dilemmas without giving yourself away. So he heads to the journal, disguises his handwriting, and asks:]

[Written (Disguised)]

If you were changed in a way that made you happier, but pushed other people away, would it be worth staying that way? I mean, it's not worth it to make yourself miserable just for the sake of other people, right? That'd be ridiculous.

[Yeah. Totally ridiculous. That was stupid of him to even ask. He stares at the page, shakes his head, and pushes it away. Later he'll reply to it, but for now, he decides to do work instead of wallowing in pointless contemplation.

For people who might want Sokka in person, he's up to his usual routine.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Caring what other people think is truly the path to madness.

I don't think that it would. I mean, if you pushed others away that you care about who would have your back if something went wrong? Who'd you go to to talk to? But, I dunno calling isolation happiness. Maybe you wouldn't get hurt, but you'd be missing out on a lot.

It does sound ridiculous. I don't hold myself up to any standards other than my own. However, one cannot underestimate the importance of having allies.

Other people are what make us stronger. If you pushed your friends away your heart would be weak. Friends are what help get us back on our feet when we need it. They're there so you don't lose focus of who you are.

Edited 2013-04-11 04:53 (UTC)

That would depend on whether solitude made you happy or not. Personal happiness or social relationships - most people find a compromise. I take it that such a thing isn't possible in your situation?

Depends on how you're defining 'happy'.

If you're questioning your decision though, you may want to rethink that idea, and the reasons for why you're considering doing it.

If you've already done it, and you're asking people for validation, I'd say that maybe you're not as happy as you say you are. So, again, rethink.

If they can't accept how you've changed, and can't be happy for your happiness...well, I would think they weren't really your friends to begin. [ Not that she has much experience with friendship, but in nearly every book she's ever read friends have stuck together through thick and thin. Sure there were always clashes of personality, but it was always something that was worked out, and no one ever seemed to change in ways they didn't want to. ]

So I think it's rather silly, to try to change yourself for others if it makes you unhappy. You have to change for yourself, I think, and if who you are now is who you want to be then I think people should be happy for that.

If you're trying to rationalize it, you might not actually be happier. Might be; I can't say. I'm not you.

[ you'd think that -- by now -- she would have learned not to reply to strange anonymous journal questions. but curiousity and natural tendency to investigate often gets the better of her. especially when she's lonely. ]

Depends on the change. And the misery. And the other people. Depends on a lot of things, really.