Even Peter Pan Had To Grow Up Someday

            Above is the music video for Muse’s song “Time is Running Out.” It seems fitting as I feel as though my own time is running out. Not to say I am planning on dying anytime soon, but as I approach graduation, I am elated to be done with school, however sad to leave behind the care free lifestyle that I enjoy with my friends. I have always said that I love being “AT” school, but not necessarily “IN” school. I have had the best time with my friends, and it makes me sad that in the near future I will have to grow up and concern myself with real life issues. I would much rather remain young, immature, and naïve to the battle between narratives of hope and despair that exist in the real world. Truthfully, I wish I was just rich and could live the fantasy life that Vinnie Chase and friends live in the hit show “Entourage” on HBO, about a young and successful actor that invites his three best friends to live and party with him in Hollywood.

            So as I am approaching my entrance in the real world, I am forced to examine what kind of citizen I aspire to become. With a degree in Hotel Management, I am hoping to further my career in the hotel industry. In keeping with the theme of becoming a responsible citizen of the floating world, I am compelled to apply what I have learned to my life, and my career. “Going green” is becoming a big trend in several industries, but hotels especially and I feel that I am not only obligated, but also happy to participate in environmentally friendly business practices. I would be stupid not to acknowledge, and do my best to adapt to innovative trends in the hotel industry and in my own life. Those who choose to be stubborn are the ones losing out. Although it may be costly to renovate a hotel or even my personal home to be more eco-friendly, the benefits will eventually supersede the costs.

            Environmental issues aren’t the only way to adapt to new ideas, and opportunity for change exists in all realms of life. In fact, narratives of hope and despair surround us all of the time, and can be located anywhere, including literature. Take for example, Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, “An Artist of the Floating World.” In this novel, the main character, Masuji Ono is forced to evaluate his own ability to adapt to a post World War II world.

            Masuji’s actions and the way he conducts himself after the war have an affect on all of his relationships, and everyone around him. His refusal to move on, and accept change causes pain to all those in his life. In a war-like scenario, often the outcome is a winning and losing side, however, people often overlook the complex emotions that someone involved with the losing side experiences. Although I am not encouraging sympathizing with those who are in the wrong, it is often helpful to assist this person in understanding WHY their side was the wrong side. Masuji’s family helps him to understand the error of his ways, and eventually his attitude and outlook on life change as well. Masuji Ono still remembers his life before this change in a nostalgic manner however, describing life before the war in a manner which almost makes it sound like a Utopia in his mind:

            “But whenever I go there now I find myself becoming nostalgic for the Tamagawa Grounds as they used to be. In those days, before the hedges and trees, the grounds seemed far more extensive and full of life; scattered all over the open expanse of green, you would see stalls selling candy and balloons, sideshows with jugglers…(pg 70)”

            This is just one example of a literary work illustrating a character’s inner battle with adaptation to change. Another example would be the works of Salman Rushdie in his collection of short stories entitled, “East, West.” In his story, “The Auction of the Ruby Slippers,” Rushdie offers the reader an insight into a distant future. A place he describes as “The courtroom of demand.” In this place, everything is for sale via an auction. Rushdie’s depiction of a world in which “EVERYTHING” has a monetary value begs the question of the reader is this something we would actually allow to happen. As a responsible citizen of the floating world, wouldn’t we like to hope that we could prevent a world like this from ever emerging? It becomes almost comical when Rushdie paints a picture of the actual event in an almost nonchalant tone, however to the careful reader, you can detect the facetiousness underlying his words:

            “The Grand Saleroom of the Auctioneers is the beating heart of the earth. If you stand here for long enough all the wonders of the world will pass by. In the Grand Saleroom, in recent years, we have witnessed the auction of the Taj Mahal, The Statue of Liberty, the Alps, and The Sphinx. We have assisted at the sales of wives, and the purchases of husbands. State secrets have been sold here, openly, to the highest bidder. On one very special occasion, the Auctioneers presided over the sale, to an overheated and inter-denominational bunch of smoldering red demons, of a wide selection of human souls of all classes, ages, races, and creeds” (Pg 98).”

Whether it be examples from literary works, movies, television, real life scenarios, day-to-day living, etc, there should never be a question of one’s own responsibility to maintain the stability of the world they exist in. At times people may feel silenced, or that they have no say in the matter. This is untrue, if everyone who has ever become a leader felt that they didn’t matter, then we would not be where we are today. As a citizen of the floating world, I do feel compelled to adapt to change in any way possible. I don’t understand why anyone would want to move backwards rather than seek out opportunities to improve the quality of life for themselves, and all other citizens of the world. Although I am nervous to embark on a life outside of college, I am anxious to become an adult and do my part in helping the world, and as I said before becoming more environmentally friendly…here are some tips from Will Farrell and friends.