Perception is critical

This afternoon, I discussed about my father with a friend, Jenny. She mention my father as irresponsible and unfaithful toward his family, causing troubles and misery in the family. Everyone in my family hate him, such as my uncles and my grandparents. If she were to be put in my shoes, she'll definitely hate him and torture him mentally as much as possible. So I tell her about my thinking if in the parallel universe, my father is a very faithful husband and a responsible father unlike the father in this world, I wonder if without him as an object of hatred and example of an unfaithful husband, would it be possible that, perhaps, one of my uncles will be the one take the role as an unfaithful and irresponsible man.

She said that my father is different than the rest of his siblings. He's the only one to be unfaithful. So even though the situation changed where my father is faithful toward his marriage, there's impossible for others to cheat. Yeah, that's what you say. But still possibility still lies and no one will know.

Well, I've seen one of my uncle being so unfaithful before and after the marriage. I've seen my other family member did the same (I prefer to protect his identity). I wonder what Jenny would think if she found out that some of the family member that she knows has the same manner. But, because the existence of my father as a place to accumulate the hatred, everyone seems to consider about this insolent act and behave very well hereafter.

From what I've derived in this intense conversation with her, I simply conclude that perception alone is really dangerous. If we let our mind to be manipulated with perception, we'll lose the big picture. This might sound silly but this has been the same mistake that caused our countries political situation to be so chaotic.

When this kind of situation appear especially in someone we know very well or close to, it's such a shock to all of us. We try to refuse the idea and live in disbelief which cause in disappointment. But let's take a look as if she was first to hear about my dad directly from me (no, she doesn't. She heard about my dad from my uncle which left a real bad impression, of course!) perhaps I'd say the same thing but I'll never express the same hatred and opinion as my uncle, why, because I am his daughter. I know him more than anything. More than my uncle. Well, perhaps if I weren't to cool off for a while and contemplate about this whole thing, maybe I'll hate him as much as my uncle did too. Since I tried to see the whole big picture, about what good it does to me and accept that my dad may have made mistake and destroyed his marriage life and our life, but I realize he is regretting it until this day and never have he been neglecting us entirely (though he did in financial terms but he still is seeing me and my brothers) plus, he is willing to repent for his mistake.

I never again want to let myself be engulfed in hatred and foolishness. I've made problems and mistakes, my parents always forgive me. So when he made mistake why couldn't we, as his children do the same in return? We are family after all, no matter what other people said.

Dad, Mom. I'm a changed woman. ^_^