E18: Perspective: Relativity

Hi, I’m Alvat Garewal, and welcome back.

You know, sometimes it takes the simplest of moments to spark the biggest thoughts. A glance out of a window, a scene in passing, or even something as small as a buzzing fly can open a door to a much bigger idea.

Today, I want to talk about perspective — how the way we see things isn’t always the way they are, and how where we stand can shape what we believe.

Let’s dive into that.

Transcript

Podcast Title: Perspective: Relativity 

Hi, I’m Alvat Garewal.
 Today, I want to talk about something we often overlook but experience all the time: perspective. 

Let me take you back to a moment that got me thinking. I was sitting at the back of a bus, and we were cruising along at about 50 miles per hour. Then I noticed a fly buzzing near me. It flew straight to the front of the bus and landed by the windscreen. 

Now, that simple moment sparked a thought. How fast was the fly actually travelling? To me, inside the bus, it looked like it was going maybe 5 mph. But if someone were watching from the side of the road, wouldn’t that fly be moving at the speed of the bus plus its own flight? Technically, it would be doing about 55 mph. 

It all depends on where you’re standing, doesn’t it? That’s perspective. And perspective changes everything. 

I remember a brilliant old advert from the Guardian newspaper. It starts with a young man running towards a woman standing on the pavement. At first glance, it looks like he might be attacking her. Then the angle shifts. Now it looks like he’s chasing an older man. A third perspective shows something entirely different: he’s saving the man from falling bricks. 

Same situation. Three perspectives. Totally different conclusions. 

Life is full of these moments. We judge, we react, we assume — all based on what we see from our viewpoint. But what if we paused to ask: what’s the full picture? What am I not seeing? 

In our world today, we’re surrounded by curated content, opinions, news headlines, and social media feeds — all designed to grab attention. And many of them are built on carefully chosen perspectives. Zoomed-in fragments of reality that push us in a certain direction. 

It's never been more important to question what we see, and to challenge ourselves to look beyond the surface. 

Let’s come back to that fly. If we’re the passenger on the bus, we see one speed. If we’re standing on the road, we see another. It doesn’t mean either is wrong. It just means both are incomplete unless we understand the context. 

Or think about flying in a plane. Look out the window, and it feels like you’re gliding slowly through the clouds. But in reality, you're travelling at hundreds of miles per hour. Again, it’s all relative to where you're observing from. 

This applies to people too. 

Sometimes we judge others based on a tiny snapshot of their behaviour. A comment. A reaction. A decision. But we don’t see the story behind it — what they’re carrying, what they’ve survived, what battles they’re still fighting.
 Our perspective might lead us to assume. But if we shifted the angle, the truth might be something very different. 

So what’s the takeaway? 

When faced with situations in life, disagreements, misunderstandings, or even moments of confusion, pause. Ask yourself: what’s another way to see this? What angle haven’t I considered yet? 

Being able to shift perspective isn’t just wise — it’s powerful. It can transform how we treat others, how we solve problems, and how we understand the world around us. 

And most importantly, it reminds us of a deeper truth: no one ever has the whole picture. We each carry a lens shaped by our experiences, upbringing, and beliefs. And sometimes, it takes courage to step outside our own viewpoint and try to see what someone else sees. 

So whether it’s a fly on a bus, a story in the news, or a disagreement with someone you care about, remember this: 

Perspective is relative. And understanding it can change everything. 

Because when we take a moment to shift our viewpoint — to consider not just what’s visible but what might be hidden — we create space for empathy. We make room for truth. And we start to see not just with our eyes, but with our hearts. 

It’s easy to judge. Much harder to understand. But that understanding? That’s where connection lives. 

And in a world full of noise and opinion, that quiet moment of clarity might just be the most powerful thing we have. 

So wherever you are, whatever you’re going through — I want you to know: 

You are in my thoughts.