Yesterday, I was talking with my friends about where I live in Singapore. The chat drifted into their curiosity about my apartment. And I found it interesting.
They asked,
“Hey Widhi, how much do you pay for your apartment? Is it cheap?”
(I love how direct they are)
I paused before I answered. They were pressing and wanted to know.
My friends are Singaporeans, born and raised here. I was born in Indonesia and have been living on this lovely island for 11 years, not even half of my age.
I told them I paid around 700k SGD for a 4-room HDB apartment in Bishan. And quite casually, I added that I do not see it as expensive.
Their reaction surprised me.
“Widhi!!! That’s expensive, you know!”
I can see how my unconscious bias and ignorance kicked in. I was comparing it to my experience living in a condo as an expatriate.
Whereas for Singaporeans, they can buy an HDB apartment with a government subsidy, and they can choose other areas that are not as central as where I am staying. So they can buy at a price they consider cheap, and we are looking through different lenses of experience.
Then they followed.
“But for that location and type, we can understand.”
“Just so you know, those areas are priced at more than 1 million SGD now!”
This conversation made me think about how perception and perspective depend on context and who you are talking with.
This conversation made me think about how perception and perspective depend on context and who you are talking with.
In my own defense, when I said it was not expensive, I was not only thinking about the price. I wanted to point out that the location is central and also located behind a huge park in Bishan. We can live right next to a natural space that has given us more value than simply the price we paid.
Green, open, and peaceful.
It feels like we have an extended backyard that we didn’t have to pay for. When we did our research, our unit was also slightly lower than the other listed apartments. I think it’s a win for us.
I did not feel the need to explain all of that.
I kept the defense in my pocket and did my self-reflection.
Perception and perspective are very subjective. I can say Singapore is strict and rigid. But I can also say this strictness has taught me how to be more disciplined and structured in life.
I can complain about the rain, but I can also feel grateful that the rain makes the Singapore weather cooler.
By the end of the day, I realise I have control over what my mind wants to perceive. I can choose to feed my head with complaints, and I know that it drains my energy.
There is always a choice. To complain or to be grateful. To feel like it is not enough, or to trust that it is already written the way it should be.
Whether the apartment feels expensive or not, perhaps it also comes down to one’s affordability.
And I am still learning, so I try to choose what gives me calm and just move forward from there.
One step at a time.
