Chinese way better?

Is a collectivistic mindset better than an individualistic one?

In today's video, I'm going to say something that will surprise or even shock you.

I genuinely think that the way Chinese society works is actually better.

A little disclaimer here.

I know things have been changing and some of you will disagree, but I'm talking about general trends here.

So to illustrate my point, let me tell you a little story.

As some of you may know, I have recently returned to Canada and after spending over 13 years in China, there are many things about my country that I now view differently.

So a couple of days ago, I was sitting at Tim's having my afternoon coffee when an elderly man sat right next to me.

And right from the get-go, he started telling me what seemed to be an entire life story.

And by the way, the only question I asked at the very end was about his name, which is Dominic.

Now, while listening to his story, I realized that he was originally from Italy, has been living in Canada for most of his life, his hobby is raising pigeons, he has two daughters who live far away from him, and also his medical history, and much much more.

And by the way, the only question I asked at the very end was about his name, which is Dominic.

Now, while listening to his story, I couldn't help but notice how lonely he actually is.

I felt it in every word and every look and every movement, especially when he was talking about one of his daughters who lives in the US and rarely visits him.

And he is not alone in this, because it's just how our Western society is.

Everyone wants to become independent as early as possible.

And the result of this, our parents feel lonely, because we, their kids, don't want to come home.

Because some of us want to prove that we are capable of living on our own.

Some young people want to escape from under their parents' supervision, and in many cases, it's actually the parents who want to finally live for themselves, even just a little bit.

Now, what I've seen in China is quite a bit different.

Two or even three generations live under the same roof, and this is considered normal.

And while sometimes it can be a little extreme, healthy balance can be found to maintain close relationships, while keeping that spirit of connectedness and care for each other that is so precious and so hard to find.

Now, my personal take on this is, while I was born and raised as a Westerner, with our values and currentry, the time that I spent in China changed me quite a bit.

And now, at 37 years old, I believe that collectivistic Chinese society is somewhat superior in the way that it helps people stay connected, united, and more resilient as a society, which in the end, benefits everyone.

Now, what is your take on this?

Share your thoughts, and let's learn from each other.