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Psychologist Pilar Sordo: 'Life is a hotel; you choose how you want to live and what decisions you make'
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Psychologist Pilar Sordo: 'Life is a hotel; you choose how you want to live and what decisions you make'

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Chilean psychologist and writer Pilar Sordo uses a hotel analogy to reflect on life choices and attitudes towards experiences.
  • Sordo emphasizes that while external circumstances are often beyond control, individuals can choose their response and how they engage with their environment.
  • She observed guests at a hotel exhibiting contrasting behaviors, with some complaining while others expressed gratitude, illustrating the power of personal attitude.

Chilean psychologist and writer Pilar Sordo has shared a profound reflection on life, comparing it to a hotel stay where individuals have agency over their experience, even if they cannot control all external factors. Sordo revisited an idea from an earlier column, "Life is a hotel," inspired by her travels and stays in various accommodations.

Life is a hotel. One enters a hotel knowing that one has to leave. We all have an exit awareness.

— Pilar SordoExplaining her analogy comparing life to a hotel stay.

Sordo explained that unlike life, a hotel stay has a known departure date. However, both share the certainty of an eventual end. "We know, unlike in life, the exact time we will remain in the hotel. But we all arrive knowing we are going to leave, even if we can extend the stay," she stated. This shared characteristic highlights the transient nature of both experiences.

We know, unlike in life, the exact time we will remain in the hotel. But we all arrive knowing we are going to leave, even if we can extend the stay.

— Pilar SordoHighlighting the certainty of departure in both hotel stays and life.

During a recent visit to a hotel with her family, Sordo observed guests displaying vastly different attitudes. Some complained about minor issues like towels or beach conditions, while others focused on gratitude for what they had. "I thank God for everything I see in this hotel, even for those things that may be less comfortable, like today not being able to enter the sea because of the seaweed," she recounted, illustrating a mindset focused on appreciation.

I thank God for everything I see in this hotel, even for those things that may be less comfortable, like today not being able to enter the sea because of the seaweed.

— Pilar SordoIllustrating a grateful attitude despite imperfect circumstances.

Sordo further elaborated on the significance of personal decisions within the hotel setting, drawing parallels to life. Guests can choose to overindulge or eat healthily, exercise or remain sedentary, read or drink alcohol. "What does the hotel experience depend on? Obviously, on your decisions; obviously, on your attitude; obviously, on what you keep choosing," she asserted. Her message underscores that while life presents unavoidable situations, the quality of one's experience is largely shaped by the attitude and choices made along the way.

What does the hotel experience depend on? Obviously, on your decisions; obviously, on your attitude; obviously, on what you keep choosing.

— Pilar SordoEmphasizing the role of personal choices and attitude in shaping life experiences.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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