Remember the first day of school? You were afraid and didn’t know anyone. You sat in class all awkward and shy hoping someone would magically become your friend. When you came home, your mom reassured you to just be yourself and people will love you just as you are.
For a free-spirited kindergartener, that advice might have worked its magic. Nowadays, teens are more scared than 6 year olds to “be themselves”. Maybe it’s because we don’t really know who we really are. We have been protecting and pretending for so long; we have forgotten. We’ve hidden behind our Coach Bags and generic clothes just to fit in and veiling our true feelings just to be nice. I’m certainly no exception to this, but I just want to ask when it became “uncool” to be ourselves?
Maybe it was when you said that stupid comment at lunch and everyone just giggled to themselves. How about that time you almost tripped down the stairs at school and everyone noticed? Whatever situation it may be, we must not let it bother us. Laugh, relax, and let it go because life is too short to overanalyze.
In short, many of us just forget that we are all human and all susceptible to judgment. And folks let’s be honest here, everyone’s #1 (or at least top 3) priority is self betterment. Everyone in this society is seeking one thing: approval. Whether it’s to get your mom to extend your curfew or getting that really cute kid to like you, approval is a universal concept. How does one get approval? My advice is the same as your mom gave you way back in kindergarten. Let down your guard, make stupid comments (and not care!), and cut that weird kid some slack because we’re not all that different. In fact, we all share a common goal that is worth more than any designer bag.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Tribute to my Shoes
Meeting new people is one of the biggest challenges in life. Why? It’s uncomfortable, unusual, and often times it gets sweaty. In fact, meeting new people is a lot like a new pair of shoes. Just as people are different, shoes are different. They come in unique shapes, some are ugly, some are fabulous, some of them you can’t afford, and some you’re just too big for.
When I first met my pair of Liz Claiborne’s, I didn’t know what to think of them. I was never keen on weaved wedges, so I walked past them with judgment. Still, my friend encouraged me to try them on. Once they were on my feet, something about the shoes caught my eye. I checked them out before talking myself out of spending the 50 dollars. As I started walking with them, I felt awkward with the extra 4 inches. I had never had been so tall with any other shoe before. Eventually, I felt comfortable with my new shoes and just started running around like mad in them. And after almost 3 three summers with my favorite shoes, I was now a 6 1/2.
There are many types of people in the world not everyone will be a friend and not every shoe will belong to you. If one shoe doesn’t fit, don’t get discouraged because there are many more. But if you find a pair that catches your eye, buy them. New shoes may come with a love-hate relationship, but don’t take them back just yet because you just might end up loving them.
When I first met my pair of Liz Claiborne’s, I didn’t know what to think of them. I was never keen on weaved wedges, so I walked past them with judgment. Still, my friend encouraged me to try them on. Once they were on my feet, something about the shoes caught my eye. I checked them out before talking myself out of spending the 50 dollars. As I started walking with them, I felt awkward with the extra 4 inches. I had never had been so tall with any other shoe before. Eventually, I felt comfortable with my new shoes and just started running around like mad in them. And after almost 3 three summers with my favorite shoes, I was now a 6 1/2.
There are many types of people in the world not everyone will be a friend and not every shoe will belong to you. If one shoe doesn’t fit, don’t get discouraged because there are many more. But if you find a pair that catches your eye, buy them. New shoes may come with a love-hate relationship, but don’t take them back just yet because you just might end up loving them.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Sea of Self Pity
Before I dive into my entrancing tale, if you haven’t noticed, I have been gone for a while. The reason, a combination of laziness and inspirational challenges. Truthfully, nothing really motivated me and I don’t intend to put meaningless dribble on here so you should be thankful. Anyway, in spite of sounding too PBS-kids-like, back to the story.
Up until late April, I thought I had a pretty good life. Sure, I had problems with my parents and I didn’t have boyfriend, but I liked my life. Then, I started to notice Kristen was becoming very close with a new group of guys. Stacy and her always would talk about people I didn’t know. Suddenly, I realized my life was not as great as I thought it was, compared to them at least. Guys swarmed over Kristen. Stacy knew everyone and I was left in the shadow.
Feeling unable to measure up to them, self pity was a daily challenge and I became addicted to it. Crying over my imperfections, wishing for change, wanting more excitement; it consumed my every thought. When I had suspicions Kristen and Stacy were leaving me out, I would immediately get on facebook and check their statuses much like a crazy stalker. Once I confirmed they were “at the mall”, the self pity process would begin again.
After some careful thinking and time away from facebook, I realized how retarded I was acting. I was looking so hard for evidence my friends’ lives were better than mine, that I wasn’t even seeing what was right in front of me. I always was jealous of Kristen’s constant drama report that I didn’t even hear what she was actually saying. Her life was complicated, filled with lies and deceit. Stacy’s was just as troublesome. She delt with the most powerful emotion of all, love. Once I stopped pitying myself, I actually heard what my best friends were saying. The message was clear: everyone has their equal share of problems.
Be happy with what you have. Think of yourself as lucky not to have so much drama, fortunate enough to have loved, blessed to have great friends. And remember if you want get anywhere in life, stop lying in the sea of pity. Do yourself a favor and stop crying, wishing, wanting for something and more listening, helping, trying.
Up until late April, I thought I had a pretty good life. Sure, I had problems with my parents and I didn’t have boyfriend, but I liked my life. Then, I started to notice Kristen was becoming very close with a new group of guys. Stacy and her always would talk about people I didn’t know. Suddenly, I realized my life was not as great as I thought it was, compared to them at least. Guys swarmed over Kristen. Stacy knew everyone and I was left in the shadow.
Feeling unable to measure up to them, self pity was a daily challenge and I became addicted to it. Crying over my imperfections, wishing for change, wanting more excitement; it consumed my every thought. When I had suspicions Kristen and Stacy were leaving me out, I would immediately get on facebook and check their statuses much like a crazy stalker. Once I confirmed they were “at the mall”, the self pity process would begin again.
After some careful thinking and time away from facebook, I realized how retarded I was acting. I was looking so hard for evidence my friends’ lives were better than mine, that I wasn’t even seeing what was right in front of me. I always was jealous of Kristen’s constant drama report that I didn’t even hear what she was actually saying. Her life was complicated, filled with lies and deceit. Stacy’s was just as troublesome. She delt with the most powerful emotion of all, love. Once I stopped pitying myself, I actually heard what my best friends were saying. The message was clear: everyone has their equal share of problems.
Be happy with what you have. Think of yourself as lucky not to have so much drama, fortunate enough to have loved, blessed to have great friends. And remember if you want get anywhere in life, stop lying in the sea of pity. Do yourself a favor and stop crying, wishing, wanting for something and more listening, helping, trying.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
All About Tears
It’s the feeling you get in the pit of stomach, when your throat tenses, your face warms, your eyes swell, and you know damn well you can’t hold it in any longer. It’s the reason you can’t fall asleep. It’s what keeps you awake at night as you clutch your phone hoping, maybe, someone will text you back at 2 a.m. Just anyone to let you know they understand.
The truth is everyone understands, because everyone goes through sadness. As Katie would say, “some people are just better at hiding it”. A girl crying over her unexciting social calendar, a dad pining for his distant daughter, or a grandmother mourning the loss of her beloved husband, it doesn’t matter who you are.
Just know there are so many people that care about you who you wouldn’t even expect. Don’t try to bottle your emotions, let people in. Believe it or not, they DO understand. After all, it is the same tears we shed as a girl for a true friend or a dad for his distant daughter, or a grandmother for her passed away husband.
The truth is everyone understands, because everyone goes through sadness. As Katie would say, “some people are just better at hiding it”. A girl crying over her unexciting social calendar, a dad pining for his distant daughter, or a grandmother mourning the loss of her beloved husband, it doesn’t matter who you are.
Just know there are so many people that care about you who you wouldn’t even expect. Don’t try to bottle your emotions, let people in. Believe it or not, they DO understand. After all, it is the same tears we shed as a girl for a true friend or a dad for his distant daughter, or a grandmother for her passed away husband.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Happy (belated) Earth Day!!!
Take a look out your window. Go ahead, take a good look. Take a minute to notice the green leaves budding on the trees, the butterflies emerging from their cocoons, the flowers starting to blossom.
These days, our Earth seems to be about 29th on the priority list (especially if you’re in high school… I won’t go into it, but let’s just say my biorhythm this past week has been on a steady decline). We are too busy fighting that we don’t notice the birds singing. We are too sad to even feel the breeze. We are too caught up in our own world to even take in the rest of it.
Everyday the Earth performs simple miracles right before our eyes. Because even though each winter the trees are stripped of their leaves and left barren, each spring they still renew and start again. And every time I look outside, even for a single moment, I feel a spark of hope. Hope for new beginnings, hope for resolutions, hope for humanity.
So look out your window, and let’s take this (belated) Earth day to celebrate not only our miraculous home but also the revival of dreams.
These days, our Earth seems to be about 29th on the priority list (especially if you’re in high school… I won’t go into it, but let’s just say my biorhythm this past week has been on a steady decline). We are too busy fighting that we don’t notice the birds singing. We are too sad to even feel the breeze. We are too caught up in our own world to even take in the rest of it.
Everyday the Earth performs simple miracles right before our eyes. Because even though each winter the trees are stripped of their leaves and left barren, each spring they still renew and start again. And every time I look outside, even for a single moment, I feel a spark of hope. Hope for new beginnings, hope for resolutions, hope for humanity.
So look out your window, and let’s take this (belated) Earth day to celebrate not only our miraculous home but also the revival of dreams.
Friday, April 18, 2008
We're All Just Onions
The other day, I was at the mall with Stacy. For the most part, she’s very open and comfortable with herself, which is why I respect her so much.
“I decided I’m going to become a music publicist,” she said randomly as we entered the fourth store of the night. Stacy always changed her future career. One day it’s a finance writer and the next a CEO, but no matter what they were always high paying jobs. She shifted through racks and without making the slightest turn of her head she asked, “What do you want to be?”. “A magazine columnist,” I answered casually. Suddenly, her attention shifted and a look of disbelief was displayed across her face. “Well, you have to be really good at writing to do that,” she replied after a pause.
Now, even though I’m no Shakespeare by any means, her words disheartened me. It’s not that she thinks I’m bad at writing; it’s that she doesn’t even know me. Stacy, my best friend, doesn’t know how passionate I am about writing. For that matter, probably none of my friends do.
Not only the writing aspect either, there is a completely different side of me no one sees, no one hears, no one knows. Katie is the only exception; she’s the only one who understands my complexities. I’m like an onion, as Shrek would say, I have many layers. Inside, I keep my thoughts, my maturity, my ideals, my sadness. Usually, you’ll just see me being crazy, making people laugh, or saying something completely random. Even though that is me, it’s not the whole me, it’s just a layer. So the next time you meet someone (or the next time you watch Shrek), remember we all have layers and to peel back these layers, you need a little time to ripen.
“I decided I’m going to become a music publicist,” she said randomly as we entered the fourth store of the night. Stacy always changed her future career. One day it’s a finance writer and the next a CEO, but no matter what they were always high paying jobs. She shifted through racks and without making the slightest turn of her head she asked, “What do you want to be?”. “A magazine columnist,” I answered casually. Suddenly, her attention shifted and a look of disbelief was displayed across her face. “Well, you have to be really good at writing to do that,” she replied after a pause.
Now, even though I’m no Shakespeare by any means, her words disheartened me. It’s not that she thinks I’m bad at writing; it’s that she doesn’t even know me. Stacy, my best friend, doesn’t know how passionate I am about writing. For that matter, probably none of my friends do.
Not only the writing aspect either, there is a completely different side of me no one sees, no one hears, no one knows. Katie is the only exception; she’s the only one who understands my complexities. I’m like an onion, as Shrek would say, I have many layers. Inside, I keep my thoughts, my maturity, my ideals, my sadness. Usually, you’ll just see me being crazy, making people laugh, or saying something completely random. Even though that is me, it’s not the whole me, it’s just a layer. So the next time you meet someone (or the next time you watch Shrek), remember we all have layers and to peel back these layers, you need a little time to ripen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)