I am a bit of a weirdo as I have mentioned a couple of times in the past, a nice weirdo but still not what you call normal either way. I love music, just love it wholly and completely. I could spend all day everyday listening to the radio or my iPhone and singing along to every song I know (and believe me, that's a lot) because as long as it's music that I like it always keeps me smiling. I also have an endearing habit (at least I like to think its endearing) whereby I link almost any sentence into a song so I'll burst into it. Here's an example, this happened today; my manager asked if anyone had got an umbrella, so naturally I said "ella, ella, ella, eh, eh". I laughed, nobody else did.
There is nothing like when you find the perfect song that goes with your mood, regardless of what mood you are in. For me if I'm angry, it's usually a bit of Bullet For My Valentine, super fast guitar riffs and a serious drum beat, lots of screaming, perfect to channel anger into. Give it a try; I suggest whatever track six is on the Poison album. That's well and good but what about when you are in one of those fantastic moods and you can't understand why nobody is smiling? Or how about when you are just content with all that's going on? Or when you wake up and you're already late for work? You get what I mean but I could go on and on.
I think that everyday has it's soundtrack and it's individual to you and your mood on that day. You might hear a song that you like but it won't necessarily be the theme tune for the day. Unfortunately it is not always easy to find "Todays Top Tune" and more often than not you will probably miss it or you can't find it scrolling through your mp3 player because you never know what you're looking for. How many times have you listened to a song and put it on repeat because it's just great? That happens to me all the time Adele Make You Feel My Love was a recent one, I must of listened to that more than a thousand times in the last two months and I am seriously not joking; if you haven't heard it, she has the most amazing soulful voice. So anyway, you've found this one song that you would rather listen to than anything else but then a few months down the line, you end up skipping it when it comes on. It's not that you don't like it anymore, it just doesn't fit you at the moment, know what I mean?
Right now, as I sit in a bean bag writing this, I was listening to Bruno Mars who I am loving at the minute, but I have just changed to listen to Maroon 5. It's just that Maroon 5 have the right sound to go with my writing mood (today). Why is that that happens though? If you want to listen to a song constantly for an age, why would that change? I know I've said about moods and days and things but surely everytime I have listened to Adele over the last eight weeks or so I have been in every kind of mood possible, so why will the time come when I just think "I'll listen to that another time"?
You know what else is odd. We generally hear new music via the radio, yes that is obvious I know but, we hardly ever seek out new bands and stuff in the same genre that we know. Or do you? I generally stick to what I know unless something is introduced to me by one of my friends or as I said, the radio. One of the guys I work with is seriously into his music he know loads of local artists and has always got a new band you've never heard of but like I said I don't really know anyone else like that. The new and upcoming artisits that the radio station you choose to listen to are advocates of artists that record companies are currently promoting. All that is blatantly obvious but there are always artists, groups or bands who make it completely off their own steam. The best example I can think of right now is probably Sandi Thom. She is now signed to a record label but she started out by herself with podcasts that gained so much attention she released I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker. That song came out to a fairly mixed reception if I remember, me being me, I love it. Still obviously she made a name for herself, but releasing and producing your own album is far too costly to do by yourself so a record deal is almost a necessity unless you are wealthy enough to manage it by yourself.
Fun-fact I've just remembered; Dave Grohl who is now famously the lead vocalist of his band Foo Fighters actually wrote and recorded the first demo album completely by himself before he even had a band. I love stuff like that but that's just something to make you think.
I think the best thing about the right song is not that it can fit your mood but change it. Whenever I am in a doom and gloom and I can't figure out why, I just press all songs and shuffle on my iPhone. I will tend to skip until I find that one song that just hits the spot, gives you goosebumps and makes you smile. I am quite sad so depending on where I am or what I'm doing I close my eyes and just let myself get lost in the song and before I know it. I'm instantly cheered up. One of my favourites for that is Joss Stone, her voice is just incredible and her Mind, Body and Soul album is one of my favourite ever albums. As I said though, there is no specific formula and that song that will cheer me up can be completely different every day but isn't it just great looking and hearing a song you haven't heard for weeks...
Another thing are songs you just can't get out of your head. Whenever that happens to me, it's usually a song I cannot stand. The charts at the minute seem to be dominated by really bad and annoying music so I sometimes have to take a break and bring myself back from the brink of insanity by listening to something familiar and of my own tastes. Now we've reached the opposite side of what has so far been a fairly cheerful post. When you just seem to be surrounded by what in you opinion is just plain crap. For me its Garage, Speed Garage, House and all other similar genres, I loath and detest it, it's just noise. I appreciate that it takes skill and not everyone can make tracks but seriously I cannot listen to it. At all. So I will move and not let the music I don't like take over. Going back to having a song stuck in your head, if it's one you do like and you end up just singing the same couple of lines over and over again, if you listen to the whole song that cures that or at least it does for me.
Music has a power over people that is almost unexplainable. Almost every couple has a song. There is a song that makes you think of someone specific. There is a song that fits you and could be your theme tune. There is a song that will make you cry. There are songs that get you in the mood. The ability to write lyrics that can have such an emotional response to is an amazing ability that if you have you should make the most of. You might write a song that newly weds have their first dance to. It might be a song that someones son or daughter performs at a school production and makes his or her mum and dad swell with pride. It might be the song you lose your virginity too. A couples first kiss... The list is endless but songs and the lyrics to them will mean something to someone and it might be a different thing entirely but it will mean something nevertheless.
Listen well, listen often and if it makes you feel good, turn it up and sing along.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Are You Green?
Firstly I would like to clarify that I am not green in either hue nor an environmentally. I don't recycle I know I should but I am just one man. I think a lot of people have the same mindset. We are just individuals and we want to make a difference but how much difference can one person make? The boffins of the government or environmental agencies would argue "you can make a difference" I doubt it mate.
We as a generation are supposed to want to save the world from constantly worsening green house gases and pollution. Our generation is supposed to be responsible for making sure our planet doesn't die off or global warming doesn't get so bad that the polar ice caps melt and we have world wide floods. Most importantly we are being held responsible for all those happening in the first place.
I think as consumers of all things non-recyclable we are victims as much as the rest of the world. The truth of the matter is no-one knew this was going to happen and it was already too late by the time we realised. So how's about stop saying "look at what you've/we've done" and start coming up with some actual solutions. At the moment we are seeing a lot of car manufacturers designing and producing 'electric' cars or hybrids. Yes we know that they don't use as much petrol/diesel but they do take energy from plug sockets which is usually created by nuclear reactors somewhere and from what I hear they're not too great for the environment either.
There are councils that make you separate your rubbish before they will take it away for you. That's a good step in the right direction, but why is it only the 'upper class' areas of the country that really get the full advantage of this luxury? Yes I am aware that they pay a bit (maybe a lot more) council tax than the 'lower class' areas but why not balance out the fees and make it a more balanced service across the country? Around where I live there are those plastic recycling boxes to put your paper or cans or bottles in but that is sparse when you look at it on a regional scale. Lets be honest, it's a fact that the more effort involved in recycling the less likely they are to actually do it. I don't, I never have, but as I said I'm just one man and it currently requires me to go out of my way to do so. And believe me I am just too lazy.
I think there are things we can all do to do "our bit", I mean switching things off at the plug when you're not using them really does conserve energy; You will not only saving yourself some money but you can say that you have reduced your carbon footprint, even if its only a little bit. There might be more but that's kind of it, unless you start walking or catching the bus instead of driving and recycling everything you ever use. Even so, on a global scale your impact would be miniscule and that is what I would like to address.
In the office where I work, up until recently we had these little rubbish bins usually located every second desk or so. They were taken with an e-mail announcement to say they were being replaced by recycling bins. Honestly I was a little bit chuffed, I thought that all the staff would be doing their bit without making any extra effort, and that’s never a bad thing is it? When these wonder-bins came in, I was more than a little bit disappointed. They turned out to be just big versions of the little bins they had just taken out. There aren’t separate ones for cans, paper, plastic cups etc just one for all your waste. The only difference is that they have see-through bags so you can see it all better. Can someone please tell me if there is point in spending money replacing bins so we can see out rubbish better, try as I might I can’t see it.
Ok so back to it, here we go government and environmental agencies - pay attention because this is what I propose;
Firstly the following needs to be made legislature so that it can be enforced and must be adhered to. All offices of a certain size (I will let you determine that) must achieve reduced energy waste by X% (again, I will let you determine the figure - I suggest 5% might be a good starting point) by 2015 or the company will be subject to a fine. Simple as that. And I know that you can forecast these sorts of figures because a post on our intranet at work said that if we all turned our computers off over the Christmas and New Year period we would save X amount of energy. Wow, that’s great but why don’t we all just turn off our computers anyway? If the easiest way for companies to save energy is to turn off the computers within it, then I believe we’re onto a winner. Within each company there will be disciplinary processes that could incorporate not turning off your computer, these offending members of staff would easily be clamped down because technically they are breaking the law.
If my idea came into fruition it would quickly and directly affect the entire county. And yes there would be thousands of people moaning about the inconvenience of turning off their computers every day (I’d moan if it wasn’t my idea) but who cares. With the slightest change to your daily routine you will literally be helping reduce energy consumption on a scale that will actually make a difference. I do appreciate that this kind of change can’t happen overnight but just think about how much energy the entire world would save if every office turned off every non-essential computer (we have a reporting computer that pulls some pretty important data through the night - we can let that one stay on).
So to Mr Government, if you have any better ideas, do share them because a promise to the EU to reduce carbon emissions means absolutely buggar all unless you start doing something about it.
We as a generation are supposed to want to save the world from constantly worsening green house gases and pollution. Our generation is supposed to be responsible for making sure our planet doesn't die off or global warming doesn't get so bad that the polar ice caps melt and we have world wide floods. Most importantly we are being held responsible for all those happening in the first place.
I think as consumers of all things non-recyclable we are victims as much as the rest of the world. The truth of the matter is no-one knew this was going to happen and it was already too late by the time we realised. So how's about stop saying "look at what you've/we've done" and start coming up with some actual solutions. At the moment we are seeing a lot of car manufacturers designing and producing 'electric' cars or hybrids. Yes we know that they don't use as much petrol/diesel but they do take energy from plug sockets which is usually created by nuclear reactors somewhere and from what I hear they're not too great for the environment either.
There are councils that make you separate your rubbish before they will take it away for you. That's a good step in the right direction, but why is it only the 'upper class' areas of the country that really get the full advantage of this luxury? Yes I am aware that they pay a bit (maybe a lot more) council tax than the 'lower class' areas but why not balance out the fees and make it a more balanced service across the country? Around where I live there are those plastic recycling boxes to put your paper or cans or bottles in but that is sparse when you look at it on a regional scale. Lets be honest, it's a fact that the more effort involved in recycling the less likely they are to actually do it. I don't, I never have, but as I said I'm just one man and it currently requires me to go out of my way to do so. And believe me I am just too lazy.
I think there are things we can all do to do "our bit", I mean switching things off at the plug when you're not using them really does conserve energy; You will not only saving yourself some money but you can say that you have reduced your carbon footprint, even if its only a little bit. There might be more but that's kind of it, unless you start walking or catching the bus instead of driving and recycling everything you ever use. Even so, on a global scale your impact would be miniscule and that is what I would like to address.
In the office where I work, up until recently we had these little rubbish bins usually located every second desk or so. They were taken with an e-mail announcement to say they were being replaced by recycling bins. Honestly I was a little bit chuffed, I thought that all the staff would be doing their bit without making any extra effort, and that’s never a bad thing is it? When these wonder-bins came in, I was more than a little bit disappointed. They turned out to be just big versions of the little bins they had just taken out. There aren’t separate ones for cans, paper, plastic cups etc just one for all your waste. The only difference is that they have see-through bags so you can see it all better. Can someone please tell me if there is point in spending money replacing bins so we can see out rubbish better, try as I might I can’t see it.
Ok so back to it, here we go government and environmental agencies - pay attention because this is what I propose;
Firstly the following needs to be made legislature so that it can be enforced and must be adhered to. All offices of a certain size (I will let you determine that) must achieve reduced energy waste by X% (again, I will let you determine the figure - I suggest 5% might be a good starting point) by 2015 or the company will be subject to a fine. Simple as that. And I know that you can forecast these sorts of figures because a post on our intranet at work said that if we all turned our computers off over the Christmas and New Year period we would save X amount of energy. Wow, that’s great but why don’t we all just turn off our computers anyway? If the easiest way for companies to save energy is to turn off the computers within it, then I believe we’re onto a winner. Within each company there will be disciplinary processes that could incorporate not turning off your computer, these offending members of staff would easily be clamped down because technically they are breaking the law.
If my idea came into fruition it would quickly and directly affect the entire county. And yes there would be thousands of people moaning about the inconvenience of turning off their computers every day (I’d moan if it wasn’t my idea) but who cares. With the slightest change to your daily routine you will literally be helping reduce energy consumption on a scale that will actually make a difference. I do appreciate that this kind of change can’t happen overnight but just think about how much energy the entire world would save if every office turned off every non-essential computer (we have a reporting computer that pulls some pretty important data through the night - we can let that one stay on).
So to Mr Government, if you have any better ideas, do share them because a promise to the EU to reduce carbon emissions means absolutely buggar all unless you start doing something about it.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Your Fault.
Unwarranted blame. Pointing the finger and all that other business. Don't you just hate it? Unfortunately I am usually one of those people with a finger in the face being blamed for whatever the problem seems to be. Not really in my personal life, but in work I am definitely the fall guy. It's not just me really; the whole team I work with, we all have a target on our backs so big a blind man could hit it.
So when something goes 'wrong' I then spend all my time proving that actually, no it's not wrong... This is why that's happened. One of the things I do not do, it say it was someone else's fault unless I know - for a fact - that it was. Innocent until proven guilty anyone? No? I'll just have to prove you wrong again then... And that's what I do. I find the root cause of the problem/issue/dilemma/calamity depending on whom it is you're talking to, and then I can tell who has directly or indirectly caused it.
Is that the same for anyone else? I will sometimes have a really quiet week, where I don't really do a lot. Then, out of nowhere I am on the back foot in the corner with punches coming from every angle. And where I work, its rare people actually come and ask you to have a look into something, it just gets blamed and we take it from there.
It's not really difficult; I know my job inside out and back to front. There are also two of the most intelligent guys I have ever known on my team who can have facts and figures on a spreadsheet and in graph form before you can say "Can you prove it?". Our defence is pretty well rehearsed by now...
Still, even though we can always (and I mean every time) say that this is the reason, not what you initially thought. It still comes back to us when there's a new "challenge"... You would think people would learn. Believe me, they don't. It's always an attack, always trying to blame something that they do not understand. Where is the sense in that? Surely you would want to make sure you had the fullest knowledge of something you have constant interaction with.
Is it unreasonable to want to talk about what the problem is without having to compile evidence that it is in fact, not your fault in the first place? Do you think that people try and blame someone else when they know it's something that they may have done or caused?
I'd like to know if I do that, blame someone when I know it is or might be something I've done. I'm trying to think of an instance but I can't bring one to mind straight away. It's potentially a natural reaction to point the finger in somebody else's direction. Like I said I can't really recall if I do it but usually if I can see it's something I have done I'll just say "Yeah, it was me. Leave it with me and I'll sort it out." I don't shirk something if I know I needs to be done.
That's just it with the whole blame game type thing, everybody is so up tight about making a mistake that they try and hide it. Grow up, you're not a child, everybody gets it wrong now and then. If it's something that you could get into trouble for in any which kind of trouble you can think of, you will come out all the better for admitting it before you get found out. If it is something that could possibly cause problems for anyone else you work with, surely you should have the decency to show some respect and own up. Because lets be honest, instead of moaning at you after its all come out, people will be more willing to help if they know about it before hand.
How about if you do know who has caused the problem? Is it ok to say that you know it was them and should you say that they need to sort it out? I think it is. I mean as I've said, don't say it nastily or even in those words but why should you unnecessarily sweep up the mess, people never learn that way. As long as it's constructive and a lesson can be learned I think it is entirely acceptable to stand up and tell it like it is, so to speak.
I can appreciate that sometimes it's also difficult to do that though, especially if you know that the other person knows it was them and they are scared about getting in trouble. If you have more than just an acquaintanceship with that person it can come across that you are 'dobbing them in'. You could try approaching them and saying something like that if they don't say it you will, which I know sounds petty, but… You can mature it up by saying that it's not fair that you are allowing the rest of us to look bad by not admitting to this. You know what I mean?
It can be hard to not blame people sometimes though, even if it's just a joke, every one has someone they say that too don't they. Like if a bus is late and you're with your friend, you might say (comically) "This is all your fault." I love that kind of banter, it's funny and it can help to keep from being bored and stuff. Or if someone has made a complete and utter fool of themselves when they were drunk or something you can say "It's your own fault, I told you to slow down!" I love that.
It's completely different when you are rubbing it someone's face because it's funny, as long as it is funny to them too. That's allowed. I think in those instances it's a must, because lets be honest, you know they would do it to you. If it's a bit of give and take and it's all in jest then its something to laugh about but, when it comes down to it and things tend to be of a little more serious in nature, then it's time to be serious about it.
So when something goes 'wrong' I then spend all my time proving that actually, no it's not wrong... This is why that's happened. One of the things I do not do, it say it was someone else's fault unless I know - for a fact - that it was. Innocent until proven guilty anyone? No? I'll just have to prove you wrong again then... And that's what I do. I find the root cause of the problem/issue/dilemma/calamity depending on whom it is you're talking to, and then I can tell who has directly or indirectly caused it.
Is that the same for anyone else? I will sometimes have a really quiet week, where I don't really do a lot. Then, out of nowhere I am on the back foot in the corner with punches coming from every angle. And where I work, its rare people actually come and ask you to have a look into something, it just gets blamed and we take it from there.
It's not really difficult; I know my job inside out and back to front. There are also two of the most intelligent guys I have ever known on my team who can have facts and figures on a spreadsheet and in graph form before you can say "Can you prove it?". Our defence is pretty well rehearsed by now...
Still, even though we can always (and I mean every time) say that this is the reason, not what you initially thought. It still comes back to us when there's a new "challenge"... You would think people would learn. Believe me, they don't. It's always an attack, always trying to blame something that they do not understand. Where is the sense in that? Surely you would want to make sure you had the fullest knowledge of something you have constant interaction with.
Is it unreasonable to want to talk about what the problem is without having to compile evidence that it is in fact, not your fault in the first place? Do you think that people try and blame someone else when they know it's something that they may have done or caused?
I'd like to know if I do that, blame someone when I know it is or might be something I've done. I'm trying to think of an instance but I can't bring one to mind straight away. It's potentially a natural reaction to point the finger in somebody else's direction. Like I said I can't really recall if I do it but usually if I can see it's something I have done I'll just say "Yeah, it was me. Leave it with me and I'll sort it out." I don't shirk something if I know I needs to be done.
That's just it with the whole blame game type thing, everybody is so up tight about making a mistake that they try and hide it. Grow up, you're not a child, everybody gets it wrong now and then. If it's something that you could get into trouble for in any which kind of trouble you can think of, you will come out all the better for admitting it before you get found out. If it is something that could possibly cause problems for anyone else you work with, surely you should have the decency to show some respect and own up. Because lets be honest, instead of moaning at you after its all come out, people will be more willing to help if they know about it before hand.
How about if you do know who has caused the problem? Is it ok to say that you know it was them and should you say that they need to sort it out? I think it is. I mean as I've said, don't say it nastily or even in those words but why should you unnecessarily sweep up the mess, people never learn that way. As long as it's constructive and a lesson can be learned I think it is entirely acceptable to stand up and tell it like it is, so to speak.
I can appreciate that sometimes it's also difficult to do that though, especially if you know that the other person knows it was them and they are scared about getting in trouble. If you have more than just an acquaintanceship with that person it can come across that you are 'dobbing them in'. You could try approaching them and saying something like that if they don't say it you will, which I know sounds petty, but… You can mature it up by saying that it's not fair that you are allowing the rest of us to look bad by not admitting to this. You know what I mean?
It can be hard to not blame people sometimes though, even if it's just a joke, every one has someone they say that too don't they. Like if a bus is late and you're with your friend, you might say (comically) "This is all your fault." I love that kind of banter, it's funny and it can help to keep from being bored and stuff. Or if someone has made a complete and utter fool of themselves when they were drunk or something you can say "It's your own fault, I told you to slow down!" I love that.
It's completely different when you are rubbing it someone's face because it's funny, as long as it is funny to them too. That's allowed. I think in those instances it's a must, because lets be honest, you know they would do it to you. If it's a bit of give and take and it's all in jest then its something to laugh about but, when it comes down to it and things tend to be of a little more serious in nature, then it's time to be serious about it.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
My Deepest Fear
What is it that we all want out of life? Do people who we think have everything, like Bill Gates or some other rich people still fantasise? And no you dirty minded so and so’s I’m not talking about sexually. I mean, they have everything. And if they haven’t got it, they can make somebody else go and get it for them. Having so much you don’t want for anything… To me that’s almost incomprehensible. But I think that might become a little bit boring. You would have to keep yourself busy wouldn’t you?
Do people who are wealthy do just that? Do they keep themselves busy while other people run around and work and make them money? Like playing tennis at the most fancy country club or sailing around the harbour on the yacht. That sounds like living to me, but it also sounds a little empty.
One of my favourite quotes is this;
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
That’s an excerpt from Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson. And as much as I love it, it is also a very daunting truth. The previous statements about having everything are in the right side of this. All people have the power to control what happens around them, they can affect change, be driven and ambitious. They can make things happen by being more dedicated than then next person, by never letting go of an idea or a goal. This is true of everyone. I am not a religious or spiritual man, when I say faith I do not think of a god or any religious icon. When I talk about faith, I mean self belief and the old saying that you can do anything you put your mind too.
People achieve the most amazing things almost every day. Often times it’s something we will never see, and it will scarcely be something many of us might call amazing, but it happens. It could be a piece of homework that you want to get an A+ for and you work extra hard because the topic means something to you. If you get an A+ have you not achieved a goal? The scale or the magnitude of the dream is irrelevant. The achieving of it is what makes it important. Taking time to work for something that you want more that anything at one specific time and then not letting go of that, always keeping that in sight is something that few people will do in their lifetimes. But only because they don’t see it that way. When you get your first car, rent your first apartment, graduate university, buy a house, get married, have a baby, and the list goes on. They are all dreams, wants, goals and desires. And they can all be achieved through hard work, dedication and self belief (is it just me or do I kind of sound like some sort of coach?)
But the opposite and more negative and for me more foreboding side of that quote is that you are powerful. You have the power to affect change in a persons life, their future and maybe even their ambitions or goals. But what if you aren’t the kind of motivated and driven person mentioned above? What if you try but you just give up? What if settling is all that you will ever do because trying to do something is just too difficult. If you let it happen you can make someone else less happy by never being able to do the things either you or that other person dreamed of doing. Bringing someone down and out of a future that they not only wish for but deserve is the scariest thing in the world.
Starting out and making a go of life is something that everyone needs to do but then why does it have to become a hindrance to start making decisions for someone else. People make themselves happy with what they have and what they can afford to have but will always want for and look back at the things that they could or should have had if this hadn’t happened. Or they had done that differently. A life where you don’t do exactly what you want for as long as it is your choice and within your power to do is a life that is not only wasted but is destined to be filled with regrets.
A conscious thought or a fear of knowing you will never be able to provide for someone the way they deserve to be is crippling to me. This is why the rich people of the world are people that I will always be envious of. The money is a default part of why I am jealous and yes I would like to be wealthy, who wouldn’t? No, the bigger reason I am green eyed is that they will never have that fear. They will never let someone down and they will never life their life knowing that they can‘t do something. And I would like to emphasise that this is not boyfriend & girlfriend or husband & wife specific. I do not mean that these kind of changes or alterations to the plan only happen to those people who are romantically involved or in love. That is perhaps more common, but no this can happen with friendships and usually the best of friendships.
This is all due to the fact that everyone is under the influence of someone else’s actions and/or opinions. The people that you are closest too will have an impact on all of the things that you think about because you share your thoughts and feelings with those that are closest too you. Usually. I am kind of like that, there are things that I will just not talk about, because they are either too upsetting or maybe my thoughts or feelings are just that... mine. Even so, when I do something or say something, who I am doing it with (stop being rude) or saying it too will be positively or detrimentally affected by my words or actions. The hardest thing in the world is to not let your opinions overlap and intrude on someone else’s. Those adventures you make up as children, those ideas you have as kids and those plans you make when you’re adults can all crumble and fall into the deepest reaches of your mind if you falter at any of the hurdles in your way.
If you take a moment to consider all this, you will realise that I am not being as melodramatic as you might initially think. I bet every single person that reads this can name a time whereby, had they done or said something differently, not only their but the lives of someone else may be entirely different. I can think of several myself, I try not to think too hard my teens are a period in which there are many changes I wish I could make.
Retrospect is a very cruel and harsh thing that we all experience all of the time. Usually it’s something you can just go back and do or say, like when you realise you forgot to tell someone something so you just call them back. When it comes to the key points in your life (which I know are swirling around your heard because they are in mine) retrospect can sometimes hurt. Almost everyone moves on from the things that they should have done. I can’t help but feel sorry for the people who let themselves dwell on whatever it was and become lost in their own imaginations. Not that they go crazy or clinically insane or anything but that they may loose out on the next best thing or indeed something better because they weren’t paying attention.
There are quotes and sayings that can emphasise or expand all of this, I was going to say point but having re-read as I’ve wrote again its all jumbled and vague, but what it is that I am trying to say or get out is this. Every individual is the most powerful person in the world. You have the opportunity to alter not only yours but the lives of everyone you come into contact with. To strive and work hard and obtain all the things that you might ever want is the want that we all have. But most of us do fall at one of those hurdles. I know I did, I have, and I will endeavour to never do it again because I don‘t know about you, but I don‘t want to let go of the things I want. The hurdles in front of you are only as big as you let them be. Take them one at a time and with gusto. Don’t look back and keep your head up. And remember, to always face your deepest fear.
Do people who are wealthy do just that? Do they keep themselves busy while other people run around and work and make them money? Like playing tennis at the most fancy country club or sailing around the harbour on the yacht. That sounds like living to me, but it also sounds a little empty.
One of my favourite quotes is this;
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
That’s an excerpt from Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson. And as much as I love it, it is also a very daunting truth. The previous statements about having everything are in the right side of this. All people have the power to control what happens around them, they can affect change, be driven and ambitious. They can make things happen by being more dedicated than then next person, by never letting go of an idea or a goal. This is true of everyone. I am not a religious or spiritual man, when I say faith I do not think of a god or any religious icon. When I talk about faith, I mean self belief and the old saying that you can do anything you put your mind too.
People achieve the most amazing things almost every day. Often times it’s something we will never see, and it will scarcely be something many of us might call amazing, but it happens. It could be a piece of homework that you want to get an A+ for and you work extra hard because the topic means something to you. If you get an A+ have you not achieved a goal? The scale or the magnitude of the dream is irrelevant. The achieving of it is what makes it important. Taking time to work for something that you want more that anything at one specific time and then not letting go of that, always keeping that in sight is something that few people will do in their lifetimes. But only because they don’t see it that way. When you get your first car, rent your first apartment, graduate university, buy a house, get married, have a baby, and the list goes on. They are all dreams, wants, goals and desires. And they can all be achieved through hard work, dedication and self belief (is it just me or do I kind of sound like some sort of coach?)
But the opposite and more negative and for me more foreboding side of that quote is that you are powerful. You have the power to affect change in a persons life, their future and maybe even their ambitions or goals. But what if you aren’t the kind of motivated and driven person mentioned above? What if you try but you just give up? What if settling is all that you will ever do because trying to do something is just too difficult. If you let it happen you can make someone else less happy by never being able to do the things either you or that other person dreamed of doing. Bringing someone down and out of a future that they not only wish for but deserve is the scariest thing in the world.
Starting out and making a go of life is something that everyone needs to do but then why does it have to become a hindrance to start making decisions for someone else. People make themselves happy with what they have and what they can afford to have but will always want for and look back at the things that they could or should have had if this hadn’t happened. Or they had done that differently. A life where you don’t do exactly what you want for as long as it is your choice and within your power to do is a life that is not only wasted but is destined to be filled with regrets.
A conscious thought or a fear of knowing you will never be able to provide for someone the way they deserve to be is crippling to me. This is why the rich people of the world are people that I will always be envious of. The money is a default part of why I am jealous and yes I would like to be wealthy, who wouldn’t? No, the bigger reason I am green eyed is that they will never have that fear. They will never let someone down and they will never life their life knowing that they can‘t do something. And I would like to emphasise that this is not boyfriend & girlfriend or husband & wife specific. I do not mean that these kind of changes or alterations to the plan only happen to those people who are romantically involved or in love. That is perhaps more common, but no this can happen with friendships and usually the best of friendships.
This is all due to the fact that everyone is under the influence of someone else’s actions and/or opinions. The people that you are closest too will have an impact on all of the things that you think about because you share your thoughts and feelings with those that are closest too you. Usually. I am kind of like that, there are things that I will just not talk about, because they are either too upsetting or maybe my thoughts or feelings are just that... mine. Even so, when I do something or say something, who I am doing it with (stop being rude) or saying it too will be positively or detrimentally affected by my words or actions. The hardest thing in the world is to not let your opinions overlap and intrude on someone else’s. Those adventures you make up as children, those ideas you have as kids and those plans you make when you’re adults can all crumble and fall into the deepest reaches of your mind if you falter at any of the hurdles in your way.
If you take a moment to consider all this, you will realise that I am not being as melodramatic as you might initially think. I bet every single person that reads this can name a time whereby, had they done or said something differently, not only their but the lives of someone else may be entirely different. I can think of several myself, I try not to think too hard my teens are a period in which there are many changes I wish I could make.
Retrospect is a very cruel and harsh thing that we all experience all of the time. Usually it’s something you can just go back and do or say, like when you realise you forgot to tell someone something so you just call them back. When it comes to the key points in your life (which I know are swirling around your heard because they are in mine) retrospect can sometimes hurt. Almost everyone moves on from the things that they should have done. I can’t help but feel sorry for the people who let themselves dwell on whatever it was and become lost in their own imaginations. Not that they go crazy or clinically insane or anything but that they may loose out on the next best thing or indeed something better because they weren’t paying attention.
There are quotes and sayings that can emphasise or expand all of this, I was going to say point but having re-read as I’ve wrote again its all jumbled and vague, but what it is that I am trying to say or get out is this. Every individual is the most powerful person in the world. You have the opportunity to alter not only yours but the lives of everyone you come into contact with. To strive and work hard and obtain all the things that you might ever want is the want that we all have. But most of us do fall at one of those hurdles. I know I did, I have, and I will endeavour to never do it again because I don‘t know about you, but I don‘t want to let go of the things I want. The hurdles in front of you are only as big as you let them be. Take them one at a time and with gusto. Don’t look back and keep your head up. And remember, to always face your deepest fear.
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