tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83120681546612683312024-03-05T04:46:37.250-08:00Silence The StigmaOur aim is to share and discuss various topics surrounding the subjects of mental health and other stigmatised issues in the form of an outlet and safe forum for you. We hope you stand up and speak with us!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-32916671815700739212016-05-16T07:05:00.000-07:002016-05-17T11:36:57.947-07:00Greatness? <div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2s567" data-offset-key="btpug-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="btpug-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I would say that the greatest people are not those who suffer or those that glide through life, untouchable and unscathed. But instead, those that go through life exactly like the rest of us: with all its bumps in the road, both good times and bad. Managing times that are extremely insufferable as well as things that are just the same mundane normal. But what sets great people apart from everyone else, is their ability to experience all these things, whilst simultaneously making something of themselves. Something that will set them apart from everyone else, because whilst it may not be obvious to others, these are the people that no matter the situation are able to retain their own sense of belief, faith and self – something that agreeably sets them apart. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8262f-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The troubling thing however, is how we can maintain this no matter what the circumstances are. It does not seem human to be able to remain upbeat even in the hardest of times, but what is more, to consistently stay motivated to carry on, through this relentless journey of life. It seems almost robotic to expect those that are great to be able to uphold a certain standard, regardless of what they may be facing. Their perceived greatness almost dictates this assurance, that they will remain consistent in their beliefs, always sure of who they are and where they are going. It is therefore our need of someone else’s greatness, rather than to be great ourselves that we thirst for. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="46ng0-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I would then perhaps say that whilst being great is what we look for, in some ways, a deeper version of ourselves does not strive for ‘greatness’ but it strives for motivation. It longs for that feeling of purpose and responsibility. The knowledge that what you are doing has meaning and the effort you are putting in now, will allow you to reap rewards in the future. You want to know that you are sowing the seeds right now, for a life later where you will stand in the midst of your fields, reaping in the produce of tiresome hard work, that months before seemed like an impossible task. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2003f-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So maybe then, if it is motivation that we seek, less so ‘greatness’ then we admire in those we perceive to be ‘great’ not their ability to remain consistent throughout, but their motivation to see that their actions now will still contribute to whatever the consequence may be later. The ability to remain faithful to the idea that we must continue no matter what else life presents us with, so that one day we will be presented with the reward that we have earned. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9qofl-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rather we must learn to maintain faithfulness in our actions and seek to work in an area that we find fulfilling in order that our ‘greatness’ comes easier. For ‘greatness’ I believe, cannot be measured in the amount that we suffer, but instead is measured individually, on what we do with the means that we have to turn whatever it is, into something of worth. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9qofl-0-0">-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xx</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-15072010501011417992016-04-13T12:26:00.000-07:002016-04-13T12:26:46.393-07:00And so it ends My school is a funny place. My school is a crazy place. My school, isn't really a school at all. Seven years at the most ridiculous, loving, nurturing, educational institution has taught me lots of things.<br />
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Yes, it's taught me English, Maths, Science, History, Geography and a modern language. But it also taught me compassion, maturity, understanding and depth. My school gave me friends, but most importantly, my school gave me a family. A safe space, a place to go when it felt like the whole world had turned their back on me.<br />
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My school, in all its strange and innately unorganised ways taught me to be who I am and to be proud. It taught me to love myself, to respect myself, and to love and respect others - no matter who they are and where they come from.<br />
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And so, as my long and strange journey comes to an end, I feel the need to write about my school, a place that has seen me grow up more than any place else.<br />
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My school gave me role models. It gave me the opportunity to grow up with the most unbelievable positive influences surrounding me. People that showed me that there were ways to be good, kind, honest and dedicated people, all the while being real. People that demonstrated real strength. People that were smart and sweet, badass and funny. These people that brought me up, and showed me kindness for no reason other than that is the kind of people that they are.<br />
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A while ago, my friend and I discussed that my school is pretty much run by strong, successful and powerful women - and how cool that was. But I think it goes beyond that. Because growing up with strong, beautiful, unbelievable women who all have their own stories, some of which I have been privileged enough to know, has showed me how to be a strong, successful and groundbreaking women. It has showed me how to achieve my goals and how to build myself up, whilst building up others around me.<br />
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My school also showed me how to be brave. It allowed me to fight on my own, and also to fight with support. They showed me how to love and care and cry all the while doing things for other people.<br />
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My school has given me so much more than I can ever give it. My teachers have taught me more than I can even begin to explain. My friends have shown me friendship that has an unlimited capacity. And whist this all sounds very cliche, I can't even begin to explain how it really is not.<br />
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Because yes, my school is a school. It teaches English, Maths and Science. But my school has taught and given me so much more. And for that, I will always be grateful.<br />
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I don't think words will ever really be able to fully express how much my school has done for me, and moreover, how much I am going to miss it and everyone in it. But in my school we have a saying - 'you can take the girl out of Hasmo, but you can't take the Hasmo out of the girl.' And as much as I know that is true, I really hope it will be the same for me.<br />
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-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-60991910844246867192016-03-30T10:13:00.000-07:002016-03-30T10:15:11.025-07:00Swimming in the DarkThe best bit about swimming is the silence under water. At the surface everything is going on - kids splashing and shouting, adults doing lengths and kicking. It is pretty chaotic above the water. But when you immerse yourself in the water, it feels like silence is falling like a blanket over your head. You can see everything going on, but there is a stillness that pervades the air. That's my favourite part, when everything is crazy and loud but all it takes is ducking under the water and suddenly everything just slows down and there is near silence.<br />
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When things are crazy around me, I often try and escape in my head to that place under the water. I close my eyes and imagine the silence and stillness that makes me so calm. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But when it does, I can escape to a place that no one else has access to. </div>
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Sometimes life can be really isolating. Your experiences are yours and yours only, and although that means that you have within you a very specific and special set of tools, it also means that sometimes you get lonely. And sometimes you get so lonely that the whole world feels like it's filled up with water, and you're trapped inside a really big, lonely, swimming pool. But instead of feeling light and free, you feel scared and alone. Really really alone. </div>
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The worst part of this feeling is that not only can no one access you, but you can't reach anyone either. It feels like everything around you is unreachable, locked. And the silence that you used to love begins to drive you mad, and makes you want to run in the rain or smash plates at a wall or scream into a pillow, just to break the boundary between sound and silence. </div>
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And although you can't pinpoint the silence, or work out what is making you so sad, all you can do is wait until the feeling has surpassed, wait until your head comes up from the water, and you can breathe again. Sometimes this takes minutes, sometimes it takes days, or months and for some people it takes years. </div>
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But when it feels like there are rocks in your stomach, or pains in your heart, like your ears are blocked or your head is filled with cotton wool, you should just know that sooner or later, you will regain feeling. You'll take a really deep breath one day and begin to hear your heart beating once more. So just hold on. </div>
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You know, I write these posts to write the truth, to expose something to other people, and to educate. But more often than not, I write these posts to myself, because sometimes the words that are hardest to hear are the ones we feel the deepest. So to me, and to you, your head will come back out of the water soon, I promise.<br />
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LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xx</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-38364123556492814242016-03-28T06:18:00.000-07:002016-03-28T06:36:29.990-07:00Why can't I dream big? From a young age, I was the type of child to think about what I wanted to be when I grew up. At first it was a vet, like most children I suspect, as I had a love for animals and all creatures of the earth. But soon, I grew out of that dream, and moved on to another one. My mum did a psychology degree, so my next dream was to be a psychologist. And when I had exhausted that idea, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. I settled on being a lawyer and for the next year or so, thought about all the things I would do once I had my degree. When people asked me what type of lawyer I wanted to be, and I didn't know, they told me to go into corporate law, because that is where the money is. So that summer, I did a week of work experience in a corporate law firm, and was extremely bored. At 16 I decided law wasn't for me, and began to search for something else to reach for.<br />
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Luckily for me, only a few months later, I began to fall in love with writing, and discovered that I'd rather do something that I love every day for the rest of my life, than something that was big and corporate but made a lot of money. Writing makes me feel fulfilled, it makes me feel happy and it also makes me feel like I'm making a difference. </div>
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So when people asked me what I want to do when I'm older, I responded happily and confidently that I want to be a published author. This was when I began to notice that the response to my career aspirations were usually met with raised eyebrows, condescending concern and some sort of ill thought out advice. The most common response I get is something like "Well I hope you'll be the next J K Rowling because otherwise you won't be very successful." I love J K Rowling and I am very much part of the Harry Potter Fandom, so my point next should not be taken as a criticism of her unbelievable talent and hard work. </div>
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But it is comments like this that make me believe that as a society our definition of success has changed so significantly. Rather than measure success in how much of an impact one makes in the world, we measure success in how much money a person makes. Now, I'm not naive enough to believe that money doesn't play a role in our lives, but I do genuinely believe that we should not let money be the indicator for how successful we are. </div>
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When I tell people I want to be a published author, the follow up question is usually about what I want to publish. When I respond by saying that I want to write things that change the world, people have lost me all together. But why can't I dream big? Why can't I write something that changes the world, and publish things that change the way we think. Why can't I use my skill to do something good instead of just thinking about how much I am going to earn? Because when I talk about writing, I mean writing to educate. Writing to educate people around me about things that go on that aren't spoken about enough. Writing to bring awareness and writing to change the way we think so that we are more tolerant and accepting and happy with who we are. </div>
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So the answer is that I can dream big. I can change the world with my writing, even if it's just my world. I don't have to be motivated by money, and nor do you, if you don't want to. It's going to be a darn sight harder to make it big in this world, but then again is that what really matters? </div>
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Maybe I will be the next J K Rowling, but on the very large chance that I'm not, all I want to know is that I can still dream big and change the world with my writing, regardless of the number in my bank account. </div>
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LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xx</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-30679714190758401512016-03-03T13:39:00.000-08:002016-03-03T13:39:58.752-08:00Who is Moral? I asked google to define what a moral person is. Google said that a moral person is someone who 'conforms to a standard of which is right and good. This implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right or wrong.'<br />
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The psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg uses four stages to explain the development of morality. These stages work on the understanding that as a person goes through cognitive development, their morality develops to. If abiding by this theory, we should believe that people start off with a very limited perspective on morality; using our role models to determine from a young age, right from wrong. As we develop, we should therefore seek to determine our own code of morality, partially based on societal values, and eventually depart from societies conventions or 'accepted notions' as google called it, and make moral decisions based on our own understanding and perception of right and wrong.<br />
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When understanding Kohlberg's theory, I struggled to believe that this quantification of an abstract concept could truly be used as a tool for which we define the development of said moral compass. Yet, when grappling with this idea, I saw my issue was not the abstract concept, but rather the way the definition of a 'moral' person tends to over simplify the human condition.<br />
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According to Kohlberg, a person that chooses to return an item that they have purchased amongst other items but not paid for, is morally upstanding. This person, theoretically, has achieved stage 5 in moral development. But does this make them a 'moral person'?<br />
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I sincerely doubt it. To me, Kohlberg's theory seems to suggest that one morally upstanding act means that you are a morally upstanding person. But what about the person who returns the item to the store, yet is cheating on his wife? Or the person who hides behind his charitable public persona, but beats his children and abuses his wife? Kohlberg's theory didn't seem to have any answers to the real moral dilemmas that people are faced with. To me, the essence of a truly moral person is someone who acts in private exactly how they would in public - if they give charity publicly, they would do this privately as well. A person does not abuse his children in private but behave beautifully in public yet remain a morally upstanding part of society. The implication that one good act makes you a good person is narrow minded, and ignores the complexity of human nature in so many ways.<br />
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The age restrictions that Kohlberg seemed to impose on moral development was the second thing that frustrates me immensely. Kohlberg seemed to suggest that morality develops with age. This would imply that children and young adults are incapable of making complex moral decisions. And that would be wrong.<br />
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When faced with a decision that would change everything, what would you do? Being someone in this predicament, having to make a decision that would change everything was the hardest thing I had to do. Before making my choice, I consulted a few adults, who were about as much help as one of those 'motivational posters' that aim to cheer someone up but in reality do nothing. Adults were sympathetic with the difficulty of my choice, but could offer nothing themselves, mostly admitting they had no idea what the right thing to do would be. So all alone, at seventeen, I had to come to a decision myself about the right, or 'moral' thing to do.<br />
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Admittedly, I might be haunted by this decision a year later, but ultimately, when weighing up two extremely difficult realities, I chose the one that was most moral, according to my own definition. So, no whilst my moral development according to Kohlberg should have prevented me from making a moral decision, I was able to anyway.<br />
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So in an attempt to answer my own question, <i>who is moral?</i><br />
I had to ask myself <i>what is moral? </i>A question that I don't think Google, or Kohlberg have answered particularly well. One good deed does not make you a good person, just as one bad deed doesn't make you a bad person. Being moral is about acting out of principle with good intentions, in order to do something that you understand to be correct, no matter the circumstance.<br />
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The truth, when I really thought about it, is that moral is not a mutually exclusive character trait. Morality is a sliding scale that we use to measure the intentions of our behaviour. It is a empty word, with shallow meanings, that society uses in order to fit actions into boxes.<br />
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So if I really ask myself <i>who is moral? </i>The only real answer I could come up with that didn't make me uncomfortable, is to say that moral is the person that acts with good intentions and deeds both publicly and privately. Moral is the person that gives charity publicly, and treats their family with respect and the way they deserve to be treated. Moral is the person without double standards or contradicting ideas. But moral isn't really a person at all, its a persona that we choose to take upon ourselves, a continually evolving entity that isn't bound by age, rather by experience.<br />
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-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xx<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-13284667443244727582016-02-16T12:43:00.000-08:002016-02-16T12:43:31.518-08:00Award Show Culture Tis' the season to watch award shows. But instead of the usual jolly-ness, this year, award show season seems to be filled with pent up controversy, disguised haters and snide comments. Whilst its always nice to see your favourite artists being recognised for their talent and hard work and general sunshine (AKA Taylor Swift) I have a major problem with award show culture.<br />
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Award show culture breeds hatred between artists, and perpetuates a society where people feel they have to 'one-up' each other all the time. The fact is, anyone nominated for an award, and artists not nominated for awards either, should all be celebrated for their contributions to the arts community. That being said, I don't wish to take those achievements away from those worthy artists, I just don't like the way it breeds an understanding that artists have to 'beat each other out' in order to be recognised.<br />
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The next issue I have with award show culture, and one that I know has been recognised widely this year, particularly with the Oscars, which is the extremely obvious lack of representation these shows offer. Talent is not restricted to one particular race, ethnicity or religion, so why should recognition of these talents be restricted by the limitations we place on them. It bothers me tremendously that the nominations continually bypass the most worthy of candidates because they don't represent the same culture or ethnicity that they do. Lets have more representation people!<br />
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Moving on, the next issue I have is the way award shows force people to degrade artists under the disguise of supporting another one. In particular, since social media has become such an integral platform for opinions and grievances, people and celebrities included will stop at nothing to voice how they really feel. Hiding behind your screen does not excuse the words that are out on the internet forever, and I think this is yet another example of the way celebrity culture blinds us from the someone's true character. Celebrities, don't think just because you're high and mighty it excuses you from having a sense of dignity online and slagging off other artists isn't noticed, or part of perpetuating the problem.<br />
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So yes, whilst it is nice to watch celebs being celebrated for their contribution to music or art or television, lets not forget that award show culture has the ability to breed hatred, and this is something that must be recognised.<br />
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-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxx<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-51131589441076987232016-02-11T14:17:00.000-08:002016-02-11T14:18:38.922-08:00People Come and People GoEveryone experiences many kinds of people. People who are funny, smart, gentle, kind, responsible, jokey, and so on. People who are there for you when you need them, or that you are there for when they need you. People who stick around for a long time, or people you meet for a day.<br />
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My point is that people can walk in and walk out of your life at any time. This brings about mixed emotions; it is so exciting when a new friend strolls into your life and is bound to stick around for ages, but on the other hand, an old friend who waltzes out of your life without you even noticing is startling and upsetting.<br />
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In life, this will happen so much. I guarantee that the majority of the people from your day care when you were only a toddler walked out of your life practically as soon as you walked out of those doors for the last time. I guess it just hurts more when you grow up, and did not expect to see people leave so soon.<br />
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Say you discover a brand new, flashy group of friends. You bond over endless laughter and various hobbies in common, or even hobbies that are different that are so fresh and interesting that you wish to find out more. This is one of the greatest feelings - connecting with people that you instantly recognise will become a close friend and important figure in your life. However, at the expense of these sparkly new friends, there is a loss of some old faces. You didn't notice them leaving, but one day it hits you and you feel an overwhelming pang of sadness. You see them with their flashy new friends and smile because you know they feel the same way that you do, but there's still this selfish part of your brain that says "but that was me 12 years ago".<br />
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I heard a metaphor in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyaLHLofF3s">this</a> video (credit to Dodie Clark, my inspiration for so many things), which links life to one big bus journey. People will enter and exit the bus at many different times, but you will be on this bus witnessing everyone passing by. The lesson that I gained from this metaphor is to not be too upset over the passengers that have stuck by for the longest time, but to look back and feel pleased that they did travel with you for so long. This lesson is particularly relevant at the moment to me, and will become even more so, as the three of us begin our university journeys.<br />
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Thank you for reading this, it has felt good to be blogging again. I am so sorry for my prolonged absence...I kind of fell out of love with blogging for a few different reasons, but this rambling has been oddly cathartic. Needless to say, I have regained my love and I will not go on a hiatus this long again.<br />
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-<b>LF, </b>LR and MG<br />
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xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-86280326959430446662016-01-27T10:44:00.001-08:002016-01-27T10:44:51.719-08:005 Good Things A while ago I came up with an idea that changed the way I think. Previously, I had slipped into a really negative mindset. I constantly drew out the negatives in everything, and through this, was compounding my own situation by refusing to control the one thing I was able to control: my thoughts.<br />
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I'm not even quite sure how it started, but since around the summer, every evening (with the exception of a few forgetful nights) LF and I have exchanged '5 good things that have happened today'. At first, I became motivated to do this because I thought it would be a nice way to share some good things with one of my closest friends.<br />
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Within a few weeks however, I began to notice changes in the way I thought and the way I processed the things that happened to me. The premise of this activity is to find five things, however minute or gigantic that were good things that happened that day. Sometimes that means that the bus came on time, or I only cried once, and other days these things are bigger and more significant. But ultimately, the aim is the same.<br />
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I changed the way I thought by recognising all the little good things that can be easily overlooked. Some days this is really difficult when it has been an overwhelmingly bad day, but regardless, pushing myself to find things however seemingly insignificant, showed me that no matter what my day has been like, I am so blessed to have the things I have.<br />
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I get very easily sucked into a negative frame of mind, and honestly struggle to find the good in many situations. It has now been at least six months and now the network of positivity (as I like to call it) has expanded.<br />
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After a few months of sharing 5 good things with LF, I decided to share them with another friend too, after explaining what it was about, she liked the idea and asked to be involved. More months have gone by since then, and more people have become involved. My friend started it up with one of her friends, and I too have since sent them to a few other people.<br />
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In some ways, my 5 things are selfish: They help me to have a more positive outlook, they enable me to be grateful and they have truly changed the way I think. But in other ways, I think the 5 things, by spreading positivity through my friends has shown me the importance of sharing positive thoughts and feelings in order to give someone else a better day.<br />
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I have been amazed at how a small commitment has turned into something that grows bigger everyday, and so I would implore you to share 5 good things with your friends or family at the end of each day, and see how it changes the way you think!<br />
<br />
LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-34626604934725281552016-01-11T11:30:00.000-08:002016-01-11T11:30:57.424-08:00Dear Past Me In school on Friday we discussed the way we are going to bring up our children, if we are lucky enough to have them. My teacher raised the question, asking whether we would raise our kids the same way our parents raised us. She proposed that most of us would probably say yes, but would there be things that we would change?<br />
<br />
When I came home on Friday, I considered this question fully. In truth, will I raise my children differently? Yes. For me, this is almost no question at all. I knew that sitting in my classroom, I know it on the way home, and I still know it now.<br />
<br />
But thinking about my future, and the lessons I would impart on any future children I might chose to have, made me think about all the things I wish I would've told myself at the beginning of high school, considering where I am now.<br />
<br />
So instead of writing a note to my future children, I wrote a note to my past self, and I would like to share it on here, in the hope that it might give some advice.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">"Laugh more. Cry more. Take in the beauty of
this world. Don’t be afraid to think. Don’t be afraid to speak and don’t be
afraid to feel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There are going to be times when you are lost, times when
you’re angry, afraid and broken. You are going to be confused, you are going to
ask why… ALOT. And sometimes, you aren’t going to get the answers that you
require. And then you're gonna be frustrated. There will be days when you
wish you weren’t born. But from those days it’ll be as if you were born anew,
as you will rise up from the ashes, greater and stronger than you were before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is going to be really hard but it also
going to be so worth it. So say thank you more. You are going to face challenges
and sometimes you will fail but you will also succeed. You are going to want to
give up, but you will keep going because you are made of stronger stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You are going to say things you don’t mean,
and sometimes you will upset people, but you will apologize because no one is
ever too big or too great to say sorry when they are wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You are going to stand up for what you
believe in because there is nothing on this earth that is more important to you
than fighting for the ones that you love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Grab opportunities with both hands, and see
every day as a different experience. Don’t take all that you have for granted,
because G-d can give as quickly as He can take away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Learn more. Study hard.
Take life seriously, but not too seriously. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Be patient, be kind and most
importantly be accepting. Don’t judge a person until you’ve walked a mile in
their shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some days, your biggest achievement will be
getting out of bed in the morning, but some days you achievements will be as
big as touching the sky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t forget to spend a few moments
every day saying thank you for everything you do have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You are going to learn that the greatest tool
you have, is your mind. With your mind you can achieve anything. You will see
that it doesn’t matter what you have or what you don’t have, it is about
creating opportunities with your mind.</span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But most importantly, be brave, be strong and be kind." </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxx</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-74796498200345282892016-01-01T05:54:00.000-08:002016-01-01T05:54:27.430-08:00New Year Thoughts (LR)I know technically its a bit late to share my reflections on the past year, but I was on a plane when I should have been blogging this, so you'll have to excuse me! I would like to share my reflections on 2015 with everyone because 2015 taught me a lot of valuable lessons.<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">2015 has been a year of many things for me.
Mostly, it has been a year of change. </span>Every year I laugh to myself as I reflect
back on all the events of the past year, and wonder how I got through. This
year however, I look back, reflecting on all the choices I made, that brought
me to this point. </div>
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<br /></div>
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2015 was no less arduous. In fact, 2015 probably left more
scars and bruises then any previous years. But it also taught me more lessons
then any other year to date. 2015 was the year I made decisions for myself regardless
of the things outside my control, and furthermore, it was the year I decided to
let go of things I could not control and allow myself to focus from within. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was a year of gratitude. It was the year I saw for the first time really
clearly, how unbelievable all the people around me are. It was the year I
started saying thank you for all the things people do for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year
I realized how much I love writing. It was a year I sought after my passion,
and tried to utilize that in order to change the world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year I
realized the person I want to become, and started making small steps in the
right direction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year I experienced heartache, adverse challenges,
stress, fear, anger and intense anxiety. But it was also the year unlike many
previous, where I didn’t let that dominate who I am. 2015 was the year I chose
to change my state of mind instead of changing all the uncontrollable things
around me. It was the year I learnt that the greatest power I have is the
strength that comes from within. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year I fought hardest for the
people I love the most, and won. it was a year of continual decision making and
it was a year that showed me that I can do it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year I decided to be
more positive, it was a year that I worked on my mental strength harder than I
have ever done before. 2015 was the year I let myself make decisions I would never have done before. It was the year I started to look forward to a future, it was a year of building bridges, and in some cases, it was a year of burning bridges too. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2015 was the year I learnt things about myself and about the world every single day, and was the year that I let go of the past, and moved on towards the future. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- LR xxx</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-2931968013855281732015-12-31T07:34:00.001-08:002015-12-31T07:34:32.048-08:00New Year Thoughts (LF)The reason that I am writing this post is because I was inspired by one of my closest friends' tweets. She wrote:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"This year needs to say bye bye"</blockquote>
<br />
and this got me thinking. Retrospectively, I don't think that 2015 was a bad year for me. I became more body confident, spent my entire summer having amazing experiences - work related or not, stopped biting my nails, completed my UCAS form and went for 3/5 of my interview days for universities, continued with my old hobbies and found some more, rekindled some old friendships and created new ones.<br />
<br />
However, as I went through each month of this year, it didn't give off the same impression. I had mock exams, followed by the real things, grade disappointments, intense nostalgia, family struggles, anxiety surrounding events that I should not have been nervous for and many tears.<br />
<br />
But as the year comes to a close, I am beginning to almost forget about those not-so-great times. I can now leave 2015 with the thought of it being not such a bad year for me. I know that in reality, it just wasn't great, but I think that the beauty of 2015 is that it is in the past now. If I cling onto those negative feelings, I won't be able to move on with my life. I won't be able to fully enjoy the rest of my final year of school, turning 18, prom, the extremely long summer holiday, and eventually (and hopefully) starting my university career.<br />
<br />
I say this every year, but I think that 2016 will be my year. But this time, I am not just saying it. I am going to go out of my way to make sure that when I am a mother watching my children enter their 18th year in this world, I will be able to say "I loved being 18, it was one of my favourite years".<br />
<br />
Obviously there are many aspects of my life that are out of my control, as with everyone. When it comes to those parts, it won't be that I will rise up and change things myself because I physically cannot do that. I feel like instead, it will be a change in mindset, which I will 100% benefit from. Instead of putting myself down all the time, I'm going to turn that around and positive thinking should come with rewards.<br />
<br />
I also want to enter 2016 with the attitude that I will post more; I can't believe that I haven't posted since October!<br />
<br />
Happy new year everyone <3<br />
<br />
-<b>LF</b>, LR and MG<br />
xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-83282538744206856782015-12-06T08:46:00.000-08:002015-12-06T08:46:19.754-08:00A Time to be Grateful I often fear that I become too swept up in the moment, and do not have enough strength of character to be aware of how grateful I should be. It is human nature to look beyond those closest to us. We disregard those who play vital roles in our lives, not because we don't love them or recognise them, but because when something is placed right in front of us, most of the time, we are blind to it.<br />
<br />
When things go wrong, naturally, we look for someone else to blame. We don't like to believe that it is us ourselves that has done the wrong thing. However, when things go right, we turn inwards and celebrate our own success, forgetting about all the other people that helped us and guided us along the way.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying for a second that we shouldn't celebrate our own successes, because of course we should. Instead, however I am suggesting that we should be reminding ourselves that we need to look to the outside to thank those around us for all their help, kindness and support.<br />
<br />
Someone once told me that you can never say thank you too many times, and I think that is really true. Being grateful to those around us, is paramount to success. When we are able to recognise the input of our family, friends, teachers and any one else, then we are giving part of our success to them, and allowing them to share in the good things as well as the bad.<br />
<br />
I am constantly reminded of the look in my teacher's face, when I made an effort to tell her good news. The sincerity of which she received my news, made me painfully aware of how much bad news I share, but more than that, the intimacy of good news, when it is such a rare occurrence. It made me see, for the first time, the many ways saying thank you can be said, and more importantly, the power of which being grateful can hold.<br />
<br />
Frankly, we are in times of universal uncertainty, when most of us are paralysed by fear of the unknown - or more accurately, fear of knowing that we don't really know what is to come on a global scale.<br />
<br />
But I do think, however insignificant it may be on a global scale, that the only thing you can do to fight back against those who have stripped away their humanity, is by working on humanity. Trying to make the world a better place, one thank you at a time.<br />
<br />
-LF, <b>LR </b>and MGAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-74063458182195490702015-11-15T09:52:00.000-08:002015-11-15T09:52:56.224-08:00Are we human without our humanity? I'm not sure there are many words that I can use right now that will do any sort of justice to the terrible sorrow I feel about all the terrorism going on in the world right now. I would however, like to share a poem that explores terrorism in the face of humanity, but I suppose more than that, the way in which we must break down stereotypes and prejudices in the face of a terror organisation that ironically does not kill based on any prejudice other than the fact that we are not them. I'm so tired of the relentless blame game and people attempting to throw their own suffering into the public eye as a way of diminishing another countries or cultures pain. We are all humans and as far as I am concerned, we are all in this together.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Are we human, without our humanity? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My flesh touches your flesh,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And from the outside, we appear no different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I prick my skin on the thorn of a rose,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Our blood drips out a gleaming red-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I put my hand against yours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And turn them up towards the sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We are different, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But innately we are the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I see all the things that make us different, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Through a distorted telescope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A lens clouded by misconceptions and prejudice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Echo’s of lies and furious fervent feelings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That changes the color of my blood from yours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I strip down to just my flesh <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What use will it all be? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For the blood of my people <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And the blood of your people,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Will look the same on history’s tainted canvas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -52.8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And when the lies drain away, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But our morals stay the same – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My flesh that touches your flesh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Becomes our flesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -52.8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now the color red streaks through our cities veins, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We laugh as millions but cry as one,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We feel loss as one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But we must remember, that our weapon –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One that is much stronger than any knife, gun or bomb –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Is our Humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm -52.8pt 0.0001pt -42.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For it is our Humanity that makes us Human,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And being human that makes us all the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxx</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-45499527718185308042015-11-10T11:19:00.000-08:002015-11-10T11:19:00.299-08:00Sucked In To Social Media I know its been a while since we have had a constant stream of posts, but there is no time like the present to get back into blogging.<br />
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An important issue that has cropped up especially in the last few weeks, is the power behind social media.<br />
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With the advance of technology, social media for the better or worse has become a big part in most of our lives. We check our Facebook, update our twitters and are posting pictures on Instagram before we have even taken in the moment.<br />
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The world we live in thrives off of instant gratification, we judge our popularity based on how many likes we obtain, and judge ourselves based on the superficial exterior that others give off, from their social media updates. We confuse our screens for real life and become lost in the trying to be something that we are not, because what we want doesn't really exist. </div>
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The power of social media is immense. It dictates how we look, how we think and how we define the things around us. We become caught up in the externalities and often forget to work on who we are, off screen. It becomes hard to separate between on line and real life. Our expectations of who we are and what defines us, become blended into a mixture of filters, and Kylie Jenner's lips. We lose touch with reality and become consumed by what we think we should look like, based on a reality that someone else has created to reflect an ideal world. </div>
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Time and time again you see girls and boys succumb to the pressures of the online world, unable to maintain the unrealistic expectations of what we should look like, or what we believe is aesthetically pleasing. </div>
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That doesn't mean that I don't have Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. I am fully aware of all the positives of social media. However, I think that most of us are too sucked in to see some of the harmful effects that living life online can have as well.<br />
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I think that as a population, we spend too much time making sure that externally we are giving off the appearance of someone that will get lots of likes. We judge success on how many followers we have, not on what it means to be a good person. We are misdirected by a world that seems a lot more high definition of our own, and captivated by a culture that appears so much more fulfilling than it is.<br />
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The problem with becoming absorbed by social media is that we begin to live life in 2D. We live through a screen instead of experiencing the world first hand, and this inhibits our experiences in ways that we are too blinded to notice.<br />
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Sometimes it is good to just go offline for a few days. Take in the world around us and see beauty in things that don't have a filter on. I sometimes feel that our sensitivity towards each other and the way we explore things has become more and more superficial, because the place we most express ourselves is online. I'm not naive enough to think that we should all just switch off and stay that way, but I do think that every now and again it is good to just give it a rest. Extract yourself from a world that doesn't shut down for even a second, and look inwards at who you want to be, rather than online to see who you should be modelling yourself off of.<br />
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-LF, <b>LR, </b>and MG xxx<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-53727999378169786762015-10-30T01:50:00.001-07:002015-10-30T01:50:21.510-07:00Feeling InspiredI was on holiday in Mallorca back in September and the hotel I stayed in has entertainment on six out of the seven per nights per week. On Fridays, 'Rubén Memories' performed. During the week that I was there, I felt reluctant to go downstairs, as I had half fallen asleep to the SacconeJolys on my little springy bed. I went down to the bar area to be met by a tall, bald, skinny man, clutching a microphone stand and singing his little heart out. My mum and nana found seats and I sat down, one leg overlapping the other, and I leaned forward, beginning to immerse myself into the show.<br />
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Rubén was a fantastic performer. Sure, his singing voice wasn't the best, however his energy radiated across the room and his face lit up every time he received his round of applause following a song. He found little ways to encourage the audience to become involved; singing along with him, shaking their hands and even bringing in some waiters to dance with and to take over their jobs.<br />
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He kept repeating the phrase <i>'God, I love my job'</i>.<br />
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This got me thinking.<br />
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This is what I want with my life.<br />
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This is what I aspire to do.<br />
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I don't care what some people I know say, I believe that the most important part of your job (or, for that matter, anything that you do) is to have <i>fun</i>. To <i>enjoy</i> what you're doing. Seeing him beaming as the climax of the song was reached made me tear up with pleasure.<br />
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I felt very inspired by him, and I still do today. Whatever I end up doing with my life, whether it be performing (ideally) or anything else, I want to stay sane, creative and, most importantly...<br />
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I want to be happy.<br />
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- <b>LF, </b>LR and MG<br />
xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-36116481553173043552015-10-19T13:04:00.000-07:002015-10-19T13:05:48.226-07:00Accidentally JealousDo you ever accidentally feel intensely jealous of another person?<br />
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I know this is a strange way of phrasing something, but the term 'accidentally jealous' defines how I'm currently feeling.<br />
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Let's just say that a friend of yours is an extremely high achiever. Whether they are naturally clever or not, they always end up with the top results of the class, or even the year group. This person's results have got absolutely nothing to do with you. The results that you achieved were fine, they helped you move onto the next step...so why do you feel bad?<br />
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Let's just say that you and a friend are both auditioning for a play. The two of you have roles that you aspire to get, but by the end, your friend gains a fantastic role. You should feel so pleased for this person - great, they've managed to squeeze through such a tricky, competitive competition and gain a brilliant part in the play. Yet there's a huge pang of sorrow in your heart - should you not have got the role?<br />
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Let's just say that your friend has a crush on another person within your friendship group. After a few months, they act upon it and become boyfriend and girlfriend. (Or same sex - my example may-or-may-not be based on real life). You are extremely excited for your friends, who have found a whole new happiness in each other and in themselves. But you start to think about the amount of 'friends' that you have liked a little (or a LOT) more than a friend...why did things not end up like that between the two of you?<br />
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I like to call this 'accidental jealousy'. Where you know that rationally, you should feel happy for another person, when you actually feel a little bit sad that you are not in the same/similar position.<br />
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It has occurred to me recently that this is not a rare thing and, in fact, is quite normal. After all, that role was made for you, you deserved those As and that boy that you liked should definitely have been into you - like have you seen your reflection??!!<br />
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Anyway, I feel like this is <i>okay</i>. It is okay to feel this way. So long as it's only a short while. You need to find away to put those feelings aside, shove them into a box and lock it, so that you can be a pleasure to be around again. You can't necessarily vocalise these feelings as it may come back around and slap you in the face. And you <b>certainly </b>cannot lose confidence over it. So life seems to be going in favour of your friends right now, but your time is coming.<br />
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-<b>LF</b>, LR and MG<br />
xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-73997632711260141952015-09-20T09:20:00.002-07:002015-09-20T09:20:12.725-07:00Why School is Soul Destroying<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a lot to hold against school at the moment. I completely understand that it's so important and I'm eternally grateful that I have been given high quality education, however I believe that the school system in the United Kingdom (and most likely elsewhere) are doing something wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 13th August, Years 12 and 13 received their grades which either determine a place at university or will shape the predicted grades for universities to see. Obviously there are other options, which I will touch upon later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To me, it seems as if examiners are purposely failing students. If a student was one or two marks off the higher grade, it felt like they revelled in the student's unhappiness and refused to be slightly more generous. If the exam is entirely subjective, such as English (and in my case, Drama) it appeared as if the examiners remained biased to their own views and gave a lower grade than students deserved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I find that incredibly annoying, there is something that is bigger than this that I'd like to focus on. School is ruining the fun of education. I have two personal examples to justify this point...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have two wonderful psychology teachers who manage somehow to keep my class motivated, educated and their love for the subject shines through them and radiates onto us. One of these teachers appears to stay true to the value <i>'learning for learning's sake' - </i>studying a subject purely for the love of it. In lessons, she frequently shares genuinely interesting facts, to which she is met with blank facial expressions and the same question is posed:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>"Will we need this for the exam?"</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you see how damaging this is? When you think about it, we're supposed to study the subjects that we love, when soon the love will be replaced by the robotic routine of absorbing information and regurgitating it all over the exam paper. There's no time or brain capacity to learn for enjoyment, which is deeply saddening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My second example follows the way that my practical AS Drama exam went. Our teacher had told us to 'use the inspiration' of a practitioner and apply it to a script of our choice. My friend discovered an unusual and intriguing script, which we performed to the style of 'Epic Theatre', as developed by Bertold Brecht. No-one else had done anything like that at school. We worked for hours during and after school every week, organised rehearsals out of school and worked solidly at school on this performance. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of our teachers helped us with this performance and constantly gave us praise for our work - we were sure that we would get top marks.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took over our lives. At social occasions, my friend and I would vent about how annoyed we were with the others the whole time and we would regularly rehearse our lines (and everyone else's, obviously). We were examined by the moderator, who was also being moderated, and one of our teachers.We performed our hearts out and were proud of it. This was the first time in ages, if not forever, where I felt self-confidence, both in the theatrical world and in real life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 13th August, we were greeted with a letter '<b>B</b>' on the report card, rather than the A that we had hoped for. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I know that a B is a great grade, it was just heartbreaking because we expected too much. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our teacher later told us that the chief moderator decided that our performance wasn't "Brechtian" enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were too creative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our performance didn't get a high enough grade because we were creative. In a creative subject.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To me, this is not okay. I am not talking about my grade anymore, I am speaking of the fact that students everywhere are having the creativity sucked out of them like a vacuum and then come university and adulthood, when we are allowed a little bit more wriggle room to be inventive, we can't. We have been trained to be machines with cloned brains, not allowed any freedom to be ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right, I think I've had a long enough vent! I had been intending to make this post since that eventful day of the 13th August, but I couldn't write it for weeks and then, once I did, my internet was being very temperamental and I eventually forgot about this post. I need to get all of this out there though - not so that everyone can read my problems with school, but so that people can take this and be reminded to maintain their creative energy aside from school. This is why my friends and I created this blog, write poetry, songs and perform.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-<b>LF</b>, LR and MG</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-55105926181439334582015-09-16T15:10:00.000-07:002015-09-16T15:10:23.727-07:00Standing With AhmedEvery few days I check the news, because I find that it is important to be up to date with whatever is going on in the world. This morning, when I was doing my usual sweep through the Internet in order to be up to date with the world, I was drawn towards two stories that may not seem connected, but to me are deeply rooted in the same plant pot.<br />
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In the last twelve hours, the hash tag ⌗IStandWithAhmed has gone viral. This hash tag is a result of a fourteen year old boy being arrested for bringing a home-made clock to school, a clock that a teacher falsely accused of being a bomb. Ahmed was arrested in school and released shortly after, when the police released that it was literally a clock he had made at home because he is a fourteen year old boy pursing mechanics. </div>
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The second thing in the news that has captured the world's attention in the last few weeks is the refugee crisis. When there are hundreds of thousands of human beings crying out in pain, living in conditions that are so far from anything we live in, and enduring the heart-wrenching experiences of fleeing a place that you and your family have called home for hundreds of years, I really ask my self why the world is doing next to nothing. </div>
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I question why countries are closing their borders, and turning away as families are torn apart, mothers are loosing their children and people are loosing their identities. I question why the acceptable response to these tragic events is to sigh and look apathetically at the news reports flooding in of the horrors these people are coming from, their harrowing journeys only to be met with hostility. </div>
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You are probably wondering what the two stories have to do with each other, so I will explain the link that I have made:</div>
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The world is focusing on the wrong facts and figures. Instead of stretching out our hands and opening our hearts, we are creating a society where it is acceptable to close our eyes and focus on the wrong things. </div>
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Ahmed Mohamed is a fourteen year old boy, an innocent fourteen year old boy, a talented fourteen year old boy. </div>
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Now tell me what part of that makes you think of a terrorist? Because there must have been something that provoked the teacher into calling the police. </div>
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Oh yes, I know what it is. Ahmed Mohamed was arrested today because he is a Muslim. So really what happened was, a grown adult, someone that should have known better, decided that it was their place to insight their own preconceived prejudices and get an innocent boy arrested because he was a Muslim boy, taking an interest in mechanics. </div>
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But it gets better. It gets better because effectively the world is turning their back on these refugees based on prejudices; based on stereotypes that have one purpose in society, which is to destroy any of the basic humanity that people have. </div>
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I am struggling to put into words how angry and disheartened I feel right now. The world is misplacing its concerns. Western superpowers should be worried about what is actually going on in these middle-eastern countries that is causing such an influx of refugees. </div>
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We should be focusing on trying to fix the root of the problem instead of misplacing our prejudices and stereotypes onto innocent people that need our help and support more than anyone. </div>
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The message Ahmed's school sent to him today is that they have a certain expectation that he will be a terrorist. They show him that they don't see Ahmed for a fourteen year old boy with skills that will change the world, instead they see him as a potential threat because his faith is not the same as theirs. And you know what that says to me? It says that we have not evolved at all. It shows me that white supremacy is just as prevalent now as it was one hundred years ago, and that destroys me, it really does. </div>
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As for the refugee crisis, I really do beg people to open their arms but to also look ahead, look ahead to fix the problem that is not going to stop until a superpower puts it to bed. </div>
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Whilst usually my posts are not this political, I feel so strongly about this, that I could not have passed an opportunity to write about it on this platform. I hope you will stand with us in standing with Ahmed and learn to open your hearts to the refugee crisis. </div>
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-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxx</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-76083467236179920582015-09-07T10:24:00.002-07:002015-09-07T10:24:13.512-07:00Dear Examiners: My Future Lies In The DetailsThe best thing about taking exams, is the feeling you have as you get up for the last time, as the person at the front comes round to collect your paper, and dismiss you. The invisible chain that has kept you anchored to your desk for the last two months has been cut off and you are now allowed to do whatever you want, guilt free.<br />
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That feeling is a mixture of freedom and relief, but also, it is the knowledge that you have now done everything in your power to make sure that whatever result you get is because you did all you could do. Part of the freedom and relief is knowing that whatever happens next is not up to you anymore.<br />
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Although over the summer the impending nausea that surrounds the word 'results' remains, in general, anyone expecting results likes to push the idea out of their minds and dull the scary notion of the future, with the summer.<br />
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It is in the days leading up to results day that we begin to re-examine our own performances, making false predictions as to what we have passed or what we have failed. Who we will be disappointing this year, and the many ways in which we will have to make amends to those people. Regardless of how well we suspect we may have done, there is hardly a person in the country that is making positive predictions in an attempt to hopefully far supersede the doubtfully low expectations that you have been subtly trying to work into your parents heads.<br />
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Finally the day comes, and you open your results. Staring at the letters that effectively spell out your future. For some people, this moment is filled with relief, you thank your lucky stars that you have met your own requirements along with the ones of your parents, the college, sixth form or university that you want to attend, and spend the rest of the day celebrating.<br />
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However, this year in particular, and I'm sure in other years too, there seems to be a large proportion of people that have come out of results day, with more painful consequences. Some people have got grades that they secretly suspected they would but hoped would never actually be true. But some people are genuinely flabbergasted by their results, shocked and disappointed at the view of letters far less satisfactory than the first three of the alphabet.<br />
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Faced with the possibility of your future slipping away through your fingers, you try to think of things that you can do to make this whole thing go away. The only thing you can think of is that this must be a mistake.<br />
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But what if I told you this actually was a mistake;<br />
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This year, I have heard countless tales of people in my year at school and in other schools across the board, who have had their papers remarked, and been regraded totally different grades. I have a friend who was moved up 18 marks, and another who went up 11. This madness is what makes me write this letter in the first places.<br />
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Careless examiners are messing with peoples lives.<br />
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Not everyone has the money to remark papers, especially not at the ridiculous prices that you are expected to pay for the privilege. I accept that the exam board will reimburse you for the money you lay out initially if the grade changes, but that is irrelevant because these mistakes should not be made in the first place.<br />
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What about all the people who decide not to remark because they don't believe their mark will change?<br />
What about all the people who don't have the money to layout and have to go the rest of their lives wondering if their mark could have been something else?<br />
What about all the people who just give up?<br />
What about all the people who lose their university places and end up on a different path than what they were supposed to?<br />
What about all the people who feel as if they have failed, all the heartbreak and stress over a false mark.<br />
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My future, and everyone else's lies in the details because when one examiner makes a mistake, it can cost a lot more than £40 per re-mark to fix.<br />
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I understand that examiners are humans and humans make mistakes, but at the end of the day these are mistakes that people cannot afford to make.<br />
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I hope that people have better luck in the future, and that from now on, examiners will pay attention to the details more than they have been, because that is where the future lies.<br />
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-LF, <b>LR</b> and MGAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-28856782791499020012015-08-31T03:47:00.000-07:002015-08-31T03:47:18.727-07:00Leaving the Past in the Past When I lie awake at night, letting my thoughts stir round and round in my head, I know that the only way I can fall asleep is if I write whatever it is down. I sit up, open my laptop and stare at a blank word document, until my fingers tap on my keyboard and within minutes, words appear on the page that spell out exactly what is bothering me.<br />
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Every now and again I like to read over what I write in those moments, because I think in some ways what I write then is the most honest, and the purest way that I can gather my thoughts together. For me it is in the silence of the night that the rest of the world is quiet enough for my thoughts to be heard.<br />
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Recently when I read over things I had written in my midnight madness, I saw a repetitive theme of the past and so I thought that I would write about it on here, and share some of the advice that I gave myself at some point between one am and four am in the last few weeks.<br />
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"Accepting the past is about acknowledging that all the things you have done and all the things you have been through, for the good and bad, are very much a part of who you are. Acceptance is the first part of moving forward and I think that when you have grasped that, you leave yourself with the foundation to build on.<br />
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You can take all the things you have learnt and develop yourself into the person that you want to be. It is about recognising that whilst your past will always be a part of who you are, it is not the only thing that you are.<br />
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I think the best decision I ever made was to move forward. I think through moving forward I have been able to strengthen the person I am into someone that I know will be able to take the weight of the future.<br />
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Thinking about the future is scary, it makes you wonder if you will ever be able to escape, it makes you doubt yourself and your capabilities and whether you will ever be able to truly leave behind your past. but I think that the best way to escape your past is to run into it with open arms.<br />
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It is about embracing your mistake, the places where you tripped and fell so that the next time you will know what to do. If you embrace your past then you can use it all to build a future and with your future at the tip of your fingers, you will be able to accomplish anything.<br />
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You can't move forward without letting go, and whilst I know letting go is going to be so hard, once you are free to reach out and grab whatever opportunity you are faced with, the past won't seem so troubled anymore.<br />
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Instead you will look back and wonder how you made it through the hark times, with nothing to guide you. But you will also know that it was all those things that are very much a part of who you are now. You will know that the reason you carry round a flashlight at all times is so that when you get lost again, you will be able to find you way. You know that when you go swimming, you make sure you jump in with both feet, but wearing a life jacket, so that you can feel the water against your skin without tempting fate and struggling not to drown.<br />
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But the best thing about the past is that it gives you lessons for the future, and I think when your past is as clouded as mind, it is the lessons that we extract that will stick with us and shape us for life. It isn't about seeing everything for the bad, it is about taking the bad and turning it into the good."<br />
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So I think what midnight me is trying to tell you, is that you need to let go of the past in order to build a future. But letting go of the past doesn't mean forgetting where you came from, or how far you have fought to get here. Letting go means taking with you all the things you have learnt, but leaving behind all the negative associations and memories that you have as well.<br />
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I hope this was helpful insight,<br />
LF, <b>LR </b>and MG<br />
xxxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-42199467220698527682015-08-27T03:01:00.000-07:002015-08-27T03:01:11.955-07:00Summer in the City 2015<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so fortunate again this year, after 2 years of this tradition, to attend 'Summer in the City' - the biggest Youtube convention in London. This time, I went with my best friend Libby (<a href="http://libbyjade26.blogspot.com/">libbyjade26.blogspot.com</a> - her blog is brilliant, you should check it out) and that was it. Just the two of us against the world. She had some internet friends that she knew beforehand, but I didn't know them yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main thing that I have learnt this weekend is that the Youtube community is wonderful. There were people of so many ages with so many differences but one similar interest, and yet it was so easy to become friends with anyone. My favourite thing to do was to look around at everyone around me and just think about how diverse everyone was - tall, short, female, male, transgender, straight, gay, bi, lesbian, musically talented, magicians, gamers, and <b>so many different hair colours</b>! Every single person that I spoke to was so lovely and I'm glad that I have made some new lifelong (hopefully) friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another thing that I realised is how much I love 'smaller' youtubers. By this, I mean like those with less subscribers than I feel like they should have. I would like to mention some of my favourites here, in the hope that you can agree with me or find some new people to subscribe to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Carrie Hope Fletcher, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ItsWayPastMyBedTime" target="_blank">itswaypastmybedtime</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granted that she's not a 'small youtuber', she is also an actress (performing as Eponine in Les Mis) and an author ('<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Know-Now-Wonderings-Reflections/dp/075155751X" target="_blank">All I Know Now</a>' and '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Carrie-Hope-Fletcher/dp/0751563145/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440113317&sr=1-1&keywords=on+the+other+side" target="_blank">On The Other Side</a>'). When I met her, she was waiting for somebody to pick up her call and, once she saw that we wanted to chat to her, instantly put her phone away and spoke to us for a long time. She gave me great advice, had a laugh with me and made me feel like we were on the same wavelength. I love her so much, she is like my honorary big sister and I feel like, whilst she has recognition for her performances and videos, she needs more recognition for her genuine kind heart, warm nature and friendliness. I am so thankful for her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Dodie Clark, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/doddleoddle" target="_blank">doddleoddle</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me tell you, Dodie Clark is the most amazing performer. Known for strumming on her lovely ukulele, she has a bubbly personality, bursting with sweetness and excitement. Her videos consistently make me grin and she gives great hugs. Over the weekend, she stood and met so many people whilst also performing, participating in insightful panels (which I was lucky enough to go and watch) and also sold lots of merchandise, which was sadly sold out when I went to pick up the tote bag! At the end of the Sunday, she stood by this fairground ride and did not move until she met every single person who hadn't met her and had a quick chat and a photo with everyone. I respect her so much and my heart weeps when I hear her music (and my eyes, WOW I was bawling during her live performance of 'One for the Road'!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Jenny, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/thatjennybee" target="_blank">thatjennybee</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have only recently discovered this little gem of a channel, containing short, quirky videos about Jenny's life and stuff. I went over for a chat on the Sunday of SitC and we stood for ages whilst she gave me brilliant life advice, we had a laugh together and really cute pictures! Such a genuinely lovely sunshine of a person - I think that's the best way that I can describe her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Chloe, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ScarfDemon" target="_blank">scarfdemon</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chloe does really amazing things for a charity called <a href="https://secure.savethechildren.org.uk/donate/?utm_campaign=ppc&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=ppcbran&sissr=1" target="_blank">'Save the Children'</a>, which is a brilliant charity that does wonderful things. Her short but sweet vlogs are entertaining, educational, enjoyable and heart-warming. Her recent series in which she read diary entries from her younger self was so insightful and whilst it made me chuckle at times, it made me feel better for thinking and acting the way that I did when I was 16. Chloe made a video about Polycystic Ovaries, which is something that I deal with and made me feel like I wasn't alone. When I told Chloe about this blog, she seemed to love the sound of it and even wrote down the address to look at later. That made me squeal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) Daniel J Layton, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/DanielJLayton" target="_blank">actor</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All round hilarious man, Daniel J Layton actor (full name, obviously) is an aspiring west end actor who shares the realities of the industry and also created comedic anecdotes in vlog form. He had a chat with every single person that he met and wasn't weirded out by Libby and I stroking his cardigan. He is so kind, gentle and very funny. His 'Baking with Layton' series makes me laugh until I cry and motivates me to start creating youtube videos purely so that I can feature as a guest in the series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) Lucy and Lydia, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/LucyAndLydia" target="_blank">beauty gurus</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These twins are the most beautiful girls that I have ever seen in the flesh. Their make up is always flawless and fashion senses are so good! That's not the most important thing that I wanted to tell you all though. I wanted to explain that they spoke to every single person and had a proper conversation filled with laughter and hugs. Their meet up that I went to was accidental, though they were kept out of that green room for a long time due to not only the amount of people who wanted to meet them, but the engagement that they had with every single viewer. I completely respect these two gorgeous youtubers and bloggers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could probably talk about so many more people that I met but I wouldn't want to keep you reading forever! I loved meeting every single person that I spoke to, regardless of how many subscribers they had. Everyone was so kind-hearted and I made so many new friends out of this weekend. If you ever feel like you are sitting on the fence trying to decide whether or not to go to a youtube convention, you should definitely do it! If you go with the mindset of wanting to meet <i>everyone</i>, then you may be met with a huge feeling of disappointment. But going to the panels, watching the mainstage and even meeting other people with the same interests as you are all amazing aspects of the weekend that cannot be missed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-<b>LF</b>, LR and MG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-41511515112255774092015-08-25T14:48:00.000-07:002015-08-25T14:48:32.533-07:00Five Letters, Make It or Break It. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trust. Somewhat of an abstract concept, as it seems to be a prerequisite to so many things. Any relationship without trust would seem to mock the foundation of which most relationships are built on. But what happens if you don't know who to trust? Or if you're not in a place in your life where trust comes easy to you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst being over-trusting comes hand in hand with naivety, people who don't trust at all are viewed as jaded and guarded. So really, is there a way for us all to win?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally find myself constantly battling between the two; I confide way too easily when I feel comfortable with some people, but with other people, I remain constantly wary and distant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In some cases, trust can be so easy to build, but destroyed even quicker and in other cases the opposite applies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it is important to be able to trust, we should be able to open our eyes and our minds to people and see the good where possible. Having trust is about having faith in other people that they are who they say they are. Having trust is about believing in the good and trying to remain at peace with the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it doesn't work out, people can screw you over and leave you wounded. I don't deny that possibility because it has certainly happened to me and no doubt to all of you as well. The feeling of betrayal sucks, I am the first to admit it, but I think that building trust over time can solve that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is true that on the occasion you should jump into a relationship with two feet, but sometimes you just need to dip your toe in the water first, before jumping in full swing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think learning that trust can be a double edged sword can be both the smartest thing you realise and the worst thing to know at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trust is confusing, it can make or break you. I think by writing this post I hoped to come to some conclusion as to how to deal with trust, but the truth is, I think every relationship is different. I think that some people are trust worthy and others aren't, so we shouldn't tar someone with the same brush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I wanted to end this with some sort of clarity, but instead I am going to end my post with and open ended thought. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Five Letters, Make it or Break it; <b>You Choose. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xx</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-53683844676948006392015-08-18T03:00:00.000-07:002015-08-25T02:32:13.590-07:00Learning to Dance in the Rain<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inevitably at some point in life, we are thrown curveballs. The unexpected turn of events that happen before you have enough time to process it. Events that change the people that we think we are, the way we think about things but most importantly how we react to difficult events, sometimes into complete strangers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we get older, we begin to realise that the things we thought were important, that drama between you and your so called 'best friend'; that weird conversation with that 'maybe' boy, or the time you wore your hair a certain way for months only to discover that it was actually not cool at all. All of those things, whilst I have no doubt were important at the time, suddenly pale in comparison to the real 'drama' in your life. They are trivial when put up against the big decisions, the times when you really didn't know what was going to happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We like to believe that in those trivial moments, it really is between life or death, but I think if we all contemplate on our lives enough, we will at least find one time that trumps all other issues or problems. A time when we were scared and it was genuine. A time when we doubted ourselves, our friends and families whilst trying to grapple with the issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is when those curveballs hit us, that we reach out and try to grab all the things that are most important to us, so that all the other insignificant things can slip away. It is when we look around and see who is here. Most importantly however, it is when we look at ourselves and begin to piece together the people that we really are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That, I believe, is what 'learning to dance in the rain' is about. It is about grabbing onto the things that we have in the moments that we have nothing else, and making it work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is about looking around and knowing that whilst things may not even be close to ideal, that you are still alive, alert and awake, and that you have the ability to fix this. You have the ability to make something out of nothing and to truly find yourself when everything else seems lost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is in the darker times when the light you find shines the brightest. It is when you have almost lost all hope, when you see hope the most.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you have the strength to look around you and make light out of the darkness, turn your sorrow into something worth living for, you know you are dancing in the rain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you stop walking around with your fists clenched up, preparing to fight with life for the mess it has thrown in your way, and instead walk around with your palms open, ready to receive whatever next should come your way, and build on what you have now, that you will dance in the rain, and no doubt whatever comes out from this rainy period, will be more beautiful and brilliant than anything you would have achieved before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes in order to get to the place you want to be in, you have to take a more scenic route, rather than the one that seems to be carved out. But along that route, I can assure you, you will pick up more knowledge and strength, and it will be worth it in the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So learn to dance in the rain, let your rain boots fill up with water, as you learn more about yourself in those moments than you do at any other time. Take what life gives you and turn it into what you want it to be because life always has a funny way of working out in the end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-LF, <b>LR, </b>and MG</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-69744174589741595902015-08-13T11:26:00.000-07:002015-08-25T02:32:50.679-07:00Throwaway Terms<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Oh my god I'm literally having a panic attack"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"I'm feeling so depressed right now"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Don't mind me, just having a stroke"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"That's so gay"</i></span><br />
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All of these are sentences that I hear pretty much on a day-to-day basis. And I was probably guilty of even using some of these back in the early days of secondary school. They are what I like to think of as "throwaway terms" - using words that have heavy meanings in a lighter way to get a point across, such as <i>"I'm quite nervous" </i>or <i>"I'm a bit sad about this"</i>. These hyperbolic ways of expressing emotions may gain a bit of sympathy or maybe a few laughs.</span><br />
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However, the main point that I would like to get across to you here is that <b>words are powerful</b>. </span><br />
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To you, these may be silly little sentences that you use in order to exaggerate an emotion. To others, this may be there life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depression is a real thing, as spoken in posts <a href="http://silence-the-stigma.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/depression-from-external-perspective.html" target="_blank">here</a> (depression from the external perspective) and <a href="http://silence-the-stigma.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/on-suicide.html" target="_blank">here</a> (suicide).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A panic attack is the defence mechanism that your body uses when in fight-or-flight mode, which tells the body that it is legitimately about to die. People suffering from anxiety or panic disorders may experience these on a daily basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A stroke is defined as "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through thrombosis".</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">Gay is not an insult. It is merely a sexual preference of the same gender as oneself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">It is important that in situations in which you wish to express an emotion, that you do so in a sensible, accurate, non-hyperbolic manner. Obviously this isn't possible all the time, as a drama student I can tell you that I am very prone to exaggeration! But if you are even slightly tempted to use a word that has a heavy meaning in a lighter context, maybe think again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">Thank you for reading, and good luck to everyone getting results!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">-<b>LF</b>, LR and MG</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">xxx</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8312068154661268331.post-10084756742251170692015-07-30T14:39:00.000-07:002015-08-25T02:34:54.232-07:00Saving Yourself<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone wants to be a superhero. We all want to be that person, the one that is universally admired for their strength in character. That dependable friend that no one could live without. The one that saves everyone in their moment of need, and is always remembered for what they did for other people, less so what they have done for themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, I'm not for one second that this is a bad way to be, that we shouldn't try to help others, or save people when they most need it, but what I would like to speak about in this post, is the concept of saving yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes it may seem that in society the people we consider most worthy and admirable are those that spend their whole lives saving others. Obviously, this is an incredible character trait, and something I could only hope to be like, but what I would like to focus on is that sometimes being your own hero, is the best characteristic that we can achieve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is when the days are rough and you need to be tough, that we should be turning to our own built up resilience and using our own will power to drag ourselves out of bed. On days like these, when all you have done is got out of bed and the bare minimum, even when you wanted to let life wash over you in a wave leaving you ignorant to that day's drama and negativity, this is what is called being your own hero.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes you need to work on your own self belief and bravery before you can go out there are save the world, and thats okay. I believe that each of us somewhere wants to save someone else, but if you take all that energy and use it to save yourself, then that is okay too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people can think of a time when they were barely able to keep their head above the water, and if you were able to do this, even with the weight of life attached to your feet, dragging you down, then you deserve a medal, and if no one has told you so, then you are brave and you are beautiful and you got through something that most people could not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The biggest reason why I write this post, is actually because I believe that we should be doing more to build ourselves up, instead of what the media and outer negative influences insist we do, which is self-depreciate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that self-sacrifice should not be glorified, but instead we need to spend more time working on saving ourselves and building ourselves, so that we are able to survive the rocky road that is life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So save yourself, be your own hero, and then when you are ready go out and save the world, just don't leave it until it is too late for you to live a happy and healthy life, as after all, we are only here once. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LF, <b>LR </b>and MG xxx</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00999387963300401640noreply@blogger.com0