I’ve been missing in action for a long while. Today is November 11, three days after Trump’s election, and there are already massive issues rising. In the midst of it all, I want to share some thoughts of mine.
As a 27 year old (damn I’m old, I’m almost 30 wtf) when I look back at my last nine years, I see how far I’ve come, how far this country has come, how much things have changed for better or for worse, and overall how life has progressed. I’ve been through hardships that left me wondering what the point of life is, I’ve been through successes that have reinforced my purpose in life; I’ve been through happiness, joy, anger and sadness, all shared with my family and loved ones. I’ve seen my parents age (which is the one that truly hits me the hardest), and despite knowing I’ve been truly blessed, I always felt some sort of entitlement. I’ve always felt that things should be given to me just because I am who I am, and at the end of the day, I’m deserving of it. A lot of this has become the mentality that many people have adopted, and that is why we throw tantrums like children when we don’t get our way. Well, clearly that isn’t the way to live life, and if I were to continue that mindset, I’d grow old and bitter.
I feel pride because of what I have accomplished, I can be selfish, I can be conceited, self-centered, an asshole, and etc. Call it what you will, think what you may, but everyone has, to some degree, some negative traits in them. It just depends on what draws it out of you. But as I get older, I’ve started to realize that, although I have my own battle and my own problems, there’s no rhyme or reason for me to act that way, because I’m not the first, and I’m not the last to go through things that I choose to go through. Everyone has problems, everyone has their own fight that they go through every day.
Part of why we have all become divided and disconnected from one another, selfish, careless, is because of that – we stopped giving a shit about what other people go through, what they feel, and we have focused on ourselves thinking that once we find ourselves and become better people, we can THEN help others to find themselves and be better people. That isn’t the way it works. When I open my mind to what’s going on in this world, I realize that it is great to have a traditional lens through which I can look at life through, because it is my upbringing, and it is what my family believes in, our mantra. But when I switch to these new lenses that life gifts me every birthday, I start to see clearly that I shouldn’t act like I’m the only person on this planet and I shouldn’t be selfish. I start to see connections with everyone around me: elders, youngins’, the homeless, the unfortunate, janitors, CEOs, people other religions, gender, race, and I realize that every single person on this planet, no matter how much you try to show otherwise, they too are facing a never-ending battle within themselves and it is fucked up that they wake up to face another never-ending battle with the world around them.
With that said, I’ve quickly grown into this desire to affect people in a positive way, as much as I can, when I can. You truly don’t know when your last day on earth is – hell, you don’t even know if you’ll make it to see Trump succeed or fail! But what you do know and what you can do, is be a little more positive for yourself, and for the people around you. Be a little more caring, a little more loving, a little more aware/mindful, and a little more hopeful for everyone and the future. Everyone has their personal issues that, while they may not verbally express it, they’re silently screaming for help. Nowadays I look past the façade and I express a “hello, how are you?” as a genuine question, not just a default expression – I pull the trigger and fire a smile, I approach someone and talk to them about THEM, not about the weather or news. I try to collect people’s stories, people feel great when someone gives them this type of attention, because they feel appreciated, cared for, they see that someone, even a total stranger, invested time from their day *just because.* This is how we can change the world, this is how we can change those around us, this is how we start a new revolution. Show that you care, show your love and appreciation, show strength and courage for those that don’t have it, and hope and optimism for those that need it.
Especially now, we need this more than ever. We need to come together as one. We need to break the barriers between us that divide what we THINK we believe in, what we’ve been CONDITIONED to through the news and social media, the propaganda that never fails to recruit fresh new minds. This sudden break in racism and separation has become undeniable and horrifying, but if we help each other put what makes us different aside, in an ocean full of opportunities, we’ll make waves of change. It’s time to protect each other, care for each other, love each other, and fight for each other no matter what.
Remember, not everyone may agree, for it is human nature. But so long as you do your part, you’re already winning.
liveestronger.com 
Leave a comment