Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts

Friday, 3 May 2013

When did what's "normal" become what's "right"?


I've always known that there is no such thing as normal. Nobody can hit average one hundred percent exactly in the middle. As human beings we all have inner and outer quirks that separate us from the next person. Therefore it is not possible to live a normal life, to do every single thing in a "normal" fashion. However, there is an outline in the world, among us people, of what we think normal is. What the majority of people look like, say or do is regarded as what I've recently come to observe, correct.

This hits me in the face as something really stupid but very accepted among us all. Would I be right in saying that when you hear something you think or do, a feature of your appearance being called normal that you feel better? That you instantly think you've received a clarification that this certain thing is OK to keep? More than likely you do. I have and I've watched other people react the same. But what I want to state is that surely just because a majority do something doesn't mean its correct. A certain action or attitude is not deemed right just because its been normal practice for generations.

One example that I would like to use is the practice of eating animals. I think we can all agree that eating meat and animal products is a very normal thing to do. I believe that because it is so normal and accepted on a widespread level, that people don't question whether its right or wrong. There's a certain guarantee involved in knowing the people around you are doing the same thing. However, most of us upon deep or not so deep reflection would realise that torturing, killing and eating animals is a cruel thing to do. What worries me though is that our creation of a thought called "normality" is more than capable to suppress what we believe to be right. 

And its evident everywhere,So many teenagers take drugs, have sex and drink much too much alcohol than what they know is right for their own body, mind and soul and yet because its normal for their peers to do, they do it anyway. Its normal for us to argue a certain way by raising our voices and becoming defensive, its normal to be self conscious, its normal to be negative, its normal not to question authority, its normal to judge and categorize other people but does that mean any of these are right

You see, I've learned that people don't like change, they don't like the unfamiliar. Obviously there are those that do but in general there are so many people that don't like it. Moreover most people are too fearful to try and change the world in some way either minor or major. So humans have taken the easy route by adapting to the world and its traditions, acquiring knowledge subconsciously on how to be as normal as possible. However change is necessary for the world at present. We cannot continue allowing poverty to be normal, accepting the corruption in politics, thinking that there are always going to be lost causes in the world in the form of "evil people", and contributing to the poison that is stereotypes and expectations of how a person should act, what they should say. We need to remove the limit on what we find comfortable and embrace the unfamiliar because we simply need to allow what's fair, just and overall right to take over the world through people's motives. Just because something's normal now doesn't mean its always going to be and we need to come to terms with the fact that change is very possible.

Change is out there for you to make and if you live a life where you always try your best to do what is fair and just then you cannot go wrong. Forget normality because you'll never achieve it as it is ever changing and not real. What is real however, is the injustice that is in the world and the power you have to change that. 

Sometimes, you're just going to have to pick between being normal and being right.

Love,
Rachel!=)




Sunday, 10 March 2013

Quotations Sunday: The Idea of Society

Random, nameless girl?
This quote was a realisation for me, not a group of words with which I connected with but a sentence that made me think about what I mean when I use the term "society" flippantly when I talk, what we all mean. Because its very easy isn't it? When we have a problem with the workings of the world we explain it by saying "society tells us...", "a product of society", "you're not ugly, society is" etc. I've said it many times in my blog posts and I'll mention the word in many more but when you come to think about it, what is society?

Society is us. Yes you. No matter who you are reading this you are making up the collective term given to the world's population, the different groups of people filling the earth. So when we call society ugly, pressurising and messed up we often refer to it as a seperate entity to which we have no control over. This is totally false. You are as equal a member as any other in this immense and diverse club and so you have the power to change its rules and traditions as much as anyone can. It kind of ties in with this amazing quote:

"Be the change you want to see in the world"
Its easier said than done though, isn't it? We all know what we hate about the world and we all know the type of person we'd love to meet but we don't connect that we can play a role in changing this. If you don't like negativity or bitching then you can shorten its lease in the world by ceasing to partake in it. The media and society are often interlinked so if you feel "society" is ugly because beauty in its eyes is a size zero then the only contribution you can make is to never mock someone for being overweight, or never whine about not being the smallest size, stop liking pictures on tumblr which read "I need to get skinny for summer". Do you see what I mean? There are a billion other examples of course. The change you want to see is peanut butter eradicated? Stop eating it.

Addressing the second quote, (Holy Moly another quote within a quote post, this is like inception!) I feel the change you might want to see in the world applies with people too. You want to meet someone who's a great listener? Become one. You want to meet someone who is patient with you and kind? Be that person to someone else. Its important that we realise that we can't wait for other people to change the world for the better in our eyes. We have to take the first step. You don't have to arrive in as prince charming or God and fix everything that has ever been broken on the globe. You just have to try and follow your honest convictions everyday, if you fail one day just try again the next. Remember to fail better though (I'm integrating so many quotes into this post :P)

However instead of using this quote to beat yourself up or panic because you suddenly think you are the reason for wars, depression and bullying, think of it as an empowering post. Society is not one person or creature, it is you, it is me, it is all of us!  Hopefully you now know that you do not have to watch from the sidelines while a parade of society's products cruise by destroying the path. You can change the world today. You don't need a gun, a mind blowing speech or a license. Just do what is right no matter what.

What's your view on Society?
Love,Rachel!=)





Sunday, 17 February 2013

Quotations Sunday: 17/02/2013

The Quote I'm using today is a great one. Many people may disagree with it but to me it makes so much sense. So hopefully I can bestow that understanding on ye!:)



It's a long one but very engaging. It starts off by saying that we are what you take from the various things you do in life. I really do believe that. Every conversation and page of a book affects you and subconsciously changes you. I think that many of our movements come from films we've seen and of course other people around us. I know a couple of my friends dislike this quote because they say that the essence of who we are is more than these things and I see their point. However I think the disposition we carry each day, our mental thoughts and fears come from past experience. Every single one.

In the next section, the author tells us that we are 'the sound of the ocean', 'the darkest corner', 'the breath of fresh air.' Do you believe that? I kind of do. I guess where they're coming from is that even these things affect us too. They're a lot more 'out there' experiences to think they affect and change us but they do. I think what causes the disbelief is that it's so subtle, in the subconscious, and so illogical.

The last four lines are so idealistic but beautiful. If only we could live like that, drowning ourselves in 'a sea of knowledge' and letting the colours 'fill our minds'. That's for us to change. I think we do need to be more observant of our surroundings. I love the quote "such wonderful things surround you" and if we just took the time to look at them we'd see how great the world is in many ways. I'm not coming at this from an idealistic point of view but a bit of optimistic realism wouldn't go astray! I mean how great would a mind filled with colours be? And if all the people we sat with in class soaked up the knowledge that was being poured upon them? Wouldn't that be great? However we can't control other people, only ourselves so why not try and listen more carefully next time you're being given a piece of knowledge, whether you're in school or have a friend who knows everything and likes to inform everyone. And colours, colours are one of the most beautiful things in the world, they make beauty so why do we tend to slip by unnoticec, particularly in familiar environments. I just looked up from my laptop and into my bedroom and realised how colourful it actually is!
It'll brighten your day so give it a try:)

What did you think of this week's quote? Did you agree with it?

                                                                        Love,
                                                                              Rachel.=)