Trying

Writing is like almost every other activity in life. It takes practice. Practice to be good. Practice to be great. Practice to just get better, even if you are absolutely shit at it either way. I’ve been out of practice for what feels like a long time. This blog, as I may have mentioned before is my way of trying again. And it’s not perfect. Sometimes I cannot think of anything to write. Sometimes all I can write is a couple of sentences. Sometimes it’s long posts that are not particularly precise or to the point. Sometimes they don’t even have an actual point. The important thing though, is that you are trying. Trying is important. Sometimes you feel like a loser for trying and still not being that great. I know that feel, but I also know that its infinitely harder and braver to try anyway, knowing even your best attempts may not be live up to your hopes but it WILL make you reach your perceived potential and maybe even exceed it. So try, practice. Fall down, but pick yourself back up. Never give up if you want to get better.

Her

Anyone seen this yet?

I’m dying to head to one of the ‘artsy’ theatres in town and see it….but i must wait till exam season is over. Sad face.

Joaquin Phoenix + Scarlett Johansson(even just the voice) = Magic.

Watch the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a little strange but charming.

Political Correctness

” A school in Seattle renamed its Easter eggs ‘spring spheres’ to avoid causing offence to people who did not celebrate Easter. “

” A UK council has banned the term ‘brainstorming’ – and replaced it with ‘thought showers’, as local lawmakers thought the term may offend epileptics.”

” A UK recruiter was stunned when her job advert for ‘reliable’ and ‘hard-working’ applicants was rejected by the job centre as it could be offensive to unreliable and lazy people.”

This is a list compiled by the HITC website on examples of ‘Political Correctness Gone Mad’. I always thought political correctness was the way to go despite the blandness of the term, as the essential idea is to try and minimise offence to anyone or anything. But I have come to the realization, I have the political correctness problem. Not to the degree that those of the list employed thankfully, but enough to prevent me from having a public opinion on a lot of things because I had come to the conscious decision to not cause offence to anyone (especially minorities) in what I say and think. That is not to say I’m not judgemental, I am and I think all of us are to some degree. I am talking about what the world gets to see of it.  

The bottom line is judgement is natural, everyone judges. Before anyone starts protesting and denying, think of a well-mannered toddler at the park you meet with her parents. If you meet them you are going to think they are good at parenting, that is a judgement of character based on the actions of the child. The point I am trying to make here is that, doesn’t matter whether it is religious beliefs, or character one is judging, and it doesn’t matter whether the nature of the judging is benevolent or not- the point still stands. Judgement is inevitable. We are always going to be judged and we are always judging. If the internet is any indication of character, the ‘politically correct’ group is trumped by those who do not care much for causing offence in terms of numbers. But there are some of us who get caught up with trying not to insult anyone, and end up giving up on voicing our own opinion. I think there’s a certain danger to this, silencing your own opinions for long enough and you start to forget what they were…You start to lose your grip on those things that were part of what made you, you start to lose part of your opinions and your personality. I’m not trying to advocate being mean or insensitive, that is the last thing I want. But try to resist the urge to be silent because your opinion may be unpopular, and try to find ways to voice your thoughts and beliefs in a way that is true to yourself. 

It’s too hot to be productive!

Probably not a great follow  up post to ‘Friends with Discomfort’, but I cannot take any more of this heat. It is fall in Christchurch, but as always the weather is anything but season appropriate. Autumn is actually my favourite season, with the brilliant colours, and the cool temperature and refreshing breezes. Its late afternoon, and I have been trying to concentrate on working on an assignment for a few hours now, all I have managed to do so far is keep myself somewhat hydrated, and have micro naps in between Facebook sessions. Needless to say I’m a cold over hot kinda person; when it is cold you can keep layering to keep warm but when it is hot, there’s only so much you can take off and then you are truly screwed. I am going to attempt my assignment again in a couple of hours, as the sun starts its descent. Perhaps I can focus better under the cover of the clouds, without feeling like I am being suffocated with heat…

To anyone else going through this right now, I feel for you and understand your metaphorical pain.  Kia Kaha. Keep strong.

Friends with Discomfort

I recently watched  a TEDx  talk on how to quit your current life, and reboot to a better one and there was one piece of advice that strikes me as surprisingly useful. I cannot remember the exact words she used, but it was along the lines of getting used to discomfort and fear. For discomfort and fear with what you are doing means that you are being challenged, and without challenges life can become stagnant. No progress. But learn to be more in control of your discomfort, and not let it consume you and you can move forward. I’ve always tried to avoid difficult situations, particularly those that cause any kind of discomfort but I am learning to stretch myself… a bit by bit, so that I’m comfortable with the pace at least but it is progress. So remember, use your discomfort and fears and insecurities as a tool, and push on forward. That which does not challenge, cannot change you. It’s a clichéd saying, but it’s true. So go forth and befriend your discomfort.