What Matters Most?

In continuation from my last blog, I was thinking about what I had written about people working harder for what they can buy than what they can feel, when it hit me.

I finally realised the problem with our society today, from where I sit of course. (Not that I didn't already have an idea, but now I can break it down for you.)

We live in a world where people who are more interested in personal growth, discovery and human interaction than career paths and money-making pursuits are mostly chastised and not taken seriously -- if they aren't celebrities of course.

It's like from birth we have it ingrained in us that the most ideal person to be is one who has a definite money-making goal. So, we spend our lives focusing on and working toward that goal and by the time we are old enough to think for ourselves, we don't even know who we are or what we want ... or why we even want it.

I ran into an old friend of mine at the mall last weekend and in the middle of our small talk she cracked a little and began telling me that she feels empty and is trying to figure out her path in life -- all the while I was standing there thinking 'wow, so it's not just me.'

After we had finished talking and I walked away, I started thinking about all the people in my age group who I know are going through that same crisis, and I can't help but think that this is the reason why. We have been forced our whole lives down the path of going to school and getting "educated", which takes up at least 16 years of our lives, and then somewhere in the next 4 to 6 years, or more, we are left to "figure it all out." But by then, we are so lost that we don't even know where to begin. If some weight had been put on personal development and reflection throughout those years, however, then maybe we'd have a better grasp on ourselves and how to interact with people.

And maybe some of us wouldn't be such inconsiderate selfish assholes. (Bitter statement, I know.)

This is just a theory, of course. But think about it. How often do people these days work hard for love, happiness or peace? How often do you meet someone who wants to "be a good person" when they grow up? How many people actually want to go to college just to be a more knowledgeable individual?

I'm going to go ahead and guess and say not very often and not very many. The truth is, we don't put a lot of weight on being good, kind-hearted people any more. Not by a societal standpoint anyway. (I mean, it's not like prevention is better than a cure, right?) We don't take the time to develop our personalities; learn what we like and don't like; learn how to interact well with people; learn how to deal with tragedy and disappointment; learn that loving is natural and starts with self; learn how to make ourselves happy so that we can in turn make others happy also; learn that we are actually built to receive pleasure from giving to others.

Instead, we are taught to be selfish under the guise of "independence"; rude under the guise of "being real"; and valueless under the guise of "being free."

And honestly, I think that is the biggest tragedy of this world. 

Material for Your Material

I feel like what you are about to read is going to make absolutely no sense all together, but I have been walking around for a couple months now with a tremendous variety of emotions inside that pose as carbonation in a soda can. Shake it up, and it will explode. Leave it be, it will sit there forever.

Here's to opening it carefully and taking a sip..

Let's talk for a minute.

How is it really possible that creatures with the innate ability to think, analyse and reflect, do everything but that? The mind is one of the main things that separates us as humans from the rest of the animals in this universe, yet there are so many people out there who don't utilise its abilities.

People are just walking around from day to day like robots -- programmed to get up every day and go to work, programmed to watch TV every evening, programmed to follow what every one else is doing, programmed to chase money as the source of all things wonderful and shiny.

That is life as they know it. Get a little living in between paychecks and then die. But make sure that before you die, you drive a nice car to work. Because FYI, your car can fit into your coffin. And then, you can drive it around in your after life. You and all your ghastly buddies can take joyrides in it to impress ... all the other soul-less people who will exist wherever you are. (And, luckily for you, there will probably be a whole lot of people to choose from.)

I mean come on people. You really think there is nothing else to life besides working and spending money?

That can't be life. It can't be. I refuse to believe that.

Yet for some people - it is. They  have made it that way. Some people literally will work hard for nothing else in this world except that little piece of paper that they think makes them who they are. It's funny though, when I think about it. There are so many people who claim they want something that isn't materialistic, yet they refuse to work for it. Because at the end of the day, all it is, is simply a claim. They will work forty hours a week for something borrowed and fleeting, yet they won't put any real effort or genuine energy into true felicity and peace. (You know, the intangible things that "distract" them from their sacred dollar signs.)

Those intangibles that will at least make the ride in that Ferrari F12berlinetta a little bit less lonely. The ones that make that space in your heart a little bit less empty.. And the feeling behind your smile a little bit less forced.

But, I digress.

It takes all kinds of people to make up this world -- I just hope that when you are 60 years old and have grown tired of sleeping beside your bag of money and kissing your Michael Kors purse good night, that all the things that are important to you now will still be important to you then.

Ciao.

Introverted

I happened upon a post today that I felt was describing me to the entire T, so I thought I would share it with you guys.

For those who don't really know me, this will help you understand me perfectly. And for those who do, I'm hoping you'll find as much truth in this as I did.

Enjoy.

10 Myths About Introverts. 

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.