So, a couple of days ago I read a book that might have just changed my outlook on life, society and the people around me. This book is called 13 reasons why... and without wanting to give to much it is about a teenage girl who commits suicide and leaves tapes to people on 'the list' explaining why and how they played a contributing factor to her decision. I recommend you read it. Anyway with the fear that this could turn into a review if I don't I want to explain why this has had such a profound affect on me.
For starters it really showed me that every action, decision and word that we say, even if we don't know, will affect the people around us and that change in them will in turn will affect even more people. This is the Butterfly or Snowball affect.
Secondly it really made me realise that life is precious and should be cherished as it can be snuffed out like a candle at any point by any one person or by a group of people.
It also reminded me that life is not just the physical aspects of life but also the emotional. If you don't feel, love and hurt sometimes then you are not truly living and that is a sad state of affairs. Everyone has feelings and even if they don't wear the 'correct' clothes or makeup that doesn't mean that everyone else is superior and has the right to judge. Judging someone before you get to know them, just on the but so was the impact that this book had on me and, be perfectly honest if you had been on 'the list' and looking back knew that you could have done something to stop it, would you have wished that someone had warned you of the damage that you can/ could potentially cause?
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Politics, politicians and trust...
So, first I think I ought to apologise for not blogging sooner, it has been really quite hectic with Saturday courses and exams. But that is all done now so back to the important business of blogging.
Today, in our politics lesson we had an MP from the Liberal Democrats. She started her talk by telling us the reason why politicians were not trusted by the people who elected them, their electorate. She then proceeded to give us, convoluted answers to our questions, unnecessary information that scooted around the information that we really needed or wanted to know. And she wonders why politicians, in the majority (because some politicians can be trusted, yes, I know...) are not trusted by the people they rely on the most. they want power and a position of relative authority and they are prepared to do anything they need to get to this position. This I think is admirable, if you want something that bad, then you should be willing o do whatever is needed to get there. particularly in a position like that of an MP. However, what I find very disturbing is that they want to take positions, that affect us and our lives, which to be perfectly honest are extremely precious. Yet, once they have used us to get to their wanted position, they feel that they can completely and utterly throw us, our lives, thoughts and opinions by the way side just as a way of bettering their position and their party. We are the people who provide them with the job opportunity in the first place. I wonder whether now she knows why politicians are not trusted and will probably never be?
Today, in our politics lesson we had an MP from the Liberal Democrats. She started her talk by telling us the reason why politicians were not trusted by the people who elected them, their electorate. She then proceeded to give us, convoluted answers to our questions, unnecessary information that scooted around the information that we really needed or wanted to know. And she wonders why politicians, in the majority (because some politicians can be trusted, yes, I know...) are not trusted by the people they rely on the most. they want power and a position of relative authority and they are prepared to do anything they need to get to this position. This I think is admirable, if you want something that bad, then you should be willing o do whatever is needed to get there. particularly in a position like that of an MP. However, what I find very disturbing is that they want to take positions, that affect us and our lives, which to be perfectly honest are extremely precious. Yet, once they have used us to get to their wanted position, they feel that they can completely and utterly throw us, our lives, thoughts and opinions by the way side just as a way of bettering their position and their party. We are the people who provide them with the job opportunity in the first place. I wonder whether now she knows why politicians are not trusted and will probably never be?
Friday, 6 January 2012
Happy New Year?...
Its belated, I know. However, there is a reason behind this; I wanted to give the New Year a chance before I started this post which, to be honest, is likely to be less than positive.
Don't get me wrong I enjoy the celebration and anticipation about the arrival of the New Year, I am just not convinced about the fresh start franchise that seems to go with it. Clearly everything that you wish you had said, hadn't said, had done and hadn't done is not going to disappear on the 1st of January. It is always going to be there. Sorry to be so blunt.
I understand why people may be drawn into the idea. The idea that anything is possible, that this year could be the year that everything could change for the better (or the worse) and finally the world may just go right for you. Of course this is possible but I am almost 100% certain that it isn't due to the fact that we are now writing a different date at the top of work or using a different calender. It is much more likely to just be coincedence and the consequence of something that had happened peviously.
Yes, maybe you have decided that this year you are going to loose weight or put more effort into your work. Yes, maybe you have always wanted to do this and the New Year seems like a good place to start, of course it does. I am the same, I hate trying something new in the middle of the week. Monday seems like the most logical place to start. Why? Because it is the start of a New week and I like to start a New week with something new. New Years is just the same. There is something psychological that tells us that because it is dubbed as being the New year it will replace the old Year and all that was in it and that we should replace our 'old' selves as well. Of course, no-one is perfect and therefore maybe changes could be made but why on New Years? and why replace our 'old' selves when simple changes and new horizons may be all that we need? After all without our original selves how can we know who we are, where we have come from and where we are going?
Don't get me wrong I enjoy the celebration and anticipation about the arrival of the New Year, I am just not convinced about the fresh start franchise that seems to go with it. Clearly everything that you wish you had said, hadn't said, had done and hadn't done is not going to disappear on the 1st of January. It is always going to be there. Sorry to be so blunt.
I understand why people may be drawn into the idea. The idea that anything is possible, that this year could be the year that everything could change for the better (or the worse) and finally the world may just go right for you. Of course this is possible but I am almost 100% certain that it isn't due to the fact that we are now writing a different date at the top of work or using a different calender. It is much more likely to just be coincedence and the consequence of something that had happened peviously.
Yes, maybe you have decided that this year you are going to loose weight or put more effort into your work. Yes, maybe you have always wanted to do this and the New Year seems like a good place to start, of course it does. I am the same, I hate trying something new in the middle of the week. Monday seems like the most logical place to start. Why? Because it is the start of a New week and I like to start a New week with something new. New Years is just the same. There is something psychological that tells us that because it is dubbed as being the New year it will replace the old Year and all that was in it and that we should replace our 'old' selves as well. Of course, no-one is perfect and therefore maybe changes could be made but why on New Years? and why replace our 'old' selves when simple changes and new horizons may be all that we need? After all without our original selves how can we know who we are, where we have come from and where we are going?
Friday, 30 December 2011
Give animals a voice...
Please sign this e-petition (Link below) to give animals a voice and to give your support and to play your part in stopping the horrendous crime of puppy mills.
Please, Please sign! If the petition gains 100,000 signatures before the closing date of 17/8/2012 then it will be considered for debate within the House of Commons.
If you care about animals in any shape or form then you need to show them your support by giving them 2 minutes of you time to click on the link and sign the petition. you and only you have the potential power to stop this horrible practise and release thousands of suffering dogs from their horrible lives. they never give up on the hope that one day their lives may get better, so we shouldn't give up on them.
Puppy mills are places in which the horrible practise of breeding dogs intensively takes place to supply the lucrative market of providing a family with their own puppy to love and look after. The dogs that are used are kept in cramp conditions, usually without much human interaction, care, clean food, water, bedding, sunlight or mental and physical stimulation. the puppies which are born into this hellish situation then usually have severe medical and physical conditions.
When a Bitch is no longer useful for breeding from then she is likely to either be killed, tortured or sold to other puppy farms, where she will continue her lonely existence, prices for these bitches can range from a huge £800 to £10!
Dogs and other animals that we say we care about cannot tell us about what is going on. Us, the people with the power to change things and a situation have to speak for them.
Sign and Give animals a voice!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5145
Thank you.
Please, Please sign! If the petition gains 100,000 signatures before the closing date of 17/8/2012 then it will be considered for debate within the House of Commons.
If you care about animals in any shape or form then you need to show them your support by giving them 2 minutes of you time to click on the link and sign the petition. you and only you have the potential power to stop this horrible practise and release thousands of suffering dogs from their horrible lives. they never give up on the hope that one day their lives may get better, so we shouldn't give up on them.
Puppy mills are places in which the horrible practise of breeding dogs intensively takes place to supply the lucrative market of providing a family with their own puppy to love and look after. The dogs that are used are kept in cramp conditions, usually without much human interaction, care, clean food, water, bedding, sunlight or mental and physical stimulation. the puppies which are born into this hellish situation then usually have severe medical and physical conditions.
When a Bitch is no longer useful for breeding from then she is likely to either be killed, tortured or sold to other puppy farms, where she will continue her lonely existence, prices for these bitches can range from a huge £800 to £10!
Dogs and other animals that we say we care about cannot tell us about what is going on. Us, the people with the power to change things and a situation have to speak for them.
Sign and Give animals a voice!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5145
Thank you.
Friday, 23 December 2011
What if...
What if our lives were actually just like the movies. I was lying in bed last night contemplating the world (as you do when you can't sleep) when I had an interesting thought. What if our lives were actually like the movies?
What if there really someone out there for everyone of us? What if those people really are people we know? What if it is just that we are so wrapped up in the everyday running of our lives and wishes for a movie style life that we fail to see that that is exactly what we have got? Yes, it may be harder to see as we are not restricted to a pre-written script and plot and neither are we limited to 120 minutes running time but I think it really is out there. The romantic love scenes and the unexpected romances that we all secretly yearn for within our lives. Although I believe this to be true I also believe that another reason why we have been unable to realise this is because we are in denial about it - if life was like the movies then movies wouldn't be the escapism that we would like them to be. If there was no form in escapism in Rom-Coms and other romantic types of films then where would we turn to escape from the bad days, experiences and monotony of our lives that will inevitably occur at some point?
Maybe we as ourselves are not always as invisible as we believe we are and instead we need to stop making the possibilities that are always there so invisible to ourselves?
What if there really someone out there for everyone of us? What if those people really are people we know? What if it is just that we are so wrapped up in the everyday running of our lives and wishes for a movie style life that we fail to see that that is exactly what we have got? Yes, it may be harder to see as we are not restricted to a pre-written script and plot and neither are we limited to 120 minutes running time but I think it really is out there. The romantic love scenes and the unexpected romances that we all secretly yearn for within our lives. Although I believe this to be true I also believe that another reason why we have been unable to realise this is because we are in denial about it - if life was like the movies then movies wouldn't be the escapism that we would like them to be. If there was no form in escapism in Rom-Coms and other romantic types of films then where would we turn to escape from the bad days, experiences and monotony of our lives that will inevitably occur at some point?
Maybe we as ourselves are not always as invisible as we believe we are and instead we need to stop making the possibilities that are always there so invisible to ourselves?
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Someone jump the barrier for me...
So, after watching the most christmassy, feel good Rom-Com out there, Love actually, I feel very emotional. It is a brilliant, happy film that I don't think is meant to make the viewers cry but.... It just made me realise what I am missing. Don't get me wrong, I understand that life is (sadly) not like the films, I mean is anyone going to jump the airport barrier for me? But it would be nice to know that there was someone there, apart from my parents, friends and family, who would be pleased to see me, wait for me off of any mode of transport (I'm not fussy) and who would be there to listen to me.
Doesn't everyone want this? If everyone wants this, then why is there no-one who wants to be with me? Is love really all around?
Feeling very invisible...
Doesn't everyone want this? If everyone wants this, then why is there no-one who wants to be with me? Is love really all around?
Feeling very invisible...
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Frozen planet and the size of the world...
So, Just a short post today. Is anyone else watching the David Attenborough program, Frozen Planet?
It really is amazing and the penguins are just so adorable lol. however, it really does make you realise the size and magnitude of the palnet (maybe that was the point?) and possibly just how insignificant as individuals we are. I am not attempting to turn this post into a depressing one it is simply an observation. For example the tribes who live on the most Northern point of the World have to work in groups of people to survive, whales work together to catch their prey and penguins huddle together to keep themselves and their unhatched children warm. Doesn't this just prove that alone we cannot physically and psychologically live any real life and to achieve all that we want and in sosme ways must we must trust in other people, talk and communicate with other people, listen to the opinions and ideas of other people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds so as to expand our own understanding, beliefs, consideration and thoughts on everyone else in this amazing palnet on which we live. Without this we couldn't possibly expect to be anything but invisible....
It really is amazing and the penguins are just so adorable lol. however, it really does make you realise the size and magnitude of the palnet (maybe that was the point?) and possibly just how insignificant as individuals we are. I am not attempting to turn this post into a depressing one it is simply an observation. For example the tribes who live on the most Northern point of the World have to work in groups of people to survive, whales work together to catch their prey and penguins huddle together to keep themselves and their unhatched children warm. Doesn't this just prove that alone we cannot physically and psychologically live any real life and to achieve all that we want and in sosme ways must we must trust in other people, talk and communicate with other people, listen to the opinions and ideas of other people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds so as to expand our own understanding, beliefs, consideration and thoughts on everyone else in this amazing palnet on which we live. Without this we couldn't possibly expect to be anything but invisible....
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