Blog 64: To Blog or Not to Blog?

So, I haven't written here in a few weeks. Personal opinion blogs really only fit a niche. Sure, I try to make mine either semi-educational or at least thought-provoking, but not a lot of you care about that stuff. I recently started another blog, The Grownup Gazette, to chronicle recipes and tips for living like--well, like a grownup. It seems to be doing pretty well. I'd love for it to be one of those things where a jillion people on Pinterest are like "OMG, this girl's blogs are like, so awesome," but we shall see. Having a topic of sorts also makes regular writing way easier. Here it's just sort of the center for my soapbox moments. However, I don't want to give up on my Observations. I enjoy it, and I have gotten awesome feedback from a few people. It's hard not to get discouraged when you want a big following, but I don't all together do it for the writing props. Writing keeps me sane and I like to think it can have a positive impact on the world!

The thing that bothers me about this no-category blogging is the stigma attached to it: namely, that many people see it as a certain sort of self-indulgence. What makes me qualified to give advice or spout opinions? What makes me better than anyone else? Well, nothing. The beauty of the blog is that it allows anyone and everyone to put themselves out there. You may think that what I have to say is pretentious and boring. Someone else, however, may see things in a different way and appreciate the challenges therein. Still someone else may just appreciate watching the writing develop (that person may or may not be my mom).

I suppose the conclusion is to blog. Now that we've got that handled, why don't we discuss the "she thinks she's better than us!" issue...

First, OF COURSE I THINK I'M BETTER THAN YOU. haha. That is partly humorous exaggeration and partially truth. The thing is, confidence requires you to sense in yourself some superiority. Don't argue, here. Just think about it. If you didn't think that the way you dress/believe/act was better, you wouldn't do it. In some capacity, we all see ourselves as better than our neighbor. If we didn't, we wouldn't be able to make any decisions regarding our lives. For example, I think a lot of other girls are stupid and just THE WORST, as partially explained in my entry 7 Reasons Why I Hate Women. I think I'm better than women who exhibit such behavior because I fight to do the opposite. I think I'm better than willfully ignorant people because my whole life I have made it a point to gather knowledge, learn, and hone intelligence. What are your values? What do you think makes a good and/or cool person? If you try to possess those qualities, you have some measure of a superiority complex.

Second, don't mistake me--I am not all that I wish I could be. I certainly compare myself to other people (other women especially). "I wish I could have that guy's determination. I wish I could have that lady's class. Shoot, I wish I could have THAT girl's ass." I don't think I'm the cream of the crop in most ways, but in some--sure, I'm choice. I'm a boss.

And you should think about yourself the same way. But remember...

Blog 63: Why Versus Why Not

On my commute home from work today, I was pondering a few things. First and foremost was the notion that I would like to be a softer, kinder, more patient person. Then, I began to think about some of the things that make me upset to the point of losing that precious patience. I've always said I've hated apathy, and today I thought of a distinction people do not make in their daily decision-making. Of course, it doesn't apply across the board. I'm finding that few things do. However, it does seem to often be true in people my age. I suppose I should explain what I'm talking about here, instead of continuously alluding to it.

In my experience, there are two types of people. And they have their weaknesses and strengths...of course, I lean toward one side as the stronger because it's the way I choose to live. When it comes to making choices about how to live, there are people who ask "why?" and there are people who ask "why not?" Such similar phrasing--and yet the difference is monumental.

THE WHY PEOPLE

I am a "why" person, unlike a lot of people in my generation. If someone suggests an activity that I am unfamiliar or uncomfortable with, I ask "why?" For example, if someone says to me: "Let's jump into a frozen lake!" or "Let's eat the atomic hot wings at Quaker Steak and Lube that you have to sign a waiver for!" I am going to ask "why the hell would you do that?" The second example actually happened to me once. I witnessed two people making themselves sick with the overly-spicy food and then everyone else at my table decided to follow suit and give it a try. SHEEPLE! They kept trying to convince me, but as I knew it served no purpose but a simple "I did it," I declined. Call me old fashioned, but I believe that the things a person does should have purpose and design. I don't walk around all serious and Debbie-Downer all the time. I'm no Scrooge, hoarding meaning and sentiment to miserly proportions. However, I know that everything we do has some effect on the world. In the case of eating stupidly hot wings, maybe the effect isn't important or necessary to explore. Some why people take it to the extreme and can't even have a simple good time without asking "what's the point?" I'm not one of those...usually. That's no way to live. However, they consider the consequences of their actions.

THE WHY NOT PEOPLE

These are the people who don't really care for foresight. They live in the here and now. Admittedly, they probably have a good time with it...until it's time to pay the piper. These are the type of people who go to a party, consume every offering (legal, illegal, beneficial, or harmful) without prejudice, and shrug their shoulders at the point of it all. Generally, they don't think there is much of a point to anything. Nihilistic would be a great way to describe them. Any action is something to be apathetic about for "why not" people, because they don't buy into the theory that one thing affects another. It's all separate, spontaneous, feelings-based decision-making. There are a lot of twenty-somethings and teenagers that operate on this sort of thought process because they think that they'll step up to the plate one day--just not now. They don't want responsibility or concern. They just want to do what they want to do.

Honestly, "why not" people break my heart. How can you care so little about your own welfare or the state of the world as to shrug your way into darkness? Believe it or not, your choices do not simply affect you. You may not care if your life is completely screwed up. But your loved ones do. You may not feel the burden, but I assure you, someone somewhere does. Even if you are "alone in this world," going with the flow to a fault makes this world an uglier place. The world needs people who care, people who fight, and people who believe in the pursuit of goodness. It needs hope. So, maybe consider looking at that drug and saying "Why? What purpose does it serve in the grand scheme of things?" and use your "why not?" as a serious inquiry into the ramifications your actions might have. YOU MATTER. YOUR ACTIONS MATTER. PUT YOUR LIFE TO GOOD USE rather than vain pursuits. Love deeply, think passionately, and just fucking TRY for once. You will never regret doing the arguably right thing, but you very well may regret doing that idiotic "fun" thing.