Shining Thru

What happens when the followers become the leaders?  Ever heard the phrase, too many Chiefs and not enough Indians?  It seems to be the way some things are working these days.  Everyone wants to be in charge and feel the power, move up on the ladder so to speak.  With everyone grasping for the power stick, a chance to get behind the wheel, people forget to do their own job, fill the position they are already in….

Why is it that people spend so much time trying to prove themselves that they look plain stupid because they look like they aren’t even capable of doing the position that they are already suppose to be doing.  They try to increase their position by sabotaging those around them, or by stepping on toes and trying to do jobs that belong to other people.

I don’t understand people that don’t want to go through the proper channels of things, who can’t simply feel good about doing a good days work and know that they are doing the best they can at what they are suppose to be doing.  Instead they are fighting for something that might not even be in the cards for them ever, much less right then at that moment.  Just because they want to skip steps to get to the top of the pyramid faster, doesn’t mean that it’s right.

The struggle in the game of tug-a-war played by the adults of our society is obvious…and annoying.  Sometimes the adults I observe act more like children than the kids I know….you want to tell them to stop trying to grow up so fast and enjoy what they have while they have it…because when you get to the top you might be disappointed with the view.

“Look at these people amazing how sheeple show up for the slaughter.”  What a great line from a musical I was recently introduced to, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog.  I think that this line is a great representation of what happens often in our society.  People following the media or their favorite politician…sometimes more likely is that they are following their parents’ favorite politician.  People that have a set time every day set aside to watch the screen of “big brother” and they simply believe everything that is said on their favorite show on Fox News or CNN.

I have to wonder how some people can have so much information stored inside of them and yet seem to almost refuse to use their common sense to actually puzzle out their own original thoughts.  There are a few people who strive for the truth, think through everything…but the majority of people that I see around me most days makes me really wonder if  people even remember how to think for themselves any more?  I know that the younger generation expects answers to simply be handed to them…I have to wonder if they get that because their elders have simply resigned themselves to simply following whatever message is spread the loudest in the gossip lines of neighbors or on the most news channels.

Some people are intimidating with all of their knowledge and their great use of common sense, debate skills, etc….why are these people so hard to find sometimes…???  I’m glad that I have been able to surround myself in my personal life with intelligent people…but when I go to work I see what is outside of my own little circle…..Sometimes you wonder if some people are ever involved in an intelligent conversation about anything…..And if they do get involved if can they give any reasons for the opinions that they so strongly defend because that is what they heard on the latest news report….I love having good conversations and debates with people, but sometimes I am amazed at how people enter into such conversations without any actual facts to back up their opinions…or even solid logic to back themselves up.

Sheeple is a great term for how the majority of our society seems to be acting these days.  People question their best friends but believe what some “specialist” on the evening news says without hesitation….what kind of sense does that make?  I’m afraid for where our society is going if we (as a whole) continue to blindly follow and line up for the slaughter… sooner or later, we wont be able to avoid what we are asking for.  Put the axe in the hand of the executioner…don’t act surprised when your head is rolling on the ground.

I think it’s kind of odd how quickly we can fall out of our routine.  Just as you’re getting use to the nice extended weekend of Thanksgiving and relaxing into a new routine…it’s back to work and the daily grind.  Unfortunately really, the fact that you can’t really take a break because you spend the first few days winding down from everything at work and then you have to spend the last day getting ready to go back to work.  Some people can’t even stay away that long from their work and end up sneaking into the office or working from home when they could be relaxing.  We’re so trained into our routine that if we do get to take a breath it’s only a quick one before our mind is back at the work place…thinking about going back, preparing paperwork, finishing up a project, or actually going into the office because you’re afraid of the work load that is building up while everyone is suppose to be on a break, since you know there are others like you that just can’t seem to take a real break.  What would it take for us to all just put work aside and concentrate on the important things in life?  Forget about money, bills, work, paperwork???  What would it take…Will it ever be possible?  Could it ever be possible?  I think that society has ingrained certain worries and concerns over certain responsibilities to the point that we have a really hard time putting them to the side and taking a break just for ourselves.  Simply relaxing for relaxation sake.  Enjoying our family and friends without a second thought to any work that is awaiting us on the desk or stacked on the table at home.  Going back to work from this wonderful long weekend made me realize how little of the break I actually enjoyed, which is why I think that we all feel like the break wasn’t long enough.  Like I said, we spend the first two days trying t let go of everything at work and then the last day getting back into the swing of things.

I think that the human race has been so set on taking over the world that there is no longer an escape from society.  No place that you wouldn’t have to worry about the conventions that have been set forth.

It’s as if we are all trapped on an island of rules and regulations.  Society following you wherever you go.  There is no safe haven, some people can manage to keep their homes just for themselves and their families, but many, many others are allowing society to infiltrate in there as well.  Going by what society says in order to raise their children even though it’s not what they want in some cases. 

So why is it that we can’t escape?  No matter which direction we turn or what road we go down, society is there waiting or quickly following on our footsteps.  I do think that having some rules is a good thing; however, it would be nice just to get away from time to time.  To be able to feel free and just be yourself without someone commenting or judging.  Even when you don’t care what someone thinks about you, it can still become obnoxious that they feel they have the right to judge you.

It’s strange how a place becomes a home…how sometimes you simply know that a place is where you belong and you have found your home….other times it sneaks up on you…you’re simply staying in a place…not really considering it home and then all of the sudden you realize that you are a part of the community, that you like where you live, that your apartment or house is now your home….all sorts of things begin to change…maybe one by one maybe all at once….simple things to important things.  Your team allegiances to your spot in society to your standing in a community.  It’s nice when you finally realize that you have found a home, somewhere to feel at peace, somewhere to belong. 

There’s a lot to be said for the peace and calm that you have when you feel like you belong somewhere.  When you can look at the bad things people have told you about where you are and honestly say that it’s not that bad…and I honestly like it here anyway.  When you can feel comfortable with the people around you and know that you are accepted and able to be yourself. 

It’s kind of strange how you can live some place for weeks, months, or even years without considering it home and then just one day it changes…..

Don’t know what to do

Don’t know what to say

Spinning all around at the end of another day

Long hours ticked by slowly, while watching the clock

Now that it’s hear and you give a sigh

Lost in thought and trying to remember to relax

Trying to tune out the list of things to do, knocking at your brain

Trying to ignore the things that have been waiting for you to come through your door

Just wanting to relax, recuperate before resuming the daily tasks of life

The responsibilities that come with being alive and dealing with other people

Responsibilities that come with being a part of society

Wanting it all to go away and to only be with the ones you love and able to relax and enjoy

Able to sit and breathe without worrying about what you aren’t doing at the moment

Able to embrace and enjoy the moment for the love that fills it

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.
Jessamyn West

This is an excellent quote that reminds me of another quote from the movie V for Vendetta:  “Author’s use lies to tell the truth, Politicians use lies to hide the truth.”  I think that both of these quotes send a great message about how the truth can be revealed in the fiction that is created through people’s creativity….generally, it’s a pretty safe way to expose the truth, because the author can always claim that it was a fictional story that was completely made up, while others can see through the title of fiction and recognize the truth….

I have found in my own readings that I see a lot of things in the world today that have been exposed to me through fictional stories that I probably would not have thought about, or at least not analyzed as in depth if it hadn’t been for the stories that sparked the thoughts and connections to our worlds today.

I believe that artists and authors make such powerful statements through their work that are simply not appreciated as often or as much as they should be.  I think that a lot of a culture and society can be exposed by looking at what kind of creativity comes out of the people of that society.

What are we teaching the younger generation when you can see a 15 year old throw a full out temper tantrum with stopping feet and slamming of doors?  What have we done to make that seem like it is ok past the age of 2.  We should be breaking our kids of that habit when they are 2 not when they are 20 and get fired from numerous jobs and end up on welfare because they can’t deal with things that happen in their work place, or when they don’t agree with their boss.  What are we teaching younger kids for them to think that if they stomp around, yell, or be rude and think that it will help them in any sort of way.  A teenager is way too old to be acting childish and not communicating like a young adult.  And yet it seems like more and more young adults are not maturing like they once did.  It seems like they are interested in things that are way beyond what they are ready for and try to be too much of an adult while still acting childish in their behaviors.  I know that the teenage years are hard for most people, but there comes a point when we need to realize that as a society we are failing to raise these young people in a way that will make them responsible and mature adults.  It’s the “gimme” generation.  Too many of our young people think that they are entitled to things that they have not earned and if they are not given what they want then they have the right to complain, yell, stomp, and be rude as if they had something to be offended over.  If parents don’t begin to raise their kids the way they need to as a parent instead of as a friend, they these problems will continue to grow.

I think our society is creating a lazy generation in the younger generation, both physically and mentally….but how has this happened?  Who’s “fault” is it that our kids complain about having to walk up stairs and aren’t able to take the elevator, or have to pick up their own mess, or be responsible for their own things and keeping track of them.  It also amazes me how the younger generation cannot seem to retain information, or carry it over from one class period to another….but who do we blame…is it any one’s fault? 

Why does there seem to be a whole category of reality TV shows that are devoted to showing how parents have screwed up their children?  Things like “World’s Strictest Parents” or “Supper Nanny” or “Nanny 911″  Seem to be making a killing in the world of reality TV shows…..when did parents stop parenting, when did parents decide that they needed to be more of a friend instead of a parent?  When did it become OK to disrespect your parents or take advantage of the things that your parents provide for you?  When did it become OK to not be grateful but always wanting more and whining about everything?

Was it when both parents had to start working in our economy?  Was it when technology became available to enough families that it replaced family time and babysitters?  What makes some of these people think that they owe their kids the right to be disrespectful, rude, selfish and lazy?  What is wrong with kids having to do chores or earn what they get?  Instead it seems like the younger generation as a whole seems to think that they are entitled to things and seem to expect things that they haven’t earned or even attempted to earn. 

I’m not sure when working hard became a bad thing and now everyone just expects things and seem to think that the things will just appear instead of someone having to work for them….I wonder how many teenagers today understand how much their parents pay for their cell phone, cable, Internet, etc…..

How can we change our kids back to the values of hard work and feeling proud that they worked hard for what they have instead of teaching them to look for the quick and easy way?  I really think that our society is slipping quickly downhill and this laziness and expectancy is only going to transfer into adult hood, if not with this generation, then with their kids when the kids today are raising their kids the way that they were taught by their parents.  I think that our society needs to be careful before we dig ourselves a hole that we cannot get out of….eventually there will not be anybody left that knows how to work hard to provide for all of these expectant people.

The miracle of life is seen in a child’s smile, heard in their laughter.  It’s the gentle touch of a loved one, because you’re scared or sad, or just because they care.  The caring of those who love you reveal the miracle of life.  The passion that we all have is swallowed up in the monotony of every day life.  Gets lost in the darkness of responsibilities and procedures.  The things we need to do instead of what we want to do.  When did life become a day of routine, we did society as a whole lose the passionate spark for staying alive?  Is it possible for one person or a couple to keep that passion alive within themselves?  When did society start forgetting that life is a gift…a miracle that we should celebrate, not simply endure?  Life is a precious thing, and yet it is cast aside by so many in our society, in many different ways.  It some cases people see life as expendable.  In some cases they just stop caring what happens in their own life…could be any number of things, but it all comes down to the same thing, it is sad the way we don’t value life in our society any more.  We have turned our lives into simply scraping by, getting through today so that we can worry about tomorrow when it comes….how sad.