Unique?

We all hear the term 'unique' being described as the differentiation from you and your peers, but do we express this uniqueness and are we all different?

In a sense we all have similarities of how we lead our lives as the world controls and guides us, this is not unique, not everyone has individual, personal treatment. Instead we are controlled as a country in terms of the political views and the leadership. We are even sometimes fooled into the control of the world: how we should do things, how we should look (which is prominently endorsed by the media commonly through the thinness of skin and the thickness of bones piercing through as if grabbing for food). We look around, we are controlled. Where is the sense of uniqueness in that?

We as humans have differences which make us distinctive from others, which makes us who we are: our identity, personality... And in my opinion this sense of 'unique' adapts throughout your life by inspirations and how you view the world, how you want to be seen and portrayed.

If we are all unique why are there stereotypes? I know that within these stereotypes there are individuals with many differences, but why are they generalised in a social grouping, a social tag, a label? Common groups I have heard are: Geeks, emos, goths, plastics etc. Surely no one can fully fit into either. The definitions are to me, quite ridiculous: 'Geeks: someone who is known as a 'boff' for concentrating and working hard in their studies for a better education, someone who listens in class', to me the label of 'geek' is quite ludicrous, to me that definition shows someone with determination, sensible - without an education where do we really get in life? 'Plastics: someone who wears makeup which is literally caked on covering their inner insecurities and to make themselves in their own mind look prettier which makes them look orange', I have realised that why do we pin point 'plastics' as they wear excessive makeup, maybe it's their uniqueness and it may make them feel pretty. Just like 'geeks' they may choose to express themselves differently. In life, we all make our own decisions, our own priorities, why should we put people in groupings because of these?


By being unique we are expressing ourselves to how we want to be. How we want to look when we look in the mirror and if the reflection to us isn't right or 'pretty' we change it. People can easily adapt, but once they are 'labelled' it's hard to be associated with any other 'reputation'... We shouldn't label. We are who we are, we are who we choose to be. We only live once.

Runaway.

We all sometimes get that feeling when we want to escape, run from problems or even to just venture into a different world, into others minds.

There are days when I look out the window, and as sad as it sounds, sit there and wonder about how nature feels and how it 'escapes' in a way from its surroundings. Yes, nature may not have self awareness in life but it still flourishes. The world itself is full of so many possibilities, so many opportunities and so many places to hide - runaway. Running away doesn't necessarily mean physically running but perhaps mentally running away - day dreaming, pretending to be in a different place, a different atmosphere, so in your own mind you are away from problems and threats if there are some.

I often think to myself what would happen if I was to runaway, never look back or regret any actions, maybe I would be free from all my insecurities and also gather that sense of freedom that no one controls me, not even the world and its dictatorship.

I sit there in class sometimes with a teacher constantly emitting their ways of what is right and what is wrong, but really do they know what's 'best'... When do we ever get our chance to say our opinions, instead this is called 'back chatting', these are times when I feel I want to runaway, runaway from that constant mind set from individuals over wrong and right. Surely, in ourselves, we know what is right and wrong for us. Why should we have to constantly follow these 'rules'?

I see people argue in various relationships and often the answer that speaks out to them is to runaway from their problems. Forget about them, put them to the back of their minds. The truth is these problems and arguments will always be in their minds, one day it will come back and remind them that a part of their life is unsolved, and that an important relationship has been dissolved on such ridiculous, unnecessary terms.

Running away may not be the right thing to do, problems have to be solved and reality has to exist, otherwise what seperates us from the fantasy, dreamy world of 'make believe'. We all have an imagination that stretches to a certain extent and we should have the power to have this, as this in itself is running away, why do it physically when you can be far more adventurous and safer in your own mind?

Outside and inside...

Walking around today it reminded me of a quote I once heard from Nigella - "There is a vast difference between how things seem from the outside and how they feel on the inside".

I was walking through Town today and there are many differentiations between people: whether race, culture, fashion whether they were obvious or not. The expressions on their faces reflected to me their lives and in a way what they were thinking at that moment in time. Maybe using the quote above of the difference between how things seem from the outside and how they feel on the inside this may not be the case, but commonly the look and expression someone is portraying shows a real persona of who the person is, where they came from etc. Everyone is unique - there own person adapting to whoever they want to be to a certain extent, but we all are harbouring similar emotions and opinions of things but in a different mind set. People smile, but then others have that mysterious apprehensive look upon their faces, do people use emotions to  cover their true selves. For all we know they could be the happiest or saddest person to themselves.

I don't think people should have to hide their emotions and thoughts, we should all have the freedom of expression and how we want to convey ourselves. Why shouldn't we be able to share these things with our peers, we all have similar insecurities, the same worries - it's life, it's the world.

Put yourself in that situation.

We have all witnessed situations and have our opinions and resolutions to the problems but actually until you're in that situation you know nothing.

We have all been in that situation when a friend or family member need advice if they are stuck in a certain situation, whether it is serious or not.

There is that saying that we can sort others problems but yet we can't solve our own. Maybe giving advice is easier than following advice, and maybe by following your own advice you realise that it isn't a good idea.

Compulsion.

There are various compulsions us individuals have, but one is very powerful.

Today in Religious Studies we touched on the subject of how us as humans have the compulsion to save someone elses life. This made me think about how people have the instinct and compulsion to do such brave and heroic things for others (by putting their own lives at danger). I suppose the general thought is that, we hate to see our loved ones, or any others in pain. You yourself can deal with pain, but seeing others suffering is unbearable - all you can do is sit and watch, not help at all.

Putting our lives at risk for others... The powerful compulsion of doing this, overrides our fears and outcomes of death. No one wants to die, however much they claim not to be feared by death but until faced with it you automatically try, fight to survive with all your might. A book I once read had a persona of a suicidal man who had a condition with his heart and he started to have heart palpitations becoming a serious heart attack - he knew he was dying, even though he was suicidal as he despised his life, he tried to fight the disease from killing him. His life flashed before him, he wanted to grab it, whilst he still had it. Life is valuable, as is every other aspect of our lives, some people do not have the gift of life, we should be grateful and caring of our own lives and also aware of others around us - our peers, we need them, as they need us.

People do so many things to save others lives: fundraisers, giving donors, transplants etc. The most powerful giving they could give is being beside that person and assuring them of your love and care - and that whatever the outcome they will be taken care of. We have a responsibility of caring for others and not being overly selfish.

At the end of the day, life is short, truthful, hurtful and indeed a reflection of who we are. How we act throughout our lives and how we are towards people all add up to one thing: a reward at the end, when you are in your last thoughts and moments reminiscing on how you have helped someone in one way or another, and I bet when you look to your side that person you helped is now helping you...

Reading minds.

I am sure in some stages of our lives we would love to be able to read someones mind - some maybe not, as it is like another sensual 'power' and this scares them, but me, I would love to be able to read peoples minds - it's curiosity.

There have been times throughout my life and quite recently, when I have seen people day dreaming out the window or with their heads on the school desks etc, and I have thought: I would love to read their minds, love to know what people are thinking and their perspectives of things and if they think the same as me. In some ways reading peoples minds would make life simple and too easy, that way we would solve every mystery or crime, know others thoughts of us, be hurt by hurtful thoughts, perhaps be disappointed with someones opinions of yourself or a subject in general... This is why I wouldn't want to read peoples minds, as if they thought something about me whilst perpetually talking to me, I'd feel used.

In year 10 English we read a novella called 'The Lifted Veil' this reminded me of reading peoples minds as it is about a man called Latimer, who had gathered the power of Precognition whilst ill in hospital, this caused him to be able to read peoples minds and see into the future and what it has to hold. Latimer feels it was a curse, an unwanted power, as the thoughts he heard from his late brother's coquettish, flirtatious fiancee who later went to marry Latimer, were negative, manipulative and cold. These made Latimer despise life, and it made him feel sick that he was foolishly fooled by Bertha's loving approach to him. I recommend this book even though the language is in old English, but can be understood if studied.

Reading 'The Lifted Veil' made me think seriously about wanting to read someones mind, as the truth can sometimes hurt, and the truth is spoken commonly through peoples minds. Skulls act as barriers towards the outside world - no one can read past them, but what you say can influence them... So do we all really want to read people's minds? Hear the truth... I am not so sure.

Ambitions to follow?

We all have ambitions, but whether we should follow them is another thing. In a way, they are targets (targets of life: how we should get there, where we are now, are they possible etc)...

Some people would have ambitions or aspirations for their futures, whether career, family or self achievement. People make these to create a path for themselves along the road of life, what routes they should take - ambitions are like organising, time-planning. Should we really have definite ambitions? As more commonly than not, people change their minds based on inspiration from others, research and the situation in their lives. I think we should have a clear idea especially at post-16, as we are approaching our 'A' levels or further education that is available (we need to know what qualifications we acquire for our 'aspirations' in careers). What we choose is essential - it decides our future - our career, our income, our way of life - whether luxurious or basic essentials. We all have our chance to make the most out of education, we all need to remember that this is effectively the last shot we have of formal education. With ambitions or not, we all need to aim for something in life, something that may be 'impossible' in your eyes, but if we aim high we will eventually achieve - this is the motivation. It decides everything.
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News...

Every day we all hear some sort of news, well that is if you are interested in current affairs and the rest of the media's interpretations of 'what's happening in the world'

The other day I was sitting in the car staring out the window and the news was on the radio... I heard the normal: recession - the inflation rising slightly, a few odd bits of news and then finally someone who had been murdered earlier that day. News: every single article I read, watch or listen to has to mention bad news and this normally comes in the form of someones death and commonly murder.

How can people be so cruel to kill innocent lives - young or old, whoever they are, it is just plain cruel. Why do the murderers try so hard to hide themselves? I'll tell you why: because they are cowardess, scared and in a total turmoil of disgust. Police and investigators spend various amounts of time which sometimes total up to years investigating a mysterious murder or happening - just to leave someones family in complete misery as they cannot gain closure because of that murderer that can't be found. There should be justice. How about those individuals who are taken away by perhaps strangers from their families, why are people so obsessed over having someone kidnapped, crying, in pain and pleading to be released? And again, these families sit and wait for their child or loved one to walk through the door and to be free from the horrible individual who took them quite cynically. They cannot have closure, the mystery will continue until their loved one has been found - not knowing what state.

The news makes me think... Why are people so cruel, illnesses perhaps? Well I know that in most cases the culprits are free from anything making them do these acts, but yet they continue to wreck lives and for what? For nothing. Most of the time all they get is years in jail, years is not enough it should be capital punishment - a life for a life.

Valentines day.

A day of the year when celebrations - for some of us, really do matter.

Valentines day, which, quite coincidentally falls on a Monday, the Monday when year 11 always have their assembly's, and guess what the theme was: Valentines day. The normal lecture of what love is and how we should use it and the 'moral' message was: 'love is all about what you are willing to give, instead of what you are willing to take' which in a sense, is rather true. If you don't give in the relationship it's not really playing as a couple is it?

Just like any other celebration whether Christmas, Easter etc, this one has a difference, there really isn't any annual holiday, just an ordinary day - people working etc. People almost physologically believe it's all about love day, but surely if you are in a relationship every day you should feel this 'special'?

The advertisements made by media particulary in shops selling the loved-up merchandise normally in forms of red roses - which by the way are ridiculously priced, or keyrings which say love. To me the shops see this annual event as a way of making money selling merchandise which really isn't necessary. By cooking dinner or being there for your loved one should be enough, who needs a physical 'present' as a token to express their love for one another?

I am not against Valentines day at all, for me, there is nothing wrong with having annual celebrations but I must have heard at least ten people say they feel 'depressed' (just as Blue Monday it is just an ordinary day, a day where you don't really see any changes, just the physological affect by knowing it's there) because actually, I never saw anyone expressing love any different today than any other day. I understand if you see your ex with someone else exchanging gifts and a card it may hurt you, but the truth hurts and the truth is life, people move on and perhaps one day you will find your Valentine.

People shouldn't feel unloved, disheartened or any less 'special' than the second person next to you receiving a gift or card. Valentines day is just a day, a day when some people choose to celebrate their love openly...

London

I absolutely love London...

For me London has to be one of those places where anything is possible, where whatever the weather, London is still a vibrant, alive place. I find London a place where any emotion is possible, and that the weather is like pathetic fallacy. London to me is beautiful: whether it's the trees, the River Thames, the motion of the traffic, the building structures and the traditional, yet modern feel to the streets and the inhabitants.

I love travelling to London whether it is to generally go there for a shop or perhaps just to visit landmarks. The last time I went to London was 9th December for the Nigella Lawson book signing, the atmosphere on the streets was what I had expected: busy and manic, but in a nice way. Before that, at the start of September to visit art galleries for my Art GCSE prepatory tasks, the art galleries where beautiful, so vibrant and well presented. This visit was well enjoyed as I stepped foot on the London eye which was breathtaking the sights were overwhelming, I took photos:

The beautiful Big Ben

The London eye next to the River Thames

House of Parliament

The London eye side view

House of Parliament top view

The London eye above view

The London eye





London has to be one of my favourite places in the world, the landmarks, the streets, the River Thames, the sights, the atmosphere and the skyline etc are absolutely beautiful. No wonder London attracts so many tourists, it really is to me, an inspiring lovely place...