Much Ado About Nothing

I am the queen of making much ado about nothing (in the literal meaning, not the implied "no thing" meaning...for those of you who study Shakespeare).

I'm a drama queen, and willing to admit it. Well, sometimes anyway. A lot of things get me really upset. I also tend to get mad at people for no apparent reason, or for a reason that's not really worthy of getting upset about. I often get in arguments and disagreements about petty things that seem important at the time, but in retrospect, weren't really worth it. I imagine I'm a bit of a pain to be around at times.

I have a very strong opinion, and I'm not afraid to share it. I'm very willing to hear what others have to say, but usually I want to at least attempt to tell them why they're wrong, unless they prove otherwise to me.

Little things like that bother me. Like my father, I have no patience for bull shit (although sometimes I can be full of it, but mostly not). I may make mountains out of mole hills occasionally, but usually when my faults are pointed out, I accept them and try to change them (hence this blog). I can't stand people who think the world revolves around them, and nothing they do is wrong.

There is so much more to life than drama. It took me a long time to realize that.

I work in a grocery store. Today, a customer didn't have enough money to pay for food to feed her family, so we were going to have to cancel the order. The woman in line behind her stopped the cashier and said "Wait, don't cancel it! I'll pay for it." The customer was shocked, and wasn't going to take it, but the woman insisted. The customer's parents came over a few minutes later (as she was fairly young) and asked the woman for her name and address so they could send her the money to repay her. The woman refused. They wanted to at least know her name so they could ask God to bless her.

When asked why she did what she did, the woman said "I've been in that place before, not being able to put food on the table for my family. It's embarrassing. Now it's my turn to be there for someone else."

There truly are good people in the world. Despite all the bull shit, and "much ado about nothing" that consumes most of our society, there are truly amazing, inspiring people around us. All you have to do is block out all the nonsense to find the diamonds in the rough.

Imitation

They say that art imitates life. But, when it comes to movies, books, music, and other elements of "popular" art, is it the other way around?

We are raised in a society that bombards its youth with images, whether they be in the classroom, on TV, or online. Is it possible that teenagers act the way they do because that's how they see it in the movies? Most high school students party. Most movies about the "typical" high school students show them partying. So, which came first: the chicken, or the egg?

It occurred to me today, while watching Sex and the City, that my friends and I often compare ourselves to the women on that show. I'm like Charlotte, for example. But usually, I have to make myself fit into one of their characters, instead of applying things about that character to me. The media heavily influences our culture. Every decision we make is made in part by some outside force. Pre-teens change clothing brands like they change their socks. One week, Hollister is the "it" place to shop, until some popular person buys something from Abercrombie, and then it's time for a whole new wardrobe. Adults are no different.

People are so obsessed with TV shows and movies. They don't even realize how they affect their everyday lives. I've realized in my own life that I make decisions based on what a popular consensus is, and not necessarily because it's something I want to do. Even rebellion is in a way a type of conformity. You're recognizing there is a culture, and you create a subculture that is decidedly against it. In essence, even rebels are joiners.

So, what's my point?

Sometimes, it helps to just take a few seconds of the day to think about what's really important in life, and compare it to what society tells you is really important. Ultimately, your personal goals are shaped by society's expectations of you: 1. to get married, 2. buy a house, and 3. have 2.5 children). Bear this in mind as you make decisions about your life, but don't let it control your decisions. There is more to life than making lots of money and buying a huge house. Try and focus on goals one and three, and not as much on number two.

Brevity is a great charm of eloquence

In the wise words of Cicero, "Brevity is a great charm of eloquence."

Basically, what he was saying was "Make it short, sweet, and to the point." But, put the emphasis on the sweet part. It's not always necessary to write a novel in order to get your point across. Sometimes, a few short lines, or even a few syllables, get the job done.

In that spirit, I will keep this short.

You can't give a dementor the old one-two

Tonight marks the end of an era. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released tonight, and I will be there at midnight.

Harry Potter has been an integral part of my life. I've read every book multiple times, I own all the movies. I live by Harry Potter. I even painted my nails scarlet in honor of Gryffindor, although I'm not crazy enough to actually dress up.

"You can't give a dementor the old one-two." This is a very profound statement, and yet very simple. For those of you that aren't Harry Potter fans, and have no idea what a dementor is, it's this giant black blob that sucks the soul out of you with its "kiss." A dementor's "kiss" doesn't kill you, it just leaves the victim a soulless body, with no purpose in life. The only way to protect yourself from a dementor is to cast a patronus charm to protect yourself.

Some things in life can suck your soul. You can't fight these battles in a conventional way, because often they're not solid, or substantial. And sometimes, the battle is within yourself. The only way to protect yourself is to dig deep within and find a way to cure what the true problem is, what's really eating your soul. Dementors are attracted to despair and fear. They bring weakness upon you. But the weakness can be defeated by only one person, and that is yourself.

Positivity

Last week, I spent a few days in Wildwood Crest, NJ. I was struggling to find something to get for my friend. She recently took a trip to Brazil, and brought me back a beautiful pair of earrings, along with an adorable hair clip, several Brazilian coins, and a post card from the town where she stayed.

I couldn't find anything. Every gift shop was stuffed with gaudy, tourist tchockes (or however you spell that word...). But, in the last shop I visited, on my grandmother's request, I found a set of three bands, all with a silver piece engraved with one simple word: Positivity. The whole idea behind the bracelets is to keep one for yourself and give the other two to friends, to spread the Positivity. I've been wearing mine ever since. This is the perfect thing for my friend. She is always such an outgoing, fun-loving person. She's been going through rough times, just like me.

I've felt the power of positivity through the bracelet. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of how inspiring my friend is, how even in her darkest moments, she can still find a way to smile.

I'm not 100% fine. I may look it on the outside, but I'm very unstable. I'm hoping that the power of positivity will aid me in becoming 100% fine.

Visit www.shareyourpositivity.org to post your positive moments, or to read about other people's inspiring acts. It's important that positivity shine through the darkest of clouds. It's the light at the end of the tunnel.

Be great in act

In Act 5 Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play King John, the Bastard delivers a speech to motivate John to continue to fight, even when all seems lost. He says:
  "Be great in act, as you have been in thought;
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye:
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
Threaten the threatener and outface the brow
Of bragging horror: so shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.
Away, and glister like the god of war,
When he intendeth to become the field:
Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
What, shall they seek the lion in his den,
And fright him there? and make him tremble there?
O, let it not be said: forage, and run
To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
And grapple with him ere he comes so nigh."

William Shakespeare is known for his profound statements, such as this. The St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, for example, was used to motivate those who had given up in World War II.

This speech speaks to me. I often have grandiose ideas of things to do, but I rarely have the courage to act on them. Lately, I've been quite lost. I've been in "a funk" and I'm not quite sure how to get myself out of it. I've created this blog in an effort to find my way back to some sense of normalcy. I look to Shakespeare to guide me in times where I feel least secure in myself. I wish to "show boldness and aspiring confidence" and to allow myself to become the person I know I can be. I am a strong, willful individual, and anyone that knows me will tell you that. But I have a tendency to allow myself to become weak, which, once succumbed to, is one of the most difficult things to overcome. 

"Actions speak louder than words." I am full of words. "I want to go to the gym to get in shape." "I want to start eating healthier." "I am going to actually read what's assigned to me, instead of just winging it." These are all examples of false promises I've made to myself. I have the potential to be someone great, but I also have been lazy throughout my entire life. Even in elementary school, I would run to the nurse's office every time I coughed, just so I could try and get out of doing a little bit of work. I would fake illness at home to get out of doing chores. 

I don't want to be that person anymore. I am in charge of my own destiny, and I must be bold and confident. I have great thoughts. It's about time I acted on them, and committed to my actions.