This blog post is supposed to be about my beautiful baby girl Molly (she's a dog), but it's not going to be, because I'm very angry right now and I need to get some things out in the open!
So, I don't know what it is about people these days, but everybody feels the need to constantly criticize and bring everyone around them down. This could be caused by several things. Maybe their father left them as a child, maybe they're gay and hate themselves for it, maybe they were sexually assaulted at a young age, or maybe they're just plain mean. But whatever the reason, it all leads to one key result: self-loathing. So many people HATE themselves so much these days. I believe that the cause of this is our generation's "anything goes" mentality. We live in a society where anything and everything is acceptable, which can be quite confusing to a young child. With no clear definition of right or wrong, good or bad, black or white, today's children grow up feeling lost and insecure about who they really are. Not only are they devoid of moral standing, but of personality, talent, and heck, even the ability to love. I honestly can say that when I'm a parent, I hope I'm brave enough to step up to the plate and not worry about being politically correct, or who at the book club I've offended by my political outlook. I just hope that I can be brave enough to stand up for what I believe in and instill good values and honesty in my children.
When young people are suffering an identity crisis, they will try everything available to make them feel normal, whether its drugs, sex, alcohol, bullying, or being just plain mean. When all of these things fail to suffice their ravenous hunger to be accepted, when no matter what they do it seems like they are never satisfied and happy...? This is when depression sets in. After they're depressed for a while, anger and jealousy of those who are happy rises. It's not the nature of the human heart to feel hatred and loathing, so when we begin to feel this way, our defense mechanisms are triggered. And I believe without doubt that this is where harsh, unrealistic criticism and persistent negativity come from.
I've been a victim of mean people many times, as I'm sure almost everyone has. However, I'm also brave enough to admit in public forum that I've also been the person doing the hating. But the reason I'm so angry, the reason I'm writing this today is because I've encountered a few people who are so badly hurt and so messed up on an extremely deep level that they cant recognize that although I've made mistakes, what I'm doing now in my life is the best thing I've ever done. I'm the happiest I've ever been. The reason for that? Because I stopped caring about what is acceptable is society, and starting seeing that all that matters is what YOU, personally, believe. All that matters is that you know yourself, regardless of what has happened to you in the past. So, my message to you, reader, is that even if you've been hurt in a way that is so painful that you're scared to even talk about it, or even if you're just having a bad day... Don't let that hatred take over. Instead of bringing somebody down and potentially being the last straw in a very, very large haystack that's been ready to collapse for years, be the positive influence in somebody's life that saves them. I promise you won't regret it.
(P.S.-- Molly is the best dog ever!)
So, I don't know what it is about people these days, but everybody feels the need to constantly criticize and bring everyone around them down. This could be caused by several things. Maybe their father left them as a child, maybe they're gay and hate themselves for it, maybe they were sexually assaulted at a young age, or maybe they're just plain mean. But whatever the reason, it all leads to one key result: self-loathing. So many people HATE themselves so much these days. I believe that the cause of this is our generation's "anything goes" mentality. We live in a society where anything and everything is acceptable, which can be quite confusing to a young child. With no clear definition of right or wrong, good or bad, black or white, today's children grow up feeling lost and insecure about who they really are. Not only are they devoid of moral standing, but of personality, talent, and heck, even the ability to love. I honestly can say that when I'm a parent, I hope I'm brave enough to step up to the plate and not worry about being politically correct, or who at the book club I've offended by my political outlook. I just hope that I can be brave enough to stand up for what I believe in and instill good values and honesty in my children.
When young people are suffering an identity crisis, they will try everything available to make them feel normal, whether its drugs, sex, alcohol, bullying, or being just plain mean. When all of these things fail to suffice their ravenous hunger to be accepted, when no matter what they do it seems like they are never satisfied and happy...? This is when depression sets in. After they're depressed for a while, anger and jealousy of those who are happy rises. It's not the nature of the human heart to feel hatred and loathing, so when we begin to feel this way, our defense mechanisms are triggered. And I believe without doubt that this is where harsh, unrealistic criticism and persistent negativity come from.
I've been a victim of mean people many times, as I'm sure almost everyone has. However, I'm also brave enough to admit in public forum that I've also been the person doing the hating. But the reason I'm so angry, the reason I'm writing this today is because I've encountered a few people who are so badly hurt and so messed up on an extremely deep level that they cant recognize that although I've made mistakes, what I'm doing now in my life is the best thing I've ever done. I'm the happiest I've ever been. The reason for that? Because I stopped caring about what is acceptable is society, and starting seeing that all that matters is what YOU, personally, believe. All that matters is that you know yourself, regardless of what has happened to you in the past. So, my message to you, reader, is that even if you've been hurt in a way that is so painful that you're scared to even talk about it, or even if you're just having a bad day... Don't let that hatred take over. Instead of bringing somebody down and potentially being the last straw in a very, very large haystack that's been ready to collapse for years, be the positive influence in somebody's life that saves them. I promise you won't regret it.
(P.S.-- Molly is the best dog ever!)
Hey Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI can't comment about what people in your home town have said that's gotten under your skin, but I do know that you're one of the sunniest, most positive, glass-half-full people I know. And I want you to know that I'm thankful you're my neighbor and friend. And the next time you want to play Parcheesi or Apples To Apples, with a Netflix chick-flick movie playing in the background, the Fazoli's breadsticks are on me.
Your neighbor,
Johnny
Johnny, you're the best!! That totally made my day. (:
ReplyDelete