Start Living Again

    I recently came across a great book that sparked my attention right away.  In my recent "breakthrough"/ "awakening" I would call it, I have started to open up my eyes to the ways of the world and what I was so blinded by in the past.  I have finally, what it seems to me, broken through to the other side I had wanted to be part of...or  maybe felt so alone inside without.  For so long, I had thought it was always me being the "different" one....then I embarked on this book called "The Davinci Method" and realized that I was not the "different" one....just out numbered. 

    I had always known I was "different" from the majority since I can remember.  By different, I mean...different thoughts and behaviors...than most people I was around.  I had always felt bad about myself inside for being different, such as by not saying the right words...or even being oversensitive,  for as long as I can remember.  My intuitiveness would easily pick up on others dissatisfaction for my "different", out of the ordinary behaviors.  I reacted by turning these bad feelings inside and took it out on myself.   So I would keep trying and trying to fit in to the "so called normal" world, and chose to change or adapt myself to be suitable to the environment around me.  This is where I am now realizing I went completely wrong.

    I was never able to work to my highest potential because of it and resented myself inside.  In relating how I felt to something tangible I felt like"Why couldn't I be like these other ducks and just swim in the pond peacefully...well, I finally saw my reflection....and turns out it was because I'm actually  an "eagle".  This is just a metaphor similar to one I had read recently, but you get the idea.  By conforming myself so much to try to be the duck, I am completely missing out on the beauty of being an "eagle".  I felt so alone for so long with my indifferences, just keeping great thoughts and ideas inside, as I was so afraid of being not acceptable to others and so afraid of having my behavior "labeled" by other people.

    This is where I think there needs to be change of attitude's towards naturally accepting others for their differences.  One should not feel ostrasized for being different, and it's time people start to welcome others differences with a more open mind.   Most people are not even aware that they are doing this to certain unique minds such as mine, but I feel it is time for them to see.   For most people do see our world is clearly changing these days.  What used to be socially unacceptable, is now accepted.  It's the attitudes of the "I'm too rigid....I stick by the politically correct rules only and don't think outside the box" type people, that make up a significant number in our population and are the loudest with their opinions, which in effect then sets the "norms".

     I am going to quote this passage from "the Davinci Method", as it stood out to me as something that would hit close to home for everyone when it comes to this. "Most people do not behave in accordance with the inner wellspring of their being-their heart and soul.  Most people put on a "happy face", speak politically correct in relation to whatever social norms there are, and behave according to a strict set of cultural rules.  They do so with such vigelence that soon there is very little evidence of the living heart and soul inside that person, because their being has been overlaid with so many layers of learned behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that there is not room for any spontaneous impulses to come through.  This is not living, this is hiding."

   Well, what can we do to change this....start living again people.  It's time to start seeing who we are inside and loving ourselves again, no matter how different we are from each other.  It's okay to agree to disagree on things, how about meeting in the middle somewhere.  It's time to stop pointing fingers at one another for mistakes that have been made, whether it be in our economy or government.  Is this really getting us anywhere?  I certainly don't see things changing for the better around me.  I think it's time to balance out the power and restructure things a bit.  Let the "unspoken" one's speak.  Let the outnumbered start numbering to find this balance.  I have seen way too much imbalance of power lately, whether it be in politics or in big companies. 

    I think once we find this common ground, the world will start changing for the good.  People that have kept quiet about their thoughts and opinions for the sake of displeasing others, or not thinking that their own little opinion would matter, should speak.  These are the people that may have been degraded or belittled by speaking their mind in the past due to others ignorance.  Is your ignorant ways and thoughts really working for you and for the bettering of our country?  If you can see past your "set" ways, then you will start to see your ignorance...if you don't...then it will continue to be the same vicious cycle over and over again. 

    Doesn't anyone else see the new generations that are growing up these days having distorted minds.  We have created, or are amidst creating,  a society that there are too many rules and set standards that these kids are losing their creativity and own sense of uniqueness in trying to keep up with what society is expecting at such a quick pace.  I mean I'm one that believes in pushing yourself to your limits without a doubt, but I think that we need to revisit this a little bit and see what really needs to be a "rule" verses what can be allowed.  This will allow kids to feel less pressured into being someone they are told to be versus letting them figure it out for themselves.  For in doing this,  they will no matter what, eventually know that something is not right inside....and may even figure out soon enough that they are not the ducks that they were told to be, they are eagles.

     Now, in addressing the "different" kids....that there seems to be a significant number of these days, I am quite empathetic.  These are the kids that are made to feel "different" by our set social norms.  Trying to get to the root of the problem may be whats needed, as well as letting them be free to be themselves by accepting their out of sorts behavior and self expression...whether it be out of the norms or not.  Let them be the unique person that they want to be, whether it's as simple as a hair color, it's their way of expressing themselves... and in time will help them in finding out who they are or want to be on their own. 

     On the other hand,  I get we need world order and I do believe that there needs to be rules and structure when it comes to the world, but  we are starting to try to conform so much that we're losing sense of what matters most in life.  I get it...kids need rules and discipline...but can't we start seeing where we are going wrong and which rules and beliefs we need to set free and do without....so there will again be more"Albert Einsteins" of the new coming age.  Then,  we will begin to start seeing some really good change in the world around us.