Masks

The people we depict ourselves to be are so different from the people we actually are on the inside. For the longest time, I've always thought that it was cool to be just an emotionless shell of a person. Now I know, it's not. It's not cool, nor interesting to be that person. It isn't interesting to suppress your feelings. Relationships go so much deeper when we're honest with others and actually say what's on our mind. Despite this, we're often expected to hide our insecurities, fears, and the flaws in our character.

A lot of times, we're asked, "How are you?". The proper response to this question is something along the lines of "Good. And yourself?" despite the fact that you just happened to bomb a final. It's sad really that we must put on this mask of strength in front of others and have pity on ourselves behind a closed door. I'm sure that the world wouldn't be a better place if everyone responded with bitter remarks about why their world is collapsing on them. However, I think it would be a better place if people would respond honestly.

On the other hand, there is a time for everything; it wouldn't be wise for you to break down to your boss, but it is okay you to tell them that you are having a bad day. There is a social context for everything and it is a matter of discernment - which comes from wisdom and experience.

Regret

There are numerous times I've done things that I really shouldn't have - like that time I chased my brother down that hill by our house, or that time I didn't realize what I had said, or that time I grabbed the hand of someone thinking it was my grandfather... The list just goes on and on. Initially, I regret them. Then, I learn to live with them and realize that all these things have caused me to become the person I am today. So I don't really regret them, but at the time I do.

Is it possible to live life without regret? I don't think it is. Most of the time, we regret something that we've done initially and then realize what it's made us in retrospect. Thus, we don't regret it, but it is because we have seen where it has brought us and how we've grown through the experience. Personality is brought about by these sets of regrets and joys that we experience. Who we are comes from this emotional roller-coaster of what we have done in our lives.

The only way that we can never regret is if we had a road map - which we were satisfied with - to our life and understood that every step we took brought us closer to our destination. If it did not bring us any closer to our destination, then we would regret what we've done. Too bad, we don't have a personal GPS to tell us what to do in every situation. However, if we did most of us would just follow that road map and would never be able to experience things for that they really are. They would all just be another thing that we expected.

A Simple Question

This is a poem written by Nic Bommarito who has pretty sweet music. His writing is interesting. This piece was written during his college years in University of Michigan. His work is pretty interesting. Check it out: http://www.nicbommarito.com/

Live Today

As a kid, I've always longed to be an adult with the liberty to do whatever I want, whenever I want. Being surrounded by two older brothers, I saw how exciting things would be as I got older. For instance, I saw how much freedom came along with turning 18 and getting a driver's license. However, I've obviously aged and grown wiser - I hope. I've seen those days fly by and now I realize the misconceptions that I've had as a kid. Life does not start tomorrow, the monumental day you graduate from high school, or even when you turn 21. It started the minute you became conscious of your surroundings and able to make decisions for yourself.

It is a pity that so many of us sit around dreaming of the future. It is true that there are certain things you must go through before you can attain the ideal future. However, it is foolish to waste our time and let it rot as we daydream about what we could be. We should be proactive and take advantage of what we have around us. It's a shame that so many people I see struggle to make it through college and can only think of what they want to do once they get out. I don't think it should be that way. They should be doing what they love in college and when they get out of college, whether that be building things or changing the world. Understandably, some things may be difficult to start, but why should that stop you from doing what you love?