Post by Grape on Mar 11, 2010 15:54:21 GMT -5
In the modern world, we see that competition and classification drive both our personal and professional lives. It's always about who has the upper hand and who is more fit to do something.
This is why we're systematically categorized from "very ready for college" to "not ready at all" with the beautiful thing called the Standardized Test.
This is why we have races to see who will place first and be the one who is better than everyone else.
This is why we have fashion contests to see who is hotter than everyone else.
This is why we love being the centers of attention: to feel "special".
The proof is all around us. America loves to compare people.
Is this necessarily a BAD thing? Of course not, but it certainly isn't a GOOD thing either.
Could it be that the people of America are too busy trying to be better than each other that they're overlooking the thing that matters most in life?
We spend so much time and effort reaching for our dreams that we never stop and ask ourselves, "Why do I want this? How will this benefit my life?"
So some of us actually do reach the finish line and achieve our goals.
...hoorah. We win the title of "Best." ...and then what?
In the end, it doesn't matter who's the best because everyone is dead.
We must ask ourselves what we ultimately want in our lives.
We must take a look at ourselves every once in a while to see what's really going on.
Why live when each breath that we take brings us closer to death?
Personally, I'd say its to be happy. To feel joy. To experience pleasure and fulfillment.
Why else? For what other reason do we continue to deal with our PROBLEMS and all the bad things in the world?
So with this in mind, ask yourself once more, "Why do I want to be better than others?"
The answer should be "So I'll feel good about myself."
But ask yourself this as well: "Isn't it very true that I can feel good about myself by connecting and bonding with people rather than trying to separate myself from them?"
Isn't it very true that there are people in our lives who have no 1st place medals placed boldly on their living room walls but are still very very happy with their lives because they find happiness in unity?
Think about that.
Now, I'm not saying "Don't play sports and don't compete in anything EVER."
No no no no no.
I'm saying don't scoff at the kids who have cheaper shoes and messier hair than you. I'm saying don't mock the kids who don't have the perfect body types and don't have the looks that you think you have.
I'm saying don't hate someone because of they aren't the best football players or volleyball players ever.
These people...are people. And so are you.
If you hate on them for these things and not because of their personalities, they'll tear you apart the moment you make one small mistake in your life.
So don't gain a false sense of pride by thinking you're better than others, because you're not.
It's so much easier to just let go of this concept of trying to feel cooler, putting on a big smile, and learning to love.
Why NOT give people the chance to show you who they really are? Why NOT try and make friends who'll make you smile and laugh and feel good?
Give the 7 billion people in this world a chance.
<333333
This is why we're systematically categorized from "very ready for college" to "not ready at all" with the beautiful thing called the Standardized Test.
This is why we have races to see who will place first and be the one who is better than everyone else.
This is why we have fashion contests to see who is hotter than everyone else.
This is why we love being the centers of attention: to feel "special".
The proof is all around us. America loves to compare people.
Is this necessarily a BAD thing? Of course not, but it certainly isn't a GOOD thing either.
Could it be that the people of America are too busy trying to be better than each other that they're overlooking the thing that matters most in life?
We spend so much time and effort reaching for our dreams that we never stop and ask ourselves, "Why do I want this? How will this benefit my life?"
So some of us actually do reach the finish line and achieve our goals.
...hoorah. We win the title of "Best." ...and then what?
In the end, it doesn't matter who's the best because everyone is dead.
We must ask ourselves what we ultimately want in our lives.
We must take a look at ourselves every once in a while to see what's really going on.
Why live when each breath that we take brings us closer to death?
Personally, I'd say its to be happy. To feel joy. To experience pleasure and fulfillment.
Why else? For what other reason do we continue to deal with our PROBLEMS and all the bad things in the world?
So with this in mind, ask yourself once more, "Why do I want to be better than others?"
The answer should be "So I'll feel good about myself."
But ask yourself this as well: "Isn't it very true that I can feel good about myself by connecting and bonding with people rather than trying to separate myself from them?"
Isn't it very true that there are people in our lives who have no 1st place medals placed boldly on their living room walls but are still very very happy with their lives because they find happiness in unity?
Think about that.
Now, I'm not saying "Don't play sports and don't compete in anything EVER."
No no no no no.
I'm saying don't scoff at the kids who have cheaper shoes and messier hair than you. I'm saying don't mock the kids who don't have the perfect body types and don't have the looks that you think you have.
I'm saying don't hate someone because of they aren't the best football players or volleyball players ever.
These people...are people. And so are you.
If you hate on them for these things and not because of their personalities, they'll tear you apart the moment you make one small mistake in your life.
So don't gain a false sense of pride by thinking you're better than others, because you're not.
It's so much easier to just let go of this concept of trying to feel cooler, putting on a big smile, and learning to love.
Why NOT give people the chance to show you who they really are? Why NOT try and make friends who'll make you smile and laugh and feel good?
Give the 7 billion people in this world a chance.
<333333
and besides, there are always going to be people better than you and worse than you. never ending cycle. we just need to look beyond the comparative aspects that are given to us by society via class, race, social standing, wealth, etc. and we have to look at the common element of being human. great post.+1