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For the avoidance of doubt... Yes... I definitely have an opinion... |
| Prompt - There are people who live socially correct lives but become a shadow of themselves versus the people who sink themselves deeply into all levels of life, exploring their dreams fully regardless of the cost and to attain their goals. Are certain individuals predisposed to take risks and others not?"~ Lene Gammelgaard - Climbing High. What do you think? Have you chased or known someone who has chased a dream regardless of the cost? *** Let me get on my soapbox… There are too many people who tie themselves in knots over conforming to society’s or their community’s standards – standards that change over time and quite frankly need to be tested and pushed against, or obliterated, on occasions. I completely understand how this can and does kill a part of that person as they bend over backwards to be the perfect parent, spouse, child, or employee. To portray who they think they should be. To blend in and not rock the boat. Far too worried, perhaps, of other people's opinions. There is a reason that we often look at those people who throw caution to the wind in the pursuit of their dream with a level of envy. They are called selfish, childish, directionless. Attention seeking adrenaline junkies who need to grow up. Things we, perhaps, wish we could be – if we allowed ourselves to relax the constraints that we bind ourselves with a little. They appear happy... They are all things I have been called at some point in my life. I used to be affected by those labels – slightly – in the silence of my bedroom, flat, or personal sanctuary. I say slightly because I have a stubborn streak a mile long that’s forged in titanium and pure bloody mindedness – a trait passed down by my mother who is equally in awe and vexed by it. But as I grew up those labels turned into badges of honour – to be celebrated. I am stubborn. I do know my worth. I like valid recognition. I have so many opinions and I will stand by them with conviction when needed. And I love those butterflies in my stomach. The ones that come around and let me know I am on the precipice of something life changing and amazing. The ones that make me smile and then jump off the cliff with two feet and a "whoop" and a "yip". Sometimes it really is “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. If I had listened to my mother, I wouldn’t have travelled to Australia and had a two-week, whirlwind romance. The man in question wouldn’t have followed me back to the UK based on said two-week holiday romance. We wouldn’t have fallen in love, got married, and had two gorgeous children. If I hadn’t listened to those butterfly and hadn’t jumped feet first into it – I’d of missed out on the greatest adventure of my life. I would have regretted it. That was how we both knew what to do. Standing at that point where we could have turned and walked away, but instead said fcuk it lets find out… let’s not regret it. I like saying fcuk it. It’s by far my favourite saying since I turned 40… I have always had rebellious tendencies. Subtle ones – nothing major. I like going against the grain. I also have control issues. I will dig my heels in quicker than a mule at the slightest inclination of perceived control. Case in point was MY wedding, where the idea of not wearing white was outrageous… My mother had a fit when I turned up wearing bright red platform pumps, complete with black sequin skulls and navy-blue nails – a pop of colour in a wash of white… I get my eye rolling capabilities from her - how she doesn’t recognise these traits in herself I will never know – and hers were magnificent that day. I took the small victory. My own form of rebellion. I am sure my daughter will pay me back - and I will smile. We are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We won’t be remembered in a couple of generations. Society in general doesn’t care about us – it cares about the mass, not the individual. We should be enjoying our time beneath the sun while we have it – it doesn’t last forever after all. It’s often gone far too soon. It’s never the “long” in the “long and happy life” that matters in a eulogy, it’s the happy; it’s the living, and not simply existing. |
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