A Not New Year's Resolution List

It's 2014 now, and I can happily say that I don't have any New Year's resolutions. I know which issues I will work to resolve. It isn't so I can make this year better, but so I can make the rest of my life better. Once I add the label of a New Year's Resolution, I know I will forget about it and stop after the first week. Most of my plan arose from Tina Fey's Bossypants. Surprisingly, my plan has nothing to do with humor or being funny. 

1. "I Don't Care If You Don't Like It"

Part of what made 2013 such a stressful year was me trying to please everyone. I could not go one hour without thinking about what someone else would probably think about me or my work. It's none of my business. It took me a long time to realize that, but I'm glad I did. Instead of apologizing for someone not liking my work, I'll just say, "It's a good thing you didn't create it." Unless of course this person is someone who is genuinely trying to help edit, or someone over me as far as power goes, I don't really mind what people think. This may come off as being rude. At the same time, it's arrogant to say something isn't good just because you don't like it. 

2. "A Childhood Dream, Realized"

I want to be a teacher. To be more specific, I am going to be a high school English teacher. Preferably in Chicago, but I'm happy as long as I'm teaching.I realized this with the help of my freshman year English teacher. However, when adults ask me about my plans after high school, I still answer, "Oh, oncology, psychology, or English teacher." Me answering with a fragment has nothing to do with me trying to make a joke or avoid a lecture. This answer isn't because I am ashamed of my career goals, but because I usually don't have the energy to deal with rude people. When, I just say English teacher, one or more of the following happen. People either laugh in my face, rudely ask me why, or say, "But you're so smart!" Now that I've realized what I want to do after high school, I am going to start working towards it. 

3. "Never Tell a Crazy Person He's Crazy"

I talk too much. I've pegged myself as a "forced extrovert who would much rather talk less, but it's too late." Sometimes I need to not talk, and when I do anyway, I say the wrong thing. If I got paid for saying the wrong thing, I would get paid one hundred dollars an hour for the rest of my life. Add this to the salary of a teacher, and I would be the third richest person in the world. I say things that are unnecessary, and my speech impediment gets in the way all of the time. It's to the point where I can have my own talk show, but it would be canceled after the first episode. I'm going to teach myself how to not talk and just listen. I would rather listen to everyone than talk the whole time. My excuse could be that I talk a lot when I'm nervous, but I'm always nervous. When I'm nervous, I end up saying the wrong thing and telling people things they already know. I guess you can call me Little Miss Redundant. 

There are a few more on the list, but these three are the main ones. It may take me longer than a year to completely master my list, but that's another reason why it's not a "New Year's Resolution" list.

When Your Best Isn't Good Enough

A fast paced world calls for you to be faster. It's like running on a treadmill at a constant speed while increasing the treadmill's speed. Eventually you're going to get left behind. Once you get left behind, nothing you do is going to be "good enough." Trying seems pointless because trying is the same thing as failing to everyone around you. As long as there is someone better than you, your best will not be good enough. There are billions of people in this world to which you can be compared. The only difference is, they're not you. They will never be you. They can't effect people the way you do. Their best may be seen as the greatest effort, but it's not your effort. Giving 100% is all people can ask and if it doesn't pay off, then it doesn't pay off. People around you will not see that, but you should. One of the best feelings is succeeding without the help of people who only see your failures. 

Ethnic Studies

Taking an ethnic studies class, opens your mind to different views on class, race, ethnicity, and this society in which we love. These beliefs and thoughts are inherited, or influenced by parents. That raises the question "How do we prepare, rather than repair, children to handle issues about race, class, and ethnicity?" For one, race is a social construct that only benefits the dominate, majority group. It is a problem because we have made it a problem. There is so much emphasis on "what we look like." When people ask me my race, I usually say human. For children, it is different. When they are brought up on the empty phrase "everyone is equal," and the failed "underneath our skin, we are all the same," problems will arise. Everyone is equal means nothing anymore. It is because of color blind racism. Treating everyone as "equal" is used to maintain an unequal status quo. As far as everything "underneath our skin" goes, it implies that there is a problem in the first place. It implies that there is something wrong with what is on the outside. Instead of sugar coating the topic of race, give children age appropriate facts. For class, teaching to envy those who have more, and pity those who have less is only going to backfire and does not benifit children. We should teach them to understand that there are people who have more than others and people who have less and that does not say anything about their character. Ethnicity depends on who raised someone. Whether you are Polish-American or Chinese-American should not matter, but it does. Teaching children to embrace these cultures will lead to creativity and new ideas. Culture is not something people should fear. Although we have come far, we have a long way to go. 

Hey, That's Rude

No matter how you speak your mind or share your opinion, people are going to hate you for it. That does not mean do not share. The ability to speak and think for oneself is so rare that people mistake it for being rude. The way you share your ideas also has something to do with it. However, as long as you share your voice you will be alright. I have noticed that being able to speak for myself has gotten me further than keeping thoughts to myself. Yes, not all comments need to be shared, but if they do come out, at least people know you're honest. Being honest or real can be mistaken for being rude, mean, or even worse-a bitch. People are going to be against what you think all of the time. That does not mean you should keep all thoughts to yourself. If someone does something unacceptable, tell him or her. Not saying anything will be an injustice to that person, not you. 

The Real Blurred Lines

I have not blogged in a while, but that is because I have been working on a bigger project that encapsulates my summer. However, there is an issue that I felt the need to write about. There is much controversy about Robin Thicke's song Blurred Lines. I understand why. Not only are the lyrics degrading, but the videos are too. I have to be honest, the song is catchy, and I have found myself saying, "Hey, hey, hey." on multiple occasions. What I am most disconcerted by is the general public who is against this song. I am not talking about the people who dislike all songs of this nature. I am talking about the ones who pick and choose the songs they would like to be against. There is no way this song can be that much of an outrage to a person who knows and loves all the lyrics to a song that degrades women in the same way. It is all about respect, and has nothing to do with what most people believe. If you detest a song because it goes against morals, go ahead. If you dislike a song because everyone seems to, rethink.

Seeing is Not Believing

This past week taught me tolerance. I am not usually good with people my age, and being submerged with over 70 teenagers showed me that.  That being said, this past week also taught me that people are not always what they seem. What you see on the outside may not match what you will get on the inside. Sometimes it does. That is something you would never know if you do not give people a chance. People, in general, are pretty cruel, but that does not mean they all are. This world is too big to write everyone off. Realizing that helps to be more positive about this human race. 

Respect

There are people in this world who believe that just because they are not cleaning up after anyone that they are better. That is in no way true. Whether you are a CEO, or a janitor, should not determine the amount of respect you are given. Age should not determine the amount of respect. Human is human and there is no one who can decide who is not. Some people believe that one needs to give respect to get respect. While this is important, this should not decide if you are not going to respect someone. This all goes along with being the bigger person, but even in everyday situations respect should be given.