Inner Insanity: Loathsome Labels

I don't like labels.
I don't like being put in categories based on labels.
I don't like labels defining people and;
I don't like the assumptions being made based on these labels.

I apologise if this gets heated but this is an ongoing issue for everyone, in my opinion. Being called fat or skinny, ugly or beautiful, smart or dumb. Now I know that some of these can be taken as positive but it's mostly positive only to the person being labelled that certain label. I, myself, have been labelled many, many times and I know how annoying it is. But not only that, there is an added pressure to either stay being labelled that way, or strive to be labelled the opposite. Expectations become responsibilities. 

"You have to be this..."
"You can't look like that..."
"Shouldn't you be doing this instead of that?"
"Why are you wearing that?"

These questions arise because of the labels placed upon us based on the criteria of the media, what they think is beautiful and what they think isn't.
I know that I can't change the ways of the media but I hope I can change some of the views that you guys have. I also know that these have been said a trillion times but I want to repeat these one more time to reinforce it in your brains.

1. Be comfortable with yourself. 

Despite the images projected by the media, it's important to know that there many images and views of the word beautiful. Not everyone believes that something is beautiful just because somebody else has said so. Your opinion counts too! In fact it's the most important one when it comes to you. 
With that being said, if you, not anyone else, aren't comfortable with yourself, try and alleviate that in a safe way. For example, if you want to have a new hairstyle, get a haircut. Do it for you, not anybody else. 
It's also important to know that you don't have the same lifestyle as everybody else. 
Models for example workout vigorously most of, if not, the whole week because it's demanded in their job description. Students on the other hand have to go to school and stress about assignments and due dates.
Now this is not saying that these are the set lifestyles for models and students. I know that models also have businesses and families and other responsibilities in their lives, however this is just an example of the difference in lifestyles within society.

2. Don't listen

This is pretty simple. You don't have to be what you don't want to be. Stay true to yourself. It doesn't matter what everyone else is wearing, saying or thinking. What matters, as I've said before, is your opinion and your opinion alone. It's important that you do not, I repeat do not, restrict yourself to the label that is placed upon you, nor should you force yourself to change in order to be labelled differently. Not only will insecurity eat you up, but you will also exert vulnerability, which makes you a target for labelling.  

3. It's your life

Self explanatory. It's your life, not anybody else's therefore you have complete control as to how you want to look, feel and think. Nobody else should be able to dictate the way you live your life, not even your loved ones (#yolo). This pretty much summarises what I've said above. You're your own boss.
(Hilarious Response from 2 Broke Girls Season 1 Episode 22 - Max: My own boss? I can't wait to sleep with myself to get a promotion) 
*Side note: That was random and I thought I'd lighten things up.

On a serious note, just be yourself and don't take in the negative comments from other people. 

Inner Insanity: Alleviating Anxiety

First of all, Inner Insanity will just be a series of posts that will essentially be about how I am feeling, what's going on in my head and all that jazz.

Anxiety. Something that everyone experiences at one point in their lives, although some worse than others. Since school is going to start soon and students like me are getting nervous since it's the last year of high school and those final exams are coming up faster than a freaking bullet train, I thought that maybe I'd give some tips as to how we can overcome this case of anxiety, or at the very least lessen it.

1. The first thing that has helped me with anxiety is preparation. I find that the more I prepare for something, the less worried and more confident I'll be in the future. Hand-ins, tests, speeches, presentations. Whatever they may be, if you are well prepared for these things, the less worried and panicky you will be on the due date and the less likely it will be for an attack to occur.

2. Being organised is next, which goes hand-in-hand with preparation. Organising is very important because it helps you keep track of what's going on in your life, even if everything seems to be moving too fast. Using things like diaries, planners, calendars, phone alarms and post-it notes are just some of the few things that can help you become more organised. This also applies with knowing where things are so that when the time comes and your pen runs out of ink, you'll know where to go. My school actually provides a planner every year and, I have to admit, during Year 7, I never utilised it to its full potential. Now, each page has at least three lines of things-to-do for each day!

3. This next one is more for people that find it difficult to speak in front of a crowd, large or small, and this has honestly helped me in the past tremendously. This might seem weird but hear me out. It's a short step-by-step process of creating a sense of protection around you, as I call it anyway. 

Step 1: Think of something strong, whether it's a lion, a titan, gladiators, practically anything. It could even be a big strong rock!

Step 2: Multiply them mentally and surround yourself with them, you in the middle.

Step 3: Take a deep breath and relax.

Step 4: Whenever you feel anxious or panicky, imagine them being there with you, at your sides and know that they WILL protect you and that nothing can and will get through them.

4. The last one is kind of a love it or hate it option that may not always be doable. Hugs and Laughs. Whenever you feel an attack coming, just ask for a hug or think of something funny, like a baby with a beard, and have a little laugh. I have done these so many times that it's almost second nature to me. There has actually been scientific research that hugs release chemicals in the body that help with anxiety and stress plus hugs also lets you know that there is someone there for you. And as you all know, laughter is the best medicine.

Hopefully these tips will help you guys alleviate anxiety during stressful times and give you that little bit of confidence to get through the day. And just believe that you WILL get through them. 

Flying Rodents, Ice and Unfortunate Events

The other day, my friend and I went ice skating. We had planned it the night before because we were Facebook chatting both agreed that we had to hang out. So we settled upon ice skating, which was great because neither of us had gone in forever (Cue in For the First Time In Forever song from Disney's Frozen, which by the way, was a great movie. Totally recommending it!). Girl time was also long overdue and the heat has been scaring us into hiding. 

Unfortunately, we had to take the train because nobody could drop us off. It sucks not having a license. But soon, oh so very soon, I shall get mine and I shall conquer the madness they call roads. Mwahahahaha!!! Ahem. 

Anyway...

Once we got to the station, we had a craving for caffeine. Why? I'll tell you why. I had gone to bed late last night for no apparent reason (does being in holiday mode count?) and had planned on waking up after at least eight hours of shuteye. What I did not anticipate in a million years was a stupid pigeon cooing like an owl right outside my window, on the ledge. For the first few coos, I thought "Don't worry, it's gonna stop soon." But it didn't. It went on and on and on and I kept thinking the same thing over and over again. Eventually I gave in and threw a pillow on the blinds, which impacted on the window and thus startling the flying rodent. Thankfully I heard it fly away... But little did I know that it would settle down on another ledge nearby... And start cooing again. Uggh!!! I was pretty sure it wasn't going to stop so that left me no choice but to get up and have breakfast. 

After getting ready, I met with my friend and headed to the train station. It was around an hour and a half or so travel, which was plenty of time for DNM. We took a detour to my friend's grandmother's house for lunch and then headed to the rink after. 

We got on the ice as soon as we put our skates on and I was overwhelmed by my feelings of nostalgia because I had many good memories on the ice. It wasn't crowded which was cool because then you could skate fast not endanger anyone however we couldn't play the games because there wasn't enough people.

• A game that I used to play with my friends whenever we went ice skating was going under people's arms. You know how there are usually groups that hold hands and make a chain? Yeah. We go under those. Try making your own chain by holding your friends by the waist like a Congo line and try going under the chain linked by hands. The longer your chain is, the funner it is because it's harder to pull everyone else through. 

• Another one is a little bit more risky but not too much. Essentially, the aim is to hold a random person's hand and just start skating with them. I know that's asking for trouble, or the least an awkward situation, but that's what makes it fun!

As we were skating, I noticed a guy, a very cute guy if I may say so myself, skating incredibly fast and stopping abruptly, shaving ice. I was hooked. I mean I like guys who entertain me or impress me, those guys that can make you say or think "Wow". It's not that hard really, at least for me. Just do something that I can't, make it look cool and I'm hooked. Now that's not saying that I immediately want to jump his bones but it gives them an edge. 

Moving on, the guy kept on doing it over and over again and eventually I got sick of the show off (Sorry but it's true!) and just ignored him. Round and round and round we went until we got tired. Then we took a little break, got ourselves hot chocolates. Yum! Afterwards we were back on the ice and again, round and round and round we went until we got to the curve. My friend and I had slowed down to talk when she suddenly lost balance and fell straight on her bum! It was so funny I lost my balance too but luckily I had the ice rink wall to hold on to and keep me upright. The fall was something out of a comic! I wish I had recorded it but I had left my phone in my bag, not trusting myself to keep it dry on ice.

When the session ended we went to our usual hangout, grabbed drinks and just walked around until we finally had to go home.
All I can say is day well spent. We had fun, we got fed and I witnessed a painful looking fall. 

Unlike my friend, please take care when doing anything.

Just be safe and have fun!

♥

Mind - Reading? Why?

I have always wondered what goes through the minds of the people around me, the people I walk past and the people on the other side of the world. 

From a young age, I have always been a curious child, often wondering about things that do not normally pass through young minds and analyzing situations subconsciously, which then took over my emotions. 

Consequently my parents had to face either the wrath or giggles of their only daughter. Sorry mum and dad!

To this day I am constantly reminded to stop over analyzing things in my head but I can't help it. I'm just so interested in people! Actions, thoughts, opinions, anything that has to do with human interaction I have probably pondered over at one point of my life.

Recently I watched a documentary called Deadly Women which is essentially about the lives of female criminals leading up to their crimes. I was fascinated by the analysis of the professionals in the documentary as they gave a thorough insight, not only of the women and their families, but in the minds of the criminals. Immediately I was engrossed by the documentary and watched it til the end. 

Here's the link online: http://www.citv.com.au/tv-shows/803/deadly-women

It amazed me how they were able to nit-pick the brains of others and gain an understanding of their feelings, emotions, intentions and eventually the meaning behind their actions. To me, that's almost like mind-reading.  I have trouble trying to comprehend my own actions, let alone the actions of others, so this documentary was a real treat. Throughout the documentary, I flashed back to certain events in my life and bombarded my brain with the question why? 

• Why did they do this?
• Why did he react like that?
• Why didn't she do it differently?

I racked my brain for the answers to these questions that arose in my head. But then I asked myself, Why am I doing this? It's in the past. I can't change anything. I guess it's just my curious nature. I know, I know "Curiosity killed the cat" but you know what? I am not a cat therefore I am exempt from this saying and thus I am able to ponder over things as I please. 

Remember: Your mind is only restricted from the things that you let it become restricted by. Open the gates and let it in, let everything in. 

2013 down, 2014 to go!

Oh my gosh! I honestly cannot believe that 2013 is over. I know it sounds cliche but the year has gone by so incredibly fast that my head is still spinning. It has finally dawned on me that I am going to have to sit the HSC exams this year. Ahhh! 

Okay let's not worry ourselves right now and take one small step at a time; Baby steps. 
So a few days after Christmas, my family and I went berry picking. Let me tell you, it was one of the nicest and most relaxing family activity I had done in a while, although I was a bit apprehensive on going at first.

Kickin' in the back seat

Overall it was quite an experience and I enjoyed the 3 hour trip to the Berry farm because, since it was raining a couple of days beforehand, the berries were extra sweet, at least that's what the nice lady told me when I asked why they were so sweet compared to store bought berries.

I was mostly sleeping during the trip back since we had to get up early that morning, but it was good. I loved it and the views and angles were just amazing. 

Word of Advice: Open yourself up to new experiences as it can bring about great memories 

Thanks for reading, take care and be safe! 

♥