#blessed

          I really don't like social media much, for many reasons. I find it in many cases an obstacle which prevents people from actually socializing, and/or a medium for complaining, judgment, and displaying what we wrongly value as a society. When looking through a list of the most used hashtags, I was displeased. Whether it was their pointless nature (#look, #my), their self obsessive nature (#me, #follow), or their idolization (#louistomlinson, #harrystyles), I was annoyed. But in the midst of these vessels into the foolish black hole of time we call hashtags, I found one pleasing. #Blessed is different. It is an example of the many, but too few hashtags which show the author's perhaps small, but present, appreciation of life. When so much of the internet revolves around degrading or non-constructive material, there is exceptions.

          Don't get me wrong, people still use this hashtag to say stupid things, but many times -for a change- we see thought provoking words behind it. The hashtag #blessed is an example of the hope I have for social media. That it can be used with other positive, though provoking hashtags (#thinkaboutit, #proverb) to be a medium for appreciation, and the development of positive attitudes towards ourselves and one another.   

  

Annoying Stuff

Now, it's kind of hard not to, but I don't want this post to seem all whiny, because typically when someone constantly complains about what annoys them, that in itself is annoying (I am totally guilty of this). But here's some things that bother me:

• The lack of respect for life we all have. I'm not saying bugs and humans are equals by any means, but come on, how can you extinguish a tiny life just for the sake of not having a spider in your home? They eat flies, and those guys are the worst. And then we flush them down the toilet. What a way to die. Would you stomp a mouse to death? What about a rabbit? Would you crush a dog to death because it wasn't welcome in your home? No? Then have some respect for the smaller, creepy crawly guys that mean you no more harm than a puppy. Furthermore, just try talking it out with the bug in your room. You talk to your dog even though it doesn't care what you have to say, so why not do the same with a spider? Let it know you're going to bring him outside and do it. 
• Dorito/Cheeto/Chip dust. You know the crud I'm talking about. That stuff that gathers on your fingers after eating chips. And then people lick it off. Good heavens, they lick it off, along with all the scum that they've gathered after a long day of using the computer, playing video games, or petting animals at the local shelter. *shudders* Please, just wash your hands after eating some chips.
• Theme parks. Over rated, over expensive, over crowded places where you wait in line for 2 hours for a 5 minute ride. The only time a theme park is enjoyable is when there is nobody there except the employees, you and your friends.
• Horror movies. What kind of twisted lives are we living that we find pleasure in watching sadistic tales of gratuitous violence and evil, forcing ourselves to be kept awake at night? 
• The immaturity of teenagers.
• Technology. Technology is a valuable resource to be used or abused, and we all abuse it. Whether we are watching our favourite tv series, pointlessly filing through pictures on the internet, or texting. You name it, we waste dozens of precious hours on our devices and can't spare a moment for fellow human beings. Maybe if we all sought how to be better individuals we would find comfort in one another socially than in stupid pass-times.
• The price of stuff. I don't remember a time when a loaf of bread was a nickel, but I wish I did.
• Worse than the price of stuff, the price we pay for stuff. No matter how outrageous something costs, we buy it because we can't live without it and then do nothing for those who have nothing.
• Noah, the movie. What an obvious perversion of an otherwise amazing story. This is why Christians look like nut cases.
• The way Christians look like nut cases. Jesus did NOT tell us to behave like the Westboro Baptist Church. 

 Well, that's all for now.

Movie Night or Life Changing Night?: A Moment of Defenition

I am a young individual. I can’t recall any particularly exciting events that have defined me. But something comes to mind when I think of the things that have been defined by in my life. My ability to enjoy every day. Since this is a way of life, a state of mind, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what moment in my short life that defined this joy. But I am confident that it comes from my upbringing and my inherited sense of humour. Not to mention the earliest memory of shared laughter between my dad and I: the first time we watched Ben Stiller’s Zoolander.

For those of you who have never seen it, Zoolander is a movie about a dim-witted male model named Derek Zoolander. It follows his being brainwashed to kill the Malaysian prime minister by a sinister fashion designer known as Mugatu. The movie has a hilarious cast and a very interesting and creative plot. It has a lot of clever jokes, and a lot of stupid ones. But it’s not the content of this movie that held a defining message. It was the experience of watching it with my dad. See, I couldn’t have been more than ten when I watched this movie for the first time with him. I didn't understand half the jokes, and I couldn’t appreciate the movie’s comedy genius like I can now. But I did know this: my dad was enjoying this movie. whether it was the jokes themselves, their delivery by the actors, or their stupidity, I wanted to enjoy this movie as much as I knew my dad was. I laughed when he laughed. I chose to enjoy that movie. The reason this experience defines who I am today is the realization that we choose our attitudes. I’m not saying being happy is as simple as choosing to do so. But I know that it helps. I found that movie funny back then because I watched it setting myself up to laugh. I find it funny now simply because it is hilarious. But likewise, I enjoy life now by setting myself up to enjoy it. I may not be able to fully appreciate or understand everything that comes my way, but I know that to enjoy the little things is to live life well. And thanks to watching Zoolander, I know it’s in my power to choose to do so.

Some Stuff I Like

        Well, I like a lot of stuff. Aslan the lion is one of these things. Although I mostly dislike cats, this guy is different. This lion represents the eternal comfort and might of a beautiful being.

Look at that. Is there anyone more fit to rule over a land of massive talking animals, centaurs, and giants? I don't think so. He's voiced by Liam Neeson in the films which I don't agree with, but they can't all be James Earl Jones.

        Second, Tarzan. That guy's pretty cool. He can speak ape, don't ask me how. Who would win between him and any of the lions from The Lion King? Tarzan, obviously. Hey beat the pants off of that jungle cat with a stone spear and put a full grown gorilla in a head lock for goodness' sake. Aslan could beat him though because has serious powers. So the fact that Aslan could beat Tarzan makes him even cooler.  

        Next, chimps dressed as or acting like people. Let's take a second to appreciate that: 

Sweet diggity that's entertaining. Do you figure they like dressing like that? If you leave a chimp in a room with a tux, how long will it take him to put it on?