“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” Albert Einstein

Curious how we phrase our words can make a huge difference.

Don’t you ever get sick of conventional “beauty”?
Don’t you ever crave for something “ugly”?

Just like when you eat too much candy, get so nauseous and can’t stand the mere sight of more candy.

More often than not, “beauty” makes me nauseous.

Marriage is not the only worthy form of family or relationship, and it should not be legally and economically privileged above all others. A majority of people – whatever their sexual and gender identities – do not live in traditional nuclear families. They stand to gain from alternative forms of household recognition beyond one-size-fits-all marriage. For example:

· Single parent households

· Senior citizens living together and serving as each other’s caregivers (think Golden Girls)

· Blended and extended families

· Children being raised in multiple households or by unmarried parents

· Adult children living with and caring for their parents

· Senior citizens who are the primary caregivers to their grandchildren or other relatives

· Close friends or siblings living in non-conjugal relationships and serving as each other’s primary support and caregivers

· Households in which there is more than one conjugal partner

· Care-giving relationships that provide support to those living with extended illness such as HIV/AIDS.

- Beyond Marriage

I seriously related to that! People often dismiss what younger ones say, simply because of their age. That is one BIG prejudice, it’s Ageism (discrimination against people based on age). Only instead of being directed at the elder here, it’s aimed at the youngest.

Most think that experience is what counts, and those who have less of it know nothing, or at least, know less than them.

Age has nothing to do with common sense. (And this is true for looks as well.)

It’s not the experience that counts, it is what you learn from it! You can gather a mountain load of it and still have learnt little.

Wise words can come out of anyone, regardless of their age. Hell, even unwise words can come out of anyone, elder people can say the biggest monstrosities and spit out bad advice.

Knowledge doesn’t, automatically, equal wisdom. It’s what you do with it and how you apply it, learning from it in the process.

Of course that, someone who learns from experience from a young age, that will continue to grow as they age. But not everyone absorbs life’s lessons at the same speed throughout life and some only start to really learn later in their life.

Often time, people don’t even listen to what I say. But then, sometimes when someone does listen, they are surprised. And that’s really annoying! The fact that I look younger aggravates that feeling even further. I’m 26 right now and older people often confuse me with a teen. Frustration! What’s worse is, they think it’s great that I look younger, because you know, for a female being young or looking young is something to aspire as opposed to looking “older” is just plain ugly and must be avoided at all costs! I could go on, but this is another topic!

I would much more rather look my age and be heard!

I just began reading the “Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf. Just now as I closed it for a bit and turned to television for a bit, I caught “What Not To Wear” (ep 250) and suddenly I finally (fully) understand why the self-esteem of the people that go there seems to improve dramatically!

It’s interesting how the woman on this show even brought up the word value. She finally has the self-esteem that lets her value herself, therefore her clothes should reflect value as well. This points directly at what the book discusses, a woman’s self-worth being intertwined with her appearance.

Sometimes we clearly see what the message is and feel almost as if enlightened by what this person brought to us.

And sometimes, people might show us something that tempt us away from whatever is present in our lives. Some people might interpret it as a test. But I believe it is meant to bring us awareness. It’s not a test in the sense that we must overcome that temptation at all costs. Kinda like “The Devil is tempting you”, no.

We need to understand why we were tempted in the first place. Maybe that tells us that something isn’t quite right in our lives the way we thought it was, or we wouldn’t even be tempted by it. It is a moment to realize where we stand and if we truly are where we wish to be. Or, did we take a detour, got lost along the way and forgot about it because we simply got comfortable where we are now?

Some people come into our lives to wake us up, by showing us something that we were aiming for, or something that we want or need and is currently missing but never fully realized it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that this person is the one holding our answers or the one that will lead us to the right path. You might never even see them again.

You choose what path to take. You might conclude that, all things considered, you prefer to stay in your current situation than to risk leaving it to pursue something else.

Just make sure you don’t seattle for less than you deserve because you’re comfortable. I believe situations occur to push and remind us of the direction we want to be heading for. It can dig up a need you ignored and push you into giving it the thought it deserves.

You discover yourself and keep on evolving!

Ignoring such triggers can cost us precious time. I know that it cost me!

WTF?! When harassed, who doesn’t just love to hear this gem from someone close to them: “Maybe you did something to provoke it.”?!

NO! FUCK NO! Do I really need to shout out loud how wrong this is?! Really? The sad thing is, this is more common than we ‘d like to admit.

The sick mentality that the vagina is always the one to blame MUST END! Vaginas don’t need to provoke to be harassed or victimized!!

If a woman’s to blame for being harassed on the way she looks, well then, why don’t we implement the mandatory use of burkas as well?! NO! because that doesn’t solve the damn problem!

Why not?! Because it’s not a woman’s fault if someone can’t control themselves!

“The vagina made me do it!”, cause you know, women have that hypnotic power that cause men to do whatever she wants, including raping and brutalizing her! Of course! It’s every girl dream! Isn’t it??

If a guy has his shirt off and a girl is all over him she’s the slut. If a girl

Mainstream seems to in some sort of way to idolize men-whores, “oh he’s such a stud” or “oh, he’s such a MAN” (ew)! Girls, are just depreciative sluts and whores. WHY?! Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?? Either we call everyone a dirty whore, woman or man, or we admire and swoon over all of them regardless of gender. Am I the only one to think this is fair?

How can people fight for equality and still judge based on these archaic standards?!

I’m revolted.

(credit: photo by weglet)

People we feel we can let our guard down without fear of being taken advantage of.

People who stand by us no matter what, even when they don’t understand it.

Friends so similar to us that are a part of us already. People who seem like an extension of ourselves.

Those who make us who we are, because we can be who we truly are with them.

Those who show themselves to us. And those to whom we represent the same.

The people that put a genuine smile on our faces.

There’re no walls between us. We hide behind no mask.

Our souls are wide open, desperate to connect.

We get to know each others’ core.

We build a bridge between us.

It takes courage to show vulnerability, even though it’s usually accidental.

It takes strength to, when in need, reach out to others.