Please Yourself First and Foremost

"If you attempt to please everyone, it will be you who is left unhappy. A life lived to satisfy others is a life not lived, but a life wasted. Do not become consumed by selfishness, but do not live your life solely to please others either" -Thorin.

Some may wonder why I began this with a statement by a little known author, but fewer words have ever stood so true. That wonderful tidbit comes from Thorin's book "A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing," and is a part of his rules for strengthening oneself. In short, be yourself, be only yourself, and live to be no one but yourself. Don't let anyone else ever tell you otherwise. Now on to the subject of why I'm stripping myself bare for these brief moments...

Today I was told to get a job I'll have to change the color of my hair, which as some of you may know is a vibrant red. Personally, the job can go fuck itself for all I care at this exact moment, it was a second job, so I could have some extra cash, not important to me in the slightest. It also got me to thinking about the single mind, and how it no longer matters. No amount of money is ever worth changing who you are, inside, or out. Money, success, popularity, all of it is a massive falasy which was created by a mass media driven world, dominated by stereotypes, and gripped onto tightly by those who know how to manipulate those stereotypes to meet their own selfish ends.

This presented, humanity as a whole is being suffocated by the white knuckle grip of what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. My question is who the hell put those suited fucks in control to begin with? Who gave them the power to dictate how people should dress, how they should look, what should be popular, and what should be shunned? I'm growing tired and bored with the mindless herds stalking the streets, stores, internet, all of it. This idol worship is slowly destroying the many great minds, and forging a single brainless entity.

What's worse is now the media has grown cocky enough to put a price on someone's individuality. By telling them they're different by wearing this, and doing that, they've dug their hands into the pockets of just about anyone, and are shoving newer and more potent stereotypes down our damned throats. Everyone is able to be manipulated by this, because the human psyche is a delicate thing, especially one element. Simply, one's self-esteem.

By constant bombardment they drive into the minds of people the idea of what 'beauty', 'talent', or even 'socially acceptable' happens to be. If you listen then you've allowed the bomb to be placed, and it's timer slowly begins to tick away until one day it detonates, and with it, a small chunk of your humanity is stripped away, leaving yourself raw and wounded looking for the escape. Many turn to the false savior of the media at this point, growing addicted to every word, and hanging from every article they can get their hands on. Over time obsession takes hold and the victory is insured. You've become another brainless fuck in the steadily amassing army. In turn you reinforce the statements, and stereotypes, and force them on others, slowly grinding away at their self-esteem until eventually, they're just another clone of you, and the process repeats.

The end in short. Few seem to realize anymore it's alright to voice your opinion because as a human we possess something incredible, and it's free will. The only thing that makes a person a person is the fact that they can make their own choices. NOTHING can ever change that as long as you keep your head held high and your self-esteem in check. Don't allow yourself to fall into the mindset of "I'll never be that good so why bother?", I'm not saying don't set goals, but I am saying don't allow yourself to feel inferior because someone else is supposedly better. In all reality, what's the point in it? Think of how boring our world would be if everyone looked the same, made the same music, and made the same art. True individuality is key to humanity.

So go the hell ahead and be WHAT you want to be. Not WHO. You are who you are, nothing should ever change that. You have your own skills that make you unique so pay attention to them, and become the inspiration for someone else to be who they want to be. Maybe over time as people begin to break away from the mass, and weaken the grip of the media many others will follow as well. Life will become simpler, and happiness will spread as a whole.

It doesn't matter what you do, or what you want, become apart of the solution instead of joining the issue. If you're homosexual, come out into the open with it, and support your rights as human beings. Go ahead and write that song you've had in your head for years, so what if people don't like it, it's yours and nothing will ever change it. Paint your masterpiece, even if it isn't 'fine art'. Tell that girl who sits behind you in class how pretty she is, she'll probably appreciate the compliment more than thinking you're 'weird', or not her 'type'. Hell, dye your hair, get inked from head to toe, and so many piercings that you couldn't hope to make it through security at an airport. If it makes you happy, and makes you feel good go for it. Who's going to say otherwise? Those who don't like it and aren't worth your time or energy to appease.

Become the cure, and spread it on...who knows, maybe one day the world will wake up to realize what's truly important...

Happiness.

And that's all I really have to say on that subject. If you find this offensive or racey, maybe you should look to yourself a little deeper and ask yourself this, "Am I really happy..?" And even then, it won't matter if you still don't like this, because this is who I am, and nothing you say will ever change me.