no inspirational poems this new year’s day, nor fab instagram shots or success stories to recount. just a shitty pic of an ice cream cake (ft. other food) to hopefully remind you not to fall under the pressures of individualism in modern society.
it’s okay to not complete a travel bucket list, it’s okay to not perform best at school/work,
it’s okay to not be married with kids before 30,
it’s okay to not receive expensive gifts.
for too long society has raised us to believe we have a responsibility to always achieve, to be at the top in different facets of life. we are taught subconciously that small feats (or even just the plainness of being) are not enough, and we are trained to constantly compare.
who got that top job or school degree? bought that new gadget/house/car? enjoyed that picture-perfect vacation abroad? why can’t i?
my question is - who are we without the people and lifestyles we measure ourselves against?
our abilities and ressources don’t define our worth - how we treat ourselves and other people, plus how we give back to our communities does. we should not continue to accept an environment which blames ourselves for constantly “failing” and falling short, when the reality is that not everyone can be number 1, and there’s nothing wrong with being number 2, 3, or 90000.
let’s take a moment to reflect on what we want and who we want to be - and contemplate why these are our answers.
life’s not a competition about who can travel far and regularly, earn a lot, have unique adventures, or experience the highest form of self-discovery. it isn’t a pursuit of happiness and fairytale moments. life is boring and average, and most of us are, too.
learn to embrace being mediocre. love your every day. practice finding peace, joy, and fulfilment in the ordinary, even though you won’t be envied by others, even though it’s not instagrammable, even though it’s not societal standard for succesful.
you are here; alive, struggling in this crazy, capitalistic, competitive world. it’s okay to not keep up with its hectic pace. in fact, you DON’T have to or need to. instead - celebrate averageness; revolutionise mediocrity.
may 2020 bestow you with self-improvement, political consciousness, and a fighting spirit against the modern age tyrants threatening our socities and planet. may it bless you with simple pleasures such as good food, great people, and a glorious sense of compassion. may we practice the balance between gratefulness and resistance, and help - in our own plain ways - make this world a nicer, friendlier, kinder (less polluted and more woke!!) place. ❤️
***
(p.s. you know ur parents somehow fucked up in raising u when adult-you decides to bike in the dark and cold to buy an ice cream cake for 8 people which u plan on eating urself, despite the fact u’re broke 😩🤦🏽♀️
do i regret it? yes. would i do it again? probably. 🤷🏽♀️)
