Types of Power

Stereotypes exist for a reason, whether we want to believe it or not. However, stereotypes aren't the only things that we are. Stereotypes are only one small part of who we are; it's the Rhode Island of ourselves. Meaning, it's a part of the USA but it's a small part and not the only part by a long shot. However, these things exist in politics and in our lives because we allow it; because people create that single story, it's up to us to diminish that dullness and create a light that's new. But first, we must be willing to see other people as more than their stereotypes as well.

Article of the Day 3/28

I first watched this three years ago in my Sophomore year of high school. When writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was younger she wrote about white people with blue eyes, she couldn't imagine a book with people who were not white. Similarly, a lot of people exclaim how important it is to have representation. White skinned, blue eyed people aren't the only people on Earth. Africans are more than hungry, sick, monsters. There is a reason people leave their country for America. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Lingering on these statements hurst not only them, but us too. There is no single story, about one group. Not one group has a single story; people are complex people have multiple different stories.

The way you create a single story by explaining someone in the same way, over and over, and all of a sudden that is who they are; even if that is not who they are. The danger of a single story is this: it robs people of their humanity. Stories can break, but stories can also repair.

Thought and Religion

Another question of mine is on the way religion takes control of our thoughts. Is it true there is more hope at the end of the rainbow when we believe someone is continually watching over us? Having just left a religion, I can be the first to express how much life is different when you ‘know’ life is going to turn out a specific way compared to not really knowing if you are alone or not. Religion and the idea of God give people hope to get out of bed everyday. They believe that whatever happens to them in today's circumstances, they’ll come out just fine, because their God is always taking care of them. With or without religion, everyone is trying to do better with their day, and I think that’s beautiful. What are your thoughts on the subject?

Why Does it Matter?

The question is, why does mental health matter? I've known people in my life who were so laden with grief they couldn't be present in the, well... present. Mental health is just as important as physical health. If you aren't taking care of your mind, it's going to get harder and harder to take care of your body. Your mind is the power house of your self, if that stops functioning, so do you. Keeping in touch with your spiritual side (ie through Yoga) benefits you in a lot more ways than you think.

Article of the Day 3/3

Having some experience with people who fail to see the truth when it is right in front of their nose, it makes sense how this has become some what of the norm. If you see something one way through one lense for a long time, it's going to be hard to unsee it that way. If people refuse to see something a certain way, there's not a whole lot you can do. The best thing you can do is find someone who is willing to have a conversation and not just an argument.

Op Ed

Newsflash, negativity is successful at pulling at your sanity.

Dear Negative Person,


I couldn’t possibly think of a more displeasing way to go about my day than to hear, “It’s snowing AGAIN today!?” or “I mean, there just isn’t ANYTHING good about life…” or “Man, I really distaste my major…” Because let’s be real, it is snowing again! And it was your choice to move somewhere it snowed everyday, and it probably would’ve saved you money to stay in your warm state. If you choose to never see the light, you ain’t ever gonna see it. If you don’t have motivation, figure out why and find some. It’s okay to go through hard times, but if all you ever do is sit around and complain; who the HECK is that benefiting? It sure isn’t benefiting either of us, so go figure it out.

Surprisingly, (to go away from my first angry rant) when feeling negative the worst thing you can do is repress the negativity. Newsflash, if you constantly have to remind yourself to let something go, you aren’t actually letting it go. It may sound backwards but the truth is, when you talk about it, you unleash the demons of your mind; the demon has less of a chance of successfully bringing you down with it when you have your friends around. It’s almost as if the people around you are your guardian angels and can help get the demon off of you. This isn’t to say sometimes there are bigger issues; you may quite possibly find that demon of yours is stronger than you thought. Have no fear!! There is still hope for you in trained magicians! I mean psychologists. They have a special way of getting the demons away.

The truth is, the more you focus on the negative the more your brain becomes accustomed to the negative. If all you ever do is look at the glass and realize that it is already half empty, roll your eyes and walk away because, “there is nothing left for me here!” you are going about it wrong. I’ll be honest, sometimes the glass is half empty, so go fill it up.