Music: B2K - Everything.
It's quite ironic that my blog has been inactive for a few days because there has been so much I've wanted to blog about. There are a bazillion mental notes sitting in my brain drawers containing, "Blog about this!" and "Blog about that!" I've also got a few draft entries hiding in my blog list. To make life easier for me (and for you), this entry will be separated into days.
---
Friday, 20th June: "If You Have Nothing Nice To Say, Don't Say Anything At All."
Today I overheard a malicious conversation about a particular friend of mine. A few girls in my year had bones to pick with her but decided the best way to deal with it was to gossip about her. They didn't like her confidence and were most likely jealous of her success in most subjects. I wish I didn't have such great hearing skills (!) The girls just happened to be sitting in the row behind me, which was within close proximity from my seat.
I felt so helpless; if I stood up for her I'd be told to mind my own business but by staying quiet, I wasn't being much of a good friend. Mind you, this girl isn't someone I hang out with all the time but she has become someone I love and trust. She is a genuine character and the things that have been said about her were way out of line. I was planning on telling her but.. if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. At times like these, I offer the situation for the work of divine retribution aka karma.
I do believe that everything you do has a consequence; sometimes the payback comes back straight away, sometimes it takes a while to arrive. But whatever it is, it will come. Depending on what you did, it could be real nasty or real nice.
So be careful what you indirectly wish for.
---
Saturday, 21st June: "Make A Decision!"
My Youth Group attends a 'Bible Study' every fortnight on Saturday nights. Bible Studies are when we pick out a relevant topic/ issue and look to the Bible to find a resolution or wise words to enlighten us Youth on the situation. This particular study was on 'Making Godly decisions' i.e. choosing what is best for you.
Today's Youth sadly fall into the trap of Peer Pressure in hope to fit in with the popular crowd. Sometimes we make choices based on what others want or what they think is socially acceptable. Conformity only works well within groups but as individuals, we need to stand up for what we believe in. Some decisions we make could affect the rest of our lives, so why base them on what others want when the outcome ultimately affects you?
There are 2 types of peer pressure: the 'in-your-face' pressure and the 'that's-what's-expected-of-you' pressure. The difference between the two is that one is direct whereas the other is indirect. Either way, the pressure is still there and has to be handled well. Christians aren't immune to these things. Some people have this weird idea that by being Christian, you are strong and firm in your belief and that petty issues such as peer pressure don't affect you. Wrong. So wrong.
Christians still get affected by peer pressure but most cases involve different issues rather than drugs and alcohol. Sometimes we feel that we've got this high standard that is impossible to reach or that we're constantly looked at to set good examples, to be 'the good ones'. Shouldn't we all be 'good' in the first place?
Whatever the decision is, you've got to do what is honorable. In every situation, there is always a choice so when it comes down to the decision-making, the choice you make should be the one that you feel is the best, not what the social norm is. Most of the time you'll need someone with experience to talk to, remember that you're never alone. I'm fortunate enough to have a fantastic support network of friends ranging in age and opinions. Not only do you have friends, you have parents, relatives, agencies like Kids Help Line :)
The best solution to any situation is to speak up and be honest.
---
Sunday, 22nd June: "Sometimes It's From The Ignorant That You Learn The Most Valuable Lessons."
For the first time in a while I was able to catch up with a few friends and update each other on each others' lives. These friends were elders and it surprised me when they revealed themselves to be quite vulnerable and in states of confusion and unrest. Upon hearing such news, I surprised myself with the advice flowing out of my mouth. I don't know where I get my words of comfort from but I do find it easy to articulate what others cannot.
I'm not ignorant but I'm not wise, either. I basically vomited out what others have been saying to me all these years. I was being a parrot. Memory served me justice!
When I went home to think about my day, I realised that sometimes it's from the ignorant that you learn the most valuable lessons. A child's innocent view on love for example:
♥ Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they've know each other so well.
♥ Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.
♥ If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.
♥ Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.
♥ When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared she won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only does she still love you, she loves you even more.
Their view describes genuine, selfless love. The kind of love we should be practicing. But our view on love has been tainted with bad experiences and bad movies. It all turns around when we listen to a little one and start to see what they can see.
Try talking to someone years younger than you about something deep ASAP! It'll refresh your mind.
---
Monday, 23rd June: "The Best Comebacks Come After The Conversation Ends."
Don't you hate it when that happens? You know what I'm talking about, when you're getting chopped by the other person in a Battle of Wit then you go home to have a sulk and think of all these crazy comebacks.. hours after the conversation has officially ended.
Let's rewind back to school, during Senior lunch:
[Deputy is on playground duty while eating a healthy sandwich containing lots of greens. Jenny is sitting down on the oval to bask in the sun with friends.]
Me: *Squints up to Dep.* Nice sandwich sir, looks healthy.
Dep.: Nice nails.
Me: *Looks down at bright red digits* Oh.. it's a condition I was born with. [Christina gets up and plops a v. healthy chip on Dep.'s v. healthy sandwich. Dep. takes a bite.]
Me: Awww, how romanticcccc (!)
Dep.: You think that's romantic young lady? You've obviously been romanced before (!)
Me: Oh, I'm quite the hopeless romantic sir.
Dep.: Ha! You've probably never been taken away, have you? *Turns to Khanh* Would you take her away?
Khanh aka Ex. boyf.: Uh..
Dep.: Yeah, *turns to another guy*, how about you?
Other guy: No..
Me: *Dies inside* Gosh sir, thanks a lot.
Dep.: Do you even have a boyfriend? [Group sniggers]
Christina: She has me!
Me: Uh, yeah.. I'm a lesbian.
Dep.: Well, that makes sense.
Me: *Eye rolls*
Dep.: No, really. Do you have a boyfriend?
Me: No.. not yet.
Dep.: Figures.
Me: Excuse me? What if I said YES?
Dep.: Then he's desperate. [William walks up and sits next to me. I tell him to go away. He stays.]
Dep.: That your bf? Oi, dickhead, asked her out yet? [Group laughs]
William: Uh.. no.
Me: *Dies inside*
Then Deputy aka 'Sir' told the group that he done the exact same thing to another student years ago and the couple are now happily married with 3 kids for 15 years.
From end of lunch onwards I replayed the scene in my head and came up with kick arse comebacks. Put me in a crappy mood :( But then I was happy again once I thought about the subject matter. Ahh :)
---------------
That was basically a week's worth of blog content in a 'nutshell', so to speak. I hope you can get something out of it :)
You know you love me,
xoxo
