Love what you do, do what you love

I’ve always envied people who were good at something they loved. People who dedicated their entire lives to a sport, not because anyone was pressuring them to, but because they genuinely loved it... I’ve always envied people who were good at something they loved. People who dedicated their entire lives to a sport, not because anyone was pressuring them to, but because they genuinely loved it. People who could sit for hours in front of the same canvas, perfecting details that only the trained eye could perceive, because they felt the most at ease with a paintbrush in their hand. People who looked forward to a sociology or physics exam, because it was their equivalent of a match to an athlete or an exhibition to an artist. It was their opportunity to showcase their talent. To do something that they loved and be given due credit for it, to be recognized.

I’ve tried my hand at a number of things, to find ‘the one’, but in this case in terms of a calling rather than a person. I learned early on that art wasn’t really my thing. I still like to paint now and then, just for fun, but it’s never something to be impressed by. That’s okay though, it was always just for relaxation. Classical dancing, again, was something I did not enjoy much. That’s not to say that I don’t still let loose when an especially good song comes on at a party. Athletics were .... a no. Serious organized sports were never my thing. Unfortunately I have measly upper or lower body strength, nor any interest in becoming an Olympian. And I’m 100% okay with that. The only thing that has ever come close to being ‘the one’ for me would be writing. But there’s still a part of me that wonders if there’s anything truly special about my writing, or if it’s just ...

Regardless, it’s something that I love doing. And I’ve learned that only devoting time to things you’re good at but may not necessarily love is a sad way to live life. So I paint, and I dance, and I swim - whenever I get the chance. And I feel great afterwards. Because even though these aren’t things that I’m good at - and probably never will be - they make me happy. And isn’t that all any of us are looking for?

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"Cover" story

Sexual assault. I know what you’re thinking: this topic has been written about to death. Well, then why isn’t there any change happening? It’s easy for us to talk about the thousands of things that are wrong with society, but none of it matters unless there’s any change. And that change starts from the very first level. Sexual assault. I know what you’re thinking: this topic has been written about to death. Well, then why isn’t there any change happening? It’s easy for us to talk about the thousands of things that are wrong with society, but none of it matters unless there’s any change. And that change starts from the very first level.

There’s an inherent problem with the socialization in our society. When it comes to issues of sexual assault, our first thought is to chide the victim. After all, if she wasn’t wearing such a short skirt or such a revealing top, none of this would’ve happened, right? Wrong. This happened because of the abuser. No change in outfit would’ve prevented them from trying to get handsy. No longer pair of pants would have stopped them from trying to take what wasn’t theirs. Yet still, we continue to focus on the victim. How does that make sense?

I live in a society where girls don’t go out at night unless they’re accompanied by a buff boy. Where I have to put a jacket on over my tank top before answering the door. Where people have to carry around pepper spray in broad daylight to ward off attackers. Because the shame in such an incident lies solely on the victim. How can we expect to see a change, if we’re not willing to start changing our own households? Teach your children that touching anyone without their consent is not only a crime, but is shameful and an ugly thing to do. Eliminate the phrase “they were asking for it” from your vocabulary. Listen to people when they tell you that a situation is making them uncomfortable, and make a change. You can’t expect other people to make changes if you aren’t willing to yourself. If we all start small, we have the power to become a society where everyone can truly feel safe and isn’t that what we all want for our futures?

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Aretha Franklin started the conversation, let's continue

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I never really understood the phrase “respect your elders”. I’ve always been taught that respect is something that has to be earned, that you have to work for. But I don’t really understand that either. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I never really understood the phrase “respect your elders”. I’ve always been taught that respect is something that has to be earned, that you have to work for. But I don’t really understand that either. To me, respect is a basic human right. It’s something that we should all have the privilege of experiencing from the moment we are born. You are expected to respect boundaries, you are expected to treat someone with decency, you are expected to communicate with people as if you are equals. And I don’t feel like there are levels of respect either. You either respect someone, or you don’t, and I don’t think age should be a factor in that.

I see all these stories in the news about bad parenting, and I think it all boils down to parents not giving their children the respect they are entitled to. When we treat children like their opinions don’t matter, and raise them to believe that they are not as good as someone else, then is it really fair of us to question why so many of them grow up with self-esteem issues? I’m not saying that every child with self-esteem issues is a product of a lack of mutual understanding and respect, but certainly a large proportion of them indirectly are.

Now it comes to loss of respect. Loss of respect is something you earn. It’s something that happens to you when you disregard the interests of those around you. It happens to you when you intentionally harm someone or something else, be it for personal gain or not. It happens to you when you believe that you are superior to others. So let’s end this notion that not all of us are entitled to respect, or that we must respect one person more than another. All decent human beings have an innate right to be respected.

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"Origin" by Dan Brown - A Review

“The Da Vinci Code” was the first book I read that had a lasting impact on me. Before that, there were a ton of books that had me totally engrossed, but they were the ‘read and forget about it’ kind of books. It’s the first book I can point to and say: “Now that was amazing”. “The Da Vinci Code” was the first book I read that had a lasting impact on me. Before that, there were a ton of books that had me totally engrossed, but they were the ‘read and forget about it’ kind of books. It’s the first book I can point to and say: “Now that was amazing”.

With schoolwork taking over my high school years, I found myself with little to no time to read for pleasure (my favorite past-time). That was until a few months ago. There was a lull in the academic workload assigned to me, and I grabbed the opportunity hungrily. The first book that caught my eye in my school’s library was “Origin”. I saw the name and was instantly reminded of my mother’s excitement when the book was first released. I picked it up, and took it home, with every intention of reading it slowly and leisurely. As you can probably guess, that’s not what happened. I devoured the book like a prisoner ravishing their last meal. I stayed up at nights and woke up feeling tired, yet completely alive at the same time. All in all, it took me around two days to finish, while juggling my extra-curriculars and schoolwork simultaneously.

Now I’ll start off by saying that it was a great book. The concept it was based on – the origin of life – is something that intrigues all of us, regardless of religious preferences. Dan Brown is famous for incorporating religion in his novels (after all, the protagonist is a professor of religious symbology). While his writing may come off as slightly controversial, I thought the incorporation of religion was extremely tasteful done – not too damning, yet interesting at the same time. The character of Ambra Vidal was exciting and fresh, though at times I felt she was a bit redundant. It seemed to me that her role in the book was to provide a tie to the Spanish Royal family. Sure, she may have helped out a bit here and there, but most of the grunt work was done by our beloved hero Robert Langdon.

The character of Winston was ingenious in my eyes – a way of distinguishing Brown’s previous works to this one. The supercomputer provided a much-needed tie into our current technologically advanced society, along with providing the air of mystery that surrounds artificial intelligence.

The plot was something that made this book one that I just could not put down. Where did we come from? Where are we going? Two questions that have plagued mankind since we first learned to think. Through the ups and downs of the novel, I found myself worried that these questions wouldn’t be answered, and my own curiosity would be rampant. Alas, we did find out the answers to these questions, and I’d be lying if I said that I was content. Frankly, I found the novel to be a bit anti-climactic, and a bit disappointing when it came to the profound revelations that were the entire premise of the novel. The idea of the primordial soup – while interesting – seemed a bit unoriginal and uninspired. Further, the idea that mankind was going to great places, living symbiotically with technology and thriving - while maintaining their position as the most dominant species in the planet - seemed rather utopian to me. In a novel like this, I expected something a bit more brutally honest, even though that may be synonymous with scary.

While the big reveal did leave me thinking for days after finishing the novel, my thoughts were more along the lines of the flaws in the answers provided to these two massive questions rather than their validity. They did however, spark some existential questions in my head, but that’s a topic for another day.

I feel like I may be a bit biased. To me, “The Da Vinci Code” will always be the pinnacle of mystery novels, and though I would’ve loved to have had its position in my head usurped by “Origin”, it still remains the reigning champion. One of the hallmarks of Dan Brown’s novels is their ability to make you question your beliefs – it’s part of what makes them so interesting. This novel definitely succeeded in that aspect. As for making me see the world differently (something that I experienced with “The Da Vinci Code”), I think my opinions remain unchanged.

Book Rating: 7/10

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

I admire people who feel comfortable with their bodies. It seems like they’ve reached a level of self-confidence which sometimes seems unattainable to me. But it’s false that only fat people have body confidence issues. I have friends that have been deemed ‘skinny’ or ‘perfectly curvy’, who have been told time and time again that they have amazing bodies, but the thought of wearing a swimsuit gives them anxiety. I admire people who feel comfortable with their bodies. It seems like they’ve reached a level of self-confidence which sometimes seems unattainable to me. But it’s false that only fat people have body confidence issues. I have friends that have been deemed ‘skinny’ or ‘perfectly curvy’, who have been told time and time again that they have amazing bodies, but the thought of wearing a swimsuit gives them anxiety.

While I do think that confidence is built by (sadly) external validation, this just proves to me that being comfortable with your body comes from within. It’s like that saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’. I’m still searching for the secret to self-confidence, and if I figure it out, I’ll let you guys know. But for now, I realize that validation is not going to be the answer to all my problems, and that if I want to change and feel more comfortable in my skin, I’m going to have to take steps towards that and not depend on others to push me there. And I feel like a lot of that comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone.

So, try wearing that top that you think accentuates your rolls to a party. Or wear those pair of shorts even though you hate your legs. Or wear that dress even though you don’t think you fill it in enough. At first, it’ll be hard. You’ll feel vulnerable and judged, but eventually, you’ll get to a point where you learn to love your body, every aspect of it. Because to someone, somewhere, you are the epitome of beauty. And you deserve to be the epitome of beauty in your own eyes too.

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Written in stone?

I think people are afraid of permanence. People get cold feet before weddings because they’re afraid of being with one person permanently. They’re afraid of getting piercings and tattoos because they’re permanent. They’re afraid of having kids because they’re going to become a permanent fixture in their lives. To be honest with you, I’m terrified of permanence. I think people are afraid of permanence. People get cold feet before weddings because they’re afraid of being with one person permanently. They’re afraid of getting piercings and tattoos because they’re permanent. They’re afraid of having kids because they’re going to become a permanent fixture in their lives. To be honest with you, I’m terrified of permanence. I can’t think of a single career that I’d be happy to do for the rest of my life, I can’t think of a single place I want to settle down, I can’t think of being with one person forever. It all just seems too ... permanent. But on the other hand, maybe I’m just afraid because I haven’t found the one career, the one place, the one person that I’d want to settle down with forever. Maybe I’m just waiting for a calling, something that brings me such immense joy when I think of it that I can’t imagine not doing it. Something that I’m so passionate about that doing it forever doesn’t seem like long enough.

But then there also becomes the issue of dependence. The more permanent something is in your life, the more dependent you are on them. They become your defining points, they make up your personality, they become a part of you. For a while, I avoided dependence like the plague. I thought it was a sign of weakness, a sign of not being self-sufficient. But I know now that is usually not the case.

There’s no problem with being dependent on something or someone, everyone is. Maybe you’re dependent on your parents for their support and guidance. Maybe you’re dependent on school for giving you something to work towards, a goal. Maybe you’re dependent on your friends to get you out of a slump. All of that is completely fine. The only problem is when the thing you’re dependent on is toxic. When you’re dependent on drugs, or a bad habit, or an abusive parent. If your dependency takes more than it gives, that’s when you know something’s wrong. But then again, getting out of something like that is easier said than done. Regardless, something has to change.

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Do we really settle for mediocrity?

Sometimes I wonder if I’m destined for a life of mediocrity... Sometimes I wonder if I’m destined for a life of mediocrity. Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being mediocre. In fact, one might even say that it’s a better life, free of the pressures and travails of being extraordinary. So, I think I’m ok with being mediocre. But then a part of me starts thinking about the other people in my life. Will people be ok with having someone in their lives that they can’t boast about at dinners? Will they be ok with the fact that my only legacy will be my family? How about someone who is perfectly content with fading into oblivion once they’ve passed away?

It sounds twisted, because ever since we are born we’ve been told to make a name for ourselves. We’ve been told to strive for fame and power, to achieve something, to be remembered. But at the end of the day, those things don’t equal happiness, and they definitely don’t equal a fantastic life.

They say that some people are born great, some people achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Well, what about the people that never get a taste of greatness? No one ever makes movies on them, or writes stories about them. And in a way, I think that’s a blessing. To live a perfectly uneventful life that is completely stress free and is not the stuff that soap operas are made of. Some might say that a life of mediocrity is an indication of lethargy or indifference. But I think it’s something else, I think it’s a desire for peace.

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To Ink or not to Ink?

Let's talk about tattoos. Sometimes I think we place too much importance on things. Everything has to have a sentimental value. I don’t really understand it. Let's talk about tattoos. Sometimes I think we place too much importance on things. Everything has to have a sentimental value. I don’t really understand it. A lot of the times I tell people that I don’t need to get a tattoo that means a lot to me, and they’re always taken aback. Sure, maybe my zodiac symbol doesn’t have some deep personal history behind it, but it’s something that I’m fascinated by. So why isn’t that worth inking on my body?

I've been told to think hard before I get a tattoo, because they’re permanent. Well so are the choices we make. Every single decision we make has a lasting impact, they’re permanent. But that doesn’t stop people from doing things on a whim. So why should tattoos be any different? Not saying that I have anything against meaningful tattoos. I mean if you have something sentimental that you want on your body, more power to you. But if you want to get a tattoo of a couple of birds just for the heck of it, you should be allowed to without people wondering why you would ever do something so reckless.

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Soul Mates or Sole Mate?

I’m apprehensive of the theory of soul mates. There’s a myth that says that humans started off as double of our current selves. We had four arms, two heads, four legs, etc. Zeus, fearing our power, sent down a lightning bolt to split us all in two, sending our halves flying in opposite directions. Since then, we’ve all been looking for our other half... I’m apprehensive of the theory of soul mates. There’s a myth that says that humans started off as double of our current selves. We had four arms, two heads, four legs, etc. Zeus, fearing our power, sent down a lightning bolt to split us all in two, sending our halves flying in opposite directions. Since then, we’ve all been looking for our other half, waiting to be complete again. But that myth makes no sense to me, if we all truly had a perfect half, then why do some people prefer being alone than with anyone? Why are some people aromantic or asexual? Do you see the problem with that story? On top of that, in a world with eight billion people and counting, what are the odds that you find the one person that you were destined to be with?

So, I propose a new theory. There’s no such thing as soul mates. Instead, every person that you have a connection with impacts your life in one way or another (positively or negatively). Some of these impacts are so strong that you can feel yourself becoming a different person, more complete. And more than one person can make you feel that way, they can complement you perfectly.

Or maybe soul mates do exist, but they’re not always romantic partners. Maybe it’s your best friend, or your sibling, or your parent, or even your pet. A soul mate is whoever motivates you to be the best version of yourself. But the people who are truly blessed are those that don’t need a soul mate. They are the best version of themselves by their own accord, all of their motivation is innate, and they feel complete all on their own.

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