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Giving into temptation

This is an issue i have spoken about before on this blog, but yesterday, I almost dug right back into this pithole of buying, and I wanted to tell you all about it.

So, I was online, looking at some products online. Let me be frank with you, these products were not the typical £8-10 purchases, they were big, up to £900. Technology that I did not require, nor need to improve my life. I think every once in a while, we all get obsessed with having something new. In the current climate we are in, it is almost a given that new is very exciting.

There I was, on the brink of buying something, thinking it would make me happy. But, as I looked around, at my bank account and my beliefs, I began to realise that I didn’t need this product. Apple products, laptops and phones all come under the same usability, though some are faster than others. They provide the same purpose, but just a little difference. If you could sit me down, and tell me the difference between the iPad and the iPhone, besides the Apple Pencil and bigger screen and speed, I would be impressed.

Don’t get me wrong, these products are useful if you require them to be. But not everyone needs these items, they just want them. I think this is a key factor in our society; the divide between wants and desires. You may think that you need sometime, such as a new phone so you can watch TikToks at faster speed, but really you just desire it for a different purpose; maybe for image or self identifying worth.

Your purchases and products should not define you as a person, rather they should help accentuate your worth, but not be the worth. Whether you have the latest iPhone, or a Nokia brick, these products are not a definition of YOU. Our actions help dictate the direction of our growth, but ultimately what makes you you is what you do with your time.

That’s a currency you should spend wisely.

Results come from hard work.

When I was younger, there was always this one boy; Callum, who was faster than me. We would race almost everyday, and he would always beat me. I would finish the rate, thinking that I was not good enough, or I do not have any talents I want. One simple lie was installed into my brain.

Some people are just born talented, you will probably never beat him.

This seems to be an idea that is installed in modern day society. There is a gap, between the highly talented and the rest of us. I’m here to tell you today that this gap doesn’t exist; not in the way that it is interpreted.

People can be bored with tendencies to be better at something. People can born with the body type to put on muscle, some are born with a runner’s body. Where people go wrong is just after this realisation, the creation of impossibility.

Just because you don’t have this attribute, does not mean your dreams are possible. Not everyone in the world with these characteristics are going to pursue what you are pursuing. It also does not make them an automatic professional, it may just mean they can put in less effort. You will just have to put more in, which can eventually lead to overtaking these people.

Results are a by-product of our activities. Getting up earlier in the morning can eventually lead to a higher level of awareness. Running every morning will eventually lead to a higher level of endurance and speed. Athletes are not born athletes. They are individuals who have committed their every being to be in this sport; spending countless hours training, being disciplined about their passions. They don’t see the impossible to be impossible. You can only complain if your mind, body and soul are perfected. Otherwise, there is something to improve on.

This mantra will be something I take forward with me, I hope you do too.

Entitlement

I’ve always had this idea in my head, that if you do something nice for another person, the good karma could be reciprocated in some other form. For example, I was at the shops one day; buying some chocolate to eat on the way back to school. My card got declined, and I was panicking because there was a queue that was beginning to form. Unexpectedly, the man behind me decided he was going to pay for my stuff as well as his. I was shocked, I had never experienced this level of generosity in my life with the general public. This man didn’t know me, but he still decided to help me.

Once I had thanked the man, I left and composed myself outside. The man walked up to me and said “Just one thing mate, pass it on”. That was the moment I realised his message; do nice things without expecting a result.

These days, it can feel as though the whole world is incredibly selfish. If you ask how many donate to charity, the numbers are far lower than expected. So when I witness this man being astonishingly nice, I want to pay it forward.

That’s what I did, paying for somebody else’s shopping and donating to charity. Though this was a big deal for me, I do not see this as an achievement. We should all be giving to one another. It seems as though the concept of “one world” to share has been lost. Let’s try to fix that.

Today, I would like each of you to do one good thing for somebody else. It can be small or big, but you mustn’t expect a reward from doing it. Just being kind out of the kindness in your heart should be enough.

Take care 🙂

Go play

It snowed today (where I live). This is a good reminder to tap into that fun, inner-child, excited self.

Go have fun when you see an opportunity. It’s good for you, and it’s fun.

Enjoy life, enjoy the unexpected, enjoy being you.

Maybe cut down on your screen time

With the whole world being stuck at home once again, it may seem natural to spend every waking moment online, to pass the time away that you would usually be doing with others.

Now don’t get me wrong, like the average Joe, I love using my phone and the internet. It is a brilliant source of entertainment, communication and pleasure. However, for every positive there has to be a negative. With the internet, it is the biggest form of distraction there is.

It has been said many times before me. Websites have been designed to be engaging and addictive. The reason tiktok is so popular is because of its endless scrolling feature. It is impossible to reach the end of it, there is no end. Facebook and YouTube are the same, you could spend hours watching videos and browsing, without realising it is night and you haven’t eaten all day. That anecdote may seem farfetched, but it does happen; to me as well.

You may be wondering “Get off my phone? That is so easy anyone can do it!”. To those who make that statement, I ask you whether you have tried a detox from it? To an outsider, anything seems possible. Once you have committed to staying off it for a while, it will become how apparent the difficulties it entails.

Books are still a thing, and probably hold more knowledge than any single video does. Perhaps you could try it instead of indulging in a Minecraft video. I should state, I am being hypocritical on purpose. I believe throughout all our lives, we should take responsibility and be accountable for our own actions; myself included.

So, let us try to get our screen time down by 10%.

New Day, New Start

After the inauguration of President Biden, I think it is appropriate to say this is a new beginning for America, and the World.

We have all had to live through the treacherous year of the COVID pandemic, and some would argue the presidency of Donald Trump. This is where division and unrest was at its peak. Children separated from parents, racial discrimination at its highest point for centuries. It has been overwhelming for any standard citizen to see. But, I am not an American, I am British, and even I can notice the struggle.

So, does this mean this is the end of our struggles? No, but it is a start to fight back. I am not one to be heavily invested in politics, but when it comes to the functioning of our world, it is only right that we contribute our voices and help.

The majority of Britons have been giving and kind throughout this pandemic. It can be argued that those who have broken the rules have made it harder to go on; mentally and emotionally. We should not use this time to look back in regret; on what we should have done better. Instead, we should use this time to reflect upon our previous mistakes, and look forward to assess on how we can use our abilities and skills, to make a brighter future for all.

Remember to smile, and to look out for each other. New day, new start.

Remember to Live

I wanted to tell all of you about the meaning of this phrase in a bit more detail, mainly what it means to me.

For the majority of my childhood, i have felt as though I have wasted my time. I preferred being inside, couped up in my bedroom online; not talking to anyone, only listening to others. By no means was it was because of a tough childhood, I just wanted to escape from reality. So I would spend, every moment of my day, watching what others had created, not realising how fast has passed me by. One minute I’m 13, watching YouTube on my Mum’s computer, now I’m 18 and I am doing that in my room. When I reflect on the timeline here, what has truly changed within me?

There is one thing, I have learned to love myself.

It’s like Marmite, you either love it or hate it; same with the phrase above. I am slowly learning how my time spent on irrelevant topics has consumed my life. I’ve probably spent more time online, than I have speaking to my parents, and that isn’t right. I should clarify, when I say online, I mean being isolated, just viewing, not communicating with others.

But, I have learned to appreciate myself just that bit more. I realise now that I should not do this to myself, and instead start pursuing something where I actively speak to others. There is a quote, that I always try to remember. “It’s good to remember death, but what is more important is remember to Live”.

I think that is something we should all account for in our lives. Remember to live, and not let life live without you in it. Disengagement is easy, but it is the worst place to be.

Live ❤

Cry.

Hey reader! Hope you’re doing well.

I wanted to remind you that it is okay to express your emotions. There has been times in my life, where I have been unaware of my true feelings. They had been suppressed, covered up by my subconscious. But there is a way to unlock these every once in a while.

This is to cry.

Well it can be, but it is any way for any person to release their emotions in a safe way. Crying is something many people find effective, and something I had forgotten about.

It may just be me, but there is conditioned response to stop myself from crying. I’ve never really done it as I was embarrassed to, I was quite the cryer when I was younger due to some personal issues.

So I was embarrassed? Who cares? The important thing is I’ve recognised this, understanding my mentality. I don’t have to act so manly or grown up. Even adults cry.

It’s good, even if you’re not crying about the issue, it exposes your subconscious. Maybe you’ll find out something important about yourself through it.

So please, don’t hide your emotions, they are apart of you.

Dating

I wanted to stress some thing , which is very easy to overlook.

Dating is great. You get to meet cool people, get to know them even better, and have a wonderful time with them. Not to mention, the other things.

But there seems to be this trend, especially with people my age, where you always have to be dating. This isn’t true, for some reason it’s becoming the norm.

I’m no dating expert myself, but from what I do know is there is no rush to find the perfect person. With apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, they want you to find a date. Sometimes, you are not ready to be dating someone, maybe you need to give yourself time to grow.

I started noticing this about a year ago l, when I’d be taking to a girl, and then would evaluate what I was saying; I wasn’t a man, I was a boy, with a feeble understanding of the real world. With that mindset, no girl is going to change your mind.

There’s always this rush to be in things. The rush to be in a relationship, the rush to hold someone before anybody else. If there is someone out there for you, let them know, but remember to check if you’re okay too. Life is too short to not go for chances, but it’s also too short if you mess them all up.

Go with your gut. But when you’re dating, check that you’re in the right place to date.

Don’t care about unimportant stuff.

It is as simple as that. When there is something present in your life, that you know is unimportant, lacks any worth or value, why do you pay attention to it.

In life it is so easy to get caught up in the most minor things, not noticing what’s truly important until it’s right in our face. But trust me, you need to look for it, find it and hold onto what is most important.

The other stuff? Don’t care about it!