See me, do you?

You get scared so bad you jump into the guy standing behind you. You did not mean to, of course, but you simply reacted without thinking, so naturally you should not be to blame if he got hurt. Or should you?

Actions can seem controlled by outer forces, alien to ones consciousness. Maybe our subconsciousness is behind it all? Does this mean that blackouts are periods of time when our true self take control, when we act in accord with our true nature; our subconsciousness?

If regarding our consciousness as what makes us human; that which grants us the ability to think, we would have to deem a state of absentmindedness, or a black out if you will, equivalent of a state of feralness, where we're reduced to act on the behest of simple instincts; like an animal.

Such an act, one without reason, is an act of purity; it is neither good nor evil. Nevertheless, we instantly deem those who act rampant and savagely evil and those who contribute to charity good, independent of whatever their intentions were. An act of said nature will most always fall in the aforementioned category in the eyes of the beholders, regardless of the circumstances, because we, the beholders, simplify the world we perceive, making it easier to process. What difference is it to us if the man who ripped that purse from the fleeing old lady and ran off was really getting his wife's purse back from the inconspicuous bag-snatcher? We see a man grabbing hold of a purse held by an old lady, hence he is a criminal.

Shallowness is the price we pay for maintaining a world with such a level of complexity as the one we live in. It is simply too much for our mind to handle, so we place what we see in boxes, and we deal with it accordingly. But when we are challenged on this matter, when the picture we put in a box doesn't fit, when it suddenly dawns on us that our preconceived idea was faulty, we wake up.

Being aware of the shallowness of others, one can quite easily create a simple disguise for oneself, something to hide behind, something to keep others from getting at the real you. This that you show, is not who you are, but who you portray yourself as. It takes a lot of guts to live in the now, and act on the behest of one's inner desires at all times, for one will always be prone to the pointy finger of others, and they will point straight at your very self. Personally I have yet to truly know another as I know myself, and I have yet to let another know me as I do. I can't imagine how wonderful it might be to have such a relationship with someone, where nothing is hidden behind disguising gestures and social norms. I find it being one of my dreams for this life of mine, to be able to trust someone with my entire self, even the darker sides usually hidden inside layers of politeness.

Thanks to Luke Chueh for his wonderful and inspirational artwork

I will shine on your parade

There is an overwhelming pressure to be as is expected, and not as a stranger to the surrounding community. We are taught not to show off, to quietly succeed in averageness, and to live together as equals. This is what is great about our society, for we lift those of less fortune up, but this is also what holds back the gifted and the willing, for they are not allowed to shine.

Live as you wish, think big, and your ideas will be fought at every turn, your ideals questioned, your way of life illuminated, so that the world can see where it casts it's shadows, and judge you for your insolence.

One who shines must cast shadow onto others, that is the idea we swear to, might it be subconsciously for most or not. Our ideal is to communally shine, but the idea undermines the ideal, as we so often fail to behold a group as a community rather than a group of individuals. We see not a joint effort to make it, we see personal goals for personal gain, and so we judge their success as a marking of our lack there of.

One who is high on life and shines his light of well being onto others does not cast a single shade. The sun is not the reason for nightfall, and it is not the reason for darkness. The sun does but one thing, and that is to keep it's fire lit. When a gloomy day is getting at you, you don't blame the sun. One who's got a fire in him should not have to guard it from those afraid of the coldness of their own life. The ones doing this shading are the ones doing the blaming. This blame game is getting old, and I'm tired of being made to feel like I owe someone an apology for getting on with my life. We don't owe each other nothing but respect, and last time I checked, that included approval of different ways of life.

Having each other's back, should not include holding each other back.

Luke Chueh - Swarm