Complacent Divided

Hating is easy. Complaining about inconvenience is easy. Antagonizing the world is easy. Destroying in a tantrum is easy. But regardless of whether the hate is justified, it is in human nature to keep pursuing ease once exposed to and comfortable with it. And yet ease is rarely what we need.

Overcoming is hard. Fixing what’s flawed is hard. Understanding one another is hard. Giving the benefit of the doubt is hard. But recently, it seems as though people have become complacent with ease.

More than ever, I believe that we need to be more patient and willing to cooperate with one another. As much as I struggle with social interaction, it is an immovable truth that both my school community and the world at large are filled with people I constantly need to converse and engage with. So why are we so hateful? Why are we so quick to point fingers and pinpoint a single source of blame? Why do we not think twice about the things we say? Why can’t we meet halfway?

Of course, not everything in life works out as intended. No matter how much they try, some people may be inherently incompatible. But that highlights my point: we have to try. Despite our school’s exceptionally small student population, a lot of us don’t know each other particularly well. And yet, everyone is so quick to complain, assume, and accuse. If we are all forced to coexist and depend on one another, then we might as well try to understand one another.

How Many People Have Ever Lived On Earth?

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Communication and the Lack Thereof

As obvious and redundant as it may sound, communication is such a significant aspect of social interaction. It serves as the bridge that allows for bonding, understanding, and mutual growth among people. And yet, it feels as though communication is often not applied for these purposes.

More often than not, I sense negativity from those around me through complaints or protests. I admit, I understand it is much easier to complain; it can be fun or relieving to express distaste in the moment, especially if it is something that is weighing you down. However, while I don’t believe it is inherently wrong to complain, it feels as though people spend so much more of their time talking about the things they hate rather than the things they love. Furthermore, it can be difficult to express your passions or love when the voices around you constantly reinforce that the things you love should be hated.

Conversely, there are those who don’t communicate enough, assuming that others will understand their motivations or thought processes without the use of a straightforward explanation. But not everyone is alike and able to come to the same conclusion. Resultingly, lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings, assumptions, and unintended conflict that could’ve been avoided with direct conveying of information.

East Texas Assessment | 7 Essential Social Skills

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Reflecting on the past

Recently I have found myself looking back and reflecting on life before March 13, 2020.

Prior to that date, i was busy being social, going out with people, even sharing drinks from friends waterbottles. But today, that all seems so bizzar.

Its crazy how much seven months can change someone.

I now can’t seem to remember how life was before we had to wear masks or make sure we obsessively washed our hands.

I am now so used to making sure I put my mask on before I enter a building or if I am around people, but why was it so easy to completely re-program the way I live my life.

I do miss the days where I did not have to think twice about approaching someone. I miss long hugs with friends and family that you haven’t seen in a long time. I miss meeting someone for the first time and shaking their hand. I miss being in a room with people all together and seeing smiling faces. I miss it all.

I miss life before March 13, 2020. It was simpler and there seemed to be less evil in the world, even if that was not the case.

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Outcast

Outcast – a person who has been rejected by society or a social group.

This may be the common definition and concept of what an outcast is,  however,  I don’t agree with it. I believe that there are many different forms of an outcast. I believe in some cases an outcast can be considered a drifter.

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A drifter is someone who isn’t necessarily an outcast, separated or rejected by society but someone who is distant. Doing their own thing, while being associated with the “in” crowd but is always just on the outside. It’s like being in a group of people but always having a thin piece of glass separating the individual from the group of people.

 

I wonder how the people in the “in” crowd feel?

Do they too consider themselves as popular or with the “in” crowd, or do they think of themselves as drifters?

Trust

Although trust is a common trait, it’s a highly valued one. Whether it’s trusting yourself to someone, or telling a secret to a friend, it’s important that the recipient honors the trust.

Betrayal is common – more so than should be socially acceptable. Rumors are always being spread, sometimes for attention, and sometimes for fun. If one doesn’t feel good about themself, they’ll spread rumors or tell lies to put someone down, and therefore feel better, or higher up.

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On the other hand, if someone is bored, they might feel inclined to start spreading rumors, or just gossip, simply for the sake of entertainment. Others might feed off of drama, and continue to spread rumors, and as a result, fake, hurtful information is being spread around.

None of this is beneficial, and dishonesty only ends poorly. If information is trusted in one’s hands, the secret should be kept, and neither rumors or lies should be started or spread.