Phrases to Forget: “Why Me?”

This phrase is born from disadvantageous situations where the individual feels personally victimised, probing themselves in search of emotional validation. Such examples could be “Why did this have to happen to me?”, “What have I done to deserve this?” or even “Someone up there hates me!”. Such an introspective thought often leads to a spiralling of negative feelings, resulting in an emotional malaise that breeds a temperament made of dis-empowerment, despair, contempt and self-righteousness. This is upheld by a stream of conscious justifications for this state; I didn't deserve this; the world is cruel; I deserve pity. This continues, seemingly feeding off each other as the individual wallows in their despair; the phrase ‘Why Me’ imbuing them with thoughts of victimisation and seeking emotional validation from their mental probing.

“¡Democracia Real YA!”

Puerta del Sol, Madrid.

On May 15^th Barcelona and Madrid were plunged into dissent as the Spanish population voiced their objections against the reigning government, ruled by a unrepresentative two-party system, and protesting for basic human rights and fair economic policy which the current political class have failed to address. Designated 15-M, the movement began with an initially youthful crowd organised through social media networks and the ¡Democracia Real YA!, or ‘Real Democracy NOW!’, group. However on May 17^th 15-M transcended social and cultural boundaries, with peoples deriving from a diverse range of ages and backgrounds becoming involved. Since then it has exploded into protests across Spain in 58 cities, however despite this Spanish politicians have somewhat disparaged the protests, labelling them as ‘leftist’ or ‘just students’ in an effort to diminish their significance; a notion that has been somewhat absorbed by international media. The next few weeks will prove crucial to the movement; however its non-party political orientation may prove to be a disadvantage without any significant governmental support.

Immortality

Photography by Nick Clark

This week was my birthday and, inevitably, the subject of aging arose. At the time it was treated jovially, but I find that it’s all too common that people express their fear of growing old, and in turn this fear is oft extended to death. I lightly touched upon this subject in my previous post, where I explained my reasoning that because death is inevitable there is no point to fearing it, and such a fear is only restrictive to an individual’s productive achievement. That is not too say death itself is insignificant; it’s finality certainly brings purpose to life, and obviously the death of someone is sorrowful. The fear of old age holds more merit; I’m certain no-one likes the idea of becoming dependant or their flesh aging. However associated health issues are best prevented in living a healthy lifestyle before reaching such an age; senescence is of course inevitable and thus, through a similar reasoning used above, should be taken in stride; whilst other, inescapable aging problems are left to fate, although that’s not too say they shouldn’t be contended with all your spirit.

When this topic of conversation occurs one notion invariably materialises; immortality. If the chance arose for you to become immortal would you take it?