- Subject Matters – Lessons & Love Crimes - 6 February, 2014
- Subject Matters – The Value of Others - 14 January, 2014
- Projecting Style - 18 May, 2013
Do you ever stop to think about whether or not someone else is thinking about you?
Living in a bustling metropolis, sometimes it’s difficult to feel like you’re standing still. It is an extremely fast paced existence and while it can be both physically and mentally fatiguing, it can also be one of the most rewarding.
We, as humans, are naturally programmed to want to further ourselves in every aspect of our lives, whether that be for a career, a bank balance or a relationship. One thing that I have recently discovered is that in order to mould ourselves into our idea of perfection, we have to have the imperfect experiences that come with simply being alive. The thing I find so valuable about being in a city is how there is a learning curve around every corner. It is a place where you can easily meet an array of fascinating individuals with infectious personalities who can, within the space of a week, become a significant part of your day-to-day life. While these people can become distinct landmarks in your lifetime, they can also make for some of the more damaging affairs.
In my brief 18 years on this earth, I have already had a number of relationships, both romantic and platonic, that have changed the way I view myself and the world around me. These range from friendships that have taught me to value those who stick by you in times of need, to relationships that have changed the way I view sex, affection and image. There have been situations where I have spent months getting to know a guy, becoming totally infatuated in every sense of the word, for them to act like a complete stranger towards me. There have been friends who have been so obsessed with image and how others perceive them that they become cold and distant. And there have been times where I have been selfish, cherishing the idea of someone rather than the reality of them. Every possibly relationship is a lottery. You’ll win or you’ll lose.
It’d be wrong to mention names, and whilst there are some circumstances where forgiveness isn’t an option, what I will say is that I appreciate each and every person that I have been involved with, no matter how detrimental it was, because ultimately they have taught me how to move forward, who to move forward with and what moving forward means.
So what you should take away from this? The actuality that there is nothing more important than being open about letting people into your life, embracing new encounters, learning from your (and others’) mistakes and growing as a person. Take the days as they come and live right now freely. Be confident in yourself. There are over 7 billion people on this planet. There’s only one of you.
