a Dark Angel

Metallica released an entire album named after him. People around the world embrace him and make him the leader of their lives. Others despise him and declare him as the enemy of all that is virtuous and all that is good.

St. Anger

I've read quite a few books and articles that elaborate on the issue of anger. I observed that intellectual approaches mostly hold resentment and avoidance towards it. "To be happy, to become a better person, you should  rebuke all anger." That's the idea. On the other hand, most of the voices that embrace anger come mostly from anarchist and radical groups, terrorists and rebels, and religious sects.

Both extremes.

There is no middle ground. There is no balance.

“It is wise to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.”

        William Arthur Ward 

There are certain issues in which anger towards them can and should be justified. When the weak are being opressed, when the innocent are being convicted, and the pure discriminated, that is a good direction to target your anger towards. Not the people. The issue. And yes, there is a difference. Because when your anger is unleashed on people, there is the tendency of resenting them and ultimately separating from them, without showing them of what they're doing is wrong. When you're mad directly at them you don't care about helping them one bit. You just want to hurt them. Now, on the other side of the coin, if you are angry towards an issue (human trafficking, war, abortion) you partner up to help those who are involved with the issue to show them its harmful and dark side. And yes, you can help people when you're angry. In fact, most rehab organizations that I am familiar with started by people who fell in the trap of drugs, their anger towards them is indescribable, and simply wanted to help others escape from their claws.

Anger can be good. I like to see it as a necessary evil. Powerful, yet unpredictable. Its motives questionable and risky, a dark angel, but if used wisely- and for the right reasons- can play a major impact in the process of making this world a better place.

Tied Down

            I haven't written a post on here in nearly 3 months. Well, they say accepting a problem is the first step in fixing it. Well, I believe that, but going from accepting something to actually changing it is a huge, radical, and many times, painful step. So, understanding I'm not ready to take that step jsut yet, here's some advice for those of you who are:

           If I had to describe my lack of blog posting with the use of one word, that word would be "commitment." That's one of the areas in my life i mostly struggle with. Being a college student, having this peculiarity can be an interesting challenge. So, it's encouraging to daily hear that others deal with this same issue.But I feel but most of their commitment issues have to do with schoolwork. I mean, what college student's doesn't? You know you have serious issues when this commitment problem affects your hobbies, out of school  friendships, family, and intimate relationships. When you are even scared to commit in making it to a friend's birthday party, you know something is wrong.

    I feel that a significant key to commitment is trust. Trust that in that by agreeing to go through with an activity  you have something to gain from it, but also something to offer. This may be anything, from writing a creative piece, to commiting to marriage. If this kind of trust isn't present, the chances of you fully commiting are minimal.
   Another important aspect in commiting (maybe the most vital) is love. Even if you have doubts of the benefits you will get, or confidence in what you have to offer, love may be the factor that sparks the fire. When you love something, you put all your energy, thoughts, and emotions in it. In the presence of this other person (or activity, I guess), you feel fully alive, unbreakable, liberated. When there is love in the picture, commitment isn't the demon that ties you down, but more the reassurance of this love. People that have hard time commiting in different aspects of their life, don't lack discipline. They lack love for these different aspects.

   What about those people that have immense amoutns of love about a person, hobby or whatever, but just can't show it? Well, this is an entirely different topic that I won't touch right now.

Conforming

 (This is a post from 3 months ago)
As I've said before, I attend school in Northern Indiana.  So many people here ask me daily: "Why on earth do you wear shorts and flip flops in the winter? It's snowing!!!!" Well, there are some simple answers to this question. I don't do this to draw attention. I don't wear flip flops and shorts because i don't get cold, or  because I'm a masochist. In this life, there are things that happen that shape who we are. There are different circumstances that change and with them, so should we. My wearing flip flops and shorts is more a symbolic action than anything else.

   

"I have never seen snow and do not know what winter means." Duke Kahanamoku

    I agree, I live in denial...sometimes it's good to change for the better. But please, define "better!" Why conform? Why wear pants and shoes just because it's colder outside?   If you like wearing flip flops and shorts, why not do it throughout the year? I have to admit "Pneumonia," sounds like a good answer but it isn't. Look at me! I never got pneumonia, and I've swam in a lake with freezing temperatures.So here is what I have to say:

Sometimes, living in denial is a good thing. It can get your mind away from your troubles. This is what i'm doing with my shorts and flip flops. Am i cold? Yes. Do i think about it? No! Instead, I look at what i'm wearing and simply murmur: "Nah, it ain't that bad out here..."

This is the same method many people deal with solitary confinement in prison. By creating a utopia in your head, a lie if you may, you forget about the horrible situation you are in and time passes faster.Prisoners in isolation have used this same tactic to avoid paranoia. By planting the thought in their head that they are free men, they started feeling it, and eventually lived like they were. In a suffocating, secluded cell.

It's all in the mind... and it's until you realize that you will surpass your limits!