I originally had planned to write something else tonight but it's a work in progress...just either a song or poem (or whatever it turns out to be...lol) that isn't quite done yet...
But instead I had a good chuckle today...so I'll talk about that...
I was listening to Green Day's rendition of "Working Class Hero" which is a cover of John Lennon's song and this was after a co-worker and I had discussed what it means to work in North America (I include Canada because I know from people that it's similar up there)...
We work just to survive...and that's far from being humane...
"As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all"
...and later in the song...
"When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear"
We're taught to be afraid because it keeps us in line...we're wooed by promises of things that we may never have and are prodded to keep up with the Joneses and made to feel inferior if we don't.
One of the questions I always cringe at is when I meet new people and they ask me what I do...I'm never ashamed of what it is I do, but a lot of people think that defines who you are. I'd rather get to know what makes people tick...and, it's sad to say, that if it's work that does it for you, I'm probably not the guy who will sit and talk with you very long (unless you truly love what you do...that's different--that's passion!)...lol.
You see, there's much more to others outside of simply working...what do they do for fun...what are their secret desires in life...what they might have done if given the chance...the "What if..." questions or discovering what lies beneath shuffling papers is vastly more interesting than what they toil away at everyday...
But more and more, no one is allowed to think that way...because of fear...
And as the song wound down, I was thinking of why people are afraid to face what they could be or striving to change...
And the "Curly Shuffle" was the next random song on the iTouch...and I laughed...
Because that's what makes people forget...feed them stupid entertainment and all will be well...
Good thing I know the difference!
Here's hoping everyone finds that difference and what makes them tick if they already don't! Refuse to be manipulated by how it is...find your own hero within and be who you want!
3 comments:
Manipulation is making me wait. I wanna man nipulate you.
...but isn't there an equally destructive myth that we can all go out and be ourselves truly and find love and happiness at minimum wage as an avant garde artiste? There has to be a balance, an understanding, as I can tell you have, of what must be done to make what needs to be done possible.
I'm one of those lucky few who found my job-bliss: on my best days I'm a teacher, and on my worst I'm someone who drones on for 2 and a half hours to a group of people exhausted from a 12-hour workday, but I adore what I do and I know I make a difference every now and again. But, let's face it - I don't earn the money that bought the house, my husband does, doing the job that is ok, but not his passion. Alone, I'd be a happy, fulfilled teacher in a small apartment on the border between the good and bad parts of town...and I'm not sure that Americans are ready for that sort of story. They like the ones where the hooker marries a millionaire.
So, yes, I agree we should all search for ourselves, but with the understanding that there are tradeoffs to everything. Teachers don't live in mansions, and hookers don't marry millionaires. Sometimes following the masses gives you the means to follow your bliss. Being awake means more than just not letting yourself be lulled to sleep by stupid entertainment, it also means facing the reality of what you lose to get what you want.
Roxy,
I completely agree with you. I've never been one to want riches beyond my wildest dreams.
Just living my dream would be good enough for me...even at the most miniscule level!
I'm still trying to make that happen. Would just rather be happy than wealthy!
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