Deviate

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  -Romans 12:2

 

In these past two years, I have come to a very crucial realization.  I don't want to fit in.  People always say that junior high and high school are so hard, because it's so difficult to fit in to the crowd.  I disagree.  To me, fitting in with the crowd would be worse than standing out.  What's so great about being just like everyone else?  

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."  -Frank Zappa

Nobody ever got anywhere great by simply going with the flow; by going with the flow and following the crowd, you're going to go where the crowd goes.  No where special.  Everyone has been there.   There's really nothing spectacular about that.  To deviate from the norm, or to stand out, one does not have to wear outrageous clothes, dye their hair bright blue, talk loudly, be the class clown.  Deviation is the absence of conformity, the presence of the desires in one's heart.   Deviation is being more than average.  Average people see the world as an average place.  Choose to deviate and see the world as an amazing and beautiful place full of beautiful people, and even more beautiful opportunities.  The student who puts the average amount of work into their studies is going to get an average score.  The basketball player that puts in the average amount of average practice is going to be an average player.  Nothing too special.  If you really want to progress, you must go far beyond what is expected, and what is average.  "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."  Put your heart into something.  If you don't love something enough to put your heart into it, find that one thing you love.  Find the thing that is worth it to you to put all your heart and desire into.  Be great! Why settle for anything less?  You are a child of God, and He did not create you to fit in with the crowd, but to stand up for what you believe.  To be what you believe in.  There are enough people in this world who go with the flow, who try not to stand out.  To reach our full potential, we must not conform, we must deviate.  Be who you were made to be, not what the world tells you to be. Be happy on a Monday, maybe even be EXCITED for a Monday.  Keep a bright faith and hope when it would be understandable if you broke down.  Smile at people.  Be okay with that zit on your forehead.  Make a new friend.  Hang out with your family on a weekend instead of going to a party.  Laugh at yourself for totally making a fool of yourself in front of that super cute guy.  Actually read the book assignment for your English class.  Take risks.  Raise your voice.  Shine bright like a diamond.  (Sorry I just had to throw that in there for Rihanna (:)  But really!  Be you.  

  Life is too short to go with the flow.  Stand out in your own way, deviate. 

                         brookelle 

 

  

 Tunes for the soul...

• Come Around - Rosi Golan
• Lovely - Sara Haze
• New Soul - Yael Naim
• Lay Me Down - The Wreckers

 

 

 

quick to love, slow to judge

Every one of us (including me) is guilty of wrongly judging someone before we take the opportunity to get to know them.  Life can get pretty rough, and nobody goes through it without getting hurt.  You all know exactly what I'm talking about.  You've had someone completely rip your heart out and stomp on it a few times.  Someone you thought you could trust turned their back on you.  You have lost a loved one, either physically or emotionally.  You've tried and miserably failed at something.  The list could go on, and all in all, it doesn't matter what has hurt you, it's the fact that it has hurt you.  Every single one of us has been hurt and had struggles.  Since all of us have had trials, why is it so hard for us to give each other a break?     Really though, I'm curious.  I'm a strong believer that there is good in everyone.  I know there is.  Deep down, naturally, we all want to help each other along the way, yet the temptation of gossip and the reminder of our own insecurities don't quite allow us to love instead of judge.  If you are already down on yourself, it is so much easier to be down on others.  The reverse of this is also true.  Being happy with yourself leads to being happy with others.  We're all trying to reach happiness in this life, so why not help each other along the way?  Helping other people is really what makes us happy anyways, so why not take advantage of the opportunity?  Every single person in this world has something to offer.  You have something to offer; to give to someone in need.  I promise that if you turn your focus and attention outward to other people, you will be truly happy.  Don't focus on what others aren't giving you, instead realize everything you have that you could be giving to others.  Even if it's just a small smile to someone you don't even know, a small act of kindness can go a long way.  Sometimes all somebody needs is a quick smile, or a random "hello" from someone they don't know.  It's not our place to put anybody else in theirs.  Instead, try to see life through someone else's perspective, and give them the benefit of the doubt.  

The road to true happiness is serving others, and while serving others, we grow to love them; and in turn, love ourselves. 
Be quick to love, and slow to judge.    

          brookelle 

Medicine for the ears..and the heart

• May Be - Yiruma (I'm currently learning this one)
• Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
• Yellow - Coldplay
• Settle Down - Kimbra   
• All That You Are - The Goo Goo Dolls 

Shades of Green

Everybody has heard the quote, "The grass is always greener on the other side."  I'm here to tell you all that it's really not.  The grass only appears to be greener, because we tend to compare our weaknesses or struggles with someone else's strengths.  
I'm convinced that no grass is greener on any side; it's just that they're all a different shade of green.  We all have weaknesses, flaws, and struggles in life; and that's what we naturally tend to focus on.  We focus on our weaknesses and compare them to other's strengths.  Most of the time, we don't know much about the people's lives that we're comparing ourselves and our own situations to.  Their strengths and our weaknesses are magnified in our own eyes.  If only we could focus on what we're good at, what we like about ourselves; not in an envious way, but in a more confident way.  It would be amazing if everyone could be comfortable and confident in their own skin.  

 

The grasses of life are just different shades of green. 

It's natural for all of us to try to hide our weaknesses to make them less obvious to everyone else than they are to ourselves.   Everybody does it.  If everyone does it, then it's pretty safe to say that the people that seem so perfect--the ones who are good at everything and have a perfect home and family life, they have tons of friends, they get good grades, they're gorgeous.. the list could go on and on--are hiding their own weaknesses just like you.  You may think the grass is greener and that they have it so much better, but they don't.  They just have it different than you, which is a different shade of green.  Some people's grass is a more yellowish green, and some are a very rich green, but all in all, it's still green and it's still grass.  We all have a life (grass), and you are the only one who can control how your life goes and grows.  Nobody else is to blame for your unhappiness in life.  Always remember that we all have different lives for a reason, and we are all given struggles; everybody-no matter who you are.  Some trials may seem worse than others, and they may very well be.  But in the end, once you have learned your life lessons, I can almost guarantee that you wouldn't want you life to be any other way. 

It's a new year, a perfect time to start fresh!  Go out and be who you want to be, the only person stopping you is yourself. 
Keep your chin up, be happy, live.  


              ..brookelle.

Good listenin's

• The Girl - City and Colour
• Little Bird - Ed Sheeran
• Wings - Macklemore
• Run - Snow Patrol