Category: Taylor Swift

Present Moment and Being Good Enough

I know that I have talked about my mantra “You are good enough” (that I have talked about in one of my first posts on this blog). That mantra was supposed to be for myself, but I have been doing a lot of thinking and I have realized that other people (especially some people I know) need to hear it too. I hate when people think they are not deserving of other people and think that they are too damaged to be with other people (either as friends or something beyond). Demi talks about being in the present moment. What she is saying is that no matter what we have been through in the past, we have to be in the present moment and to enjoy it. It can go by quickly if we are not paying attention.

This goes to all of the people who think they are not good enough. I am going to quote Taylor Swift here for a moment (this is one of my favorite quotes of hers). This is from her “Clean” introduction speech (when she went out on tour). Swift says that “You are not your mistakes. You are not damaged goods or muddy from your failed explorations. You are not the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you.” I am not going to quote that whole speech because it is a bit lengthy, but I know people need to find and read it (seriously google it or something). That goes hand in hand with some of my previous posts (including the ones about making no assumptions and losing someone).

That all has prompted me to share this poem I wrote a little while ago. I am thinking about a particular person when I wrote this, but it is open to interpretation to anybody and anything. The last thing I can say (and it is in this poem too) is to keep your head up no matter what. Here you go.

Standing Up

I hate whoever tried

To hurt you. They do

Not deserve someone

Like you. It is because

Of them that you

Cannot see yourself

As someone who is

Good hearted and kind.

Do not be characterized

By your demons and past

That haunts you. Those will

Follow you around forever.

Do not let them keep you

From moving on and

For finding someone who

Will not try to hurt you.

Those people care for you

And will love you for who

You are now. They hear

And understand you.

They will shut off

The gossip and will not

Listen to those who

Do not know who

You truly are. You are better

And above the nonsense

People throw your way.

They do not know that

You have already been

Through both heaven

And hell several times.

You keep your chin up

And smile no matter what

People try to do to

Knock you down.

I would do anything to

See you happy and

To believe in yourself.

It is a beautiful thing

To be yourself and

Not care what others think.

Keep living on and

Keep standing up.

 

P.S. I thought I put this quote in this blog post, but looking back I realized that I did not. Here is a quote I wanted to share from Snoopy (as in Snoopy from “Peanuts”). Do not judge me, I love Snoopy because he has some wise words for not just me, but for all of us. Here you go. “Keep looking up… that’s the secret of life…”

Bullies and Haters

We have all dealt with bullies at some point in our lives and a lot of us still deal with them to this very day. I don’t think there’s any specific definition for bullies because they come in all shapes and forms. They’re the mean girls who make fun of you. They’re the ones who take your lunch money. They’re emotional and sometimes physically abusive. They appear, disappear and reappear again. Another word that I think that is associated with bully is the word or term “hater.” Taylor Swift most famously uses it in her song “Shake It Off.” It’s a term used in pop culture when people are hating on other people. Why are bullies and why do they do such mean things? Nobody knows for sure because they may have insecurities of their own or they just hate other people just because.

Whatever the reason is behind the bullying, we won’t know for sure. I’ve dealt with bullies myself. I got teased a lot because I was the “smart” girl. I got good grades and mostly stayed out of trouble. I was also teased for the way I looked. I always had curly hair and glasses. People used to call me names like Shaggy (from Scooby Doo) and Napoleon (in terms of the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” which was popular when I was in school). I know people meant that to be funny, but it still all hurt a lot. I tried to speak up but not a lot of people heard me. I was (and I still am) the quiet and shy girl. You may think to yourself that doesn’t sound too bad, what  I dealt with, and that’s true. I’m sure a lot of other people had it a lot worse than I did.

Some people might say that there’s nothing to be done to stop bullying. That may be true in some cases, but there’s almost always something to do about it in most cases. Sometimes it’s just as simple as speaking up. Sometimes it’s better saying something (to the bully or to a teacher or to a boss) than saying nothing at all. Demi talks about this in her book. I wish a lot more people spoke up about bullying incidents when I was in school (and I wish I did it more myself). It’s never too late. Bullies are weak and try to put you down to make them feel better about themselves. Don’t give them that power to do that.

Believe it or not, bullying is hurtful. As much as I’ve dealt with it in school, I’ve also dealt with it in the real world and in the theatre world. There are always people who think they’re better than you. They think they can push you around and get away with things, but don’t let them think that. Speak up for yourself and be an advocate. You should be saying enough is enough. On that thought, I’m sharing a poem in the hopes we can show those bullies and haters who’s boss. In the end, we should try to better than those bullies. You’re you (as Demi says). People either hate you or love you for who you are. So be you and be better than those who try to bring you down.

You’re You

Words are thrown at you like weapons.

They don’t always feel so pleasant.

They feel like deep cuts to the soul.

They can put you in a black hole.

You say nothing in the hopes that

It all goes away. You need to shut

It all out. They shouldn’t affect you.

You are meant to shine through

Everything and rise on top.

They will all just drop

And fade away. They aren’t going

Anywhere. You’re showing

Them you’re going places.

All of those faces

And bullies project their insecurities

Onto you. They are hypocrisies

And should swallow their own words

When you are flying towards

Something beyond what they thought.

Freedom and success is what you sought.

Don’t let those people put you in retreat.

Make your own heartbeat.

Make them realize you’re courageous.

You’re moving on up to achieve greatness.

Always Follow and Listen to Your Heart

I remember a while back ago I watched a movie on Neflix, appropriately titled “Listen to Your Heart.” It’s a real tear jerker for anybody who wants to get into a sappy but romantic movie. Of course there’s also a song by the same name by D.H.T. (an old song, but still good). People always seem to give me and other people advice on listening to their hearts. Sometimes there is a difference between listening to your heart and listening to your mind. First of all they are in different parts of your body (obviously). Secondly, they probably require different powers.
However, they are also probably similar in so many ways because they are both important to listen to no matter what. They also work in harmony together. Here we’re focusing on listening to and following the the heart because it’s like following your gut instincts. People always say to trust your gut instinct because it’s usually right. Your heart is a powerful weapon so use it without abusing its power. It can never (for the most part) lead you astray. It’s the combination of that and not listening to people telling you what to do with your life. Your life is yours and follow your heart, it knows the way, even if you get lost along the way.

I wrote this after saw the movie, “Listen to Your Heart,” which I still highly recommend for those who are into those types of movies. I hope this helps people in their quest to find the things they love doing, those things that they are passionate about and listening to their heart no matter what. As Taylor Swift says “I shake it off.”

Listening to Your Heart

You can’t listen to the

Voices in your head.

They are wrong and

They will make you

Steer off track and

Off tune. Open your

Heart and listen to it.

It will lead you to

The right song and

Right tune. You’ll be

Tuned into the right

Station. If you keep

What’s in here, in your

Heart, there are

Possibilities. Sometimes

It just takes one song

To lead you in the right

Direction and towards

Your dreams, something

You were always meant

To do.

P.S. Just as a side note, some of these are older poems and some of them are newer ones. Bear in mind they may need changes (and that I may make some edits to them as I go on with this blog).

Be Fearless

Demi talks about being fearless in one of her entries in her book and so does Taylor Swift in her album by the same name. Here’s a part of what Taylor says that’s in the album cover booklet: “To me, “FEARLESS” is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, FEARLESS is having fears. FEARLESS is having doubts. Lots of them. FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death…” I think it’s up to us what to do about those fears, but that’s besides the point. We’re all scared, that’s just a part of life. That’s one thing I always try to strive to be, regardless of the situation or what happens in life.

I think that’s why I’m so drawn to theatre and performing arts, especially acting. First of all, people have always told me I’m fearless and bold because it takes courage to even try acting. My acting teachers that I’ve had always say to be fearless in the choices you make, both on and off stage (thanks Elizabeth). Nobody can make those choices for you, only you can. And secondly to perform in front of other people is being fearless.

Fearlessness goes hand in hand with being vulnerable. People told me I’m fearless for starting this blog. Other people say I’m fearless for writing and sharing my work with the world. That’s being fearless and vulnerable. I know that I can be fearless and vulnerable in many aspects of my life. However, one thing I’m trying to be more fearless and vulnerable about is expressing my feelings to other people. It’s about being honest and being open. When you’re vulnerable and fearless it doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re willing to share and receive things that are sometimes deep down. It’s all about being strong in the end.

You can’t always hide things deep down where they’re bottled up. I found this quote that says that, “Sometimes you can hurt yourself more than anyone can hurt you just by keeping all your feelings hidden.” I think it’s better to have everything out in the open rather than keeping things hidden. I know it’s hard, but it’s worth a try. Feelings are as real and vulnerable as they come. Through this I am sharing things that are personal. 

Real Feelings

Feelings cannot be pushed

Away and shoved aside

Because feelings are real.

They aren’t to be judged

Or criticized. I can try to

Fight those feelings and

Pretend they don’t exist

Or I can show them

For people to see.

Don’t you feel them too?

It’s like putting your hand

Over my heart and hearing

It beat. You have control

Over it as much as I do.

It’s a rhythm that won’t stop

Until I take my last breath.

These feelings for you

Don’t and won’t go away.

They only grow stronger

With more connection

And force. It’s erupting

Like molten lava.

I hope you’re there to

Catch the spill overflowing.

Once it starts it can’t stop

Unless you’re willing to

Mop it all up and let it

All dry up.