Positive Circles
By Maisie McGarveyIn my last article, we discussed the importance of finding what makes me and you “different” and holding it near to us. Now, I’ve been in Spain for the past ten days, and I got really inspired to write this article, and I didn’t have my laptop with me. (I was literally going to write this article on napkins whilst I was away, but then I realized that I didn’t have a pen) The topic that I’m so excited to write about is what I like to call “positive circles”. Whilst I was, and still am dealing with my struggles with self esteem and accepting my circumstances, I had a circle of positive influences around me: family, close friends, and my very best friend, who has inspired this article. My “positive circle” was almost like a shield to protect myself from veering off track and letting negative thoughts and people get the better of me. The person who inspired this article might just be reading right now. They once told me “If you let all the little things get to you, sooner or later you’re going to have a lot of little things that have upset you, pile on top of you – so, just be happy.” That has really helped me and put a lot of things in to perspective for me. I encourage you to find the people that make up your very own “positive circle”.
Happiness. We all know what it is, but what does the process of achieving it entail? As a Creative Media student and an avid film buff, I have come to love certain Directors. One of my absolute favourites is Woody Allen, with his, in my opinion, genius quirkiness and wit; for me, that makes a film cinematic perfection. I not only love Woody Allen’s films, but the way he has such an intellectual and interesting way of putting a message across to an audience, whether it be comedic, or serious and thought provoking. After watching Midnight in Paris for what seemed like the millionth time, I started looking up Woody Allen quotes I found this one:
“The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have.”This quote really affected me in the most positive way possible. When I think of that quote, it instantly puts a smile on my face. Find things and people that put a smile on your face on a day to day basis. Reject all negative comments, negative thoughts, and negative people in your life and just let yourself be happy. If you don’t let yourself be happy, you get caught up in a negative spiral of sadness, and everyone deserves happiness. People, young and old, male and female, are constantly feeling the pressure to meet the standards of “perfection” which are not attainable and feeling unhappy because of it. There should be no expectation for people to meet these because we all hold beauty within ourselves and beauty is imperfection.
Conformity. How Boring!
By Maisie McGarvey
Edited by S. Meredith
Being different myself, I have a tendency to believe being ‘different’ is a blessing. You’re probably wondering why I believe this. Well, when you grow up rather unconventionally in comparison to those the same age around you, you become acutely aware of what it is that makes you different. I’d shy away and be really quiet in primary school, but at home I’d be loud, squabble with my older sister, and do and be all of the normal things we all do and are, despite my ‘differences’. My family are a fantastic bunch. As I was going through a lot of struggles in dealing with my disability, they were always there for me. Dad, you’ve been my best friend for the past seventeen years and I hope that it always stays that way. Mum, you know how much I absolutely adore you, but you do drive me mad sometimes! It was only recently that I understood their generic advice “just be yourself”. I used to wonder, how can you be yourself when you don’t even know who you are? I don’t profess to know everything now, I’m only seventeen, but having learnt a lot about myself over the years I’ve got a pretty good idea. This is why I wanted to contribute to the Love You Project. To share my experience so that whoever you are reading this (thank you, I love you already just for reading...), you will know that you are not alone in your struggles with seeing yourself as the valuable and beautiful person you are. You see, I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of two. Growing up I was so naive as to what lay ahead. Now, age 17, I think of my disability as a blessing in disguise. I have met so many people who inspire me on a daily basis, and I really have learnt so much from them. I used to hate my wheelchair, seeing it as my enemy, only a few years later I began to realise that it was actually my closest ally. Bringing me to people who are so amazing and who have affected my life in such a positive way. I have been an Ambassador of the charity Go Kids Go!, a charity which promotes independence for wheelchair users, for the past three years. Being in a wheelchair, I naturally assumed that I was “disabled”, more to the point that I was all of the things associated with that word. I hate that word. In reality, my chair has enabled me to reach the children who yearn for independence, and it has inspired me to keep working with the children in the workshops as it really gives me a sense of purpose and value.
I would be lying to you if I said I have never felt the pressure to meet the standards of “perfection” that the media inflicts upon girls and women. I couldn’t physically meet those standards, my body would just reject the idea of being skinny, because I am a naturally curvy individual. My philosophy is embrace yourself! Know that you are here for a purpose. Everyone and everything is. Not long ago, I was having a nice conversation with one of my best friends about the pressure to be thin and she said to me: “When you die, what do you want to be remembered for? Being skinny or for what you do to help the world?” This conversation took place a few weeks ago and it really stuck with me. I know what I’d rather be remembered for, and it’s not for what the numbers on the scale have to say. Numbers. That is all they are. Those numbers do not, and will not ever, let the world know what a lovely person you are, or what a pretty smile you have, or that you have a really infectious laugh. Numbers on a scale is not what makes a human being a valuable person. Personality is what matters. So let it show and soon enough, the numbers on the scale will finally feel as small and insignificant as they once made you feel.
