Hello Everyone!
I hope you are having a wonderful
day! Dawn has been gracious enough to let me guest blog here today.
*dances*
It was nice of her, no?
Since it’s my day, I’m supposed
to write about something, anything, interesting. To be honest, I had been
drawing a blank, but that happens sometimes, doesn’t it? I’m pretty sure I’m
not the only one whose been handed ‘an assignment’ and gone ‘F**K! How am I
going to write this?’ (And yes, I say FRAK
all the time).
*laughs*
I have written posts on community
service, autism, budget cuts on shelters, cool science stuff (I am a nerd) and
so forth, but each time I guest post I want to write something different. So I’ve been agonizing over
what to write for today because it has to be different. Of course, a lot of people want to be different, do
things differently, and be the first to accomplish the impossible, and all that
jazz, so I’m not alone there.
But really, with nearly 7 billion
people on Earth, how easy is it to be different?
It just so happens that once I
finally decided to write about ‘different’ an interesting news article started
to make rounds a couple days ago. The article actually is spawned off of a
teacher’s opinion that we are actually all the same. This one:
So, what this all really means is
I finally found my post idea. “The differences and similarities between people
and how it can affect us an individual.”
*throws confetti*
Can you tell I was – and am – a
nerd?
In summary, the article was about
this:
A Massachusetts
high school English teacher, David McCullough, tells the graduating class of 2012 “You are not
special.”
*Wait… what?*
Oh, no. He totally did that.
Mr McCullough goes on to tell the
2012 graduating class that they’ve been spoiled, pampered, bubble-wrapped,
helmeted, etc., and gives the kids a whole bunch of numbers (like half of them
will divorce, the number of valedictorians graduating that year) about what
they’ll face once they get out in the big wide world.
Interesting way to congratulate a
bunch of seniors, no?
David McCullough’s final statement to his students
was "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that
you're not special. Because everyone is."
I don’t know about you, but I had
to reread the article a couple times.
There are a whole lot of
different perspectives people could take on this teacher, and what he did. Here
are a few:
1.
*claps* good for him, he told those kids
what everyone wants to tell them right now.
2.
*shocked silence* how could a teacher say something like that?
3.
*quiet observation* he’s not wrong, but shouldn’t have said those
things at their graduation.
And that’s just a few different ways
someone could view Mr McCullough’s speech. With nearly 7 billion people on the
Earth, everyone will have their own opinion formed from their experiences and
perspectives.
Some of them will agree. Some
will not. Some opinions will overlap. Some will not.
I personally love this article,
not because I’m sitting here going “YES!” pumping my first, but because it’s
the type of speech that garners debate from all sides of the spectrum. And I
love when people discuss viewpoints.
(There is a reason my blog is
called ‘Freddy’s Single Viewpoint Stereograph’, and why my welcome says: Perspective
is the only unique thing we can lay claim to as a person. And, as the title
states, this blog is about a single viewpoint. Mine. Please feel free to agree
or disagree. All viewpoints are important and make the world a place that's
more fun. You are more than welcome to share yours with me.)
I personally love the way he ended his speech, but I’m also sure I took
it in a different manner than he actually meant.
*grins*
I agree, but disagree with him.
He’s right about being unique, or special, because there are a lot of
people in our world that share our experiences.
I think it’s why people can get frustrated at certain points in their
life. Because they crave to be different, do something different, and that can
be hard with so many people out there and how quickly we can communicate with
one another with today’s media.
Someone else has had a class valedictorian, or has had a really bad day,
failed a test, or aced a test. Someone’s parents have gotten divorced, or they
have gotten married. Someone has gone off and done something stupid with their
friends, or lay out under the big blue sky wondering if there was someone out
there who understood them. Someone else has felt absolutely alone in the world,
so sad they feel empty and alone inside. Someone has loved someone else
desperately and completely. And someone else has put out a helping hand when
someone has needed it.
But just because we might share those experiences, that doesn’t mean
they are the same. We are individuals with our own minds. We make our own choices,
live our own lives, and interpret everything that has happened to us according
to the beliefs and decisions we made for ourselves.
So why?
Why would I drag up some guy’s commencement speech to a bunch of high
schoolers?
Because, whether you are in agreement or not, Mr McCullough does have a
point. What his point was is up for debate for anyone who wants to, but that’s
not what I want to focus on.
What did I get out of it? Probably not what he intended (most definitely
not) but I did get something.
In a world with so
many people with so many similar experiences, we have to find what’s right for
us and what will make us happy.
*smiles* Can you
just see him beating his head against a wall?
We can choose to listen to the naysayers, lying down in defeat, or we
can pick ourselves up and enjoy our own individuality–just because you share an
experience with someone else, that doesn’t mean you can’t revel in it as your
own.
Because it is.
You experienced it. It is yours. You are you.
There is a flipside though.
You can find someone out there to share your experiences with. You are not alone.
In a world with so much pain, bad news, and pessimism that it can
overwhelm us, someone else there has experienced those same things. Knows how
it feels. Can sympathize.
They could also share in your joy, happiness, and celebrations and
momentous moments in life.
Under the big blue sky, there is someone out there – a friend, a lover,
or family – that can appreciate you, be there for you.
There is so much information out there, so many different opinions, so many
different ideas, concepts and viewpoints, it all can get muddled because the
effort it takes to wade through all of it so we can feel alone out there.
And putting yourself out there, for someone to see and judge, can be a
scary thing for anyone.
We can allow our differences bring us together or pull us apart. We can
respect them or not. We can allow someone with similar experiences in or not.
We can hear another person’s opinion or brush it off. We can learn and grow
from our experiences or not.
Ultimately, we decide what we get out of life.
We watch, read, or tell a story because we feel a connection to it.
Others might too, and when they do, it’s wonderful to see how they respond. Of
course, others might disagree as well. It happens.
It happens because we’re different. And that’s okay. Chances are you’ve
disagreed with someone before, too.
What I hope, if you’re ever feeling alone and like no one cares, if
someone has said something or done something that hurts, you remember there is
someone out there that agrees with you, too. And that you will reach out,
because with 7 billion people in the world, someone is out there doing the
same, putting their hand out there, waiting for someone to grab ahold of it
because they care.
To find out more about me,
you can find me at:
or email me at:
freddy.m.mackay@gmail.com
Some links for those who are depressed or know someone who could use
some help:
David McCourt knows pain and loss. Transferring to Capstone
Ridge University
Everyone likes Bobby Daniels and he likes helping people.
After seeing the hurt David carries around, Bobby decides to help his awkward
roommate come out of his shell--with the help of some friends and a nutty
professor.
Jackson Black is attracted to guys, but buries it deep,
thinking he'll find the right women and fix the problem. Until the intense
stare of David McCourt completely undoes him.
David has his hands full trying
to figure life out.
When he gets hurt, friends and lovers surround him, trying
to help close the wounds.
But it may not be enough.
CONTENT ADVISORIES: This book has a "to be
continued" ending and topics of rape or near rape. This book contains MF,
MFF and MM scenes.
Silver Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
eBook and Print: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beginning-again-freddy-mackay/1109464606?ean=9781614954590
Incubation: Finding
Peace 2 – available July 21st.
After David's attack, the makeshift group that has become
his friends, tries to form a protective cocoon round him, holding him together.
The problem is, they don’t know the whole story and David finds the constant
noise a distraction instead of helpful. Can he really open up and let go?
Will everyone surrounding and cheering for David really help
him, or will it push him closer to the edge?
CONTENT ADVISORIES: This title contains both MF and MM
scenes.
Silver Publishing
I grew up thinking catching worms and sharing them with
other people was normal. Along with running around with nothing on when
the heat waves struck during the summer. My imagination and love for the
outdoors only expanded as I got older. And while I realized wearing clothes was
the norm, I don't have to wear them in my house or in my sleeping bag.
More than once I have woken up damp, cold and a little
confused to where I was because of my love for camping. The problem
usually rectifying itself when I realized I was in a sleeping bag, in the cold,
and my back hurt more than I like to admit. Camping is something I
actively pursue because overlooking the views of the world is more fun than
almost anything to me.
After going college I got a degree I always thought I
wanted, and still do, I'm just not sure what to really do with it. So
it's there on my wall. When I got my master's degree I used that to
provide for me until I decided I liked being around less people rather than
more.
When I'm not driving around the country, or at a soccer
game, I like to hide away with as many books as possible. That or find a
willing (or a disgruntled and somewhat willing) subject to photograph.
Taking 'pictures' like the one you see at the top of my webpage.
Being able to take photographs for fun is one way I can
guarantee going new places and meeting interesting people because while I don't
like being around a lot of people, I like talking to them. Contradicting
I know. Monotony is my biggest rival, so getting out and about it good
for me. When on a plane or in a car or on a bus, I always enjoy it when
someone talks back.
When I write, I don't write specifically one genre, one
topic or type of relationships. Life has a whole lot of people in it and
I'd hate to miss out on anyone because I'm so focused on one type of person.
Meaning, I will write stories that have combination of human interaction
depending on how I feel about a topic. My family's pretty diverse so
nothing was ever taboo.
So now, to bide my time I write about all the imaginative
stories I ignored while doing everything else. And hope I get to travel
again soon so I can take some more pictures and meet more people who inspire
me.
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