Depression and suicide

We live in a world where negativity is rife and the apparent need for competition in some is like the need for air. But life is not a competition it’s about finding *your* happiness, not trying to duplicate someone else’s. There is so much negativity and neediness online these days that it’s often hard to tell whether someone is genuinely suffering or simply seeking attention. How often must someone repeat the same positive messages to you before you believe them? Why would a person choose to talk to you regularly or in some cases every day if they didn’t like you? Why is it so hard to accept a compliment and believe the good in yourself instead of constantly believing the bullies of the world and hating yourself instead?

Depression is a silent illness fought by so many and yet when something like suicide rears its head do people ban together to help combat this often silent killer… No, they take it as an opportunity to once again assert the need for competition and fight over the morality of suicide, a competition nobody is ever going to win because the very concept of taking one’s life is such a personal one. So instead of making this about morals or personal beliefs, which nobody is ever going to agree on, why don’t people take this as yet another opportunity to spread awareness of mental illness? Tweet the number to the suicide hotline in your country along with any organisations that help those with depression. Offer to listen to those who want to talk. Let people know they are not alone. Make trending count for something and hashtag suicide or depression in these tweets.

Instead of choosing to divide society take this as an opportunity to work together and collectively get behind a cause that many share. Help reduce the stigmatism that still surrounds mental illness and just maybe more people will admit they have a problem, seek help and not wind up committing suicide. Don’t waste another opportunity to make this a priority by bickering and attacking each other’s opinions.

Help in Australia:

Lifeline (24 hour support line): 13 11 14

https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/Get_Help?gclid=CPGI6u-wksACFVgTvQodG3MA3w

Beyond Blue – depression and anxiety support http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Greedy Hollywood Needy Hollywood

In light of the cast of The Big Bang Theory demanding more money I feel this is an important issue to voice given they aren't the first and they won’t be the last.

This kind of mentality in Hollywood is appalling. Nobody needs the amount of money those in Hollywood receive in a lifetime let along a year or per movie, especially when there are so many people struggling or going without. The Big Bang cast is currently reportedly on $350,000 an episode, which based on say 22 episodes a season is $7,700,000 a year; how is that not more than enough!

"According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the median wage for workers in the United States in December 2013 was $786 per week or $48,872 a year for a 40 hour work week."
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/glossary-a/a/average-salary.htm

So compared to their fellow US employees they are already earning over $300,000 more an episode than the average American does in a year. Do they not understand that people are struggling, that the minimum wage in the US is garbage? And sure they work long hours but so do doctors, nurses, cops, etc. Is there no compassion for the average person; the very roles that actors often take on to earn the exuberant amounts that they do? Shouldn't acting be about a love of the art, about expressing and sharing that love with the world, not egos and greed...

Consider if instead of increasing cast wages part of that money was redirected to the writers and crew (without them there wouldn't be a show), part was put back into the show and the balance was given to charity. Just imagine how much the world would change for the better if shows started donating to charities. They could even do so based on the show's theme:

• ·         Medical shows to medical research;
• ·         Cop shows to law enforcement;
• ·         Law shows to help people who can’t afford representation;
• ·         Science based shows to the advancement of science;
• ·         School shows to education and;
• ·         Family shows to helping those in need.

And yes, we as viewers help compound this issue by watching the shows and buying the merchandise, but that doesn't make it right. I for one feel the behind the scenes is as important to a show/movie as the finished product I am watching. This mentality gives me a bitter taste about shows I have otherwise enjoyed, because the integrity and compassion of those involved is as important to me as the story being told. It is why more than ever I am drawn to the world of indie where story is more important than money and ego.

Dear parents

I may not be a parent but I am someone's child and I don't understand why parents think they or their kids are failing when they don't live up to certain expectations. You know what they are doing; being themselves! And they certainly don't have to live up to outsiders' expectations; every child learns and develops at their own rate. They are not necessarily going to like the same food as you or even a big range of food, especially early on. Taste and texture can be huge obstacles to overcome; try asking your child what they don't like about something. They are not necessary going to like anything just because you do. Their behaviour isn't naughty simply because it doesn't meet expectations of how someone should behave. Maybe they have a neurological condition that means they see the world differently, (Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADHD) which a doctor could help identify. But regardless of anything else that may be going on they are simply being their unique, individual selves; something that should be encouraged. There is a difference between following the rules and a developing personality, please don't mistake the two to the detriment of your child's ability to be themselves. You need to teach them to think, not what to think. Just because they aren't a clone of you doesn't automatically make them fussy, naughty, stubborn or any of the other negative labels people place on children. What we have come to call stubborn is really someone wanting to do things the way they feel comfortable doing them. That is not automatically wrong, it's just different. You may not always understand their way of thinking or doing things, but they are not always going to understand yours either, it’s about compromise and seeing things from everyone’s point of view. Learn to read your child and understand their needs, encourage their way of learning, doing, being instead of thinking you or they are a failure, because as parents you are the people who will instil them with confidence, self-love and the ability to be a functioning individual who can think for themselves. Don't take that away from them by expecting them to be what you want to see or think they should be. If they can't trust you to accept them for who they are, who can they trust? It may not be easy, but it's not meant to be. If it were meant to be easy we wouldn't be raising individuals but clones. You have created a brand new person and you have to learn who they are right along with them. All you can do is give them boundaries, teach them actions have consequences and love, provide and be there for them; everything else is all them, you can't change who they are and why would you want to… 

Open letter to governments

To those in power,

Governments exist and representatives are elected to protect the people and better the nation. At least in theory... What we see more often however is the very people who are supposed to protect our interests, see the bigger picture and implement a better future using their power to cultivate their own goals, based on their own beliefs. Religion and its personal belief systems are kowtowed to at the detriment of human rights. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The future is ignored in preference for what you can gain for yourselves in the present. This kind of attitude is not sustainable nor will it pave the way for a better tomorrow.

Religion has no place in politics; it is a personal belief system that is interpreted differently by each person who follows their chosen religion. They are called human rights, not human privileges and it is high time the government stopped pandering to religious fanatics who believe that rights are based on demographics and what makes them comfortable. If you don’t approve of the gay community then don’t marry someone of the same sex. If you are pro-life rather than pro-choice don’t have an abortion or sign a living will. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and ask yourself how you would feel being told who you could love and what you could and couldn't do with your own body. It is not your choice; it is each individual’s personal choice. It is time for governments to stand up and say that starting now human rights are born rights.

Distribution of wealth is shoving an even greater wedge between the rich and poor, haves and have nots, well off and struggling. As a society, especially one that wishes to have a sustainable future, we need to take care of our own. Not everyone can be rich, it is impossible and unsustainable. The rich and those in power need to understand that this world and one’s right to live in it are not exclusive to them. Public schools, public health, government pensions, etc are part and parcel of maintaining a healthy economy and society. We cannot live in a world where only the rich are entitled to further education and medical care because to ignore the majority of the population in favour of the elite is ignorant and shameful. Instead of deciding which people have the right to each facility and instead of telling society that cuts will have to be made to sustain the country how about the politicians take a massive pay cut, because you cannot justify to anyone but yourselves that you are worth the salary you receive on top of all the free perks and exuberant retirement funds.

Being in politics is not and should not be about you. It is and should be about the people that you are sworn to protect, the economy you are sworn to manage and the future you are sworn to uphold. If you cannot leave your personal beliefs at the door than you have no right to be in politics; because it is not about protecting, benefiting and funding only those who can afford it and that agree with you.

We are one but we are many

If you’re content with the world and your place in it that’s fine, and I’m not being condescending, the world is made up of countless different people. But just as you don’t wish to rock the boat you have to equally accept that there are people who are going to stand up for the injustices in this world.

I am one such person and I have been since I was three and my parents were my only audience. I will not live my life fulfilling other’s expectations or conform to the social norm to be liked. I will not sit by and watch my friends continue on their missions of self-hate because society has made them believe they are not good enough. I will not sit in silence while some people have rights because they were “lucky” enough to be born into a certain demographic. You know who you are lucky to be: YOU.   

I believe that everyone should be born with the same rights, and that nobody has a right to impose their own personal beliefs on others. Our life choices are our own; they should not be legalised by religious groups or influenced by bullies. Question why someone wants to prevent you from having rights (because it makes them uncomfortable), why they are putting you down (to make themselves feel better) or trying to sell you a given product (to make money) rather than blindly believing and/or accepting something on face value and then stubbornly refusing to see why you suddenly hate yourself or want something. Be self-aware.

I will not tell somebody what they should watch, read or listen to, etc nor will I threaten to not be your friend or claim there is something wrong with you if you don’t. If I make a general recommendation you can take it or leave it. If I make a specific recommendation to you it is based on your interests; you don’t have to like it or even follow it up. I don’t care if you like/enjoy the same things as me and know I’m not always going to like/enjoy the same things as you. Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends

I will not tell somebody not to do something just because I don’t, that is my personal life choice and mine alone. If you don’t like something don’t do it, it really is that simple, but don’t think you have the right to tell someone else that they can’t do it because it is against your beliefs or makes you uncomfortable: “Tolerance does not mean tolerating intolerance”.

You are entitled to whatever opinion you want. What you are not entitled to do is impose it on someone else. You live your life and let others live theirs. And to those who say ‘but I’m entitled to my opinion’ realise that you are basically telling everyone who disagrees with you that they are not entitled to theirs, sometimes legally, because it upsets you.

It is not a soap box or a moral high ground to do the right thing and want everyone to have the same rights and to believe in themselves. Would you so quickly try to knock down the Nelson Mandelas, Martin Luther Kings and Ghandis of the world? Do you verbally attack women’s and gay right activists?

I am simply being a voice so many are too scared to be. Without people who speak up then only straight, white, Christian men would still have rights. So the next time you want to put me down for standing up to the bullies of the world consider whose side you're really taking by doing so. If you’re offended by my drive for people to believe in themselves and equality rather than self-hate and discrimination that says way more about you than it does me. And trust me when I say if you don’t like what I do say you’d hate what I don’t say. However, I truly believe that you are just as entitled to your life choices and personal  happiness as I am so why would I judge your decision to do/ not do something any more than it is up to you to judge mine. Our differences are what make us unique.

Change doesn't happen through silence, it happens through taking action. Take back the power and stop letting the bullies of the world win. 

At the end of the day if you don't like what I have to say unfollow me.

Respect, compassion, equality and individuality are what I live by.

Weight

Let me start off by saying that I quite frankly don’t care what you think of me for posting this, because I am flat out sick of the double standards. I constantly see all these posts and articles about how insensitive it is to seemingly even utter the words overweight or obese but apparently it's perfectly ok to single out celebrities in magazines for being too thin and to brush off those with fast metabolisms as whiners. PSA: under and overweight are potentially unhealthy and both can be a continuous struggle. How is it bullying to suggest an overweight person seek help but it's a public service to highlight the anorexic... How is singling out the thin in magazines not bullying when if that were done to the overweight there would be a public outcry. What sort of world do we live in where it is ok to not only publicly expose those suffering from being underweight/anorexic and socially correct to encourage them to seek help but bullying to suggest the same to an overweight/obese person. We live in a world where people are bombarded with the fact that they should all be thin but people are scared to even suggest that someone is too big yet have no hesitation in saying that someone is too small from a health perspective (do people not see how messed up all these contradictory claims are). Why is it ok to ask thin celebrities about their eating habits during interviews but an outrage to ask the same of a larger celebrity (neither are the interviewer’s business). It’s hypocrisy to say that one is helping and one is bullying when singling out a person’s weight, because quite frankly if you are doing anything more than trying to help a person for health reasons it’s bullying; it’s really not a wonder this world is rife with body image issues. So many people are always on about having compassion and that people come in all sizes. Well you know what small is a size too and just because it invokes jealously in people doesn't make it right to plaster magazines with the anorexic who are struggling with a disease or brush off those who eat well but struggle to maintain weight any more than it is ok to bully the overweight/obese. A healthy weight has nothing to do with clothing size but your BMI (Body Mass Index) based on weight versus height. Until people realise this we will continue to live in a world where people are bullied for their size instead of being encouraged to be healthy. Surely it is more important to be healthy and happy than it is to be a size zero. Instead of publicly bullying others how about people start taking stock of their own health and body image because size zero doesn't always equal healthy and size 14 doesn't always equal unhealthy. It all depends on the individual. We need to stop talking about weight in terms of ‘shaming’ & start taking responsibility for our own lives because shame is internal not something inflicted on you by others. Stop blaming others for your feelings & your life. Start discussing weight in terms of health, because until we do we won’t open a dialogue on the important issues, we will continue to throw pity parties & blame everyone else for our choices. 

Stop stealing indie films

Uploading artists work online so that people don't have to pay or wait for the physical or digital release undermines the entire creative process and the artist's right to make a living from their art. Your right to see/own a copy of their work does NOT precede the artist's right to make a living. You have a right to see/own it when you pay for it! Independent artists are essentially self-funded. You are stealing directly from them by providing their work freely. 

Furthermore uploading only certain actor's parts of a film not only diminishes the work of all the other talented people involved it misses the point of the film, which can only be understood in its entirety. If illegal uploads increase significantly when a certain actor is in a film they may be an asset for their talent but YOU are turning them into a financial liability by making them high risk actors. So since many of you clearly have no compassion for the film-makers and all the hard work, talent and heart that goes into bringing us their work you may have somewhere inside you a shred of compassion for the actors you claim to admire and start supporting their work by supporting the entirety of the film instead of stealing from the creators to feed your obsessions. 

To love indie film is a passion. They are not backed by multi-million dollar studios or churned out regularly like Hollywood films; not that I'm condoning stealing Hollywood movies. If you wish to see them you have to be patient. If you wish indie film-makers to keep creating these beautiful films you have to pay for them. If you wish your favourite actors to keep getting work stop stealing the films they are in. Have some respect; not only for the creative process but the hard working, talented people behind the films, because without their vision there are no films. 

PS. I don't care what country you are from. Film-makers do not work to feed your obsessions, they work to tell stories. I'm from Australia and that makes it just as difficult for me to see indie films as for many of you; but you know what I travel and I wait. And I am happy to wait because I know that the films are worth it and that in supporting the artists I'm helping them do something they love, something they generously share with us for us to love.