Living History

Living History

History is every decision we take, every time we pick left instead of right you make history and you affect someone else’s. It is about missed opportunities and what we do with them for our future.

This week I watched an episode of Girl Meets World called “Girl meets 1961”. Riley’s dad was trying to teach the class about the 1960’s but they would just not pay attention, some would even sleep in class. Riley says that no one cares about the past, they even say that history has nothing to do with them that is not important to know, it is all about the future. Riley’s dad thinking otherwise decides to teach the class the value of history by setting them an assignment to learn all about the 1960’s from their grandparents or great grandparents and report back. Riley got hold of her grandmother’s journal in which she wrote all about her experience entering the town for the first time, Lucas got a vinyl record of his granddad who was a guitarist cowboy, Farkle got his granddad’s photo album.

While researching for this assignment Maya takes out a book on Art and Paintings from the library. She says that the paintings are amazing and it is depressing as she could never do anything like that. All those artists have something to say and it makes her feel bad. She thus decides to throw away the book and not bother trying to paint. Her friend Lucas does tell her that she only knows the stories of those people and their ideas because they went ahead and said it. It turns out this is the same lesson that Lucas’ granddad tried to teach Maya’s grandma when they meet in 1961. Maya’s grandma after meeting Riley’s grandma performed for the first time on stage. It turns out she was a gifted singer and guitarist. Lucas’ granddad performed after her and Maya’s grandma believed she could never be as good as him even though Lucas’ ancestor told her she had talent. She then decided to leave her new friend, Riley’s grandma, and never come back. She was a stranger to everyone that jumped from town to town and never used her talent, never amounted to anything.

This is the true value of history. As mentioned by Riley’s dad history is every decision we take, every time we pick left instead of right you make history and you affect someone else’s. It is about missed opportunities. Those artists she looked up to, the people we look up to we only know their talent, their stories because they had the desire, the determination to go ahead and say them, to achieve their goals. Maya realised that her grandmother made a big mistake in not telling her story, not believing she had the talent to change the world, giving up when adversity hits. Maya won’t do the same and neither should we. People tell you what is in the past is in the past. Well it shouldn’t be, our past and the one of others around us can help define our future. Don’t forget about your mistakes and your achievements. Don’t reject the bad memories and keep the good ones, they are stepping stones for the future. This appeals to our very aspect of our lives. When you fail at an exam or assignment you shouldn’t ignore it and move on because its is said and done. We learn from the mistakes we made to never make them again. Maybe you missed the opportunity of helping someone, of volunteering, of talking to someone, of going on a trip, of trying new food, of preforming in a talent show, of answering a question in class, of scoring a goal, of being nice to someone whatever it is take those regrets and use them as a stepping stone for the future. Life does move on and those mistake don’t have to haunt you but use them. And well good memories, achievements also help us be on the right path. They can remind us when we have fallen from this path how to get back and who we were and the greatness we can get to and surpass. While I think that it is important to think ahead, to set yourself a goal, to predict outcomes, to always drive ahead and move forward; I agree with Riley’s father that we cannot forget about history. Our past is just as important as our present for our future. It can make us the best version of ourselves. You just have to take a minute to really appreciate what you have been through and what the people around you have been through.  

Something else that is a big lesson in this episode is taking your chances embracing who you are. I know I have said it before but the best quote of this episode is “you only know that because those people went ahead and said it”. It doesn’t have to apply only for a talent, it is something we should do every time in life. Just take a chance to ask that girl or guy you like out. Take that chance to answer a question in class, maybe you are right and if you are wrong well now its history to learn from. Take that chance to go out to that concert, to go out to that convention. Life is not about those who make it but about those people who fail and learn from it and recover. It is having the determination of doing what you want and taking decisions. You may find you are actually better than you thought you could ever be and if you are not you will get better cause now you know where you are. Riley’s grandmother was weird, she accepts it, she embraced it. You can make real connections and friendships by being honest about who you are. Just like her grandma Riley is also honest, outgoing and loyal. She learned that from her. That is history.  

Credits:

thegmwconfessions.tumblr.com

Disney Latino

girlmeetsworld.wikia.com

Will I be ok?

Don't give up, don't sacrifice your values and find a way to make the world a better place for others.

‘Will I be ok?” is the question Riley asked her dad during history class and as he puts it this is a question we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. When you are in university, when you have a kid, when you are in school at any point in your life you have asked yourself a variation of this question. The answer can put you under so much pressure, thinking about it some people even fall into depression. While in high school I saw so many people crumble to this question asking themselves they would get into university, have a career, be successful, pass and exam I did it myself.

Riley’s dad being the history teacher of the class decided to show her what the workforce and working for a company would be like by setting up two muffin companies. One ran by Riley and her friend Farkle and the other by her best friend Maya and Lucas. Farkle bakes muffins made of a lot of sugar appealing to the school kids who are their customers and paying their classmate workers little. Maya and Lucas passionate about healthcare and fitness, caring about the healthcare of their classmates baked organic, whole-wheat muffins at an affordable price. As it turns out Maya and Lucas had no profits cause the kids bought the sugar cupcakes instead although they were bad for their health they tasted good. Just like in real life, Farkle and Riley had a great deal of success and bought their rival company firing Riley who was upset at the fact that an “evil” company was being successful while her friends who cared about others and helping benefit society were crashing.

After school she stopped by the train station and sat down at a bench thinking her whole life was going to be a crash and that she would amount to nothing and that the good guys never win. She sat down next to this peculiar lady that told her that everyday she comes to the train station bench and sits down looking at the people around her and thinks to herself: “What can I do for these peoples lives?” She then has to leave in the middle of the rain and Riley gives her money for an umbrella. She takes it and smiles leaving Riley in the bench at the station. The next day Riley disheartened during history class is about to quit on the project when the women she met shows up. It turns out she was the owner of the building next to the train station, she was a successful entrepreneur that was going to invest in the healthy muffins so that she would not quit. She tells Riley that people like her will be okay as long as she doesn’t quit, people that think about others and are caring, nice, honest, hard working and committed will thrive. About a week later the company of Farkle crumbles because the kids are getting sick from the sugar muffins and they prefer to buy the healthy muffins made by Lucas and Maya. Suddenly the table have turned, the once unsuccessful company was now selling more than Farkle and the cafeteria even decided to replace their desserts and made a deal with Lucas and Maya to supply their muffins. Farkle having a moment with his best friends and realising his selfishness and greediness joins along with Riley.

This is an amazing story which we can all take something away from. Upholding positive values like Riley, Maya and Lucas (being friendly, kind, honest, sympathetic) and trying to use your passions for the good of others will help you be remembered in the life of other people and make you succeed. I have met people who mostly care about how things benefits only themselves and not how it impacts others. They hate their jobs, their classes because they have no interest in them they just do it so that they can achieve success and be someone. Just like with Farkle, in the long run they end up being no one. True passion and care for others is what should drive people to work hard, give them a greater motivation to achieve their goals.

I feel that as part of the world what I do for a profession, for a voluntary work, for a sport is something that has a positive impact in the life of those around me or even beyond. Why do I want to become a doctor? Simple reason is that if I can put my interests and passions towards being able to improve on someone life time by curing them of sicknesses, by relieving their pain, by extending their life spam, by giving them more time or a better time with the ones they love then that is what I will do. The answer drives my studies and becoming the best professional I can be. 

Maybe more important than trying to bring a positive impact in someone else’s life is the lesson that Riley learned never to give up and don’t abandon your principles. This woman that Riley met teaches her that being kind, loving, caring, honest, and that truly believes in what they are doing will be okay in life because it will guide your actions and that the world has a way to compensate those that are like Riley and don’t give up when they believe in something better for others.  This is even reflected in the long run success of Maya, Riley and Lucas. Luca's and Riley's passion to supply people with a healthy snack is what allowed them to be successful in the long run. 

Self motivation is hard because you can see people that do uphold these values sometimes fail but like this woman teaches Riley it is about what you do with your failure and your success that will guide your path. She takes failing as a learning step into life. When one door closes another two doors open a good friend of mine once said to me. There are stories of people in worst situations than you who make it. In football there is infinite just look at Messi, Jamie Vardy, etc. While doing voluntary work at foundation Fudis I met a patient with cancer that was the heart of the building helping patients with their recovery by telling them stories, drawing, painting. He said that he knows his time is limited but his desire to entertain people made him live every day happy. 

Care about more than just yourself, do find what truly makes you happy and find a way to do it but also find a way where you can help make other people’s life’s happier and better even if that is just having a positive attitude. Riley here represents a concept of networking but she doesn’t think about it in that sense. She is kind, easy going, loyal, friendly, honest, hard working and all these things will help her find a place in the world and in the live of those she meets. Networking classes will teach you many times about a cynical world where you have to make specific relationships to climb up the ladder and they will teach you the people in the positions you want to impress or talk more often with. People notice when you are playing them, when you are working the system, when you do things for interest and this wont get you far because it shows lack of one of the most important things, integrity. Riley didn’t know who the women was but it didn’t matter she treated her well and acted the same way she always does with her and at the end she helped her achieve success. Be kind, honest, loyal, reliable not because you want to impress the right person but because you want to represent those values, life by them for everyone. The fact is if you care for others, if you work to achieve your dreams, if you value people, if you are friendly, kind, honest, if you are helpful, good hearted and surround yourself with people that you love and love you back then answer is you will be okay.   

Image Credit:

simkl.com

girlmeetsworld.wikia.com

www.gettyimages.com

www.pinterest.com

Learning about the World

Learning about the World

I was surfing through the Disney channel the other day to watch something light-hearted late at night and I came across this program called “Girl Meets World” and it caught my attention as there used to be a show way back in the day named “Boy Meets World” so I decided to give it a watch. Well I must say that this is one of the best shows I have ever watched bringing laughs and a great smile to my face. I found in the show real life issues being portrayed in a manner where it is easy to understand, but more importantly it tackles problems you will encounter at any point in your life and teach you how the world will be and how to overcome obstacles. Just give the opening scene a watch and you will see what i mean by an honest show that can be very helpful no matter what age you are. Link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqhHMBeqf_s.  

I know there are a lot of these shows out there but this one is different partly cause the actress that plays the protagonist, Riley, with her smile inspires happiness, positivity and confidence. In addition, she is honest, kind, loyal, friendly and a character which we should all look to aspire to be. The supporting cast are also great, all of them playing compelling roles of a tight, kind group of friends which learn from their mistakes and leaning on each other for help with life problems. We all need something that inspires us to better people, to be more confident to reassure us that we are on the correct path and to show us how to go through life in the best way possible and this is the show.

These lessons Riley and her friends learn through their life’s, the way they act can truly inspire and teach us to be better versions of ourselves which is why I have decided to start this blog.  Sometimes adult themes and ideas can be expressed in simple 30 minute episodes. I will every week post a reflection from watching an episode of “Girl meets World” and how these lessons can be seen in real life. As I said I think we should aspire to be like Riley and her friends  and in this blog I will also write why we need to.  The show has inspired me to be a better person and has countless times allowed me to solve problems and see the answers in life and I hope it will do it for you too. It is a reflection of the world we live in and the problems we face. I still do recommend watching the episodes because they have so many themes that I wont cover and it can really bring a light to a dull day and who knows you may find a way to cope with your problems through it. 

Credits:

Image- www.playbuzz.com