Ah, living. Being alive is pretty easy, most of it is done for us by our little bodies, but living, what an art that is. Life can dance along smoothly like violets bobbing in a window box. But Life also has a habit of kicking you in the teeth, then sometimes if you deserve it, rubbing your face in the mud, then if you let it, it’ll waterboard you in a puddle for a while until you forget what it is to breath, then, finally it’ll electro-shock you back to upright; where you’re left standing, confused, hurt but all of a sudden much more grateful for what is right in front you.

Here are some pointers from someone who refuses to learn the easy way ….

Read Anne Frank …

Just do it. Again if you read it at school. You will realise how much you have to learn about life and other people, and how much you have to be grateful for, no matter how little you have.

The tell-tell sign of a good person is … 

When given a stick to beat you with, they simply, and with kindness, use it to help you clean up the mess you made.

Try and be that person and try and seek out those people. Trial and error here I’m afraid, my friends.

Be polite …

Passive aggressive politeness will do. It’s better than just rude.

Be grateful …

It is one of the hardest things to do sometimes, but you’re lucky just to be here. You’ve been plonked on earth and there is a lot of awesome stuff out there waiting for you, every single second.

Sometimes, as hard as it is to accept …

Love isn’t enough, if it isn’t enough.

Sexism is everywhere it only varies in it’s degrees …

… Look at the murders, the rapes, the hangings, the stonings, the abductions, the slavery. Look at the words used by “internet trolls” directed at J K Rowling in response to her opposition to Scotland’s independence, listen to how the man you love talks about women, listen to the words men use to hurt you, think about the CONTROL on however small or great a scale. Think about what being a feminist actually means. It means equality on a soul level, it means physical and emotional freedom, it means embracing what is is to be a woman and not letting anyone take advantage of that or take it away from you, and fighting for that right for all women, everywhere.

N.B. ‘Femen’, a “feminist” organisation who’s protesters get their boobs out and paint anti-Islamic slogans on them is run by a man. Make sense? Yes. A good way to combat sexism in Islamic countries? Er, no. Taking your bra off and shouting a lot isn’t very helpful, we’re smarter than that. Why don’t we stop using our bodies to prove our femininity and our right to be a woman and instead start using our minds? We’ve got complacent. Look around you and think about it. Then do something about it. We have to do something intelligent and considered about this. In developing countries it is obvious, in Westernised ones it is more cleverly disguised. Open your eyes.

You too guys.

Happy memories are often more painful to recall than sad ones …

You’ll probably feel this in a moment of sadness, so take comfort in that.

How did George Eliot write what she wrote, how did Isaac Newton discover all he did, how did Mozart create all he created, how did they all find the time to create what they did?

They spent time on their own.

Facebook …

There are  of course exceptions, but for the most part, it is one massive ego trip, it is Ego Land. A haven for those who need constant attention and adulation and reassurance and … it will ruin us all. Sorry, I genuinely believe we’re all starting to go potty. We’ve lost a connect to the people who matter, to where we ARE. ON EARTH. NOT IN THERE. You are giving so much of yourself, so much energy to this blue and white world of adulation and intaginable connections that are not real; they are far, far less real than the dreams you have at night.

If you like writing hilarious status updates, why not write them down and do something with them instead of giving them to nothing but “likes”, if you think it’s a good way to connect, why don’t you call someone or send an email or, shit, even meet up in real time.

If you like photos of yourself and your friends so much, why not see who’s around when you’re upset next and take few. They’ll be of the people who matter, who’s opinions of the photos, sadly are probably of less interest than of people one barely knows, because you already know they care about you. But we want more, we want more love, more attention from more people, more, more. However, if you just like messaging people and flirting on it, well, stay on it. It is probably the easiest facade for it.

Facebook, man, seriously. Can you even remember what it was like before it? It was all slower and everyone did not have their own opportunity to be Justin Bieber, and everyone was better off for it.

Not that this will change a thing, it’s far too addictive. I know that, but I want you to know that. See you there.

Learn when it’s time to let go …

Or Life will slowly slip it from your grip anyway.

Guilt …

… Is a pointless emotion. Feel all the remorse in the world if you should, but move straight on to atonement, it is far more productive and positive.

Someone I know received some fan mail from a mad old man in America, it said …

… Be kind to the world.

Say No …

… Learn it, and teach it to your children and anyone you love. Sometimes it is the most loving thing to do, and sometimes it is yourself that needs loving.

Every day …

Is a blessing. Seriously. Look out your window, no matter what you’re doing, no matter what the view, no matter what you’re mood, this is magic.

You can’t always get what you want …

… Which is so monotonous, painful and disheartening, but that’s probably because what you want would be even worse for you.

Don’t take the piss out of life …

… Or it will take the piss out of you.

Sometimes the things that happen, or the things you do that are not perfect …

Are far more enlightening than the things that are.

What happened to humility, what happened to fidelity, what happened to respect, what happened to women sticking together, what happened to men respecting each other, what happened to kindness, what happened to patience, what happened to faith, what happened to forgiveness, what happened to gratitude, what happened to selflessness, what happened to grace, what happened to education …

… What happened to the world not being about you. Or me.

If you don’t like your situation …

… Change it. Simple as. You are NEVER trapped. The only chains are of your own making and only take you to break them.

When the going gets tough … 

Some people run and some people stick around. Just know that when you have been left on your own in hard times, that you always would have been, it was just a matter of time. And this has saved some. Start again.

Mercy …

Maketh the man.

I say it everything I write but get away from it all and get out in nature and leave your bloody phone behind. Land is more magical than anything we could ever create, gives off the kind of energy that nourishes instead of drains.

Feel the full moon in you, feel the fire inside, speak with cool waters, see the innocence in men and bees. Fight for something GOOD. And believe in it.

Start now x