No one asked but:

[blossomlillyofspry]

A Fresh Air

Nature plays a huge part in our lives. It is where our healthy foods, fresh air, and anything that can turn into something we use every day came from. One of my favorite memories from when I was a kid was going to the mountains with my family. The homeland of my parents and helping them plant corn for us to sell once it grows. The whispers of wind in the mountains seem to be a relaxing moment for me. The touch of the leaves and flowers that I gather from my parent's plants is one of the best forms of mental therapy. The exhausting, long walk to reach the destination of our Kubo is great exercise. To me, who didn't grow up in a peaceful and relaxing environment near nature, it excites me to see and spend time with nature. Often times, when I get older, I miss being a little kid and just having fun in the middle of a cornfield. We tend to ignore some things, like taking care of nature, because we're too busy receiving things from nature. It is not hard to do little things to help the environment we are in and to take care of the environment in which we live. I hope that this will be a reminder to anyone who might read it that it's not too late to help create a better and cleaner environment for all of us. We are part of nature, and that's always a fact. Whatever happens to nature, nature always watches, and we should also take time to look at our surroundings and appreciate nature. By showing appreciation, we get to push ourselves to do the work of taking care of it. We came from nature, and when we're done, we go back to nature. Your mind will be at war if you don't get up and smell some fresh air offered by nature.

©jansal

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3 Main Reasons Why Tommy (Thomas Shelby) Is a Natural Leader

1. Leader by nature - Thomas is not the oldest of the brothers, but he is without a doubt the Shelby family's alpha male and is more ambitious, risk-taking, and above all else, smart and disciplined. His understated charm and ability to get his hands dirty when necessary will round out the picture of the charismatic leader he personifies.

2. Master of Negotiations - Thomas Shelby never trades from a position of weakness. His Aunt Polly counsels him to strike up a conversation when he finds himself in difficulties in the first season when Inspector Campbell enrages him with the populace. His aunt Pollly said "You don’t talk when you’re on the back foot, we’ll strike a blow back first” (“We don’t haggle in a weak position, we’re going to counterattack before”), Tommy replies. To let Churchill know about the unrest in Birmingham, they then decided to burn King's paintings in front of the media. In the course of the subsequent negotiations, the power dynamics are flipped.

3. Opportunistic despite the danger -

The opportunity increases as the risk does. And Thomas Shelby absolutely adores risk. He finds an impressive cargo of government-owned weapons during the first season. Before it threatens them, the entire tribe wants to get rid of a poisonous find. Tommy disagrees, though. These weapons represent for him a path to increased strength and an opportunity to compete at a higher level. In this risky activity, he will put his life in peril more than once, yet his skill to swim with sharks will finally show him to be correct.

The main character of the British historical crime thriller Peaky Blinders is a fictional person named Thomas Michael Shelby. Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who has been recognized with both a National Television Award and an Irish Film & Television Award, performs the role. The character has won praise from the critics.

Tommy is a confident, intelligent, and strategic man, but he is a prisoner of his own demons. Despite what he experienced during WW1, he used that experience to improve his strength and continue their business. Being a leader is a big responsibility, and Thomas Shelby did his best to be a good leader, which he did effortlessly because he is already a natural leader.

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

References:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Shelby

https://getmyasap.com/en/2019/09/10-things-to-know-about-thomas-shelby/

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5 Reasons Why I Think My Mama Is the Best Mom in the World

1. My mama is a warrior; the opposite of warrior is victim, and she doesn't have the kind of mindset where she thinks she's the victim. Even though she is based on her past romantic relationships, she didn't let those bad experiences ruin her. Instead, she focuses on her kids, and she supports her four kids to graduate from high school with her strategic way of living to find ways to earn money.

2. My mama finds ways to enjoy life; we are not living in luxury yet. We had trouble with finances sometimes, but my mama never forgot to smile, laugh, and enjoy. She finds time to spend time with her friends, colleagues, and family members. Even though life was hard for her, she didn't forget to enjoy most of it. She believes that all problems can be solved; if not, accept what happened and move on.

3. My mama is not living in the past; it's normal for parents to compare their time to their kids' time. My mama also does that, but one time I asked her what her regrets were, and her answer amazed me. She said, "Life is too short for regrets, and I don't have time for that." She is busy in the present moment, and she always has this hope that, in the future, all her hard work will pay off.

4. My mama is open-minded; she is willing to consider new ideas. I can tell her anything because I know she always listens to me. I can cry my heart out in front of her, and her comfort is always the best thing. Her hugs are so important to me, and the flowers, love, support, care, and smile are everything to me.

5. My mama accepted us as her kids; when I told her about my sexual orientation, she accepted it and still supported and loved me. Even if we made a lot of mistakes, she still accepted us and loved us. We don't have to prove ourselves to her because just our presence means so much to her.

 

This is late for Mother's Day celebration, but this is my appreciation blog for my one and only wonder woman, my mama.

 

©jansal

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Art is an Expression

Art is something we tend to see in our everyday lives, but we don't see it and appreciate it enough. Artworks we see in streets, faces, papers, the sky, music we listen to, and among others Artworks are not something we do; they are something we express. Any experiences in life, any situations we are in, and any people we encounter possess art that we can turn into artwork. Some people, if they don't understand a certain artwork, tend to comment something like "stupid!" "meaningless! "weird!". On the other hand, people who appreciate and love artwork tend to comment with something like "beautiful!" "painful!" "I can feel it!". We interpret art the way we understand it and also from our perspective. One of the great artists of this century with whom I'm living right now is Melanie Martinez. Let's get to know more about this artist I'm talking about.

Melanie Martinez, who was born in Astoria, Queens, New York, in 1995, was raised on Long Island by parents who were of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. She describes herself as an emotional youngster who found it difficult to completely express herself in her family's conventional setting. As a result, she was drawn to poetry, painting, and music from a young age. After participating in the American television vocal competition program "The Voice," she gained notoriety in 2012. She followed it up with the 2014 release of her first single, "Dollhouse," and her debut EP of the same name. In the year 2015, Melanie's "Cry Baby" studio album debuted. The songs "Sippy Cup," "Mad Hatter," and "Mrs. "Potato Head," "Cry Baby," "Pacify Her," and "Soap" were all given gold certification in the United States. Both the EP "After School" and Melanie's second studio album "K-12" were released in 2019. She has a distinct personality and is frequently misunderstood by others around her. Melanie is understanding and non-judgmental, understanding that various life paths suit various personalities. She has a hidden rebellious streak in addition to her inherent empathy. INFPs frequently experience other people's feelings as though they were their own. Melanie dislikes conflict; therefore, if she has to deal with it, she does so by considering her feelings. Up until one of her ideals is broken, Melanie is adaptable and relaxed. She isn't hesitant to stand up for things she believes in if one of her core beliefs is under attack. The INFP personality type values honesty and integrity; thus, Melanie possesses these qualities in spades. Melanie is understanding since she always considers things from various angles because she is a Taurus. Taureans typically pay great attention to others, which aids in their understanding of the world. Melanie listens well and tries to respect other personalities. Melanie is creative, compassionate, and outgoing. She has a distinct outlook on life and is very concerned about upholding her morals. Melanie wants to connect with people who share her ideals and characteristics. Melanie is unique and takes pleasure in her identity while having a complex emotional makeup.

An artist like Melanie Martinez. She gets inspiration from negative emotions she feels or negative situations she is in. I don't know her personally; I only know her music, artwork, and faces. faces, as I could say because her albums are in three parts but with the same storyline. Faces that represent an alter ego that we can all relate to. Sometimes we are numbing or ignoring the emotions we feel because society tells us that it's weak for us to express emotions by crying, especially men. It makes us uncomfortable when we see someone crying. We don't like to deal with things because we're afraid to deal with anything that other people might find weird. That's the same weirdness some people feel when they see artworks they don't understand. It's the same feeling they feel when they see someone crying or they want to cry but stop themselves because society has taught us that it's weak to be vulnerable. Showing vulnerability means you're a normal human being. I hope that when you see artwork you don't understand, try to see it from your own perspective, allow yourself to feel what you feel, and express the emotions you are longing to express. Allow yourself to be a human being. Everyone can be an artist; just allow yourself to be vulnerable sometimes. Turn that pain into something beautiful. Believe that everything you see in this world might end, but one thing that didn't end is the soul that created art; it lives forever.

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

Reference:

https://www.sosyncd.com/database/melanie-martinez-personality-type-zodiac-sign-enneagram/

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Not all Pearls are Located in the Sea

I didn't meet Pearl, and if there's a chance that she's real and I can meet her in person, I want to hug her tightly, even if it's scary and even if it's not safe. Watching her on the screen is enough for me to see who she really is. Pearl is the lady who is living on a farm. Her family is suffering from financial problems because her father got sick and can't work anymore. Her father is severely disabled, and Ruth, her mother, is the one who is taking care of their farm. Pearl is assigned to take care of her father and the animals they have. She also has an alligator, and she's feeding it duck and human flesh. Her closest friends are the farmyard critters she's named after her favorite movie stars and Theda, the alligator who lives in the swamp behind their house. Pearl longs for a life that is better than the one she now leads on the family farm. Texas in 1918 is gripped by panic over any potential illness in the middle of the Spanish Flu, with the war's constant news as its backdrop. Pearl aspires to be heard by everyone, to be seen by everyone, and to one day appear in the television programs that she has adored her entire life. Her existence as a military spouse to her husband, Howard, causes Pearl anxiety. She longs for someone who can sweep her off her feet and take her away from her brutal home, and she aspires for the same sense of escape that he currently feels. She rapidly falls in love with the theatrical projectionist at this point because he assures her that Europe is the place where her dreams can come true.

When Pearl learns that a nearby church is holding tryouts for a dancing ensemble, she is inspired to finally go after what she has been wanting. Pearl receives this information through his sister-in-law, Mitzy. When Ruth hears about her daughter's activities, she dismisses Pearl's role in the world as nothing more than a family caregiver, which Pearl does not take kindly. She makes the decision to strangle her father to death before leaving for the audition since she is now sure that she will achieve the happy ending she so desperately wants. The judges flatly reject Pearl since they were hoping for someone younger and blonder to take her in. Pearl takes Mitzy's place in line for the audition and does her routine in a visually stunning scene. As a result, Pearl loses her one-way ticket and is forced to face the reality that she is now in charge of, which sends her into a fit of frenzy. When Mitzy returns with Pearl to the farm, Pearl tells Mitzy everything she has been meaning to tell Howard ever since he went to war. When Howard left, Pearl revealed that she was pregnant with his child and thought it was unjust that he had the opportunity to leave but she couldn't. She despised him for leading the life she had always dreamed of. Pearl ultimately miscarried the child and used the occasion to lash out by killing animals when things didn't go her way. She casually confesses to a number of previous killings but assures Howard that she will provide for him well. In an effort to provide Howard with somewhere to go when he returns home, Pearl sets up the bodies of her parents to act out one of their typical dinner conversations. When Howard returns, he is horrified by the gruesome dinner scene and Pearl's prolonged, agonizing smile.

Not all pearls are located in the sea. Some of them are, we are wearing it. It could be anxiety, madness, failure, depression, rage, etc. I want to hug Pearl tightly because we are somewhat alike in terms of the story of our lives. But we're way different from each other. I don't kill animals or murder people; I'm not married, and I'm not living on a farm. I have a lot of opportunities now compared to her; she doesn't have any opportunities to achieve her dreams and get help. In my time now, I can create my own opportunity to get the career I want. She reminded me that I'm lucky and blessed to have this life of mine. Even if it's really hard sometimes, even if it's scary, even if there are a lot of challenges, Pearl reminded me that it takes a lot of courage to get out of my situation. That's not included in killing someone. What I'm saying is that Pearl gave up too early. She only tried once; she failed, and then she immediately gave up. Life is not like that; life is hard and full of challenges; you just need to choose better problems to solve. If I want to get out of the situation, if I want so badly to get what I want, I need to work for it; I need to try not once, not twice, not three times, but a lot of times. I need to use my failures and mistakes as my steps to get where I want to be. I hope Pearl realizes that when she's young. Not just Pearl, not just young people. But all the people who might see this.

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

Reference:

https://collider.com/pearl-ending-explained-ti-west-mia-goth/

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Colorful People

The Internet and social media are making things complicated when it comes to LGBTQ+ people. Indeed, there are some parts of that community that make things complicated because some of them want privilege. I'm going to start sharing negative sides of the colorful community, which is the LGBTQ+ community, on social media. There are some people, especially minors, who think that it is easy to just change and go back to being a straight person. It's annoying to see someone post on social media that they quit as a member of the community. There is one Ted talk I watch about being homosexual and survival. Some families need even one gay person in the family to survive. I firmly believe that being gay doesn't start in the environment where the person grows up; it starts in the womb of their mother. LGBTQ+ people didn't choose to be different, just like all the other people didn't choose to be themselves. There's nothing wrong when you choose to be yourself; it is wrong when you push other people to be like you. It is wrong to tell someone that they will go to hell just because they're different.

As a member of the community, when I first discovered who I am, I was not really ready to accept it. I was being too hard on myself. My thinking was that it's a sin to be gay and that God doesn't love me anymore because I'm different. But as I grew older, I realized that it's okay to be different. It's okay to be who I am. It's okay to let myself love who I love. Being gay is amazing, I can say. We see things differently, and we do extraordinary things. Most of us are creative, intelligent, and generally good people. We don't spread hate; instead, we share our colorful personalities and the sunshine with our loved ones. I remember someone on YouTube saying, "Gay people are always making noise, but what's the point, right?" It's not just a noise; it's about speaking up for our rights. This movement started a long time ago, and we are still fighting for it. There are a lot of members of the community who sacrifice themselves for freedom to be just the way they are. It's easier now to express who we are, but it's not always safe. Because other people still judge, hurt, and belittle someone just because of who they are. Imagine a world where colorful people didn't exist; it would be so boring.

 We cannot deny the fact that gay people make the world a better place. I don't generalize, but most of them do make the world a better place. We have differences, and most of the time we don't accept things that we think are weird because of our beliefs. Beliefs that might be wrong. We live in a world where opinions and perspectives are just black and white. Reality is, there is way more color than we expected. If we only have one or two types of people, we can't work together. Through diverse art, opinion, perspective, and knowledge, we can create a better society. One of the most important things we need to accept is that we are all different, even if we come from the same nation or the same place. That's where fun is; we find happiness in diversity and acceptance for ourselves and for other people. We can start by accepting colorful people and looking at them as just normal people.

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

[blossomlillyofspry]

The Eyes and The Rose

The world is not terrible; the people are. For girls and women, the world is not safe anymore. As women, our bodies undergo a few changes because of puberty. The eyes are all on us. We cannot control the changes in our bodies because they're part of puberty. It's weird to see some older man staring at a young lady because her chest got bigger. It's scary to see in the news that a grandma is being rap*d and ki**ed inside her home. It's sad to see a baby being used for cybers*x, but the most alarming is when her or his own parents do that scary thing. Growing up, we were always told to cover up because the boys might be distracted. When we wear cute skirts or dresses in public, it's not safe anymore because there are strangers who might take pictures under our skirts. We are always reminded that we need a man when walking in the street at night. For what? for other men who might hurt us.

Some of the women are taught that their bodies are the only thing they can offer in this world. Without their beautiful faces and bodies, they're nothing; they're useless. Some people said that a woman must take care of her husband and follow whatever he says. To the point that the husband is abusing his wife and the wife can't ask for help because most people like victim blaming. It's the woman's fault that she's been hurt, sexually objectified, rap*d, and k*l*ed. It's because of how short her skirts are, how big her chest is, how thick her ass is, how beautiful her face is, and how young she is. It's not easy to go through trauma again and tell the story all over again because people don't believe you. It's hard to tell people about what happened to you because they will just find a little mistake in what you've said and blame you for what happened to you. It's hard to be a girl in this world full of evil.

For all the girls, young ladies, and women who's reading this, I want you to think that what happened to you is not your fault. It's not your body; it's their eyes. It's not about your clothes; it's about how they look at you. It's not about how young you were; it's about how sick their mind is. It doesn't matter who they are—family and friends—if they have bad intentions towards you or if they objectify your body secretly. It's not your body; it's their thinking. I hope that you find a reason to see your body differently. To see it as a beautiful thing to have, to see it as a blessing that comes from God, to see yourself as brave and strong to have the power to live your life to the fullest even if you go through something most people don't understand. It's not about how they look at you; it's about how you look at yourself. It's not easy to heal; the pain might last years, but you will be okay. Everything's going to be okay. Women are the roses in this world full of eyes.

 

 ©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

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Your Mental Health, Your Responsibility

Mental health is just like physical health. Both of them are part of ourselves, part of our well-being. When you have a problem in mental health, just like in physical health, you need to medicate. During the pandemic, we all struggled with everything, especially finances, health, mental breakdowns, etc. There's improvement now in terms of being vulnerable because famous people are open, and they have the capacity to express their emotions to the public and admit that they are suffering from mental health issues. But there's also a bad side to that. People who are watching them think that they're heroes for feeling those emotions and admitting that they feel the way they do. There's glorification in mental health issues now. They're not heroes; they're not special; they're just people. They're human beings who feel emotions and experience certain things. We are all human beings; someone else might experience the same as you are right now. Someone out there might feel the same emotions you do right now. It doesn't mean they're not special or unique, and it doesn't mean they're not important.

Your mental health is one of the most important parts of yourself. It is where the core part of you as a human being lies. The right diagnosis and the right medication are used for people who are suffering from mental health issues. You shouldn't do a self-diagnosis just because someone on the internet says so. There are two things that you need to keep in mind if you want to take care of your mental health. First, you need to realize there are no bad or negative emotions. They are just emotions. Your response might be negative or bad. If you're angry, you don't need to throw things, and if you're sad, you don't need to feel self-pity and think it's the end of the world. You just let yourself feel those emotions; sometimes you just need a good cry and a prayer. Second, whatever happens to you, it is always your responsibility. But that doesn't mean it's your fault. People will cause you pain, someone close to you might die, or you got into an accident. It's not your fault with any of these, but what you do after what happens to you is. Taking responsibility for everything you experience will have a major impact on your life. You cannot change what happened to you, but you can change how you respond to it. 

Any type of experience you have, whether bad or good, you always have the power to turn it into good results and live a meaningful life. Always remember that you're not alone. We are human beings, and we are somewhat connected to each other. One of your responsibilities to take care of your mental health is to ask for help. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable around those people you trust the most. It's not the end of the world; you don't know what will happen to you 5 or 10 years from now, and you'll never know you'll be in a place and situation you've always dreamed of. Keep moving forward; take a rest if you need it, then get back to moving forward again and again. 

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

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The Danger of Media

When I was in high school, I used to listen to sad songs and I liked watching horror movies. Then, during the pandemic years, I used to watch psychological thriller movies, which I enjoyed a lot. It was almost every single day. The music I listen to is about depression and has negative vibes. Again, I enjoy it a lot without realizing that this kind of thing affects me mentally. There's a lot going on this past few days about cheating issues and worse, about killing. As we scroll through our social media, almost everything we see is bad news. Those things don't end there; they're stuck in your head; you just didn't realize it. This week I've seen a lot of posts about kids who went missing, then were found after a few days, but had already died. Being informed about what's happening in our place is a good thing because we are being alert and careful with the kids in our family, not just the kids but also ourselves. But too much is a bad thing. What I observe is that when something bad happens, there are tons of people or pages who will post it again and again. So you keep seeing it again and again. You cannot control those people; you can only control yourself. 

 My realization for this week is that what I expose myself to has a huge impact on my life. That's where manifestation came from. If you keep exposing yourself to negative vibes, you'll attract more of them into your life. But if you keep exposing yourself to positive vibes, then you attract them into your life. The same as, who are the people you surround yourself with, have also a big impact to who you are.  The dangers of media include cyberbullying, invasion of privacy, identity theft, and seeing offensive images and messages. But there is also one danger we don't usually talk about. The danger of media in our mental health. What we watch and hear automatically gets into our subconscious mind. Sometimes we are tired even though we're just sitting in our bed. Sometimes we suddenly feel crippling anxiety in our stomach. Sometimes we can't sleep at night. Sometimes we are mean and get irritated easily, even over small things. It came from the things we expose ourselves to in the media. It's okay to be informed, but it's not okay if we always see it. Our brain is one of the most important part in our body, so we need to take care of it. Taking care of it means being mindful of the dangers of the media. 

 I can really say that I'm being mindful of what I watch and what music I listen to has changed my life. It changed the way I see myself, my perspective on life, my mindset, and how I handle problems that come my way. Instead of wasting my time scrolling through media, I now use the time to live a meaningful life and expose myself to positive energy. What I attract now is positivity over toxicity. 

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

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The Finish Line

Yesterday I received shocking news. One of my classmates when I was in high school died. It was a sudden death. That person posted on MyDay that they were going to a place to have fun. Unfortunately, they got into an accident that caused his death. Death is something we cannot stop. Life throws you a lot of problems, but one thing is for sure—we're all going to die. It's just not the same time and day, but we will. This week I feel my anxiety rising, my heart beating fast, and my hands being cold. I don't know, maybe because of the coffee I drank. I feel overwhelmed in both my school and personal lives. There's pressure and disappointment I feel for myself. Setting expectations to myself and end up I didn't get it.  It's sad really.  Some days are just sad and exhausting. Even if you really try harder, sometimes you can't receive the things that you want, maybe because this is not the time for you to receive them. When problems were external, the noises in my head grew louder. There are plans and dreams we might not reach because we never know; death is like a snap. 

Death makes our successes and failures unimportant. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor. It doesn't matter if you're attractive or not. It doesn't matter what your age is. Your embarrassing moment doesn't matter. The shame, disappointments, and problems don't matter. We see death as something bad. When we search for "death" in Google, all the results are about a man who carried an axe and wore black clothes and a hood. It is indeed a sad thing because someone is like, "gone forever." The memories we created with people that are important to us. The things we say and create will have a big impact on people, even if they're not close to us. The things we do, such as showing kindness to someone, will have an imprint on other people's lives. When we think about death, it's scary, but at the same time, it's comforting. Scary because the good things don't matter anymore. Comforting because the bad things don't matter anymore. Plato explains that the soul is immortal and will remain (in a spiritual sense) after the physical destruction of the body. He explains that the fear of death is only natural to humans, but death should be viewed as the achievement of life.

I believe we have two parts to ourselves: the soul and the physical body. Once we die, the physical body only dies, but the soul remains. The soul will travel to certain destinations. The finish line is death, but that doesn't mean it's already over. It's only the beginning of something we don't know yet. Don't be afraid of death; be afraid of an unfulfilled life. Make the most of your days because we never know when, where, or how. Death is unpredictable.

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

[blossomlillyofspry]

I'm a woman, not just a woman 

I like watching Ted Talks; listening to different people talk about a variety of topics makes me more open to the different perspectives that this world offers. I'm a young adult woman, and I have experiences that a woman in this country has every single day. This week I decided to watch Ted Talks about women's empowerment. In my observations, there's a difference between how people respond to a woman and a man when doing a task. Such as if a woman takes her child to the park, it's normal, while if a man does it, people will praise him as if he did a good job. Why we can't just see it as a normal thing to do for a man to take his child to the park. Another thing is that if a man talks about his ambition, people will praise him, while if a woman talks about her ambition, people will call her ambitious. If a man gives an idea to a group meeting, people will tell him, "You're so good," "You're smart," but if a woman gives an idea, people will tell her, "Don't be too bossy." Literally, she is just giving ideas. In a professional work like politician, office workers, lawyers we always follow the dress code black and white.  That's what men wear; it's the standard, so if a woman is working in a professional setting, she needs to wear the color coding of black and white clothes. The man is the standard; there's a saying that "the higher you are, the less you'll see a woman." 

 That's the problem; feminism is not anti-men. According to Oxford Languages, feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. If people will change the way they compliment a girl and the way they communicate with a girl, then it will have a big impact when she becomes a grown woman. Woman who embraces her feminity and is not afraid to wear a colorful dress in the workplace. Woman who is not afraid to speak out. Woman who achieves so many things in life because that's what she loves doing. Woman who doesn't listen to what people are saying, instead she listens in her own mind and heart. Women that fly higher like birds in the sky and are not kept in cages. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the "Iron Lady of Asia," is the woman I'm talking about. Defensor-Santiago, who was known as the "Iron Lady of Asia" despite the fact that most Asian women preferred to remain in the background, was a true figure for women in the twenty-first century. They still look up to her now because of her intelligence, accomplishments, and outspokenness, which make her an exceptional role model for young people. The core of this remarkable woman's legacy is also her extraordinary capacity to rise above personal tragedy and carry on working for the common good.

I'm a woman, not just a woman. I can accomplish all the things I wanted. I'm not bossy; I'm smart. I'm a woman who does things in the extraordinary. I'm a woman, and I can thrive despite what people say. I have many plans and dreams, and I will achieve all of them because I'm a woman, not just a woman. Happy International Women's Month! 

 

©jansal

Picture from Pinterest

Reference:

Posted by Sacred Fire, "WOMEN WHO MATTER" 22, August 2022, https://sacredfirecreative.com/women-who-matter/

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The Ugly Truths of Hazing in Fraternity

I remember hearing sounds coming from our neighborhood when I was a kid. My cousin's home was the source of those noises. There are numerous young adults in their home almost every night. Their second story is the precise location from which those noises are emanating. Not only are there noises of laughter, but also sounds of crying and someone being beaten. My mother then started mentioning fraternities. I'm not sure what it means. One thing I do know is that some of my older cousins belong to different group fraternity. They are all in high school now; I was in elementary school. I was a little perplexed as to why they felt the need to harm a new member of their organization in order to gauge their devotion.

Regardless of a person's willingness to participate, hazing is any behavior that is demanded of someone entering or participating in a group and which humiliates, degrades, abuses, or puts them in danger. Although frequently connected with collegiate fraternities, hazing occurs in a variety of settings. Hazing incidents happen in a variety of clubs, organizations, and teams as well as in a range of contexts, such as middle and high schools, colleges and universities, the military, and workplaces. The death of John Matthew Salilig, a student at Adamson University, was killed by his purported fraternity "brothers," which should serve as a warning to everyone, especially those who have family members who are enrolled in colleges or universities. Hazing is still a problem in many schools as well as other Philippine institutions. In fact, Salilig's story is prompting other residents who had previously kept quiet to speak up about how their own relatives had suffered similar injustices. The majority of fraternities enforce their claims of exclusivity through difficult initiation procedures, under the assumption that the organization is distinguished because it is only open to those applicants who can withstand verbal, physical, and even mental abuse. Even the most brilliant students are drawn to this fraternity habit, according to social psychologists, because it gives their egos a boost of endurance and physical prowess.

Those guilty for the hazing death of John Matthew Salilig and who have likely also wounded others should receive the lengthy prison terms they deserve. The Anti-Hazing Law needs to be improved and its weaknesses fixed. One can only hope that will contribute to a decrease in the number of people who are victims of the culture of violence and impunity that so distressingly permeates Philippine society as a whole.

©jansal

Picture from Gavin Klinger(2017)

References:

https://stophazing.org/issue/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2023/03/09/509697/hazing-and-the-culture-of-violence/%3famp?espv=1

https://medium.com/@gavinklinger57/hazing-its-beginning-and-evolution-throughout-history-fee3cd68ca06

[blossomlillyofspry]

Is the phase-out of jeepneys a fair transition?

I rode a clearly very ancient jeepney earlier on my way home. Most of its components, especially the engine, are somewhat damaged. Due to the fact that it is an X Highway, the route has a stop sign. After waiting for a moment, the traffic light turns green. The engine abruptly shut down. Hence, the driver requested assistance from nearby vendors to push the jeepney forward. The jeepney's engine starting up once again. My observations tell me that this jeepney is very, very old. The floor is visibly in trouble, the floor chair is damaged, the roof has a large hole in it, and a better engine needs to be installed. This driver is a senior citizen. I think he can't afford to fix the jeepney, which may be his only source of revenue and which also gave him money, food, and shelter.

Rodrigo Duterte, the former president, proposed the phaseout of jeepneys in 2017. He claimed it would help improve Manila's poor air quality and relieve gridlocked traffic. Today, the jeepney has turned into the nation's land transportation issue rather than being a solution to the problem. Together, jeepneys pose a threat to the general health. They belch smoke that is frequently dense enough to limit other drivers' ability to see the road because they are frequently not properly maintained. Its diesel engines also emit an imperceptible, toxic gas that, if inhaled repeatedly over an extended period of time, results in lung cancer.

Particularly for those who cannot afford public utility vehicles, the transition is unfair. Possessing a more secure, contemporary, and pleasant form of transportation is actually a good start. Jeepneys are a staple of our culture; you pay the driver by passing the fare to other passengers until it reaches him; you tell him where you're going, and he accepts you at your word. Community. Bayanihan. We have all witnessed fellow riders helping people board the jeepney. We are what we do. We are a kind people who are always willing to help. We're reminded of this by the jeepney. Given how the two rows of seats are arranged to face one another, it also suggests Filipinos' propensity for socializing and conversation.Filipinos are a welcoming people, and the jeepney's design encourages socialization and conversation.

There are other aspects of sustainability than the environment. We must not abandon anyone in our quest for a brighter tomorrow. Social justice and climate action must coexist. Although it is not simple, it is doable. To ensure the protection of the population's most vulnerable members.

©jansal

References:

https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/hail-to-the-chair-by-victor-avecilla/243316/jeepneys-must-be-phased-out.html

https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-jeepney-phaseout-cultural-issue/

https://greennetwork.asia/news/is-jeepney-phase-out-a-just-transition-to-sustainable-transport-system/