#amaizemag

[amaizemag]

Overvaluing Love

By Lakota Rich.

So, before you start questioning how one could possibly overvalue love (although love addiction is a very real thing), I should clarify that the title of this piece is inaccurate. It’s a simpler way of getting at what I really wanted to take space to explore here—why we undervalue relationships that are not romantic and sexual or, in other words, why we don’t value nonsexual and nonromantic relationships as much as we do those that are.

Often, it seems that we make relationships that aren’t about romantic love secondary: we don’t put as much time into them, or as much conscious thought into appreciating and improving them, or we allow them to slip into the background.

Don’t get me wrong—I love love, and I love thinking about it, and I think it’s healthy to really put energy and effort into those kinds of relationships because we do get so much out of them. But why not do the same for relationships that aren’t about romantic love? Why not value our love for our friends and family as much?

I feel the most energized and inspired in my life when I have stimulating, thought-provoking interactions with those around me. And that kind of rush can come from conversation with anyone, although it does usually stem from interactions with friends, family, or significant others.

Essentially, I just wanted to write this to serve as a reminder to be present in all of your relationships, and to put time and care into your friendships. It is so rewarding to foster the growth of those relationships too. I think most of us would agree that balance is important to have within our lives, and it’s time to shift the balance within all of our relationships and understand that we need more than just romantic relationships.

We all love our friends, so why not act like it?

Love,

Lakota

[amaizemag]

My future.

By Jessica Cabrera.

Happy Monday. Hope everyone had a happy Easter and great weekend. This week I had to work all during spring break and had a couple of thoughts while I was riding the subway. I'm not really one to write a poem but this week I wanted to switch it up.

Enjoy,

Jessica C

I am keen to find who I am

I'm craving for answers

Yet the void I feel inside grows stronger

Asking myself the typical questions

Am I happy studying this major?

Am I happy studying at all?

Am I happy?

My days are filled with stress

Worrying about the future

Wondering when I'll have time to start a family while I'm getting a degree

"I must have a degree to provide my kids a better future"

I've drilled this thought in my head

I don't want to be a certain age to start a family

I want it soon but I won't have my degree nor career soon

Can I have both?

At the same time?

Will I be able to succeed at both?

These questions have filled my head recently

It's too much for a 19 year old to handle

All I can do is live each day

And be the best that I can be

Stay in the present

And don't think too much of the future

Is all I can try to do

[amaizemag]

Learning to be ok with taking up space.

By Jessica Ng.

Happy Tuesday pals! If you haven’t listened to the poem ‘Shrinking Women’ by Lily Myers then I highly recommend you do. A lot of what I’m about to say stems off the ideas presented through the strong words from that piece –  with that being said, let’s explore the notion that women have been conditioned to feel guilty for taking up space (and why it is not ok).

When we argue we are bitches.

When we say no we are prudes.

When we are loud we are attention seeking.

When we are sad we are hormonal.

On trains we cross our legs, neatly fold ourselves in alignment to ensure we are not taking up more room than we need to. The word sorry slips out before the start of sentences that we do not need to feel apologetic for. It has become a natural reaction for me to roll my shoulders inwards, look down at my feet and apologize as I side step past a group of men standing in the middle of a walkway. As mentioned in ‘Shrinking Women’, we have been taught to accommodate.  The ‘ideal’ woman as portrayed by mainstream media is a size 6 – and don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being a size 6. But the message put forth by the blatant exclusion of women in media who wear sizes that aren’t single digits teaches girls that women are not seen to be desirable unless they emulate the slim figures they see plastered across every media outlet. Women are urged to shrink whilst men are encouraged to grow and expand – a damaging mentality for both parties with issues arising with self-image and esteem.

The idea that the innocent expression of human emotion can be taken as an invitation to reduce the validity of it is at best idiotic and at worst, disrespectful. The nonchalant roll of the eyes accompanied with the classic “are you on your period?” line is just one of the many situations women face on a daily basis that reaffirms the idea that women have been taught to hold back because the wrath of a woman’s vast range of emotion is something that men are not able to comprehend. Perhaps it comes from the harmful generalization that women are pure and innocent beings. No scars on her porcelain skin, no ability to spit fire from her delicate lips.

This is call for all women to stop feeling guilty for taking up space. You do not need to be bubble wrapped and boxed for protection. You do not need to keep listening to society’s orders for you to shrink down. You do not need to spend your life accommodating.

Love always,

Jessica

[amaizemag]

we are such stuff as dreams are made on.

By Lillan Lemouchi.

"We are such stuff

As dreams are made on; and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep.”

-The Tempest, William Shakespeare

As I was reading through Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ for my studies, I was reminded of my favourite quote from the play. It’s a quote that puts existence into some form of perspective, and it got me thinking about the preciousness of such a state. To exist is a gift from some obscure stranger who decided that you, out of countless potential others, were the one who could have it. A little research told me that the probability of you existing is 1 in 10 to the power of 2,685,000. Thats 10 followed by two million six-hundred and eighty-five zeros; an unfathomable number. Your existence is so unlikely it’s nearly a miracle (according to a more scientific perspective, but there are of course many other frames of mind that perceive existence in a different light).

So, lets zoom out for a moment, take a breath and look at what we have. Though happiness is typically a sporadically experienced emotion and there may be times where life takes you to a very dark place, something to always rememberer is that you are living. It sounds silly, but its easy to forget that simple fact, and remembering it could put your personal problems and issues into some perspective. It could have been a multitude of other souls walking this earth, but instead it’s you. You have this rare electricity surging through your body filling you to the brim with potential. Pause and say thank you, to whoever or whatever it is you feel inclined to thank, for this opportunity. People in all walks of life, with different experiences, different ideas, different souls, we have our existence on this earth in common and we are all so very lucky for that. So if you ever need to cleanse your mind of its stresses or if you need clarity in order to make a decision, remember this is your existence and your life and it’s so very special that you can be here living and breathing and taking it all in. You are one in 10 to the power of 2,685,000! Try to use your opportunity with appreciation and make this life as beautiful as you possibly can!

Love to all,

Lillan xx

[amaizemag]

An Open Letter to You: You Are Made of Stars.

By Jessica Ng.

You are made of stars - perhaps even an entire solar system lies solely within the palms of your hands. Those hands in which you’ve laboured, picked at, burnt, loved and nurtured

Be kind to yourself,

listen to your body’s wishes. When thoughts and actions are dissonant your skin insists that it continues to heal what you thought you had already broken.

Thread by thread you are sewn back together

What you thought you lacked your body made up for in belief so darling,

believe.

Wear the scars on your body like warpaint, you are not weak.

You are thunder in a hailstorm – ruthless, certain and powerful

my love, you are explosive.

The world knows not of the fire you keep humbled within your heart,

Dipped in titanium and chained for safety but who’s asking to be saved?

And when the dawn dances back around to kiss the air with the gift of light

Remember the light that exists within the mountains you move everyday;

Flesh and bones and a beating heart -

Love,

Jessica x

[fiery-one]

Explore for that, which feeds your soul, feels like the warmth of the sun and makes flowers bloom from the top of your skull. 🌞✨🌿🌜🌴🐚🌟#instamoments #instagood #amaizemag #iamamaize #babysbreath #thegrounds #sydney #poetry #markets

[fiery-one]

I'm in an online magazine? 👏🏻🌟🌈 Check out the interview I did with @amaizemag #iamamaize after joining their Amaize Mag Committee! I'll start dropping pieces this time next week so keep an eye out and in the mean time read up on all of your Amaize committee on the website. Link is in my bio ✨⚡️👏🏻🌟🌈 #amaizemag #instagood #instamoments #interview #blogger #girlssupportinggirls #grlpwr (at Sydney, Australia)