Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs

I was fortunate enough to grow up in the 90's. My generation got to grow up still being kids. We'd look forward to getting a skip-it, bop-it, Barbies, Polly Pockets, Pogs, yak-baks for Christmas. We got to watch the antics of Will Smith on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", the make-ups and break-ups of Zach and Kelly on "Saved by the Bell" and the young and goofy Ryan Gosling on "Breaker High". The 90's was also when households were introduced to new technologies like personal computers. The book "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" written by Chuck Klosterman is an insightful book relating 80's and 90's pop culture to life issues. It's very clever, witty and full of humour. The book is written in short essays based on a subject and a pop culture topic that relates. This is one of my favourite books, I've read it multiple times and I'm still able to gain something new every time I do. It's a refreshing read about serious topics and has a humourous outlook on life. Though it may seem like Klosterman is taking an almost nihilist perspective on the meaning of life, I believe he's more of an absurdist. Perhaps I just believe so because I'm an absurdist and that's how I read this book. Regardless if you want a good laugh, but still want to read something with value, "Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs", will provide you with both.

                                      

Perks of Being a Wallflower

I recently saw the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and it's such an inspirational movie. It portrays the life of a gifted boy who is first entering high school and really just wants friends and to fit in. Stephen Chbosky did an amazing job of writing the book, which is a series of letters written by Charlie, the main character, to a person he's never actually met. The book is so emotional because Charlie is so honest and truthful, you are able to feel what he's going through. But Chbosky also wrote and directed the movie, which also did a great job of explaining Charlie and his life. Chbosky is extremely talented and I look forward to his future projects. What is interesting about Charlie is the fact that he is so smart but is confused by the world and the people in it. He spends his time trying to understand instead of just experiencing life. It makes me laugh because those who are intellectually gifted struggle with just this issue and people who are lacking smarts think they know everything. In actuality most people don't really know as much as we think and we all have things to learn. There's a lot to be learnt from this book and movie and I highly recommend both of these media. Especially if you are starting something new, whether it's a new job, new school, moving away, this book/movie helps you realize to just live. Right now in my own life, I'm about to graduate university, my best friend moved in with me a couple months ago, I've made amazing friends these past 2 years and I'm happy, I understand what it means to feel infinite. Thank you Charlie.                                                                                                           

Love always, 

TheTatteredTurtle

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/

After Undergrad

I am about to graduate from my undergrad degree and there are no words for my excitement, but I am also full of fear. I have so many different options open to me after I graduate how am I suppose to know what the right decision is? I could move to another country to start a whole new chapter of my life. I could start a career, gain work experience and return to grad school in a couple years. I could go to grad school now. For those of us who are aware of the many current articles out there that talk about this issue specifically are completely mixed. Some say it's a better idea to stay in school, others say it could be a mistake to continue your education in our current society. Ultimately the choice is your own and no outside source is going to make it for you. Just be aware of what you want out of life, make your decision about what will make you happy and help you become the type of person you want to be :)  

Christmas Season

The Christmas season is suppose to be a joyous time of the year, but in reality people have misconstrued almost every aspect of Christmas. We've made it about consumer products and political correctness. What we really should be focused on is caring for others, and feeling blessed for what we have. We should want to help those less fortunate and spend time with our loved ones. It may sound a little cliche, but currently in the world we live in these things are constantly put to the way side. To be honest it shouldn't be about religion either, religion seems to divide people and we should be coming together as a whole instead. These concepts should be followed in our everyday lives, all the time, but that isn't the case and if the Christmas season is the only time this is really emphasized we should talk advantage of it. I say we should abuse others with kindness not our religious integrity or consumer products. Just try and keep these simple but crucial concepts in mind this Christmas. With that being said:


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

The Meaning of Life

 Natural psychology seems more philosophical than other fields of psychology, which seems appropriate since psychology's roots are in philosophy. The article below explores the age old question "what is the meaning of life?" If you've never contemplated this question, you truly need to in order to understand your own life. The only finite things to life are your birth and death, the journey is completely up to your own volition. In my opinion I do not believe there is a simple answer to this question. Perhaps the only simple answer would be to find the things that make you happy, but even that answer is more complicated than it seems. I have never lived my life pursuing one specific purpose, because there is not one purpose that could encompass a whole person's life. I think it is more important to live life with eyes wide open, keeping your own morals and values as guidelines, but not concrete. Maybe we are just meant to live life as it comes and enjoy the journey until it's end. This includes all the ups and downs, because even the things do not seem so positive do contribute to the person we become. I think everything would be worth it's while in the end if we could be happy with the person we've become. Just because there is no definite meaning to life does not mean it is sad or pathetic, it gives us the opportunity to set our own goals and create the life we want, not follow some intended structured path. This idea is what makes life have such intrinsic meaning in my opinion. The best part of this question is that it's open-ended, so you can determine your own "meaning to life," whatever that may be.  
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rethinking-psychology/201211/why-choosing-your-life-purpose-is-so-darn-hard

Vase; A Metaphor For Love

This is how I look at relationships. A relationship is like a vase crafted by two loving people; fragile and beautiful. But when one person hurts the other, that vase falls and breaks, each person gets some of the pieces. They can choose to start trying to put the pieces back together, but if only one person is trying to put the pieces together, that vase won't be whole until the other is willing to work at it too. If that person doesn't care they will keep misplacing and losing pieces, until they've lost all their pieces or perhaps they decide to start rebuilding. If they do start trying to rebuild, the vase still won't be whole because of those already lost pieces, unless they are willing to go searching for them. The thing to remember is you will always be able to see the cracks and it will never be as strong as it previously was. That sounds like a slightly sad way to look at it, but you can also see the effort put forth by both parties to make it whole again and find beauty in the cracks.

Rape Myths

The idea that any woman wants to be raped is beyond any expression of words. No woman wants this, NONE. It's not a hard concept, if she says no than that's your first clue she doesn't want it. If she struggles it's more than obvious she doesn't want your nasty body parts anywhere near her. But somehow these stupid men committing rape don't see how that's not consent. How anyone can think a woman brings it upon herself to be raped by what she's wearing and how she's acting, needs a right smack in the head. No one brings that upon themselves and no one wants that. If you don't know or understand the meaning of "no" go back to kindergarten. Five year olds know what it means, how can thirty-five year olds not? And this whole aspect that men can't control their urges, get over yourself. We are grown people, we are the human species, the apparent superior species because we have the ability to think, SO DO IT! You have the ability to control your own behaviours, we have will power, use it! You are no more than a dumb, stupid animal if you commit rape. Don't give in to the rape myths either, they are just that, a myth. They aren't true and they are merely acting as excuses for peoples' actions, take control and responsibility of your own actions. And for anyone who believes rape myths, again use your head, get educated. If you think anyone deserves this, you're sick. 
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-love-and-war/201211/she-asked-it-the-impact-rape-myths