I Should be Working
I should be working
but
Outside the sky is deep, deep blue
And clean, puffy clouds drift by—
I should be working
but
The grass is so green and new
And the gentle breeze brings
Fresh
new
air.
I should be working
but
Someone’s calling my name out there
And the promise of the day is simply too hard
to resist.
So pardon me, my homework, my grades, my parents—
I can’t refrain
From going out there
Today.
—H R M
I never thought writing about why I didn’t want to do my homework would classify as working, but there you are. Welcome to my blog post about procrastination. Why do we procrastinate? All sorts of reasons. Deadlines don’t look real until they’re right in our faces. We’re tired. We’re lazy. There are other things to distract us. But most of all, we just don’t feel like working.
Unfortunately for us, in this competitive society, always working and being on top of things is one of those things we have to do if we want to make it in the world. Kind of ironic that the thing we’d rather not do is something completely and utterly necessary.
I think we realize this, but as with so many other things, it’s hard to admit to ourselves and others. So, we procrastinate. I’ll admit that I feel like there are so many other things I could be doing (and want to do) that the prospect of spending an hour at the dining table drawing pictures that don’t turn out so well isn’t the most exciting. It’s even worse when someone’s offered to do something, or when the weather is amazing. And, especially when there are several days before it’s due, there’s always the little voice that says, “You’ll be able to do it tomorrow anyway.”
Of course, then we get to “tomorrow” and end up staying up late. Why’s that? It’s a lot of annoyance either way, just postponed. Some people, of course, work better under pressure, but I daresay that’s not all of us. And with less time, we’re more likely to produce a slipshod job and then be frustrated because it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.
But we human beings manage to defy reason every time. That’s why we’re people, not automatons. Reason at all times is reserved for robots. If we always followed reason, well, we’d be predictable—the world might be nice, but then it would be all the same, too.
Does that mean procrastination’s good? Not really. I didn’t honestly mean that. But it’s a fact of life and it proves we’re human and we can make mistakes…even the same ones over and over and over again. It’s just one of those little things that shape us. We shouldn’t do it, but we do. For better or worse, procrastination is pretty much a part of our lives (for teenagers, anyway). With a bit of luck, we manage to get by. Just don’t put it off too far!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should be working.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Headlines
Headline News! Student stabbed 16 times with a steak knife! Senatorial scandal revealed! Economy makes worst downturn in 68 years! Breakout from prison! Hurricane strikes the southeast of the country: 68 killed!
Sure, maybe it tells you things, but it’s downright depressing.
Do you ever think how nice it would be instead of seeing all that on the front page, we had things like…The first rainfall in 16 years leaves a town in the Sahara Desert celebrating in joy! 2 captured endangered species survive in the wild! After the fire 14 years ago, forest covers 6 acres of the devastated park! A cancer patient recovers from the brink of death!
Maybe it doesn’t draw people in, drive them to know exactly what happened, make them talk in the streets worriedly, but it gives a lighter tone to things, and you know what? It should. We should be just as concerned to hear about the great things that have happened in our world as hearing about the bad things. Reading the newspaper, you’d think that nothing good ever happened in the entire world. Perhaps they think to make us try and find the good things in our own lives and then alert us to the bad things, but a better balance would be nice.
And what’s with the reports on scandal and all that? Sure the general populace enjoys that kind of stuff…just like people in a crowd are idiots compared with people on their own. The general IQ of a crowd is about the average of everyone in it minus about 30 or 40 or more points. People turn into mobs that way. If you’re going to report the darker side of things, at least you could report things that affect people, rather than things that make nosy people opinionated about others.
At least, though, the focus of newspapers ought to be more balanced. Some good things, some bad things, interspersed throughout the paper—both on the front cover instead of the darkest things taking up most of the front page. Perhaps you could divide it into two parts, and have one happy thing and one direr thing per page. Uplifting and educating at the same time. To remind us that all is not hopeless, that good things still happen, but that we need to do things to preserve them as well, that bad things do happen, and that maybe we have a chance of righting them.
If we could only communicate with everyone else in the country and the world, if we could only find a way to show everyone that we’re all on the same side, that we’re not enemies, but friends, the same people, part of the same clan—one earth, children of the same planet that shelters us, no matter what else we might believe in. The concerns of one people are of all people, but the joys of one people are also of all people. And all are equally important. If everyone could realize, there wouldn’t be a need to talk about war or destruction or misery, and we could show all the other things in every issue, everywhere.
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon. But we can always hope, can we not? We can always try and hope and work for it, and then we wouldn’t need to worry which to focus on. <3
Sure, maybe it tells you things, but it’s downright depressing.
Do you ever think how nice it would be instead of seeing all that on the front page, we had things like…The first rainfall in 16 years leaves a town in the Sahara Desert celebrating in joy! 2 captured endangered species survive in the wild! After the fire 14 years ago, forest covers 6 acres of the devastated park! A cancer patient recovers from the brink of death!
Maybe it doesn’t draw people in, drive them to know exactly what happened, make them talk in the streets worriedly, but it gives a lighter tone to things, and you know what? It should. We should be just as concerned to hear about the great things that have happened in our world as hearing about the bad things. Reading the newspaper, you’d think that nothing good ever happened in the entire world. Perhaps they think to make us try and find the good things in our own lives and then alert us to the bad things, but a better balance would be nice.
And what’s with the reports on scandal and all that? Sure the general populace enjoys that kind of stuff…just like people in a crowd are idiots compared with people on their own. The general IQ of a crowd is about the average of everyone in it minus about 30 or 40 or more points. People turn into mobs that way. If you’re going to report the darker side of things, at least you could report things that affect people, rather than things that make nosy people opinionated about others.
At least, though, the focus of newspapers ought to be more balanced. Some good things, some bad things, interspersed throughout the paper—both on the front cover instead of the darkest things taking up most of the front page. Perhaps you could divide it into two parts, and have one happy thing and one direr thing per page. Uplifting and educating at the same time. To remind us that all is not hopeless, that good things still happen, but that we need to do things to preserve them as well, that bad things do happen, and that maybe we have a chance of righting them.
If we could only communicate with everyone else in the country and the world, if we could only find a way to show everyone that we’re all on the same side, that we’re not enemies, but friends, the same people, part of the same clan—one earth, children of the same planet that shelters us, no matter what else we might believe in. The concerns of one people are of all people, but the joys of one people are also of all people. And all are equally important. If everyone could realize, there wouldn’t be a need to talk about war or destruction or misery, and we could show all the other things in every issue, everywhere.
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon. But we can always hope, can we not? We can always try and hope and work for it, and then we wouldn’t need to worry which to focus on. <3
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Fable
(...So I thought I published this ages ago but apparently I didn't hit the button. >.< I added lots more on since, so...I'll publish it as one big thing!)
Is it better to be ruled by logic, or by feeling?
Once upon a time there were two brothers. The first was a very logical man. He prided himself on his coldness and his ability to judge everything objectively and rationally. He was so logical, he said, that he could follow connections between objects that would lead him straight back to the original object. He could invent an explanation for everything that was based on pure logic and the simplest explanations. The second brother was ruled by his emotions. He did things on the spur of the moment depending on how he felt. He would feel sorry for the little birds in the winter and give them his dinner bread, and have none himself and feel sorry later. He felt for everything however they deserved and went through every span of emotion there was, sometimes in the course of just a single day.
One day the two brothers decided to go out into the world and seek their fortunes. They came to a fork in the road. “Which way shall we go?” asked the second brother. “I’ll choose the left-hand way,” said the first brother. “It goes downwards, and everyone knows you must go down before you can come up. Furthermore, downward-running roads often lead to streams, for water always runs at the lowest point, and streams will run out to the plains and the sea.”
The second brother took a look at both of them and frowned. “I’ll take the right-hand side—it is lighter and brighter there. The birds sing more beautifully. I feel sure that the right-hand path will bring me good fortune.”
“Farewell, then, brother,” said the first one, and went on his path.
“Farewell,” said the second brother, not without feeling, for although they were very different, he loved his brother very much. He, too, set out on his path.
We shall follow the second brother first. He walked through the forest with a light heart, for the trees were thin and the sun shone down. “Surely I have picked the better way,” he exclaimed. “It is bright and beautiful here. I think I will lie down and have a small nap.” And he did so.
When he woke up, it was full dark. An eerily bright crescent moon lit the forest up. “Oh no!” he said with more than a touch of fear. “I slept too late, and now I shall never find my way out!” And he began to weep inconsolably. Never a thought occurred of getting out, following the road that was still there, or even of sleeping until morning and going on. Neither did a darker thought of what might be out there occur.
Soon enough he felt a touch on his shoulder. He jumped up immediately. A figure dressed all in glowing white was standing in front of him. “Who…are you?” he asked, now entranced by the mysteriousness.
“Who I am is not important. Would you like me to show you the way out?” replied the figure in an ethereal voice. The second brother nodded vigorously. He followed the figure, who said no more, until it led him out onto a plain facing a castle on the other side, then vanished.
The second brother immediately went straight to the castle town. “Where am I?” he inquired of all the people he could.
“In His Majesty’s town, of course. Would you like to buy a meat pie?” replied a hawker. It smelled delicious, so he bought it, leaving only a few silver pieces left in his pocket.
Having nowhere else to go, and mindful of the figure who had led him there, he went up to the gates of the castle and knocked. Surprisingly, they opened, and a suspicious-looking man stuck his head out. “Whaddayawant?”
The second brother took offense at this. “Why, to marry your princess, of course!” he said rudely, thinking of the most outrageous thing he could. However, the doorman simply blinked. “All right, come along then,” he beckoned.
Completely bewildered, the second brother followed him.
And now let us return to the first brother…he had followed his path, which indeed led downward, but unlike his brother’s, his path was dark and overshadowed and he was soon lost. He bit his lip and kept going. “Surely after this is must get better,” he muttered.
Soon enough he was lost inside the forest. Being very logical, he went to look at the trees, for he knew that moss grew on the north side. “I was traveling east when I entered, and that will be the shortest way out.” He quickly found the way he thought was best and followed it.
It led out to the same open ground his brother had found, and he, too, went straight to the town. He refused the offerings of food and went straight to the center of the town, where he found an announcement.
His Majesty’s Subjects:
The good King’s eldest daughter, fair Rosalind, has come of age and is ready to be married. Whosoever shall come and who can prove themselves worthy shall have her hand.
Now, the first brother thought that it was high time he obtained a wife, and so directed his footsteps to the castle, where he met the same greeting as his brother had and the same question. “I noticed an announcement about the princess’s marriage,” he said courteously. “Might I present myself as a suitor?” The doorman drew his head inside and beckoned.
When the second man saw his brother led into the great chamber, he was overjoyed. “My dear brother! What brings you here?”
The first brother raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see the announcement regarding the King’s daughter?” The second brother shook his head. “Certainly not, but I’m glad you are here with me.”
Before they could say any more, the princess entered the room. Both were stunned. The first brother recovered first. “Fair lady…” he said softly. The second just gazed at her.
“Welcome,” she said. Her voice was musical and added to the enchantment of her appearance. “You seek my hand?” Both brothers nodded. “Then, one will show you to your rooms tonight. There are tasks you must do. The first night you may not sleep or take any rest, no matter how weary you may be. A shape shall appear and entreat you to sleep, but you must not. Come to me tomorrow morning.” And she dismissed them.
The brothers were led to adjacent rooms and ushered to bed. “Good night,” they said to each other, and without further ado, they entered their rooms.
The second brother sat awake on the bed, the only furniture that could accommodate sitting, wondering what would happen that night. It was only to be expected that he felt a thrill of confusion. Who knew what he would see? In the next room, his brother sat calmly, awaiting what would happen, sure he could handle it.
The clock struck 9…10…11…both their eyelids began to droop, though they fought, until…
Dong….dong…dong…the clock struck twelve.
Suddenly soft, eerie music began to play. The first brother stoically refused to listen to it. The second brother was entranced. He rose and looked out of the window, searching for the source of the beautiful, ethereal sound. The moon appeared especially bright, as it had the last night, and a faint silver glow suffused the air.
Suddenly, a bright figure appeared behind the second brother. He realized it to be the one he had met the other night, and instantly turned toward it.
(TBC)
Is it better to be ruled by logic, or by feeling?
Once upon a time there were two brothers. The first was a very logical man. He prided himself on his coldness and his ability to judge everything objectively and rationally. He was so logical, he said, that he could follow connections between objects that would lead him straight back to the original object. He could invent an explanation for everything that was based on pure logic and the simplest explanations. The second brother was ruled by his emotions. He did things on the spur of the moment depending on how he felt. He would feel sorry for the little birds in the winter and give them his dinner bread, and have none himself and feel sorry later. He felt for everything however they deserved and went through every span of emotion there was, sometimes in the course of just a single day.
One day the two brothers decided to go out into the world and seek their fortunes. They came to a fork in the road. “Which way shall we go?” asked the second brother. “I’ll choose the left-hand way,” said the first brother. “It goes downwards, and everyone knows you must go down before you can come up. Furthermore, downward-running roads often lead to streams, for water always runs at the lowest point, and streams will run out to the plains and the sea.”
The second brother took a look at both of them and frowned. “I’ll take the right-hand side—it is lighter and brighter there. The birds sing more beautifully. I feel sure that the right-hand path will bring me good fortune.”
“Farewell, then, brother,” said the first one, and went on his path.
“Farewell,” said the second brother, not without feeling, for although they were very different, he loved his brother very much. He, too, set out on his path.
We shall follow the second brother first. He walked through the forest with a light heart, for the trees were thin and the sun shone down. “Surely I have picked the better way,” he exclaimed. “It is bright and beautiful here. I think I will lie down and have a small nap.” And he did so.
When he woke up, it was full dark. An eerily bright crescent moon lit the forest up. “Oh no!” he said with more than a touch of fear. “I slept too late, and now I shall never find my way out!” And he began to weep inconsolably. Never a thought occurred of getting out, following the road that was still there, or even of sleeping until morning and going on. Neither did a darker thought of what might be out there occur.
Soon enough he felt a touch on his shoulder. He jumped up immediately. A figure dressed all in glowing white was standing in front of him. “Who…are you?” he asked, now entranced by the mysteriousness.
“Who I am is not important. Would you like me to show you the way out?” replied the figure in an ethereal voice. The second brother nodded vigorously. He followed the figure, who said no more, until it led him out onto a plain facing a castle on the other side, then vanished.
The second brother immediately went straight to the castle town. “Where am I?” he inquired of all the people he could.
“In His Majesty’s town, of course. Would you like to buy a meat pie?” replied a hawker. It smelled delicious, so he bought it, leaving only a few silver pieces left in his pocket.
Having nowhere else to go, and mindful of the figure who had led him there, he went up to the gates of the castle and knocked. Surprisingly, they opened, and a suspicious-looking man stuck his head out. “Whaddayawant?”
The second brother took offense at this. “Why, to marry your princess, of course!” he said rudely, thinking of the most outrageous thing he could. However, the doorman simply blinked. “All right, come along then,” he beckoned.
Completely bewildered, the second brother followed him.
And now let us return to the first brother…he had followed his path, which indeed led downward, but unlike his brother’s, his path was dark and overshadowed and he was soon lost. He bit his lip and kept going. “Surely after this is must get better,” he muttered.
Soon enough he was lost inside the forest. Being very logical, he went to look at the trees, for he knew that moss grew on the north side. “I was traveling east when I entered, and that will be the shortest way out.” He quickly found the way he thought was best and followed it.
It led out to the same open ground his brother had found, and he, too, went straight to the town. He refused the offerings of food and went straight to the center of the town, where he found an announcement.
His Majesty’s Subjects:
The good King’s eldest daughter, fair Rosalind, has come of age and is ready to be married. Whosoever shall come and who can prove themselves worthy shall have her hand.
Now, the first brother thought that it was high time he obtained a wife, and so directed his footsteps to the castle, where he met the same greeting as his brother had and the same question. “I noticed an announcement about the princess’s marriage,” he said courteously. “Might I present myself as a suitor?” The doorman drew his head inside and beckoned.
When the second man saw his brother led into the great chamber, he was overjoyed. “My dear brother! What brings you here?”
The first brother raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see the announcement regarding the King’s daughter?” The second brother shook his head. “Certainly not, but I’m glad you are here with me.”
Before they could say any more, the princess entered the room. Both were stunned. The first brother recovered first. “Fair lady…” he said softly. The second just gazed at her.
“Welcome,” she said. Her voice was musical and added to the enchantment of her appearance. “You seek my hand?” Both brothers nodded. “Then, one will show you to your rooms tonight. There are tasks you must do. The first night you may not sleep or take any rest, no matter how weary you may be. A shape shall appear and entreat you to sleep, but you must not. Come to me tomorrow morning.” And she dismissed them.
The brothers were led to adjacent rooms and ushered to bed. “Good night,” they said to each other, and without further ado, they entered their rooms.
The second brother sat awake on the bed, the only furniture that could accommodate sitting, wondering what would happen that night. It was only to be expected that he felt a thrill of confusion. Who knew what he would see? In the next room, his brother sat calmly, awaiting what would happen, sure he could handle it.
The clock struck 9…10…11…both their eyelids began to droop, though they fought, until…
Dong….dong…dong…the clock struck twelve.
Suddenly soft, eerie music began to play. The first brother stoically refused to listen to it. The second brother was entranced. He rose and looked out of the window, searching for the source of the beautiful, ethereal sound. The moon appeared especially bright, as it had the last night, and a faint silver glow suffused the air.
Suddenly, a bright figure appeared behind the second brother. He realized it to be the one he had met the other night, and instantly turned toward it.
(TBC)
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