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Midnight Hour: Lacking (but Wanting) Harmony
11 years ago
-from Drawponies moderator Boardgamebrony-
There are many times I’ve looked at My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic and felt inspired by the actions of the characters on the show. Inspired to be a better person, even though the complications of life make things far more difficult than the 22-minute challenges the show provides.
For the past year I’ve found myself upset at various situations, whether they be personal, professional or global (thanks to the constant stream of internet news and updates). I sometimes question if the actions I’ve taken in the past were the most optimum ones, considering that I used to see myself as a more kind and compassionate individual than I am now. Of course, I was less angry at various, uncontrollable world issues and past problems, which tend to be parts of my daily stress that are unwanted and unneeded.
So to tonight’s question: Are there elements of harmony you feel you personally need to work on?
I’ll start.
I think I need to work on kindness more. I keep imagining out of all the elements that persist, the one which seems the most vital in the world today is kindness. That thought triggered this entire entry in tonight’s Midnight Hour discussion.
I think of Fluttershy a lot. An emotional cheerleader, if you will. Really helps me calm down and focus in on being a better person. I honestly want to be more like her in a variety of important life-changing ways. I would love to be a walking (or trotting) Element of Kindness.
Sometimes I think I need to isolate myself and just…pull away from the world, find a nice quiet spot somewhere remote and take everything necessary with me to learn about kindness, so I can come back from my quite-literal retreat and share it with others. This urging is so strong, that only a few small decisions stopped me from doing so after I finished the last con of the year I was scheduled to sell at. I told Neil Drawponies about it. He was surprised I was so overwhelmed, but he expressed his understanding.
I wish I could be more kind…and that people would listen to me about my ideas of kindness and implement them in their lives.
I think…I think the reason I’m not “as kind” as I was before is because I’m scared of being vulnerable. Of allowing myself to be vulnerable. Like I feel I have to protect myself a lot more know. And it really has helped. I’ve protected myself from scams and poor friend choices and bad peer decisions. But finding out when it’s time to drop those defenses and just be open and caring…it’s so hard sometimes.
What do you guys have to say about your desired elements of harmony you want to work on? I’d love to hear it. I love hearing your discussions. Reading them makes me happy. Like I’ve really made a positive difference in your lives just by exercising my well-spring of ideas through these discussions and the 332 deviantART polls written in over a year, with Neil creating a few of his own.
There are many times I’ve looked at My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic and felt inspired by the actions of the characters on the show. Inspired to be a better person, even though the complications of life make things far more difficult than the 22-minute challenges the show provides.
For the past year I’ve found myself upset at various situations, whether they be personal, professional or global (thanks to the constant stream of internet news and updates). I sometimes question if the actions I’ve taken in the past were the most optimum ones, considering that I used to see myself as a more kind and compassionate individual than I am now. Of course, I was less angry at various, uncontrollable world issues and past problems, which tend to be parts of my daily stress that are unwanted and unneeded.
So to tonight’s question: Are there elements of harmony you feel you personally need to work on?
I’ll start.
I think I need to work on kindness more. I keep imagining out of all the elements that persist, the one which seems the most vital in the world today is kindness. That thought triggered this entire entry in tonight’s Midnight Hour discussion.
I think of Fluttershy a lot. An emotional cheerleader, if you will. Really helps me calm down and focus in on being a better person. I honestly want to be more like her in a variety of important life-changing ways. I would love to be a walking (or trotting) Element of Kindness.
Sometimes I think I need to isolate myself and just…pull away from the world, find a nice quiet spot somewhere remote and take everything necessary with me to learn about kindness, so I can come back from my quite-literal retreat and share it with others. This urging is so strong, that only a few small decisions stopped me from doing so after I finished the last con of the year I was scheduled to sell at. I told Neil Drawponies about it. He was surprised I was so overwhelmed, but he expressed his understanding.
I wish I could be more kind…and that people would listen to me about my ideas of kindness and implement them in their lives.
I think…I think the reason I’m not “as kind” as I was before is because I’m scared of being vulnerable. Of allowing myself to be vulnerable. Like I feel I have to protect myself a lot more know. And it really has helped. I’ve protected myself from scams and poor friend choices and bad peer decisions. But finding out when it’s time to drop those defenses and just be open and caring…it’s so hard sometimes.
What do you guys have to say about your desired elements of harmony you want to work on? I’d love to hear it. I love hearing your discussions. Reading them makes me happy. Like I’ve really made a positive difference in your lives just by exercising my well-spring of ideas through these discussions and the 332 deviantART polls written in over a year, with Neil creating a few of his own.
I don't exactly have that spark of friendship. I don't like it, I don't need it, and that's what I'd need to work on if I cared at all.
I don't lie. I'm honest with myself and others. I am extremely generous; I make sure that others are well and happy before my own needs. Everyone would allow my back to theirs, as I would be loyal enough to never betray someone or stab them in the back. I am kind, because I empathize with people well, and understand their position. I make sure to laugh, and to make others around me smile and laugh along with me.
There is no reason for friendship. What's the point of any of the other elements, if there's nothing to hold it together? What's the point of the magic of friendship without friends? If all you do is hate yourself and others, Nobody will be your friend.
As I am kind, Others will be cruel in return. As I am generous, others will be greedy. As I am honest, People shall lie. As I am loyal, others will betray. As I laugh, Others shall scorn and hate.
There is no magic, and thus no friendship.
I usually feel guilty about this, often wishing I could do more to help my friends and family with their troubles, but truth be told sometimes I simply don't care. I've spent so much of my childhood trying to watch out for the people around me then taking any of their failures to heart as if it was my fault that they got hurt. Somewhere along the line I think I got tired of feeling responsible for the pain of others and I shut myself out.
These days people coming to me for stability annoy me. I don't WANT to be their rock! I don't WANT to be responsible for them feeling better or worse! Yet night after night they come to me and I go through the motions of helping them, all the while not being as emotionally invested as I know I should be.
I'm lying to them and to myself, and I just don't know how to fix it.
I think we all have an element we struggle with. I envy those who are honest and loyal with those around them.