Shake it off, and take a step up! - a tale of undying naivety

All my life, I’ve been called an optimist. I was always happy, always smiling, and always positive.  But, as I grew older, people stopped calling me an optimist, and chose instead to deem me “naïve.”  By saying that, they meant that one couldn’t possibly truly understand life, and still love it as much as I do. I never really paid all of this much heed till very recently.

These last few weeks have been…..stressful. Emotionally, physically, so much so I even caught the flu because of it! It was a series of instances that brought me to this state, successive and hard-hitting. I cannot tell you all that happened, but I can honestly say that all of these have changed me forever.

This year was bound to be crazy from the start, with this being my final year in high school, but the stress that comes with it is unfathomable. It’s hard enough dealing with the idea of “the rest of my life”, but throw in school, classes, obligations, interests, and the rest of the messy human experience, and you have one hell of a challenge in front of you. I was in such a place, when I was hit by a tidal wave (metaphorical, of course) that knocked me to the ground. I knew I could get up, I just began to wonder what’s the point in trying so hard was. I hated those thoughts and I hope I never have them ever again.

With the help of the greatest parents and most supportive friends, I got out of my slump (and as Dr.Seuss taught us, unslumping yourself is not easily done). I’m so grateful, and I’m writing today to tell you what I learned.

I learned that sometimes, people are going to hurt you. Sometimes in life, you’re going to get passed over. Sometimes, Life is going to throw you some curveballs, and some are going to hit you in the face. But that’s ok.

Like I said, people have always called me naïve and have always said to me “Don’t expect things to change. Just get used to the way things are.” But they’re wrong. They’re so unbelievably wrong because change is just about the only thing in the world we can truly count on. Times change, and we change with them - always for the better. I don’t really mind if you think I’m silly or immature, because I’ve seen so much negativity these last few weeks, not only in myself but in those around me, and in my eyes, such negativity is no longer an option.

I was speaking to a friend a few days ago, and it broke my heart when she told me I sounded as if someone had drained the spirit out of me. That’s what woke me up. That made me shake this shroud off, made me want to fight again.

There is an old story of a donkey trapped in a well (read here if unfamiliar-http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/stories/persistence/shake.shtml). In that story, several times are these words repeated- “Shake it off, and take a step up.” I loved that story as a kid and today that story and those words helped pick myself up and truly take a step up.

While writing all of this, I considered how weak all this must make me sound. Only to me, all of this doesn’t represent weakness. It represents humanness, but more than that it represents growth. That’s why I believe this was all for the best. 

And now, I want to send a message to you, reading this.

If you’re like me, if you believe in honesty, hard work, goodness and kindness. If you think there is good in everyone, if you think you can truly change the world but have always been told you couldn’t by society --- I have only one wish for you. I wish you keep fighting. I wish you never lose that spark in you. People will always try to get you down, tell you that you can’t do whatever you want to do. I wish that you shrug them off, and keep fighting for your dreams. I wish you can shake it all off, and take a step up to a better future. All of this is so much easier said than done (trust me, I know.) but fight with all that is in you, and push on. The world is full of people who are too “realistic” to see splendor in life any more. That’s why, more than ever before, we need happiness. We need optimism. We desperately need those crazy people who think they can change the world. We need you.

So the next time anyone calls you “Naïve”, I want you to look them square in the eye, and from the bottom of your heart, say “Thank you.”

To me now, there is no greater compliment, because, as eloquently put by the great Oscar Wilde, “It takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it.”

We all have that courage within us, but so few choose to bring it out and show the world.

Let’s change that.

Until next time,

Bianka