The Mercy Project

So a friend of mine who is studying alot of ethics related areas right now was talking with me and my psych obsessed friend about something he likes to call the "Mercy Project". Basically, it's a way of living, where every day you do something that will relieve some small weight on someone's shoulders. Whether it be lettignt hem off on those two bucks they owe you, telling them they have a great smile when they're having an "ugly day" or forgiving someone for something that isn't really that important. These small acts of "mercy" start to foster a warm, inviting aura and are supposedly very good for business (thats the ethics part).

But my psych friend was talking about how these random acts of kindness are actually extremely beneficial for the psyche of the person delivering them. Apparently, the hormone released when one does a good deed have a similar affect to the endorphins released from exercise. So while you may not burn calories from giving someone a word of encouragement, you can get a rush yourself...

Something to think about implementing, eh?

Stay Beautiful, Loves,

IK

Mean Girls

So I'll admit to not knowing exactly how to start this blog post. I'm mostly light-hearted and jovial on this blog and I'm definitely not trying to give the impression that I'm going to be changing the tone in general. But instead of posting this on my more ranty private blog, i really want to create a sort of public forum to discuss something thats been on my mind lately. Which, if you couldn't tell from the title, has to do with the joy of being a teenage girl in high school.

So, I think that being in high school could quite possibly be the most taxing and difficult experiences I've gone through in my life, and I've dealt with some real shit. I don't know what it is, but I've never experienced such animosity in any other situation. And what i can't figure out, is if this mentality of blatant hate and animosity is biological, or something society has taught us. With all the technology at our disposal, there are many more ways to inflict pain on others, without having to have the bravery to do so in person. We get to hide with our cowardice behind the internet, cell phones and potential anonymity.

And i want to make it clear that i am in no way eschewing any culpability on my part on occasion. I have been as much a part of this as anyone, but I was lucky enough to realize fairly early on that there was something wrong about the way we attack one another. Perhaps it is my own mentality, or my own personal struggles, but i find the attacks on another's body type, looks or personality to be cruel, immature and frankly, sad.

But what i want to talk about is WHY these things happen. Why are we the generation of mean girls? Why are girls committing suicide or checking into mental facilities to escape their existences filled with bullying and animosity? Why do we attack other girls to build ourselves up? Why are body snarking, ho-calling and attacks on personalities so prevalent amongst us? Why are we allowing these predetermined standards of society to erode our sense of self and justice? Why does calling someone out on how much they weigh, or what size pants they wear make you feel better? Where is YOUR self-esteem? Where is YOUR confidence? Are we really so lacking in morality that we see nothing wrong with these attacks against others?

These are just questions that i want answers too. I want to know WHY. And if you can shed any light, please do so.

Stay Beautiful,

IK

p.s. If you want another view, visit Maile's blog, where she goes after a specific aspect of this problem.

In Which I Turn Into a Hypnotized Raver....

So i have this super bad habit of falling in love at first sight. Usually it's with musicians (mmhmmm Kele Okereke), and that works out fine. Cause like, theres such a disconnect there. And thousands of equally obnoxious hipster-wannabes (blargh) are jsut as in love with his bi-sexual ass. But when it happens in real life? Like, with a NORMAL person? Whoa. Not cool, brain! Rewind that, if you please. It's funny, b/c normally i'm so rational. And then...boom. I'm not. And i want to bone you.

But on to the crux. Last night i meet someone who falls in love like i do. In fact, i meet a couple. And they were AWESOME. There's nothing like being surrounded by child-like kids, falling in love with the man on stage. It's like being transported to another, i guess, world, with a surge and pulse of desire rushing through the room. Desire for the beat, a rush, anything. And when the DJ can eat it up and send it back out in soundwaves? It's magic.

Stay Beautiful Loves,

IK

OMG JESSE MCCARTNEY YOU GUYZZ!!!!!

So premptive apology: i've turned into a Jesse McCartney loving zombie. I can't help myself. it's just....disastrous. So here's the song that converted me...



Also, he's an actor. And not a shit one! I KNOW, right? Anyway, considering that i spent WAY too much of lsat night vomiting (yay antibiotics!) i spent all day today on my bed watching crap. And the only non-crap i managed to view was this movie called "Keith". Remember "A Walk To Remember"? It reminds me alot of that. It had the same tear-jerk factor. But the guy was basically an asshole. And not apologetic about it. And sometimes, i really like when people who are absolute dicks just own it.

Stay Beautiful,

IK