Fix You
I had to check the lyrics and make sure they fit with the meaning of this post. I'm not sure they do, but the melody and sound of the song (which almost means more to me than the lyrics to whether or not I like the song, which is weird, because, as you should know by now, I love words, like, LOVE them, yet if a song is light-hearted and fun, even if the lyrics are crap, I'll listen to it over and over, because that's half the point to music, anyway, isn't it?) goes pretty well, I guess.
I want to fix the world. It's a ridiculous aspiration, seeing as how no one (only God) can come even close to changing the whole world. But that's what I want to do. I want to take all of the rundown buildings and all of the rundown people and make them into something. In high school, we'd always drive down a back street to get to school, and there was a piece of property we'd always drive past. I kept imagining what I'd do to make that place beautiful: Fill in that hole in the ground, or, better yet, create a picturesque pond, plant grass so that the lawn was lush instead of muddy, repaint the house and rebuild the steps. I couldn't see inside the house, but I'd want to fix it, too.
This may seem like a pretty conceited thing to want to do, because it evokes the assumption that nothing is good enough on its own. But I don't think of it that way. Everything and everyone has room for improvement. No one is exempt.
I want to impose a lifestyle change on everyone. Nothing so overtaking that we have a The Giver situation. But I do like the idea proposed in the Matched trilogy: That everyone has a diet regulated by the Society, I think they called it, and specific to each member of the community. Obviously a sixty-year old woman cannot undertake the same exercise regimen as a sixteen-year old boy (though some, like my grandma, may actually be able to). And grown men who are extremely active can't eat the same amount and type of food young girls can. What I mean is, I'd like for everyone to be healthy (at whatever weight that is for them).
Exercise is good for everyone. And so is eating the right foods. It's not about weight. It's about health. I learned in one of my psychology classes that exercise throughout life leads to better memory in old age. There were a bunch of other plusses gained through exercising, but, as was generally the case with me in college, I remembered what I needed for the exams and promptly forgot (most) everything. Seriously. Exercise is so, so good for everyone. That's how I want to help people. I want to make exercising something that people want to do, and find enjoyment in.
Also, I want to get rid of drugs and guns. They're stupid. I don't know why anyone needs them. Of course, I don't mean the medicinal kind of drugs (except marijuana, and only recreationally). I want people to find jobs where they don't make money off of things that kill people, things that can only lead to a bad life. I want to help people make better choices and live better lives. I want to abolish abortion, because I don't want there to be a need for it. I want people to be responsible for their own actions. I support teaching kids (and by kids, I mean those around the age of fourteen and above) about contraception because I think it's better they know all of the facts and consequences, and make responsible decisions, than stumble into something they know nothing about because no one wants to tell them because they think ignoring the problem will make it go away, and have their lack of knowledge lead to something that they're not ready to deal with.
Do you know what I mean? By providing kids with knowledge, you are providing them with the power to differentiate between options and the wisdom to choose the right one. Some kids will want to do whatever they want to do, no matter what people who know better tell them. But it is enough that even a few are led aright by adults being straightforward and honest with them. After all, honesty is the best policy, right?
This is getting a little long. (Sequel alert!) How about I promise to expand a little on what I've been saying here, and you promise to read it?
I want to fix the world. It's a ridiculous aspiration, seeing as how no one (only God) can come even close to changing the whole world. But that's what I want to do. I want to take all of the rundown buildings and all of the rundown people and make them into something. In high school, we'd always drive down a back street to get to school, and there was a piece of property we'd always drive past. I kept imagining what I'd do to make that place beautiful: Fill in that hole in the ground, or, better yet, create a picturesque pond, plant grass so that the lawn was lush instead of muddy, repaint the house and rebuild the steps. I couldn't see inside the house, but I'd want to fix it, too.
This may seem like a pretty conceited thing to want to do, because it evokes the assumption that nothing is good enough on its own. But I don't think of it that way. Everything and everyone has room for improvement. No one is exempt.
I want to impose a lifestyle change on everyone. Nothing so overtaking that we have a The Giver situation. But I do like the idea proposed in the Matched trilogy: That everyone has a diet regulated by the Society, I think they called it, and specific to each member of the community. Obviously a sixty-year old woman cannot undertake the same exercise regimen as a sixteen-year old boy (though some, like my grandma, may actually be able to). And grown men who are extremely active can't eat the same amount and type of food young girls can. What I mean is, I'd like for everyone to be healthy (at whatever weight that is for them).
Exercise is good for everyone. And so is eating the right foods. It's not about weight. It's about health. I learned in one of my psychology classes that exercise throughout life leads to better memory in old age. There were a bunch of other plusses gained through exercising, but, as was generally the case with me in college, I remembered what I needed for the exams and promptly forgot (most) everything. Seriously. Exercise is so, so good for everyone. That's how I want to help people. I want to make exercising something that people want to do, and find enjoyment in.
Also, I want to get rid of drugs and guns. They're stupid. I don't know why anyone needs them. Of course, I don't mean the medicinal kind of drugs (except marijuana, and only recreationally). I want people to find jobs where they don't make money off of things that kill people, things that can only lead to a bad life. I want to help people make better choices and live better lives. I want to abolish abortion, because I don't want there to be a need for it. I want people to be responsible for their own actions. I support teaching kids (and by kids, I mean those around the age of fourteen and above) about contraception because I think it's better they know all of the facts and consequences, and make responsible decisions, than stumble into something they know nothing about because no one wants to tell them because they think ignoring the problem will make it go away, and have their lack of knowledge lead to something that they're not ready to deal with.
Do you know what I mean? By providing kids with knowledge, you are providing them with the power to differentiate between options and the wisdom to choose the right one. Some kids will want to do whatever they want to do, no matter what people who know better tell them. But it is enough that even a few are led aright by adults being straightforward and honest with them. After all, honesty is the best policy, right?
This is getting a little long. (Sequel alert!) How about I promise to expand a little on what I've been saying here, and you promise to read it?
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