toxic people – In my world

No one is impeccable and no one can teach you to be it. But you can be as impeccable as you can in your own mind. Humans are supposed to have faults. Even people who seem impeccable are not. You have to know them in person to know how they’re like. Some people think they’re above everyone and they’re the only ones who have the right to be on this planet. It’s useless to compete with people like that. You should use your energy to more useful things than trying to please other people. I’ve known people personally who thought they’re better but for real they’re were only showing their own faults. You don’t need people in your life that only wants to bring you down. It’s a cliché but life is short. There should not be toxic people in anyone’s life. What you don’t know you can learn.

There can be people who might not like what I write or they don’t agree. If it’s blogging or writing fiction. But you can’t please everyone. The same goes with other things. I wish someone could teach me drawing for example. I used to do it when I was a kid but then later not so much. I think I got some kind of resentment towards drawing when in 6th grade we had a group assignment where we would draw a character and it was totally ignored from my schoolmates. I’ve thought I couldn’t draw at all so I didn’t. Even when I studied graphic design in 2009-2011, I didn’t like it at all. My teacher said that I was afraid of drawing but in my opinion, it was because of what happened in the early years. It felt I would be judged for not knowing how to draw. But then when I studied graphic design again last year, the teacher we had said, anyone can draw and it’s about finding your own style (is ugly a style, I wonder). We also learned how to find inspiration and how to brainstorm ideas. I’m never gonna be impeccable in drawing and I’m not planning to become an illustrator but I wish I was more comfortable with it. You can only learn if you practice but it’s hard to when you don’t have the confidence to do it.

The only creative thing I have absolute confidence in is writing. It’s such a natural thing for me. I have no problems commentating online either. Someone is shy to interact on the internet so they don’t activate themselves that much. Sometimes you just wanna observe things. Some don’t have the urge to express their opinions online. For me, it’s easier to express myself by writing. Especially in English. It’s actually more natural for me than writing in my own language. Besides, certain words sound better in English than in Finnish, for example. Of course, since this blog is in English I write it in that language. Practise (practice) makes you impeccable. Or as impeccable as possible. I got an ‘A’ in English in school in my primary school leaving certificate and my English has improved so much after that. And I’m still learning. If I only would feel as confident in other things than I am in English.

Graphic design is something I would want to get better at. Maybe the most cynical would think, this person hasn’t done much graphic design so how can they call themselves a graphic designer. Or think I’m not good enough to be that and that I should do something else. Or I don’t if anyone would think that. It was just an example. I’m just too critical about myself. Design educations have taught me all I need to know so I don’t need to go to school again. I rather spend money on something else. In schools, they teach you the basics and I don’t need a repeat in that. There is also a lot of information online where you can self-study. There are schools where they offer Bachelor’s degrees in graphic design (also in Helsinki Design School) but why should I go. I already have degrees in graphic design. Maybe if you don’t have a talent you need to have a fancy degree. I know graphic designers who don’t have a bachelor’s degree but still have a career. In the end, it’s the job experience that counts and not what kind of degree you have. It’s not like graphic design is operating on humans. Creating something isn’t super science. The most difficult thing is to know what kind of design you want to master.

I would rather learn things good than become impeccable because if you’re already there, there is nothing new to learn. You can teach yourself things you’re interested in. It’s more fun that way.

hands holding a yellow flower — Made in Canva

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
-Respect by Aretha Franklin

Yesterday the music world was saddened with the news Aretha Franklin passed away at 76. I’ve only listened to some of her songs and ‘Respect‘ is one of them. I also saw her in the Blues Brothers movie. Even though her life had a lot of sorrow, she still managed to become very successful. It just proves you can become something no matter from what background you come from. Most of all you have to respect yourself. If you listen to criticism and negative thinking, you won’t get far. There is always someone who says you can’t do things because [excuse here] You should do things you like and not because something is popular or because someone says you shouldn’t. You should not only have respect for yourself but also have respect for others.

This MeToo campaign has proved men who can’t keep their hands to themselves have no respect for women (and some men too) Respect is learned from home. These creeps probably had a mother who didn’t teach their little boys to have respect. Some women also sexually harass men and that’s because they haven’t learned respect either. Then these paparazzi who follow celebrities have no respect for privacy. Celebrities are human too. They should have the right to go on holiday without having to worry about nosy and money hungry beasts. Not forgetting people who actually read these gossip columns. They’re part of the problem too. I would never want to be famous because then you’re public property and I couldn’t go anywhere without being harassed by disrespecting people. Besides, I hate people looking at me.

You should respect differences and not judge the book by its cover. We can’t all be the same. Every life is precious and you can’t decide who have the right to be on this earth. There’s a lot of prejudice in the world. Some think disabled people, for example, are dumb but if you look behind that disability, they’re like everyone else. I went to school with people with a disability and they were all very nice people. They have a totally different look on life. They’re even nicer than so-called normal people. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to have the same rights as others. Especially in work life. If they get a job, it’s usually without pay. There a lot of jobs disabled can do. Anyone can become disabled. You could get into an accident and then your life changes completely. I really have a full respect for people with a disability. We all could learn a lot from them.

Respect can be so easily lost. One big mistake and all that respect are gone. All those people you knew in the past turned out to be fake. You thought they were your friends and you respected them but then they turned against you. Telling lies about you and spreading rumours. They could have been people you looked up to but then they failed you. Those kinds you things, you know. Once that happens you will never get that respect back no matter how they try to ask for your forgiveness. You should treat people with respect and if they don’t respect you, they’re not worth having around. Life is too short to have toxic people in your life. Jealousy has always been around and the only thing to avoid it is to move these people from your life altogether. The most important thing is your own happiness and having people around who have respect for you is part of it.