“The world is still all right.” It’s a phrase that I always say to myself when I’m feeling down or need a reminder. The world has gone through so much more than any one person can handle, but it’s still here and thriving. Below are some of the things in this world that didn’t kill me.
1) I survived my childhood with bullies at school and an alcoholic father at home.
2) When we were kids, my brother used to beat me up for fun. But he never killed me! 3) My parents had no money so they made us live in the basement of their house, but they never killed me! 4) In high school, people used to call me a slut and tried to hurt my reputation, but they never killed me!
I still remember how awful it was when people would try ruin your life just for the fun of it. But now I’m an adult and they can’t do that anymore – those bullies are gone and high school is behind me.
The world has faced so many terrible things in the past 100 years… horrible wars, tragedies like Sandy Hook Elementary School or Columbine High School, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina or earthquakes like Haiti’s 2010 quake which showed us all what kind of devastating consequences we could face if nature went on a rampage with no mercy whatsoever; however, despite these events happening around them our parents survived their own trauma from being Holocaust survivors
or coming from a violent home and still managed to raise us.
I know that many of you are reading this with fear or worry on your mind, so let me share some thoughts from my perspective as a New Yorker who has experienced Hurricane Sandy in its aftermath – the world is not all right but it’s also not the end of days either. Through these experiences we have been able to see how people can come together in unimaginable ways both physically and emotionally when they need each other most; for example, after Hurricane Sandy had passed over Manhattan there were countless volunteers lining up outside our house offering help which was an amazing feeling knowing that even without power or water someone cared enough about us to offer their time simply because they wanted too. Or those relief efforts that we have seen around the world this past week, there are literally millions of people who want to and do contribute in a meaningful way to help others – whether it be donating money or supplies.
The next time you’re feeling down about life ask yourself these questions: What is happening right now? Where am I at my best point mentally/physically/emotionally? What can I say yes too today? And why not just start by saying thank you for having a chance to live your own [insert nationality] dream instead of waiting on someone else’s permission. The key phrase here being “having a chance” and not “waiting.”
How often does one really get an opportunity like this with no obligations other than being in the right place at the right time?
What if a door opens up for you that changes your life, and it may not be what you were expecting when you imagined your future.
At what point are we going to stop waiting on others permission/approval ?”
This week has seen millions of people around the world reaching out with love, volunteering their time or money, showing compassion and empathy instead of apathy. The World is still all right.” – Aidan Porter”The key phrase here being “having a chance” and not “waiting.”” -AidantPorter
“If I could give anyone one thing this Christmas season it would be a hope that never dies”-Aidan porter
After reviewing a post about the recent spike in hate crimes and how that is affecting marginalized communities, I also wanted to share some of my thoughts on hope. There are two main ways we can look at these traumatic events: through fear or through resilience. When you have a chance to do something it’s up to you whether you want to do nothing with it or use that opportunity for good.” -Aidan Porter
It takes courage sometimes just being able to exist. Teaching kids they don’t need to be afraid because their voice matters has also been really important this past week” –AidantPorter
“I’m not going anywhere, so neither should any one else who doesn’t fit into what society deems “acceptable.”” Aidant
