Mexican Cherry

The title of this post might sound daring and way bold, while for me, as an International Relations graduate, is actually a part of reality and just an advice towards the rest of the IR community. 

When I entered college, there was this group of people that displayed their reasons to study International Relations and their expectations for the future, and everyone kinda said something about traveling around the world. As fancy and tempting this sounds, the IR field has no limits. Yes! No limits! 

Then, as our student journey kept going forward, most teachers would ask if we saw what the UN (insert assembly) was about, or if we would like to do a model an debate international topics. It always seemed to me that others think about consulates, diplomatic missions and finally the UN. 

Yes, it would be a great opportunity to be able to participate within the UN activities, although to my perspective, teachers and students are missing the big picture... As much as we love international organisms and the massive meaning of them, my colleagues often forget that our field is composed by different scenarios, and we have the local, national, international all interacting with each other. Whatever is done in an international way, affects us locally. Don't believe me? Think about how most of us have an imported item in the household, or about the music and movies, series, books, art...etc, that we have or has influenced our daily life. 

Everything is involved in an international performance, which is why dear colleagues, we can aspire to work in plenty spheres, not only the diplomatic way or the international organism is available. Dear colleagues, the world is ours! We can dream of anything! From yes, makeup, art, politics and even design, we can do it! It obviously depends on each individual but please, do not let yourselves fool that there is only one accepted way for us. This world offers more than you'd think. 

This entry might be one that a lot can identify with, since it is about a process we all go through our entire life, yes loves, it is Change. 

When we are little, everyone places expectations for us, how we have to be as adults, our profession, lifestyle, even our sexuality is involved here! Every single aspect of life is ridiculously expected to be perfect, free of errors and always aspiring to become what our ancestors  couldn't. Somehow it shakes our little core, influencing decisions in our path. 

I will ommit the biological change for this text, later we'll be able to discuss such matters in a more detailed way, that and the adversities it has for us when it happens.  Ok to go on, our mind is always processing information, brain is one hardcore worker! To me the struggle that comes with change is the hardship of moving out of comfort, out of my coccoon in which I develop for a period of time, or maybe even the routine that enhances my productivity and happiness also. Could be anything I am happy with and believe me, everytime I get to a good point in life, where I don't even worry and smile everyday the issues arise, having me thinking of the past, mistakes, future and worries overall. 

It stops me from living my happy present 

Even though we are forced to change by growing up and social activities recquired with age, some of us really cry our heart out every stage of life. I remember being so afraid of entering college and damn, I'm graduating this year! It is unbeliavable to me, the actual fact still hasn't processed enough in my mind to accept that in a few months I'll be crossing another stage and will have to adapt to another and scarier one no matter what.


Avoiding reality 

To me, games were just a part of my day that caused fun, they give my brain a rest but also exercise some of the creativity, strategy and motor skills. It is all fun and games until you realize that you spend your day wishing for some time to play, which becomes a whole afternoon and then a daily routine.

Even though I don't judge games or people who play them, I notice that for me, they have become an escape from my changing reality, since I rather play Age of Empires than study or clean my living space. I realized the act of gaming became my comfort zone even though the majority of the time I lose in them, but it is incredible how building a virtual reality is so relaxing, numbs the mind and lets it breathe without worrying about anything real.

Until you wake up in the morning and there are no clean clothes, your bedroom is a mess and you haven't propperly fed yourself in a long time, or fed the brain some juicy information.


Recognition and Acceptation 

I am not doing anything for myself.

Repeat and actually recognize that even though it is lovely to build an entire civilization or watch other people reach their dreams, you have a body & mind of your own that needs nourishment, no one else can do it for you and no game will ever let you manage real life as easy as a ctrl clic will ever do.

It feels like crap, yes! Believe me, we all go through a moment in life that destroys the cloud of numbing we sometimes live in, nobody likes to hear they're failing to themselves. And by failing I mean not taking care or listening to the person you are, no interruptions and no comfort treats of any kind but a raw version of yourself.

Once we accept that we are not really working towards anything to take care of ourselves, then change can happen. This time, change that we can sort of manage and launch without being absorbed by an external change. To me it came represented in the way of decluttering, cleaning, dieting (learning how to eat) and exercising. I'm not perfect and all of these had setbacks, but I recognized my obstacles and got up to emend them. Gotta remember life is one, is today.

So, what next? 

Ok, we have discussed ups and downs, now what are we supposed to do? My honest advice and what I am following at the moment is to be true to yourself, listen to what you need (body & mind), don't give up, changes might be hard but it's happening either way, some of them are unavoidable and the best we can do is outgrow them.