Being Kind Is The New Punk Rock! (among other areas of self-improvement)
A wise philosopher once said,
“If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.”
—Batman.
Err... I mean, Michael Jackson. (iykyk)
And that sentiment seems to ring very loudly every time I’m heavily influenced by positive media… in this case, Superman. (Shocker!)
But seriously, I left that movie with Punk Rocker by teddy bears in my soul and a newfound push to be kinder. (Not that I think I’m unkind... but you know what I mean.)
This isn’t my first rodeo with reinventing myself - I'm always trying to start long-lasting habits/ personality tweaks.
My parents always taught me that a good shock to the system every now and then does the soul some good. A.K.A. significant change to get the ball rolling again when life becomes stagnant.
And for me, that’s looked like a lot of things:
Asking out loud, “Would a healthy person eat this cake?” and if not, passing on dessert.
Drastically changing my wardrobe, dyeing my hair, or embracing a weird new accessory ( enter in berets and tights).
(Side note: I was onto something with those tights—two years later everyone was wearing them. Give high school Alivia her flowers.)Moving cities.
Taking unexpected jobs—like doing a legislative internship while also being a country singer.
(Yeah... the legislators were just as confused as you are.)
The point is, Alivia loves a good shake-up, and right now she needs one. So, I’m going back to a tried-and-true method:
The Elastic Rubber Band!
It’s a straightforward concept:
You wear a rubber band on your wrist. Every time you catch yourself doing the bad habit, you snap it.
The habit I’m targeting?
My inner monologue.
Lately, my candor has gone unchecked—at least in my head. I am also quick to make a sarcastic remark, which, although very funny, did not align with the person I wanted to be, and can potentially hurt others.
So now, every time I think something negative—or something that doesn’t align with the new Alivia—I snap the band.
The reason I even felt the need to do this stems from a scene in Superman. (We get it- you like Superman.)
Lois is trying to explain why she and Clark won’t work. She says something along the lines of,
“I’m just a punk rock kid who doesn’t trust people, and you look at everyone like they’re beautiful.”
And Superman—Superman—looks at her and says:
“Maybe that’s the real punk rock.” (AGHH!)
The internet (at least over on SupermanTok) has lovingly adopted that line.
Because being kind is the new punk rock.
And honestly? They’re right.
Holy crap—when did the world get so nasty?
When did we all stop trusting each other?
When did sarcasm become our shield and kindness feel like weakness?
When did trust become naïve?
When did we stop giving people the benefit of the doubt and start assuming the worst?
When did it become cooler to tear someone down than to build them up?
I don’t know.
All I know is that I think the world needs more soft-hearted punks. (<3)
Because small kindnesses ripple into a wave.
And If I can be that wave for someone—if I can make someone feel a little safer, a little more seen:
Then I’m going to do it.
Because I’m a punk rocker.
Yes I am.
(Sorry, had to do that- iykyk)
Until next week,
