Random Thoughts LXXXVII

Those lacking empathy shouldn't be leaders, because if you lack empathy, where are you leading us to?

Thinking about leadership, and how we (as in, humanity) are going through dark times of very obvious autocracy taking over worldwide, I can't help but wonder, is there anything we can do to get a taste of democracy? To create societies where equity, respect, empathy, education and solidarity can be the norm, instead of an idealistic utopia?

Random Thoughts LXXXVI

I think one of the worst things that can be done to someone is not being believed. 

And even worse, not being believed by loved ones.

Random Thoughts LXXXI

Το κάθε ένα άτομο ας κάνει αυτό που μπορεί για να αντέξει τον αβάσταχτο πόνο της ματαιότητας της ύπαρξης...

Random Thoughts LXXX

Isn’t it fucked up that the world we live in is so shitty, we constantly seek forms of escapism?
Be it food, drugs, shopping, gambling, adrenaline rushes or anything else, many are in a constant search for distractions from the life they live.

Random Thoughts LXXVIII

Self-love is not linear; things may happen to us which can make it tremendously challenging to practice it.
In those times, self-preservation is enough and it is valid.
Take care x

Random Thoughts LXXVI

Three things I learned before I turned 33:

1. No one is special

2. Life inherently sucks

3. We're all going to die anyway 

Another goodbye, another future

 It's that time again, the time I hate to say goodbyes.

I have been living between Athens and London for over ten years now.

Before that it was Athens and another city for a couple of years.

Living between two cities/countries is not an easy thing to do. It can be extremely rewarding, considering all the people you meet, all the diverse friendships you form, but it can also be tremendously painful, when you form strong bonds with people, only to have to leave again. 

You lose track of people's evolution, lives and journey. Sometimes, you even lose track of your own journey.

This summer, I was standing in front of a very scary crossroad. I had just came out of a long term relationship, had barely made it through quarantine, had been accepted to study my second masters, had no job and had just moved into a new place after seeing 31 properties.

I had -and still have- no fucking clue how everything would -and will- play out. The insecurity and fear stemming from the global pandemic isn't helping either. The only thing I knew was that I will be in Athens for a month. A month-long holiday to heal, recharge and indulge in familiarity and comfort. 

This month has been one of the best months of my life. I haven't had such an amazing summer since 2013. It was all I needed and more. I had the space and time to be free, the opportunity to re-discover parts of myself and the joy of welcoming old fragments of my soul that I considered long lost. 

My friends and loved ones embraced me as always, a warm cocoon giving me the opportunity to once again go through change, and in the end come out as a new creature, ready to face the world again.

I was lucky enough to form new friendships and have wonderful new people come into my life.

I am forever grateful to the people who surround me with positivity, love and respect. I am able to move forward because of you. 

Thank you,

Lara 

Corporate Uncomfortable

The company I work for is trying to revamp itself and so, they created a video with key-points of the company's future, goals and expectations.

All employees are required to watch the video along with a powerpoint presentation. Today was my turn to attend to the session.

At the end of it, we were separated in groups and told to share our thoughts. We were clearly stirred towards sharing our positive thoughts -even though it was supposed to be a feedback 'workshop.'

Most people were saying how they loved the video, how clear it was, how positive it was, blah blah blah.

All I could think of was that we watched a 20 minute video of three extremely well dressed white people, with high positions reading from a teleprompter. You could tell by the movement of their eyes. It was all rehearsed, it was all acted out. No true meaning behind their words, merely repeating words appearing in the monitor.

These words, however, aimed at 'brainwashing' us and used the power of suggestion to promote certain behaviours or thoughts. The words 'proud,' 'community' and 'inspiration' were repeated constantly.

What struck me as awkward was that a filthy rich white man was talking about community, being part of the local community, and a second later he was saying we have to reduce our discounts to increase profit.
I wanted to scream at the screen "You have no fucking clue what community is you entitled prick!"
It's like seeing a warlord preaching about peace.
Oxymoron doesn't even begin to describe it.

What struck me as unacceptable though, was that there were only white people on the video. Even when they were showing ads relevant to the company, not even once was a POC featured.

And thus, when they asked us for our opinion, I mentioned that there wasn't enough racial diversity on the video. The two middle aged white men who are higher-ups in our division and were part of our team started mumbling "What do you mean?" "Can you explain this?" and they looked terrified.
I told them "I mean there were only white people on the video, we need more diversity as a company."
And even though they shook their head, supposedly agreeing with me, when they time came for all teams to share bullet points of their opinions, mine was painfully ignored.

I also dared ask them about the 'inspiring the community' part of the pretentious speech on the video, and they referred to charity (a.k.a giving away money that will be a tax right off), but absolutely no interactive activities provided by our company for the local community.

Basically, they want to be an elitist 'club' for the rich, all the while pretending to care for the local community by doing the bare minimum to prove said 'care.'

And unfortunately, this is how most corporations operate.

Welcome to the real -capitalist- (dystopian) world...

Περιμένοντας το νυχτερινό τρόλεϊ στο Σύνταγμα

Το Σύνταγμα μετά τα μεσάνυχτα μεταλλάσσεται σε μία εναλλακτική καρικατούρα της πραγματικότητας.

Βλέπεις από μεσήλικες πλανόδιους μουσικούς με ροζ τούφες και σκουλαρίκια, μέχρι τρελλούς που επιτίθενται κατά συρροή σε ταρίφες ή συνδιαλέγονται με το κενό, στυλάτους άστεγους, και μέσα σ'όλα αυτά τουρίστες που δεν έχουν ιδέα τι γίνεται γύρω τους.
Κι έτσι όπως παρατηρείς το αλλόκοτο σκηνικό που ξετυλίγεται γύρω σου, κάνεις φιλίες και χαβαλέ με άλλους παρατηρητές της νύχτας.

υγ. Ποιητική αηδία.

Random Thoughts LXXIV

Why are we so desperately and hopelessly attracted to dark personalities and emotionally damaged people?
Why do we find someone's inner perversions, and darkness so charming?

Random Thoughts LXXIII

It's tragic to realise that life's so shit everyone is trapped in escapism.
No one seems to be happy with the way life is, unless they use something to take their minds off of it. 

Random Thoughts LXXII

It’s not a coincidence how many movements and ideologies that benefit humanity (feminism, veganism, ethical consumerism, body positivity etc.) are presented as one-dimensional and catholic. Nor is it a coincidence how activists of any kind are generalised, presented through exaggerated caricatures.

It’s because positive change is feared -and more than often doesn’t benefit the ones in power- and thus, mocked or presented through a prism of malicious intentions.

Random Thoughts LXXI

The world we live in is an unfair, corrupted place where predators, psychopaths and narcissists have all the power, while the rest of us struggle to navigate our mere survival.

Random Thoughts LXIX

Is it weird that even though I'm Greek I feel extremely disconnected from Greek reality?I cannot relate to most Greek traditions, parts of Greek culture and Greek societal norms. Everytime I go back to Greece I feel like an alien.

Secrets

Everyone has them.

Some share them with others, some keep them to themselves.

But there's no harm in having secrets, as long as these secrets don't harm someone else.

Your own secrets are yours to keep, and it's no one's business to dig up and reveal them, or force you to expose them.

But bare in mind that once you share them, you have no control over what others will do with them.

'Am I not supposed to trust anyone?' you may ask.

Of course. You have the right to trust anyone you want.

But as The Pierces' song says: "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead."

Random Thoughts LXVII

I always feel like I'm getting more and more tired of life.
But then I look back on my posts and I see that I've been equally tired since a long time ago.
It just feels like it's all new or more intense, when it isn't.

I wonder, how flawed can my perception be in other matters?

For example, I already have an issue with my perception of time, and certain events. I sometimes even struggle to separate reality from fantasy.

But I've noticed that that happens to other people as well. Many of those people I know and/or love. Interestingly enough, most of them don't realise.

What if we all do it one way or another, having a flawed perception, one that cannot always be objective, distinguish reality, or follow linear concepts, but we aren't aware of it?
What does that mean for the world? The way it operates, the way societies form, and even more importantly, the way we seek and perceive the truth?

Damn, that escalated quickly to a philosophical debate -or maybe to a mere philosophical question...

Random Thoughts XXVIII

It's sad you know.

When this world forces you to burry your humanity.

It's really sad.

Random Thoughts XXII

Brutal wake up call.  

But will you have the balls to pick up the phone?

Just a fracture of today's thoughts . . . (II)

"Time is passing by

Looking through my window

Leafs are turning brown

I am now a widow

Lost my heart and soul

To this tough reality

Trying to write a song

Doom, despair, fatality"

Random Thoughts XII

Music, Writing, Singing, Playing, Words, Literature, Poetry, Colors, Painting, Drawing, Sketching, Make-up, Tattoos, Filming, Directing, Photographing etc

 are forms of expression. Therefore ART.
And you know what?
ART is everything!
:)