Disclaimer – I am aware I am a massive hypocrite in this post 🙂 

Realisations of the strangeness of a life influenced by others.

I have some questions for you:

• What should make us happy?
• What defines success and what do you see a successful person having?
• What makes us a good person?

I’m sure with Harry’s diverse set of friends there will be a multitude of answers, ranging from horse racing (Harry) to kebabs (Tom Brooks – if he can even read …. sorry Tom). However, I would like to share with you my thoughts. Please note these are thoughts rather than answers implying rigid rights or wrongs.

It’s strange how I look at people on social media (especially instagram) and in magazines on holiday, dressed up, appearing to have fun in their staged photo and believe this is the only way to be happy.  It’s strange how the point above can also define success, with the addition of an ostentatious house and car. Again, it’s strange how this can lead us to believe someone is a good person (which I am sure most of them are) from photos they have fashioned so we buy into their life and see them in a good light. I am guilty of these posts too, hence the disclaimer and the deactivation of my instagram (although we will see how long that lasts). Maybe you are one of the educated people amongst Harry’s friends, thinking of Gandhi or SSM fit as good, influential people?

My realisation is would I have answered the questions with the above thoughts (nice holidays etc) if I wasn’t bombarded with these images on social media and TV and told this defines success and makes you a good person? Why can’t we make our own decisions without being influenced by others, why do our simipler thoughts become discredited by grander schemes? Maybe, despite my point, you still think that holidays etc. define success and that is fine (I do love holidays), success and what defines a good person are individual concepts, rather than a manufactured image by society. I have come to realise that I do have my own brain (as obvious as it sounds) that can form an opinion on life, without having to adhere to other’s concepts.

It’s glaringly obvious I am a kettle chip eating village girl who enjoys holidaying on the French riviera darling (even if I am only camping), so I am not saying I will change any of my ways, but I will celebrate/consider the smaller things as successes more. I have many a time considered applying for jobs in London or Manchester, as this would define success and depict a fun life, wouldn’t it? Will I look bland if I have only ever lived in one place, or haven’t backpacked for a year with only one pair of pants? Will I look like a bad person if I haven’t swam the channel for charity? These ideas have been formed from other’s aspirations.

If I am happy BBQing with my yobbish friends and enjoying their colourful conversation why isn’t that good enough? Well the answer is, it is and I have come to realise this. For example, I perceive my Nanna as a good and successful person, having lived a very simple but happy life, raising her children and grandchildren and looking after many of her aging friends for nothing in return. Would my Nanna’s name be on a list of ‘good’ people, or her life be seen as exciting and successful? No, but I see her for the successful, good person she is and that is all that matters. 

Thanks everyone for reading, to Harry for letting me loose and to my fellow guest bloggers for their insightful and honest posts. I’m off to book an extravagant holiday and buy a flashy BMW after this post, SUCCESS BABY!

Take care, Elia x