It’s common for an Odyssey article to talk about this one huge life problem that so many millennials like us are facing. They make it seem like it's the end of the world and then simplify it to one obvious solution: just say how you feel, stop judging other people, stop caring about if others are judging you.
Well, here we go again, about to talk about a life problem that's extremely relatable to everyone. But this time, I’m not giving my educated and worldly advice that will save everyone. Because that doesn’t exist. My article won’t be winning the Nobel Peace Prize for my outstanding ideas to better our world... surprising, I know.
I’m not shaming any creators who have done this–look at my past articles. I’m right there with the rest of the best, giving the same simplified advice as if I’ve conquered all of these problems. The truth is, I have yet to conquer anything... another surprise. Here’s the thing, we’re human and we feel things and we are confused as hell. The older I get, the more aware I am of the world.
And let me tell you what I've discovered: the world is f*cked up.
It’s filled with crazy people doing absolutely crazy things. Every time we turn on our TVs someone else is dead because of unsolicited violence. We're scared.
We’ve been subconsciously trained to live in this state of almost paralyzing paranoia because, well, we have to. We've come to live in a world where we turn our backs out of fear than even care to let the unknown become known.
Each day we go through our daily activities but, sometimes without realizing it, we're on red alert. Personally, I don’t like seeing movies when they first come out. If I go to a theater at all, it will be long after the premiere at an odd time, so I feel safe enough to watch the movie instead of watching the people watching the movie.
Public transportation is coated in “if you see something, say something” posters, not even giving us a false sense of protection.
Tourists visiting Times Square were run down on the sidewalk. Some probably had plans to see a Broadway show that night or reservations at a restaurant. I was in Times Square the same time, just 24 hours earlier. And as that man was swerving into people, I was a couple avenues away listening to the sirens and horns wondering what was going on. Life is a game of chance and sometimes you get lucky.
And now, the most recent and one of the most horrifying tragedies, concerts are no longer a safe place. Even when they are aimed towards young girls. Girls who probably thought of the world as a beautiful place, not the f*cked up home they were stuck with.
In every social media post about each tragedy, political fights break out in the comments. No one is a snowflake. That’s ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as people getting offended for being called a snowflake. Get offended when someone calls you a bitch or an asshole. Or let's just get to the truth: we're scared.
I’m scared. You’re scared. Most aware people in this world are scared. I’m not going to tell us we need to band together because no one is going to do that from this article. Comments will continue and fights will arise. As not okay as it is that this fear is constantly instilled in us, we are scared. There is no answer and no one knows what to do. I’m not saying this because I don’t want to see change, all I want in life is to make the change that betters this world. I just don’t know how to do that yet.
The most any of us can do is realize we’re all in the same boat. Confused, powerless, and scared.
This world sucks sometimes but we are doing more than okay as we are. Tell the people who you love that you love them, and often. Stay as safe as you can and if you're scared, be scared, because I guarantee you aren't the only one who is.
