Respect your elders?

Why do some old people believe that because they are old they should automatically get respect? I believe in respecting all people, as long as they show respect in return. Some people insist we should respect our elders at all times and that this country has lesser morals if we don't. Do they stand by this when older people do not show them respect?!

I sometimes have panic attacks, which tend to be worse in crowded places. Supermarkets at Christmas for example. I had had a panic attack! I did not insist I should push to the front of the queue because of my mental or physical problems. I queued for half an hour, like everybody else.
When I was second in the queue, an old woman walked in front of my trolley and was about to put her shopping on the conveyor belt. I asked if she was with the people in front of me. She turned forwards and ignored me. Again I said "Excuse me, are you with the people in front of me?". To which she replied "No, so what?". I then politely informed her that I had been queuing for half an hour.

Her reply was "Well I am old".

This is when I got annoyed. My response was "And I am disabled and in pain and I have been queueing for half an hour". To which she responded "But I am old".

My questions then was; "But does this give you an automatic right to push in front of me?"

She then informed me that because she was old and only had a few bits, she should be allowed to go in front of me, as she would be quick. I then asked if her why she thought that this would entitle her to push in front of me in a supermarket queue.
Her eloquent response was and I quote was "Oh Get Lost You!!!". Then she stormed off.
The thing is, if the woman had said politely asked if she could go in front of me because she only had a few things I would have let her. I have asked people before if they would like to go in front of me if I have a trolley and they only have a few items.

I do believe we should not blindly follow sayings such as "Respect Your Elders". We should use our own discretion in each given situation. Respect, but only when respect is due!!!!

New Year, New You!!!!

How many times have you heard or read "A new year, a new me"?
I have said this many times myself. It never happens. Which makes me wonder why we put so many unrealistic exspectations on ourselves (especially at new year). If we do things differently, will we suddenly have these transformed, amazing lives? Will we be happier a larger percent of the time? Will all our troubles just melt away?
Admittedly life is easier to cope with if you have a positive mental atitude. But as some people know I suffer with severe episodes of depression. I do have periods of positivity, and find spring and summer much easier to cope with (and nobody's perfect).

But what makes me wonder is: Who are these changes for?
Is it ourselves? Is it our friends and family (who love us anyway)? Is it society? Are we all searching for some unatainable perfection?
My plan for this new year is: See more of my friends, stop berating myself for the things I don't do, notice small things that make a day better. Oh and eat more veg!!! The problems and issues will still be there, but maybe the nicer things in life will shine through instead of hiding in the shadows.
You can try to be the best you that you can be! But remember being you is still perfect too!!!!
Billy Joel Just the Way you are.

Using long words

I am new to blogging. I have read many other people's blogs. Some have entertained, some have made me laugh, some have even made me cry (that will be my daughter).
But it is wonderful to see into the minds of other people, and they are so full of surprises, that have sometimes altered my opinions.

I have been wary of blogging because I do not know lots of long words. I do not want people to think I am unintelligent. I have dyslexia which, while being a pain in the arse, does not make me have a lower intelligence.
But why should I worry about other people's opinions? I know my friends and family love me.

They often comment that for a clever person I can be extremely stupid, naive, surprisingly simple. This is not all they think of me. But they are right this is part of me as it is part of most people. So if people think I am stupid, why should I care? Their opinion isn't any more valid than my friends and family. But most importantly not more important than my own.
Therefore (a longish word), sometimes I will use long words and at others I won't. This is me and I think about faerie important stuff.