Life Jackets.

One of the most interesting albeit  unfortunate, things I learned this summer is that almost all trademark cliches are utter bullshit. I know it sounds weird to say, especially for me. How could someone who is so aware of the world around them even fall for any of that? First and foremost, I'm a sucker for a mantra. Some of greatest women I've ever come to love and myself, created one in our youth that I STILL carry with me to this day. Besides, who doesn't enjoy having little phrases of hope to live by? These cliches that we use to get by in life,  we say them and choose to believe them. Haboring the mindset that being a good person and staying positive is all you really need to get everything your heart desires. We all know that's not necessarily true. Well at least the realist inside of us does. I don't even know where to begin, there are SO many cliches. They all carry pure intent, but one learns over time that that's all they are. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" Seriously? So you mean to tell me, the more I stay away from a person and keep myself out of their everyday routine, the more they'll think about me and want to talk to me. I don't think so.  If they possess that crafty 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality, then without you there to help them bask in your greatness then you're  pretty much, SOL in that circumstance. Okay another one, "Actions speak louder than words" *Inward Sigh* The thing about this one is that I actually agree,  with it. Even so, this is still crap because even though people SAY this and ideally what you show someone SHOULD be more important then what you say that's not always the case. Due to the fact that,  while actions can be forgotten, words whether spoken or written can be immortalized. One could  spend their whole entire life DOING a million things for the person that they love to show how much they care. That being said, the moment they SAY no, the moment they SAY  they can't, or they won't THAT is the moment that is felt the hardest and therefore remembered the best, despite all of the previous love shown. Okay what's next? Hmm. "Everything happens for a reason" Personally, this one annoys the living shit out of me. First off, it's not always accurate. Something's are just senseless, some things weren't meant to happen but they did anyway, some things are not necessarily meant to be understood. Secondly, the fact people tend to say this to another person after an unbearable tragedy strikes, sucks. If a person just lost a family member, or a friend the default thing to say is "I'm sorry for your loss" Saying "everything happens for a reason" is not only ridiculous but insensitive as hell. Especially if you don't plan on offering up what that reason is. Nobody wants to hear that. There are sooooo much more cliches, I want to touch on   but then I'd be here all day. I'm just going to finish this post with the cliche that I hate the more than any other cue mental drumroll "The truth shall set you free" This one here, makes me want to start a purge. It's a lovely thought obviously, but it is also a boldfaced LIE. Most people say they want the truth and that may be accurate at the time. However, the truth is so powerful that it doesn't always feel the best to be on the recieving end of it. People tend to freak out from the sting of it. That's why there's always the universal "At least I was honest/That doesn't't mean you didn't hurt me" conversation. Whether the truth is wanted or not people can't handle it without feeling even the tinest bit bothered by it. So letting the truth be known does NOT "set you free." It just means you're honest. But at what cost exactly? Telling the truth makes you a prisoner of your own honesty. Telling the truth isn't always pretty so it is never without consequence. All the best deeds tend to be punished. People may respect you more for your honesty but that has nothing to do with being enjoyed, admired and/or loved. You could lose everything you ever had and/or wanted just by gaining truth. That in no way means that I am condoning dishonesty, but I  AM admitting that I do recognize the perks, however temporary.  No matter how flawed these cliches seem to be, we hold on to them. We rely on them to bring us peace of mind when such a thing is harder than ever to find. Annoying as it may be, there's no shame in needing life jacket to help stay afloat.