Relationships: Back Handed Friends

I have multiple friends whom I call "My friends." At least I believe they are. I may have a misconceived notion of what a friend is, so let me spell it out. A friend is someone who is there for you. A friend is someone who will build you up. A friend is someone who loves you. 
Like I said, maybe I have a misconceived notion of friendship, but I don't think a few of my friends are truly my friends. 
I have many friends who will make slighted comments which will send me into a state of tears when I think of it later. These friends have implied I am ugly, I am an overachiever, I'm different, I'm too sensitive, and not any of these in nice ways. 
My friend whom I confide in state that they are Jealous or maybe even just not my friends. 
But they are. I know they are my friends, why do they treat me like garbage?
What makes it worse is that these people claim to serve the same person I do, Christ. They claim they have the Holy Spirit inside them. But why? Why can I see  Christian and a non christian standing side by side talking about the same thing and I don't see a difference. Why do Christians and non-Christians tear people down? Why can I see a kid I thought I respected make negative racist jokes. Am I suppose to stand back and watch you tear other people down? I understand, yes, some people are overly sensitive. Yes, I understand, what you say is in jest. But sometimes when people say one thing they mean another. Maybe that black girl who laughed it off is going to go and cry when she gets home. Maybe she's better at hiding her feelings. You expect me to stand back and watch? 
You say I'm too sensitive? Though that word hurts, as it was meant to be an insult, I will wear that word with pride until you quit acting like the world. I will defend my friends, no matter what you or anyone says. I hate myself every time someone calls me ugly. I hate myself every time someone calls me too sensitive. I hate myself every time I'm told I'm different. I will not stand by while my friends are being subject to this abuse!
So, why do these friends treat us this way? I honestly don't know, and I suspect I never will. I know my response when they treat my friends a way, but I don't know my own response. 
Thanks for listening to my rant.
-Sapphire

Relationships: Parents

I have a strong relationship with my parents, even stronger still with my mom. I talk to her day in and day out about my feelings, concerns, and trivial stuff. When I talk to my friends, they are often surprised to hear about my relationship, as though it was abnormal, or ridiculous to be able to talk to my parents about everything. So, I have decided to compile a short list of ways to maintain/regain your relationship with your parents. 

1. Truth. 

All relationships are built on Trust, without that you have nothing. Think about it this way. Imagine a large bridge and it is built out of bricks (Trust) when you lie or mislead it destroys the bridge completely. It is like a bomb detonating, everything is turned to rubble. The problem is that you cannot use new materials, you have to use the same materials over, and over, and over again. The more someone breaks your trust, the weaker the bridge will forever be. 

2. Talk 

I talk for hours with my mom and am never satisfied. You may say that your parents do not have enough time, or love you enough to take that time. To be honest, there are a few parents out there, but this is where you need to try. Sit one of your parents down and just tell them what you want to talk to them about. Tell them that you need them to be there for you, and that you need them to listen. That leads me to the next point. 

3. Listen. 

I know, I know. Your parents are 30-40 years old and they just do not understand, but there is no point in talking to your parents if you are not willing to consider their advice. I learned that the hard way. 

I was good friends with a guy, and that was the time I did not have feelings, I was about to enter that stage, I was 9, and this boy was mean to me and then apologized and started being nice to me. I was at youth camp and my 2 friends (At the time I thought they were my best friends) were talking with me, and I ended up telling them about the guy and him being mean then apologizing then being nice to me. They asked me if I liked him, and I said yes (As a friend). Later that day he confronted me saying he did not want a relationship and that he just wanted to remain friends, I was confused, angry, and upset. My best friends had told him something that was not even true! It ended up that the guy and I did not talk again for four years. I barely talk to him now, but things are resolved. 

How does this have to do with my mom? Well, she had recently started talking to me about how girls acted at this age and how if I want to keep my relationships with guys (Specifically those I have crushes on) I should not hint, nor tell any girls about it. But I have learned that every single time I have ever told a girl about a guy I like, I have gotten hurt. 

I am also like most of you. I have broken my parents trust. I have done things I wish I had not and am currently paying the consequences. 

Anyways, I hope this helps. Comment or email me with your thoughts! I might do a question and answer blog post soon, so email me those questions you want to feature in it!

-Sapphire

Maturity Levels

You may have noticed the title, and no I do not mean as in bodily growth, what I do mean is mental.
The One thing I HATE to hear from people is "I am mature for my age" When they are obviously not. I just want to stare at them and tell them "Then Why are you flirting with every guy/girl you meet? Are you serious? Come on, you act your age, and not the mature one, but the one that the world expects you to be."
Another phrase I hear is, "I'm smarter than people think I am." Just like the previous comment, this means that people are so insecure that they have to repeat it, and it makes it worse when you make no comment about how smart they are.
The common teenager calls themselves mature, expects to be treated as mature, yet act immature.
But, this is not the fault of merely the teenager (I am not shifting blame in any way), but it can mostly be attributed to the lower expectations of adults. Yet, we still have the choice to act mature, though we do not.
Maybe, just maybe. If we act more mature than the rest of the crowd, we can be treated as though we were Mature...
Just random thoughts for you to chew on. :)
-Sapphire
Disclaimer: If you are my friend, I am not aiming it at you. If you see yourself in the picture I just painted, maybe its time for a change, but otherwise, this is just due to observations.

Revolution: From Adult to Child of the Centuries

Let's be honest, the expectations of teens are not what they use to be. Back in the time of King Tutankhamen, he was a kid and was expected to rule all of Egypt! Okay maybe an example of centuries ago is not as effective, why don't we try our grandparents. When my Grandparents were teenagers, they could make a living for their family, they would work hard on a farm, or in school, or even with the house. They owned animals and were responsible for them. These kids couldn't wait to start a job to provide for their family! (I'm not saying there weren't a few in the bunch who were lazy)

Time went by and new laws came across, such as the Child Labour laws. Although the Child labor law was meant to protect children from being paid unfair wages, these children may not have known how to read and wright, but they certainly knew what a bit of money was even though they didn't know how much it was. The thing is, that during the 1800 there were hundreds of kids lining up in front of factories to work. These kids worked in all sorts of dangerous places forcing the government to do something about it.

 

Next came the machines, yes, when children worked there were machines, but after the children couldn't work, the factories needed some way to make their products. Because of this a machine was invented that could do ALL the work. Turning a job for 100 people into a job for 1 person. 

 Finally came the schools, the government is currently regulating laws that force your parents to send you to a school or at least educate you! If they don't you get taken away by the CPS! Now I'm not saying School is bad for you, but seriously they have been dumbed down to the lowest commen denominator! Meaning that almost anyone can pass the tests! WE HAVE BEEN DUMBED DOWN!

WE WILL NOT LET PEOPLE DUMB US DOWN! WE WILL RISE ABOVE THE NORM AND PROVE THEM WRONG!

What do you think? What are your ideas? Why not start this revolution?

-Sapphire