different kind of strengths

leave these skilled thinkers
to their own devices, I say — 
leave them to their talents…
there are different kinds of strengths,
so why do we value certain kinds
while we diminish others?
being able to put up with a ton
of shit and keep moving forward,
that’s its own kind of aptitude — 
that’s its own kind of strength…
you can work and become
stronger at things, you can
improve yourself at any time,
at any stage, but don’t fret,
don’t let the world tell you
how you don’t measure up…
the people out there,
they only pay attention to
a few types of skills,
they only value certain
kinds of intelligence,
certain kinds of force,
but don’t let anyone tell
you how weak you are…
everyone deserves more
than making the best
out of a bad situation,
how bout actually giving
a damn, and telling people
they can have a good situation…
life isn’t about settling
for the tolerable…
but I know, some people
just aren’t in a place
to fight for something different,
maybe their current state
of affairs is too stifling,
too enfeebling…
how bout you hover
over the truth a little bit,
and pay closer attention
to what is going on
I don’t want to disintegrate
and neither do you,
but there’s an absurdity
to the way life is now
that I think is lost on
a lot of people — 
listen, they will do all
they can to nullify you
so, don’t let that happen

Notes:

I think a lot about how there are so many surprising ways human beings can display excellence. Our species is versatile, cognitively flexible, open minded, creative, and capable of great strength and endurance. But we are also capable of a mind-blowing degree of short-sightedness and hypocrisy.

It’s a shame that there are certain kinds of talents that are valued way more in our society than others. Everyone is different, and yes we all have our own unique gifts. But so often in order to succeed in a traditional sense, people are forced to conform or specialize or do things outside of their natural tendencies just to get by.

Probably the most pertinent line here in this poem is, “everyone deserves more than making the best out of a bad situation.” And with the amount of resources and intelligence we’ve got on this planet, you’d think we’d come a hell of a lot closer than the ‘grin and bear it’ mentality that we tend to espouse when advising people about how to move forward when things get bad.

I hope someday our society gets to a point where all skills are appreciated, regardless of how lucky or well connected we are. I’d like to live in a future where definitions of work and passion and vocation become more widely encompassing. Where human beings can more fluidly reach their potential instead of so many of us feeling like we’re wasting our days away half-heartedly subsisting because we have no other choice.

We say we value education. But the acceptance of broad and deep learning seems to end somewhere near early adulthood. We say we value diversity, and yet we have little tolerance for variations in learning styles, working styles, individual personalities or mental dispositions.

We say we value focus, and yet all we do is distract each other with nonsense or emphasize the necessity of multitasking. The truth is, not everyone thinks or processes information the same. Yet we demand uniformity and adherence to rules and structure in almost all domains of life.

I like the line, “I don’t want to disintegrate, and neither do you, but there’s an absurdity to the way life is now.” This absurdity is lost on a lot of people. As many ordinary folks just accept whatever they’re spoon-fed about the world and how to function. Rules are accepted blindly. Bullshit conventions are tolerated without question. And faulty standards of how to treat one another are considered the norm.

It’s easy to go along with the status quo. But in my poem, this is tantamount to being nullified.

Be who you are. Exercise your own will and push the boundaries of creativity wherever and whenever you can. Don’t allow this world or the people in it to nullify you.

Anti Void

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