Sunday, January 9, 2011

Media of the Week - Waiting Outside the Lines

Pin It I was reading blogs yesterday.

It always seems that I’m falling behind, and seeing my reader teeming with updated posts from you.

Yes, you.

As I commenced reading, I began to recognize a reoccurring theme that seemed to network several blogs together like a many-faceted web. In a few that I read there was an underlying feeling of depression at life, that the hand that had been dealt was not fair, or that things were not going the way the writer wanted them to. In one or two cases, it seemed that the writer was lost in a dark and lonely place.

I’ve been in dark places before; I’ve allowed myself to flounder in a wallowy standstill of depression and gloom; a pool of self-pity and despair…this is never a good thing when I have refused to see the light, when I have turned my back on the good, when I have sat and waited for the world to change.

After all, it’s the world that ought to change, not me. Right?

Wrong.

One thing I’ve realized is that I cannot lock myself behind closed doors and walls and simply hope that things will get better – will be better. There comes a time when I realize that I need to pull myself out of my slump - to stand up on my own feet and commence walking.

“The first step is the hardest…”

I feel strange quoting a 13 year-old kid, but I heard this song and felt that it really needed to be the “Media of the Week” this week.

To me, it’s an anthem about getting out, being more, and quite simply: doing.



Outside the lines
Greyson Chance

You’ll never enjoy your life,
living inside the box
You’re so afraid of taking chances,
how you gonna reach the top?

Rules and regulations,
force you to play it safe
Get rid of all the hesitation,
it’s time for you to seize the day

Instead of just sitting around
and looking down on tomorrow
You gotta let your feet off the ground,
the time is now

I’m waiting, waiting, just waiting,
I’m waiting, waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines

Try to have no regrets
even if it’s just tonight
How you gonna walk ahead
if you keep living blind?

Stuck in my same position,
you deserve so much more
There’s a whole world around us,
just waiting to be explored

Instead of just sitting around
and looking down on tomorrow
You gotta let your feet off the ground,
the time is now, just let it go

The world will force you to smile
I’m here to help you notice the rainbow
Cause I know,
What’s in you is out there

I’m waiting, waiting, just waiting,
I’m waiting, waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines

I’m trying to be patient (I’m trying to be patient)
the first step is the hardest (the hardest)
I know you can make it,
go ahead and take it

I’m Waiting, waiting, just waiting I’m waiting
I’m waiting, waiting, just waiting
I’m waiting, waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines
Waiting outside the lines

You’ll never enjoy your life
Living inside the box
You’re so afraid of taking chances,
How you gonna reach the top?

22 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Those are good words of advice but what about the person who is so far into depression that they can't see the positive?

Teachinfourth said...

K - There is no right answer to this question, I also don't think that you expect me to have the answer. I do know know that when it comes to something like a major depressive order that professional, religious, or medicinal help might be required.

In speaking for those who get depressed on occasion, and then more so on a more regular basis, it usually seems to me that things always start off small and slowly move onward in that particular direction. I know that for myself I need to focus on the positive each day. I try to surround myself with things that are upbeat and that helps me to remember the good in the world. There is a lot of it around, just sometimes we don't allow ourselves to see it.

I don't mean to trivialize or oversimplify it for those who suffer from chronic depression, I'm just speaking from my own experience.

Cheeseboy said...

Thank goodness. I thought this was going to be Beiber fever. This kid seems a little better.

One thing I have learned in the world of blogging is that some bloggers love to complain. A lot. About just about anything. And these are always my least favorite blogs to follow. But yours is always uplifting and I appreciate that.

Gerb said...

13? Wow... that kid has talent.

I have to agree with Cheeseboy's comment. I don't really enjoy the blogs that are all about complaining. Is my life perfect? No. But I try to make what I write about the good that I see - in the difficult and happy times. I don't think it's being fake (as some have told me), it's trying to be positive and have a happy outlook on life.

I enjoyed this post - it made me think.

Shawna said...

I think we also need to keep in mind that some depression is caused by things we can change, but may not want or think we are able to. Some relationships, jobs or situations can be toxic, and sometimes learning to say "this is not what is good for me" is a lot harder than just "dealing with it" because you don't want to rock the boat or hurt feelings. While we can't avoid life, along with the hardships that inevitably arise, we also have to look out for ourselves.

4evermyboys.... said...

I love this kid. I saw him on Ellen a while ago....what talent!! I actually also saw this particular music video of him a few weeks ago as well. I wanted to post it on my blog....but alas I didn't...you beat me to it. LOL....

elysabeth said...

I agree - there are some blogs out there that the blogger only vents and complains about all the negative in their life. Sure we all have bad days and we all have "depressive" times every once in a while and it seems like nothing we do is going the right direction, but we also hav to take those steps to move towards the good, positive things in our lifes in order to bring ourselves out of the funk.

I think the words of that song are very encouraging and for a 13-year-old, he has a great lyricist. He will definitely have a big following if he doesn't already. I saw the video of him doing Paparrazi (sp?) on several blogs - touting how talented he is. He actually is sporting a hairdo like Bieber's but I think he is a bit more talented than the Bieber boy. I haven't heard much of Justin's work but really think this boy, Greyson, will go far if he keeps his head above all the junk out there.

True what you said, there are some folks regardless of what is said to encourage them they do need to seek professional help and those are not the kind of depressions being described in the blogs you are reading. Unfortunately those who do need the professional help to get out of the depression fail to see it until it is too late and then end up involuntarily committed or worse.

I've been in a funk lately and have been resistive to writing my state story #6 (I lost the momentum last year when things kind of fell down and am having a hard time getting back into the story). I know at this moment the story isn't going to write itself nor will it be published on time if I don't get myself back into the writing of it. I've taken a challenge of doing 7000 words a month for the year (this will hopefully get me ahead of schedule with state stories so that all my illustrator has do is pluck the finished stories and do her thing when it is time to publish them. No one can pull me out of the funk or if you want to call it depression, then so be it. I am the only one who can do that right now and I'm getting there.

Thank you for posting this. I hope you can pull yourself out the funk you have been in or have pulled yourself out of the funk and will continue to go forward thinking of positive things and good things in your life. Remember there are always people with worse situations than ours and with that thought, we must continue holding our head high and keep going up - not down.

I'm glad I found your blog - because believe it or not, there is a lot of inspiration here, even if through a song by a 13-year-old, talented child.

Off to work on writing State #6 in my 50-state mystery series. See you all in the postings - E :)

---------------
Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

Where will the adventure take you next?

http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
http://jgdsseries.weebly.com

Richard & Natalie said...

What a great song. I have heard of this kid, but never got around to looking up his stuff; thanks for putting it right in front of me.

I just came from the blog of a mutual friend of ours who talked about picking a word as kind of a theme for the year. After reading this post I think I've found mine- doing. I love it; so simple, yet full of unlimited possibilities.

tammy said...

Now THAT is a great song with a great message. Thanks.

Karen M. Peterson said...

I wholeheartedly agree. There have been more than a few times when I've started to feel off track, like all sorts of things were happening TO me. The best way out of that is by stepping outside of my own limited view, doing something for someone else and reminding myself that it's up to me to be happy.

Connie said...

OK, I love that piano!
The song is great too.
I learned long ago that I'm the only one who can take care of me. I can't wait around for the world to change. I need to grab life and go with it!

Thanks for the thought provoking post. Now, let's party!! Well... not me and you necessarily, but all of us!

TisforTonya said...

good message - and I think I've noticed some of the same trends as I've been trying desperately to catch up this evening.

not everyone's thank goodness... I need a little more positive and laughter than complaints :)

Pedaling said...

leave it to cheeseboy to say it like it is.
you're right, and i liked the song.

Rachel said...

Mr. B and I talked about the "January's" in our lives. You have to move through January to get to spring. Figuratively and literally. We all have our January's but if we can just hang on and know that spring will indeed come...... it makes it easier to wade through the January's......

I have to agree with you. There is SO much good out there in the world. And when I'm feeling like the world is coming down around me, all I have to do is look around and I get a fast pick me up because there is always someone who has it way worse than me. I've so much to be grateful for. I would be ungrateful, not to recognize that.

Susan Anderson said...

Quite a talented young man. Thanks for sharing this.

=)

peggy said...

Enjoyed the video tonight, want the piano of course. In posting, I try to be short and sweet, even if I am at the end of my rope..and somehow it makes me feel better just thinking of something good to say to friends. However....I did complain about my scanner yesterday, but I just like to pick on it.

Amy said...

Wow! I've heard about this kid, but never heard him before. Some talent! Great message! Thanks for sharing!

Natasha and Jesse said...

What a great song. Thanks for this post.

Marnie said...

Great song. I like it, as we all need that positive push! The kid is young, but the message rings true to all ages :0)

Sarah said...

With the new year bring tons (literally, TONS) of new adventures and items to my to-do list, I get to read one of my favorite blogs a day, and I'm soo sooo soooooo glad that you posted this and I got to read it.

It's easy to get stuck in a frump, but stopping and focusing on the positive can go a loooong way.

Plus I have chickens. They make me laugh. Everyone should own chickens (random comment that will be lined with regret when I get some sleep and start making sense again).

Mama-Face said...

I have found that it is usually the darker side of me that shows when i blog. I've tried to fight it, but I'm not going to deny who I am. Which is why I've dropped out of the 'game' part of blogging. I find that if I dig through some crap I find that seed of hope I'm searching for. In real life I am a 'normal', functioning, very happy person; the side of me that is on my blog is ME as well-letting myself think stuff through, good or bad. In my mind a lot of my what may seem like helpless words are actually a sorting through. As you know, there are so many perspectives.

I think that music is one of the great healers for the soul. Great lyrics, great kid.

Just SO said...

What a fabulous song! I'm on the lookout for great songs and I definitely like this one.

Plus I adore that piano.

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