Always Remember To Eat Your Greens

My mum always tried to make sure that I ate my greens, and so naturally, I hated eating my greens. I don’t think it was because of the taste, or because they were horrible and difficult to chew (I was, and still remain, a fan of leeks), but because my parents made a big point about making sure that I ate my greens. It became a game between us, with her and a younger version of me trying to outwit the other over the consumption of vegetables (that, looking back, were probably good for me anyway). I honestly think that if my parents actively encoraged me to play videogames or watch television, I wouldn’t gone completly against them and refused to (or perhaps I would realise that they were trying to double bluff me). Once I drew all over some chocolate with a green felt tip pen and insisted that the chocolate were my greens for that day, and then proceeded to stuff my face, claming that I had my ration of greens for that day. She was pretty annoyed.

Always Remember To Talk To Strangers

There have been many, many times when I regret not talking to strangers (as opposed to the other way around). I’ve made several friends by simply striking up conversation in the most random of places - on the train, at a gig, or while shooting zombies in the face in a videogame with complete strangers. However, there are also times when opportunities present themselves and I stay silent, either due to shyness, nervousness or tiredness. On the way back from visiting some friends this weekend, I proceeded to do what I always did on long train journeys - break out my iPod and listen to my current favourite album. There was a girl sitting opposite, and we exchanged shy smiles before I thought, fuck it, let’s try strking up a conversation. I turned off my iPod, and then stared out of the window for a while. By the time I looked back, she had taken out her own iPod and was listening to it intently. Fuck.

Always Remember To Put Yourself First

I had a conversation with a guy well into his sixties on Skype who I used to podcast with (about videogames, who would’ve guessed) a couple of weeks ago. He lamented to me that he still behaves in ways to please his strict father, even though his father passed away several years ago. He recounts to me several times when choices he made were not the choices that he had wanted to make, but rather the ones that would please his father the most. I related. Since I grew up with relatively strict parents, I grew up trying to please my parents, sometimes to the extent that I would do things which I would otherwise not have done (sometimes I’m glad that I did, other times not so much). However recently my dad has become incredibly liberal (partly due to the death of my mother), essentially allowing my younger brother to do what he liked (a freedom I would’ve relished, but probably ultimately wasted). Nowadays he makes a point that when I tell him of my accomplishments, although he’s happy for me, my accomplishments are my own and I shouldn’t do things for him. Originally I was really happy for the independence, but more recently I have been feeling lost, as without my father’s direct instructions, my life has begun to lose direction.

I guess I should always remember to eat my greens, because otherwise I’ll never know the taste of pudding.

- Simon x