Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 01:03 PM -
8 CommentsGrowing up, my parents always paid an extraordinary amount of attention to me. They vigorously encouraged my interests, causing me to believe that I could be anything I wanted to in life. The affirmation I received from getting good grades in school and being accepted socially further confirmed my feeling that I was, in a way, blessed. Not even the low points in my adolescence aroused any real self-doubt in me, for I felt that despite whatever was happening, I was still very fortunate.
Continue reading "The Feeling Of Specialness" ›
Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 01:02 PM -
4 CommentsThe most interesting people I know all have one thing in common - they think about things. While thinking may not sound like a special activity, very few people use their minds actively; instead, they go through life making passive associations, allowing whatever words or images float to the forefront of their minds to convey their thoughts. This tendency to live blurrily, rather than with acuity and awareness, inhibits communication on a large scale in our society. The result is that everyday interaction has become much less meaningful than it could be.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:48 PM -
41 CommentsOne major trait of Peter Pan Syndromers is a desire to remain eternally youthful. A natural corollary to that characteristic, which I embody perfectly, is a strong fear of death. I am inconsolably afraid of death - so afraid that I cannot even allow it to float around in my mind as I can with other fears. When its dreary countenance comes to the surface of my mind, an instinct kicks in that automatically expels it before it has time to infect my other thoughts.
Continue reading "Coping With A Fear Of Death" ›
Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:46 PM -
4 CommentsEvery time we go out in public, we engage in a series of elaborate social scripts so that we can get along with other people. Pleasantries, formalities, and personal space conventions are all examples of automated behaviors that we exhibit because we seek approval from those around us. They are a common ground for us to stand on, a compromise of our natural inclinations for the sake of civility.
Continue reading "Returning To Who We Are" ›
Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:43 PM -
0 CommentsSecurity is the unacknowledged object of all of life’s journeys. Most of us are born with it, owing to the fact that our parents bring us up and care for us; but slowly, at distinct points in our adolescence, that security gets chipped away. The first time we realize that we cannot depend on our parents for money, protection, or encouragement, we lose a piece of our security, and each successive time, we lose a little bit more. Finally, we are forced to fill in the gaps by seeking out our own sources of security. Finding a job, making new friends, and seeking a life partner are quests that we commonly pursue, and all for the single purpose of reassembling the security that once was ours.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:42 PM -
6 CommentsOne big difference beween children and adults is that the latter often possesses a permanent defense mechanism known as being “fine.” Whenever I hear someone say that they are fine, usually in response to “how are you,” I get a little uncomfortable. “Fine,” to me, is like saying “I’m hanging in there.” It implies that the person is living out of habit, not out of enthusiasm.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:41 PM -
9 CommentsWhen people speak of art in everyday conversation, they are usually speaking about the art of the upper classes. Art collectors, art history majors, and art museums all partake in a narrowly-defined form of art that has been decided upon by academics and by affluent, white-haired men and women.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:41 PM -
66 CommentsOne of my ultimate goals in life is to start a progressive school which focuses on developing a passion for living and self-knowledge in children. Schools nowadays have a rote, one-size-fits-all curriculum, which is conducive to learning for only a small percentage of students. My ideal school would be communication-based, blending aspects of social work, conflict resolution, team building, and traditional learning.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:40 PM -
6 CommentsTime is a metaphor used to express the non-spatial distance between events. What we commonly refer to as time is actually measured time, or time as defined by clocks, daylight, and revolutions of the earth. However, a more satisfying version of time is perceived time, or time as defined by our own minds.
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Written by Evan Bailyn on 06/20 at 12:36 PM -
87 CommentsPeter Pan syndrome is a deep-seated belief that one will never, and must never, grow up. It is named after the legendary character of the same name who lived in Neverland, a place where kids are immune to aging.
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