12.06.2008

Public Obsessions

*This post has some potential to offend. If you are going to yell at me, just go away.

I have never been really obsessed with anything. Even when people would ask me what my favorite color is, I would give a weird response that would change every day. I like brown. But I like maroon. And I like green. I do not love any of them. It's not indecision, it's just a lack of favoritism. My closet is not full of only brown clothing.

"You don't have a favorite color?!" No, but I will go slit my wrists now.

I do not love ice cream or Harry Potter or Disneyland. These are all nice things but my life would not be over if I never had them. I will not passionately preach to you about how great The Emperor's New Groove is. Even though I like it a lot, I do not think it needs to be your favorite movie nor do I need to prove to you how much I like it.

"Hate" is a strong word. How was "love" released from this same standard? It should be reserved for things that you care more deeply about than most anything else in the world. You love your family and you love milk? Yes, I understand that there are different degrees of love and hate. But people seem to be more proud of their love for milk than their love for their family because it makes them more unique. Want to realize how common you are? Come to BYU.

I have taken both of these pictures in the last week.

This is just unbelievable to me. Does this make a person a bigger fan than anyone else? "Oh you think YOU like Harry Potter? Just wait until you see my license plate!" You never even see your own license plate so what is the point of paying for this except to say that you are the best Twilight/Harry Potter fan ever? Do you really want to define yourself by one fad? I think everyone is judgmental so if they don't like whatever thing you worship, and that is all they know about you, they will probably not like you. That's how you fit into their schema. First impressions last for a long time. Is that the impression you want to make? You love Twilight more than anything else? You love it enough to put it on your license plate?

People think they have to be in love with something in each area of their lives to know who they are. I still know who I am.

If you love something, rock on. But please do not let someone tell you that you need to love something in order to be a real woman (wife, mother), soccer fan, pianist, whatever. You could change your mind every day and still be you. A different version of yourself than you were yesterday, but still you.

This reminds me of a family meal when I was younger...
Adam (youngest brother): Mom! I hate broccoli!
Mom: You liked it yesterday!
Adam: Oh, I did? Okay!

16 comments:

Tyler, Thais said...

Oh I LOVE this blog. LOL

I think it's more of an expression, not that people really love it. But then again I say I hate things all the time too.

Oh and Tyler and I are going on a trip to DisneyWorld in April 2010 when the Harry Potter theme park area will be open at Islands of Adventure. You and Sam should so come with us!!!

Casey said...

hahaha. I never have favorites either. Whenever people ask me what my favorite "this" is or my favorite "that" I always say "i don't have favorites". That's hilarious. I love that post so much.

Ken and Laura said...

Hehe I totally agree with the license plate thing although I have always wanted to do a personal plate that was just random letters and numbers though...

Sarah... said...

You crack me up! I "love" (just an expression!) just reading your posts. You have such a unique way of putting thoughts into words. I would have to agree with you on this one. I too have seen those plates. I enjoyed Twilight and Harry Potter...but, HELLO PEOPLE! Seriously...

Sarah... said...

P.S. I didn't read over that comment before I posted it... AND I think you guys are pretty dang cute in that picture of the two of you. :)

Busy Bee Lauren said...

I know you warned me about this post, and I shouldn't be offended...but I am still kind of sad about it. Probably because every knows my license plate says "EDWDCLN"...but I won't say anymore, because everyone agrees with you...so I should probably take some of your advice. :(

The Macks said...

Emily, I love this blog. I totally agree with you. I have always been slightly confused by people who become obsessed with movies/books. Yes, I really like Breakfast at Tiffany's but you couldn't pay me to put it on my license plate. I also feel that the word love should be reserved for sincere comments. Not thrown around carelessly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic.

Nancy Face said...

My priorities are in the right place, but I LOVE lots and lots of things! I love both of those license plates because they are fun, and I'd smile if I saw them! :D

Arica said...

i'll have you know i totally enjoyed your post (one of your finest i might add). i also want to mention that i do agree with the last comment. i guess it's because i don't see license plates and such as being milestones in life.. they're just simple pleasures that make life more enjoyable for the person who has them. so kudos to you Lauren and your EDWDCLN plates.. i'm sure they make you happy. and cheers to being happy. :)

Nancy Face said...

I went to Canticle in Carols yesterday and saw your mom accompanying the choir! It brought back so many wonderful memories, because they sang many of the same songs from when you and Lauren were in high school! :)

Holly Janeen said...

you know, i used to not tell people i loved things because i wanted everyone to like me. and so i was so afraid to say what i REALLY liked because, what if that person didnt like it? can you say people pleaser?

but NOW, i have decided, for the most part, what i do and dont like, and i usually dont make liscence plates about it, but i sure dont hesitate to tell people the real deal of what i am about, even though they may not agree.

and just for the record i am not a twilight fan. i mean, i think she is a gifted writer... but i am not so much into the vampire stuff. i cant wait until you read it and give it a review!!! (i noticed a library card was on your Christmas list)

great post! way to give me food for thought :)

Jason & Shannon said...

Of course you can! Let me check with Jason and see when a good day will be.

ndjsa;vjd said...

I've been meaning to leave a comment for a few days now...

I just always wonder, what it would be like if these people who devote all their time to these obsessions/ fads, etc. I wonder what it would be like if they were all that excited about God. About telling people how awesome God is and how Amazing his love is.

I am certainly not a model of this and am not trying to come down on anyone---I just really wonder at how AMAZING it would be if everyone who believed really pursued God with that passion that we pursue harry potter and edward cullen and the lord of the rings, etc. etc. etc....

Camille said...

I try really hard not to use "love" and "hate" except in the true sense of the words. Sometimes I slip up, but I usually catch myself, and switch them out for better phrases like "thoroughly enjoyed" or "really get annoyed with" etc.

I can't say "I love this chair," and the next minute say "I love poor kyle," and still sleep at night. But I do love poor kyle, and I do have a lot of beautiful, classy, inspiring chairs.

To each her own, though.

Brea said...

YAY for those pictures! That is just AWESOME! What a good idea!

Tori :) said...

Maybe I'm interpretting this wrong, but I think this post was assuming a lot about people based on silly license plates. I love my family the most but I'm not stickin' their names on my car for safety reasons. Jacob Black, on the other hand, will not be kidnapped if I decide to put his name on my car. (Not that I have...)
I have the things I love the most which of course is my family, being a mom, etc... but I have my fun "obsessions" as well and I think it's ok. Hopefully the way I live my life shows my dedication to God and the way I take care of my family shows my dedication to them. That way I can do silly things like wear a "Team Jacob" shirt without being judged.

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