Rain, Rain...

It's such a rainy day today. The kind that makes you want to do nothing but cuddle in bed with a good book or a good movie. Too bad I don't have that luxury!

Watching all the rain
Purify the streets from filth
Gives me cleaner thoughts

I've Found a Hole!

Reading the June issue of Allure (yes, I do indulge in gloss), I came across an interesting bit of news. A study found that people with multiple piercings (other than mundane earlobes) tend to have been exposed to compound traumas. A poll of 196 “multiply-pierced” students, 133 of them being female, taken at the University of Florida in Gainesville, found that the more trauma a person experienced, i.e. a death of someone close, an abortion/miscarriage, divorce, verbal/physical/sexual abuse, etc., the more piercings a person was likely to have. The possible reason cited was that it signifies a person’s ability to withstand pain, and that it is a cathartic process. This finding caught my attention because I have pierced more than my earlobes and have contemplated getting more.

I began to recollect the traumas I have undergone to see if there was any relevance to this claim, whether it could be applied universally. Other than the nowadays typical divorce (is it even considered traumatic anymore?), I have suffered a number of hardships: death, various forms of abuse, near-fatal accidents, and myriad other stressful situations. On top of all that “trauma,” multiple body enhancements became fashionable during my rebellious years. So, looking at my navel ring, I wonder: “At whom should I poke my finger?” Do I blame my past, or do I blame fashion for my hole and the others I’ve entertained?

Still unable to apply this universal statement universally, I looked to my peers. Many of them have fallen victim to the piercing gun repeatedly like addicts flock to the needle for tattoos (which I’m sure will later be linked to another psychological dysfunction). I thought of the intimate stories we’ve shared and realized that they too, encountered this demon called “trauma” on several occasions. Was this a coincidence? Could this finding be true for all of the disfigured masses? I think not. The same hole (no pun intended) still persists; since these are my peers, it is plausible that they followed the piercing trend also.

Given that the poll was held on a college campus full of young impressionable minds, maybe the sample of people was not broad enough to apply universally. Young people follow trends more than any other demographic. My generation and the following one have experienced things previous generations couldn’t even comprehend. In a world of extremes, is it really fair to pigeon-hole the youths with the most piercings into “the traumatized?” I don’t think too many of us, while lying on the padded table under the neon light, thought, “This will show the world how much I’ve suffered,” not even on a subconscious level. It might have been more like, “This navel ring will look so sexy in the summer,” or “The ladies will really dig this brow bar.” The first time I pierced my navel was because I lost a bet, not because my parents got divorced when I was 5.

This study, so far, is inconclusive, in my opinion. We should stop trying to place responsibility on society or whoever else we see fit to blame for our actions. Yes, sometimes our repressed emotions surface in uncanny ways, but that does not make an individual act repeated by others to form a trend a universal cry for help. If you like piercings, but don’t have a legit reason to get one, don’t blame your grandmother’s death on your tongue ring. There is no legitimate reason to get any kind of piercing. OK, it was once a tribal custom and still is in certain parts of the world, however in metropolises all over the globe, a lot of us just think it’s cool.

*(And to my generational counterparts who have not suffered so many compound hardships, I would like to know, if not for fashion, what their excuse/reason for their multiple piercing might be. I will ask them; my study is not yet over.)*

Refining Thought

Today I was going over some short stories I'd written a while back, refining/revising them, and for some reason, it gave me a cleansing feeling. It was like I did some spring cleaning to my words and the clutter of my thoughts was taken away. I feel lighter now, refreshed and clear-headed enough to actually attempt composing something completely new. Like I know what my wardrobe lacked now that it's been downsized and I can buy new clothes. Unfortunately, since shopping isn't in the cards, I'll have to settle with sitting in front of the screen and typing my buying tendencies to rest.

Here's a haiku to express how I feel when I write:

As the ink spills forth
My most intimate wonders
My mind feels lighter

Later, everyone!

Welcome!

Greetings, everyone.

I am really excited to have started this blog; it is an important and much needed form of expression for those seeking an outlet for their feelings and thoughts, and I am obviously one of "those." So I have decided that, here, on this page, my musings and thoughts on life and how it is, will be posted for all to see and comment upon as they see fit. In "Vicky's Reflecting Pool," you will be able to read my poetry, certain thoughts I am unable to keep to myself, rants, and maybe even a book/music/movie review every now and then. I eagerly await all comments, critiques, and responses to my work and/or any issues raised.

That said, here is a piece of poetry to describe who I am. I thought it fit to introduce myself on the first post. Enjoy!

Any Questions?

Yes, I am strong.
I feel weak as hell.
I am loved and I do love.
No, I am not nor do I.
Sure I like myself.
I can’t stand who I am.
Of course, I think I’m beautiful;
I know I am.
No, I’m ugly;
Can’t stand the sight of myself.
Smart? Hell yeah!
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Yes, I am happy.
Life couldn’t be better.
I am so discontented;
My life sucks and has no point.
No, I am definitely not complicated!
Why would you ask such a question?!?!

Until next time...