Music.

Hello world.
I haven't written in a couple of weeks and that is generally because my head has been resembling mush.
How have you been? Readers of the world, how has it been?

Music. A couple of weeks ago, I was consumed with music. Music has always been apart of my life. From dancing in my parents living room, to singing rather poorly in my car. It is everywhere. They set the scenes to films, they are great back ground noise for parties or even when you are doing the house work.
Throughout the generations music has always altered to suit to the needs of society. Now we have so many different genres in music to choose from. If your anything like me, who has this eclectic taste in music. The list of favourite songs are endless. They define the mood of the setting, the feelings we have. They give us hope of the future, provide us with dreams we crave and they provide us with nostalgia of the people and times we miss.

It was after a long day at work and I was unwinding with a book and listening to some music. Flyleaf to be exact, if you readers would like to know. The words of the page wouldn't sink in as my mind was still replaying my actions of the day, so I resorted to just putting the book down and settle with listening to the songs that played. I was sent away. The music kind of lifted my conscious away, floating on the clouds of melodies. Eventually the lyrics are drifting away and all that is left is the tune, it plays until you are in a calm slow breathing state.. Your still listening, but it doesn't need to make sense, your too relaxed and down under to comprehend what is happening.
I haven't come back, so calm and clear like that in such a long time. A meditated feeling was released and I was relaxed for the rest of evening. If only I could do that in the morning. Music is powerful and can help you think/see/feel more clearly than before. Music can relax the soul before facing the world. Music can sooth the muscle that craves the stretch.
Music should be appreciated in different shape and form. Like the many genres.

Here's a top 10 music, that have defined me, changed me, made me believe. Helped me. (This list will always change, just as music always change)
1: O'Children- Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
2:Sail- Awolnation
3:All Around Me- Flyleaf
4: Future- Paramore
5:Misguided Ghost- Paramore
6:One Woman Army- Porcelain Black
7: Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence
8:Waiting for the 7:18- Bloc Party
9: Mad World
10: Still- Daughter.

The war of Feminism.

The weekend was filled with beautiful weather and glorious sunshine. That I decided to take advantage of it and wear a skirt. A skater skirt to be exact and to top it off, I went bare legs. I decided to be brave enough to bare my legs in hope they gain some sun on them. For me personally I rarely show off much above the knee, but with the skater skirt we are meeting mid thigh. It was a daring approach on my behalf and I attempted the confident walk. I was nervous to walk out of the door, even though I was extremely comfortable in the outfit I have chosen.
Walking through the streets into town, I was met with longer stares from passers by, whether they was in cars, bikes or by foot. I was met by 'wolf whistles' (do we still call it that any more?), a couple of beeps of the horns.
I was enjoying this attention I was gaining. It was making me feel more confident for walking down the street. I could feel my stride being more confident, my back becoming straighter and I was holding my head up high. I was glowing in this attention and I was happy with my body that day.

(Not my legs by the way)

I was then met with conflicted emotions. Should I feel that way? I was enjoying the attention from the opposite sex that was objectifying me. I shouldn't be enjoying this. We are living in an age where women and men should be treated as equal. Shouldn't I be disgusted by this? Should I have cringed and shied away from the attention I was getting, because they was not admiring my mind or intelligence but the body I have displayed?

I then remember all the times, I have passed a man I do not know and objectify them. Admiring their built, the way their hair is and the way they have such piercing blue eyes. I'm a huge sucker for admiring dark hair and blue eyed men. It turns out, that in this age men and women are being equal with each other by admiring the bodies we have been given. There wasn't a war of feminism in the way I was being called out for braving the weather and bearing my legs. It was common. Men are still open and still like to vocalise their admiration of women. Whereas we women are still content in being more private and quiet about our admiration. Perhaps we should be more vocal like the opposite sex? Well, I don't know about you but I still prefer being secretive about it. 

So I decided to just embrace it. I felt comfortable in my own body, I was able to go out showing a little more leg than what I normally would have done. In return for my 'out of the normal' actions, I was met with in some ways an appreciative response that made me feel more comfortable and more confident in my body. I'm not saying it was appropriate, but it did for once make me feel sexy. Which is something I am not quite familiar in feeling. I turned it over for my own personal gain and made myself feel better. 

When I was thinking all this over, I kept referring back to this one 'How I Met You Mother' episode I watched. Where the gang all went to a gay bar. The boys was happy and thrilled to be gaining attention and being 'hit on' by other boys at the bar, where as the girls was happy for not gaining any attention. After awhile the boys grew tiresome of the attention and the girls soon craved for it. 

We as human beings love attention and if it means being subjected to being objectify for it, then so be it. At least we are being appreciated and if it makes you feel loads happier or more confident, then we shouldn't say no right?

Claire.