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life
August 2008 
May You Be Contrary, Too
Posted on Jul 28th, 2008
by 
AndreaOpus
AndreaOpus
It has occurred to me recently (again) that sometimes I am drawn to do/be/act in a way that is contrary to most others just because it is contrary. A lot of times I enjoy being contrary. I have always had a big independent and individualistic streak, and it seems, at 40, it is more pronounced then ever. This does not mean that I throw things in people's face or that I am obnoxious about it (now, anyway) but it does mean I will quietly do things my own way unless I feel like I need to be a little louder about it.
When I was a teenager, for example, I would follow some of the clothing trends but it was never quite what everyone else had. It was a different fabric, a different color, etc. Contrary. In the late 80's, I went to a Community College that was going smoke-free and I was avidly against smoking. (I even have a tattoo to prove it). I would confront people as nicely as possible about their smoking right in front of the non-smoking signs, for example, and I would get smoke blown in my face occasionally. Contrary. In the 90's I began to work at an agency that supports people who have serious and persistent mental illness like schizophrenia (voices, hallucinations, etc.) to work, actually work, every day so they can feel better physically and have higher self-esteem. Contrary.
When I think about the idea of being contrary to public opinion or action, I think there are a lot more "contrarians" now than there have been in the past and we are making (mostly) a quiet but strong revolution. My question is this: When will the tipping point be? That is, what is the point at which there are so many people holding a particular point of view/feeling about the world that the world has to change with it. I feel the tipping point getting closer and closer about many things: peace, conservation, health, community... This is a very exciting time to be alive.
Today, I wasn't all that contrary except that I was scheduled to be at the "office", and did not go in because I felt like I needed to take care of myself and spend some time with my family. I worked from home, grounded to the Earth during a soccer game, weeded and played in the mud (smile), and made a tasty raspberry pie that turned into a slurpy mess. Yeah, that last one was unintentional. I figure if I can be purposeful in my contrariness (contrarity? being contrary?), I think I will effect change. One person at a time, change will be made. When I live my life with my heart and in my passion, I am being contrary to the majority of people. That kind of contrariness is catchy, though, I have noticed. Like I said, one person at a time, one heart at a time...change will be made.
May you be contrary too,
Andrea
When I was a teenager, for example, I would follow some of the clothing trends but it was never quite what everyone else had. It was a different fabric, a different color, etc. Contrary. In the late 80's, I went to a Community College that was going smoke-free and I was avidly against smoking. (I even have a tattoo to prove it). I would confront people as nicely as possible about their smoking right in front of the non-smoking signs, for example, and I would get smoke blown in my face occasionally. Contrary. In the 90's I began to work at an agency that supports people who have serious and persistent mental illness like schizophrenia (voices, hallucinations, etc.) to work, actually work, every day so they can feel better physically and have higher self-esteem. Contrary.
When I think about the idea of being contrary to public opinion or action, I think there are a lot more "contrarians" now than there have been in the past and we are making (mostly) a quiet but strong revolution. My question is this: When will the tipping point be? That is, what is the point at which there are so many people holding a particular point of view/feeling about the world that the world has to change with it. I feel the tipping point getting closer and closer about many things: peace, conservation, health, community... This is a very exciting time to be alive.
Today, I wasn't all that contrary except that I was scheduled to be at the "office", and did not go in because I felt like I needed to take care of myself and spend some time with my family. I worked from home, grounded to the Earth during a soccer game, weeded and played in the mud (smile), and made a tasty raspberry pie that turned into a slurpy mess. Yeah, that last one was unintentional. I figure if I can be purposeful in my contrariness (contrarity? being contrary?), I think I will effect change. One person at a time, change will be made. When I live my life with my heart and in my passion, I am being contrary to the majority of people. That kind of contrariness is catchy, though, I have noticed. Like I said, one person at a time, one heart at a time...change will be made.
May you be contrary too,
Andrea
Access: PublicTagged with: life
The word “contrary” has negative connotations for myself but I get your overall point in this matter. I see this makes the journey interesting for you but I believe through aggreement we find our strength. In fact disagreement tends to make me sick, I don't care much for disagreements like that of the news media just for pure entertainment value. I try to avoid the news whenever possible. Sure if something can be gained it's worth it but I find most of the time I can get what I need without the need to be in disagreement or contrary with another human being. In the end that person is apart of me even if i don't like that person.
Nightphoenix, thanks for your comment. I hear what you are saying. As much as I like to be in a peaceful, blissful state and at one with everyone and everything, I still find myself bucking systems, rules, etc. I think it something that is needed for change and I don't see it as negative but as an exciting potential. When I do disagree (or am contrary) it is in an open-heart kind of way, if you can imagine that. When I was younger, that was not the case, but now it is at least most of the time (I'm still striving). I would like to think that my contrary is like Ghandi being contrary/protesting by not eating-not hurting anyone else but demonstrating by my action that I would like a change. In the realm of life, I think I need to be loving and embracing all parts of me so I can be loving and embrace all parts of everyone else. My challenge has been to refrain from judgment of what is “good” and what is “bad” as I am sure I am unaware of the larger purpose of many things. Namaste.