Abnormal Psychology

As part of my college Access course, I am required to take Psychology. The unit that we started a fortnight ago is "Abnormal Psychology", and I'm finding it to be just as interesting as I found "Early Social Development".  One of the tasks that the instructor wanted us to do was to go out in public and do something out of character, and what would be seen as weird in our society. I had a few giggles, because some of the things that she suggested, I've already done.

• Walk down the road singing songs from "The Wizard of Oz". Been there, done that. I did a 5 mile charity walk around downtown Indianapolis with a couple of friends. For the last half mile, we linked arms and skipped to the finish line singing "We're Off To See the Wizard" at the top of our lungs.
• Walk around town barefoot. Again, that same charity walk. It was bucketing down with rain, and I don't like squidgy shoes. I took my shoes off after the first half mile, and walked 4 1/2 miles around downtown Indianapolis, barefoot, happy as a lark. I have a barefoot preference, anyway. I've also gone to collect by boys from the village school barefoot. My neighbours were mortified. My shoes were dry and intact, and my feet dried quicker than a pair of shoes would have.
• Sing out loud. I regularly catch myself doing this, along with dancing, because I forget myself when I'm listening to my headphone, and find myself singing whilst walking through the college refectory, or dancing in the queue waiting for the bus.

Add in that I made the choice to take an alternative path of faith to the majority of the population, I don't understand the point of some modern fashions, I wore Sophie in a sling rather than putting her in a pushchair, and many other things, and I'm probably classified as being a few bricks short. I wonder what labels would be ticked for me in the psychiatric manuals? But, there's actually nothing wrong with me. I'm not harming anybody and I'm not harming myself. I find it to be a pointless task to try to be like everybody else in society, and boring. What's the point of it? People need to open their minds up and find that it's so much more fun to be weird. 

I embrace my individuality, and I enjoy being weird and abnormal. Sometimes, the things that I do or say actually gets other people to stop, question themselves, and why they do the things they do, and the point to it all. Maybe that's what my intended role in our society is...to be one of the ones that comes across as safe and innocuous, but once in a while I shake up the people that need to be dragged out of their rut, kicking and screaming.  For me, it breaks the monotony of routine, and gives me a much needed laugh at myself, and can bring a bit of levity to the monotony of other peoples' lives.

I admit that I'm weird, and I'm proud of it. Are you?

Terpsichore, Goddess of Dance

OK, I can be rather pathetic. My guilty pleasure is watching television talent shows. Dancing On Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, American Idol, X-Factor...If it's remotely got music (even the worse singers...it gives me something to do by being a sofa critic), I'm likely to be watching it. This week, it's Britain's Got Talent every evening. Fantastic, but OMG! at some of the 'talent' on offer. Such a wide range of skills, skill levels, and bravery.  It made me think about who and what inspires people to develop their talents.

I figure that the best way to introduce today's goddess, Terpsichore, is with this video:

Ok, yes, I know, how retro cheesy. Nothing like the fantastic Olivia Newton-John and ELO to brighten your day. Oops, forgot to say that "Xanadu" is another guilty pleasure. When I was young, I was fascinated with Olivia, and I watched this a lot. I still watch it a lot.  The reason that I've chosen it is because of who her character, Kira, is supposed to be portraying. She is one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology, Terpsichore.

Terpsichore and her sisters were daughters of Zeus, who slept with Mnemosyne for nine consecutive nights to give birth to the nine Muses. They were then given to the God, Apollo, to raise and teach his arts. Each grew to show their individual talents. Terpsichore's talent was dance and choral music, and was known to enjoy dancing the most. She is mentioned by philosophers and poets, such as Plato, her name is given to dances and dancers, and also the name of a British Naval destroyer in WWII. It is believed that Terpsichore was the mother of the Sirens, Pisinoe, Aglaope, Thelxiope.

Ok, as kitsch as "Xanadu" may be, they did a fairly reasonable job of introducing and adding a current story of how the goddesses still influence mankind, and that the gods and goddesses are fallible, as well, with Kira falling in love with Sonny when she shouldn't have. And that she had inspired previous generations, like Gene Kelly's character, Danny.

We just have to excuse the mixed cultural references...Greek Goddesses mixed in with the name of Kublai Khan's city of pleasure in China, Xanadu. But, that can be a blog for another day.

No matter who your God or Goddess of choice is, there's always somebody or something that inspires people. And it's not just inspiration for dancing, music, or writing. If you enjoy your job, spending time with your family, or any other activity, be thankful that your inspiration is strong and eye-opening.

Mel