Why you shoudn't be afraid to be a 'basic bitch' this Halloween

I swear society is becoming a game in which nobody can win; there always seems to be a reason to drag a person down. This is especially true for women. If you dress conservatively, you're a prude, but if you show 'too much' skin you're a slut, for example. One thing that really confuses me, though, is a fear of judgement that seems to have arisen only in the past couple of years - the fear of being basic.

Basic. What does that even mean, and how can a person ever be basic? Basic is a word you use to describe something simple yet functional, like a Sainsbury's basics bag of potatoes. Not a human being, complete with a lifetime of memories, a totally unique personality and a complex spectrum of emotions. No matter what a person likes or dislikes, how can that ever be basic?

The concept of being basic revolves around a person liking or doing things that other people also like or do. But what about the revolutionary idea that the reason a lot of people like something is because, I don't know, it's good? Furthermore, why is it assumed that someone is either basic or they're not? I know personally, I like some things that would be considered basic, and I like some things that wouldn't. Music is a prime example of this divide; why does it have to be that somebody either likes pop music or they like indie music. And God forbid anyone who primarily likes pop music states that they love an indie tune - what a try hard! On the flipside, I know more than a few people who mainly listen to indie music who wait until they're drunk at 3am to shamefully whisper 'I actually kinda like Taylor Swift', as though they're admitting to cheating on their boyfriend. Why does society make people feel like this? Why can't all of us wonderful, one of a kind people just like whatever the hell we want, without being judged? Surely this is way more interesting than feeling the need to fit a certain 'category', constantly fearing the judgement and scrutiny that comes if you dare avert from what you traditionally enjoy.

How about everybody just listens to, and wears and enjoys whatever they damn want - you owe nobody an explanation. I am a basic bitch through and through, and I'll never be afraid to admit it. I'm proud of everyone who likes whatever the hell they want just because they like it. Don't ever feel constricted by all the weird boundaries that society cages us in. So to all my sexy cats, bunnies and schoolgirls out there this Halloween, I salute you. Get out there and don't be afraid to flaunt all of your wonderful basicness. I certainly will be!

5 things my Dad taught me

I think it's safe to say the last month or so has been a difficult one. After my Dad died in August, adapting to such a huge change in life has been really weird and frankly, confusing. For me at least, it's more than anything been a period of reflection; I don't think you realise how much of an impact a person has on you until they're no longer around. It was this that made me start thinking about everything my Dad taught me; it's amazing how he shaped my life in so many incredible ways. Honestly, this list could be way longer, but here are just the top five wonderful lessons that my Dad taught me.

1) To never be afraid to stick up for myself.

Being a relatively shy person, speaking out and standing up for myself has never been easy. In fact, shy or otherwise, I think this is something a lot of us struggle with; the fear (or hassle) of confrontation easily pushes us towards settling for less than we deserve. Growing up, and seeing the way my Dad always boldly stood up for what he believed was right and fair, certainly taught me a thing or two about making sure I'm treated with respect.

2) That grades don't mean as much as attitude.

As a younger child, I was a perfectionist to say the least. From an early age, I was almost obsessed with doing well at school, and developed an unhealthy tendency to compare my achievements with those of others. My Dad always knew this insecurity of mine, and regularly reassured me that grades really meant very little in comparison to attitude and work ethic. He certainly practised what he preached in this respect. At a young age my Dad left school without sitting any exams, to work as a miner, as many boys in his local area did. However after a few years, he decided he wanted to become a police officer. Through sheer determination and hard graft, rather than amazing academic achievements at school, he did just that. The fact that my Dad managed to have such a successful career doing what he loved, despite not being 'academic', really shaped my perspectives; I'm now much gentler on myself when it comes to grades. Dad proved to me, and always reminded me, that academics are only a part of, rather than the definition of success.

3) That actions speak louder than words.

Anyone who knew my Dad will know that he wasn't the 'emotional type' as such. He would rarely directly say "I love you" or anything along those lines, but he had ways of making it clear without even having to say a word. It was little things like always being the 'soft touch' parent when my brother and I were young, or the way he would always say "watch what you're doing" whenever we left the house as we got older. In fact, even near the end of his illness, he would never fail to tell us to watch what we were doing and to text him when we got home, every time we left the hospital. It's so easy for someone to say that they love you, but the actions that accompany or even replace that are much more meaningful and telling.

4) To never speak down to anyone.

I always used to love listening to Dad's stories about his time as a police officer. What always spoke volumes to me was that in every tale he told there was always one common theme; he would never say a bad word about anyone. It was obvious that in his job, he'd never speak down to people. He didn't ever see himself as any 'better' than anyone else, and I know he was really respected for it. This was one of the biggest lessons of my life; it made me realise that nobody is any 'higher up' than anyone else, and that most importantly we're all just human beings with our own unique lives, stories and experiences.

5) To live life to the full and take nothing for granted.

As anyone who knew my Dad will know, he was very much a 'live in the moment' sort of person, and he would always say "I'm here for a good time, not a long time." It was a phrase that if I'm honest, I never truly understood the meaning of until he was gone. No matter what card life had dealt him, he was always 100% positive, even when things were really bleak. He dealt with things in an almost superhuman way, and his catchphrase was 'crack on' (often accompanied with a smile and wink), no matter how trivial, or how heavy, the issue he was dealing with was.

Update

I'm just going to be honest - I'm struggling to know what to say here. Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know I like to write posts which are generally positive and practical. However, it's also so important, probably above anything else, that the things I write are honest, direct from the heart and really reflect myself and my situation at the time. It's because of this that I'm having a bit of hard time thinking what to write. Positive is not coming too naturally at the moment, so it leaves me in a predicament. In a way I feel as though I either need to sacrifice positivity for honesty, or vice versa.

Just under a month ago, my Dad passed away following a 4 year battle with cancer. In general, I think I'm coping pretty well, I think the whole family are; keeping busy but being careful not to shut out the grief when it wants to be felt. 

Writing is my passion; I love everything about it. I love spilling out all of my thoughts onto a page and then sorting through them. I love making sense of the muddled up sentences I originally draft - organising them into something that is both readable and hopefully, interesting. It's surprising what editing a piece of writing can do for me; it's so much more than moulding it into a quality post. Seeing my thoughts, edited and neatly formed into a concise page of writing really helps me to process them.

It has taken me days to write just this small post, but doing so has made me realise that, although positive may be harder at the moment, I am still capable of blogging. Practical, I can do; I've learnt more life lessons in the past few months than in the rest of my life put together. Honest, I can definitely do, in fact I struggle to be anything but. And you know, in those two things, surely there is some positive too. Although it may be a little harder right now, I'm so ready to get writing again.

5 things blogging has taught me

Since it was recently the 6 month anniversary of my blog, I thought this would be a fitting post this week. Starting a blog was definitely an idea which I toyed with for ages before finally going for it, but each time I got serious I seemed to think of another way in which it could 'go wrong'. However, it's been a great 6 months and I can honestly say that finally getting my head down and doing it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Surprisingly, as well as providing me with the creative outlet I'd hoped for, my first 6 months of blogging have taught me some valuable life lessons. Here are the top 5 things blogging has taught me so far:

1) Authenticity is key

Before I started blogging myself, I never really understood how many people fake their stats, especially on social media. As a new blogger, it's so easy to get disheartened when you're working so hard yet not getting the views, but it's important to remember that it's not always going to be like that. We've probably all been tempted to 'cheat' in order to easily get more followers/likes on social media, but I've learnt now that it's so much more rewarding to work on genuine interaction and writing to the best of your ability. This way, you know that when somebody follows you, gives you a like or views your blog it's because they really do like what you're doing. Although the first few months can be frustrating at times, this is definitely a better way of doing things. Seeing your real progress as it happens is truly so fulfilling, even if it's a slow process.

2) The power of planning

Despite always being a bit of an organisation freak, I never fully understood the power of planning ahead until I started blogging. For the first few months, I kind of had a 'make it up as I go along' approach. However, I soon learnt the benefits of having at least a loose plan of what to post throughout the month. By forming a plan, it's easier to make sure topics are varied throughout the month. It's also easier to plan posts to fit around specific dates and themes over the year, as well as saving the time and stress of having to think of something to write on the spot. My general go-to now is to jot down ideas as they come to me (often at the strangest times), then plan things out more rigidly when I have a list of ideas to choose from. I find this to be a much easier method than trying to think of what to write on the spot, as it's incredibly difficult to force inspiration.

3) Invest in your passions

I'm by no means saying here that you need to spend money on something in order for it to be a success, but if you're setting out to do something that you're serious about, it's so important to really invest time, energy and potentially some money to get you started out. For me, I'd tried blogging so many times, but the thing that made me stick at it this time was buying a theme for my site. Seeing it looking so professional, and knowing that I'd spent money on it stopped me from giving up right away. It doesn't have to be money, but making sure you're truly invested in what you're doing is so useful when it comes to resilience and sticking power.

4) Quality over quantity

It's so easy in life to get caught up in numbers (see point 2), but blogging has made me realise that quality is far more important than quantity. I think in writing this is especially true. There have been a few instances now where I've cut down the frequency of my posts, for example over exams, because I've realised how much I hate the idea of not writing to the best of my ability simply to 'keep up'. This can definitely be applied to many areas of life; if you need to slow down in order to deliver your best work, it's much better to be honest rather than rushing and not doing things well.

5) Failure is nothing to be afraid of

This is a huge lesson I've learnt! My biggest fear when starting this blog was how embarrassing it would be if I just totally failed, but I've since realised that was such a silly fear to have. Whatever you're pursuing and however big the dream, just go for it! No matter how things pan out, you're winning just by working on your goals fearlessly. It's not about what anyone else thinks, it's about how following your passions and dreams makes you feel.

My ultimate stress-free revision timetable strategy

In hindsight, this post may have been better done a bit earlier, as by this point we're almost into the full swing of exams. However, if you haven't yet created yourself a revision timetable, it most definitely isn't too late to do so!

Having sat more exams than I can count over the years, I'm no stranger to the dreaded annual exam-related stress out. However, I've always known that - for me at least - organisation is often the most effective antidote to stress. There's nothing more calming than knowing that everything I need to do is down on paper. It means I can focus solely and today and right now, rather than what I need to do tomorrow or what I should* have done yesterday. I think for many people, the main source of exam stress isn't the exam itself, it's more the anxiety over whether we are revising enough. I'm sure at some point we've all been out doing something we usually enjoy, yet all we can think is "I should be revising right now". Of course, 24/7 revision is certainly not the answer, yet the guilt and pressure still remains.

As a self-confessed perfectionist, I've spent years trying to master the art of making a perfect revision timetable, and I dare say I think I've got pretty good at it. My main aim was always to rid myself of having to worry about any day other than the one I am living right now. Achieving this mind-set is so beneficial, and seems to free up a ton of space in your head for the stuff which is actually important! I'll warn you now, my method is a bit time-consuming, but its preciseness is exactly what makes it so effective. So without further ado, here is my step by step guide on creating a stress-relieving revision timetable:

1) For each subject, list every topic you need to revise on some scrap paper.

2) Split each of these broad topics up into very small chunks. You're aiming to end up with lots of different snippets to revise which would each take roughly 30mins. So for example, I am studying Biology, and one of the topics is synapses. I would split this into say, problems with synapses, action potentials and effects of drugs on synapses. Suddenly, instead of being faced with one big and overwhelming topic to revise, I have 3 quick, manageable ones. For any topic which you have no option but to spend more than 30mins on, such as an exam paper, just tally 3 next to it to show that it takes up three slots of 30mins rather than just one.

3) Make your timetable showing every day until the end of your exams. I like to do this on the computer, but it can be handmade if you prefer.

4) Write your exams into your timetable.

5) Block off in one colour every day you have something planned and know you will be unable to revise. It doesn't matter what it is; I block off entire weekends because I work on Saturdays and am normally hungover on Sundays. Being honest with yourself is the best way, and you don't have to revise every day.

6) Count up the number of days you have free.

7) Divide the number of small topics (30min slots) you have by the number of days you have established as free. Round up to the nearest whole number. This is how many of your small topics it would be useful to revise each day. For example if you have 97 topics and 30 days, that's 3.23, so round up to 4 per day.

8) Spread your small topics throughout your timetable. With the example I've just used (4 topics per day), you may choose to put two small 30 minute topics down for one day, as well as a one hour exam paper (which takes up the other two 30-minute slots).

9) Stick your timetable up and get started! You will by this point be so organised that there's no reason to worry about when you're going to fit anything in, because you have it all covered. Just get up every day and focus on what you have down for today, and nothing more.

10) Highlight or tick things off when they're done to give you a sense of achievement. If something comes up which means you don't finish everything one day, either just move on or fit it in somewhere else - it's no big deal! Life happens.

Good luck with you exams everyone!

*Click here to read my post dedicated to the use of the word 'should'.

60 things I wish I could tell my younger self

As we grow up, it's inevitable that we learn from our experiences and mistakes (especially in makeup/fashion, as I learnt the hard way)! I don't know about you, but I often find myself pondering over everything I've been through, and what it's all taught me. That's why I thought this week, it would be interesting to think about these lessons and realisations in a bit more depth. I was actually really surprised as to how many I could think of. Some are serious, some are more trivial, some you may relate to and others are more personal to me. Either way, I hope it makes an interesting read! So without further ado, her are 60 things I wish I could tell my younger self:

1. Social media will never solve your problems.

2. Your mental health won't improve until you respect your body and mind equally.

3. Stop worrying about your body; you haven't even finished growing yet.

4. Bra fittings are important.

5. The brown lip-gloss and purple eyeshadow combination will never look nice.

6. Your skin tone is not, and never will be 'sand', however much Dream Matte Mousse you apply.

7. Life is too short for uncomfortable heels.

8. Periods are nothing to be embarrassed about.

9. Your year 8 'history timeline' certainly isn't worth stressing over.

10. Be upfront about how you feel.

11. If someone upsets you, tell them - whether it's a stranger, parent, teacher, friend or anyone else. 

12. Smile at strangers even if they don't smile at you.

13. If you must fake tan your legs, fake tan your feet as well.

14. Never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable in order to 'fit in'.

15. Don't suffer in silence, physically or mentally.

16. Going to the Doctor's is rarely as bad as you think it will be.

17. Acknowledge negative thoughts, but don't let them define you.

18. 2 litres of water per day will change your life.

19. Alcohol is only fun when you're in a good mood.

20. Physical and mental health are a team.

21. Revise well in advance.

22. Don't take it personally when people treat you badly - it's only a projection of their own feelings.

23. Teachers are human beings. Speaking and being honest with them will benefit you both.

24. Standing up for yourself won't make people hate you.

25. When it comes to success at school, self-care is equally as important as working hard.

26. Learn from your mistakes.

27. Most successful people start out by feeling like a loser.

28. Keep your friends close.

29. However much you try to, you will never enjoy cardio. Just do something else.

30. Physical strength becomes mental strength.

31. You are the only thing that has the power to make you feel bad.

32. Don't ever skip medication.

33. Life is too short to feel guilty for eating nice food.

34. A determined attitude is not everything, but it is powerful.

35. Don't stress over your indecisiveness - use it to your advantage.

36. Your journey is yours and everyone else's is theirs.

37. Comparing yourself to others is useless; everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses.

38. Get your split ends trimmed regularly.

39. School-College-Uni-Job isn't the only successful/viable life path.

40. Following your passions will make you feel more alive than anything else.

41. Work hard to be financially independent.

42. Do whatever you want at the gym and never feel self-conscious; nobody is looking.

43. Get up earlier.

44. Don't pretend you don't care about your Mam's opinion, because you do.

45. Don't let heartbreak stop you from loving wholeheartedly and without fear.

46. Learn to recognise confirmation bias in yourself.

47. You are the only person who can save yourself.

48. Don't let PE put you off exercise.

49. Let yourself feel every emotion your heart desires; they exist for a reason.

50. Stop pretending you don't enjoy Maths.

51. Taking a day to just look after yourself is more than ok.

52. The night out is not worth having to go into work hungover.

53. Don't underestimate the power of 9-10 hours sleep at night.

54. Don't underestimate the power of a good breakfast, either.

55.Your eyebrows look ridiculous.

56. Try to look after you nails.

57. Stop stressing about your exams; it won't change the result.

58. Resitting is not the end of the world.

59. Always put your phone down an hour before bed.

60. It's ok to be socially awkward - just own it.

My top 10 hangover cures!

Anyone who knows me will be well aware that I'm partial a drink or ten at the weekend. Of course drinking is bad for us, and I admire all the non-drinkers in my life, but let’s be honest - there aren’t many. Unfortunately I seem to be one of those unlucky people who are prone to soul-destroying hangovers. Admittedly, I’m also a person who tends to feel very sorry for herself when ill; these two factors are a less than ideal combination. However, there are a few little tricks I’ve learnt to make that hangover a little more bearable. Of course, the only sure way to avoid being hungover is not to drink. Despite this, everyone has their own little tricks to help give that hangover a bit less of a punch. Here are my top 10 tried and tested hangover remedies!

10) A long bath/shower

However disgusting it is, I think we’ve all woken up in our clothes from the night before, or barely able to open our eyes from all the crusty makeup around our face. Let’s be honest, anybody who denies they've done this is probably lying. There’s nothing like feeling unclean to exaggerate that overall ‘icky’ feeling, so taking a nice relaxing shower or bath, washing off that makeup and apologising to your skin is a good place to start.

9) Leave the painkillers alone

This is probably a bit of an unusual one, seen as so many people swear by Paracetamol to get them through a hangover. However, I think the effectiveness of painkillers really depends on the sort of hangovers you get. Personally, I rarely get a ‘headachy’ hangover; I usually just feel really sick. I learnt the hard way that for me at least, taking over the counter painkillers whilst feeling nauseous is a recipe for disaster.

8) Oranges

I don’t know what it is about orange-related goods that seems to help hangovers so much, but somehow it works. It doesn’t matter what it is; actual oranges, orange juice, orange cordial, as long as it contains orange, it definitely has the potential to make you feel a bit better.

7) Prink (yes, really)

This may seem counter-intuitive but just hear me out. If like me, you’re not much of a social butterfly, then deciding to pass up on prinks and head out sober can actually cause more harm than good. When you prink, you can choose to steadily drink and go out a bit tipsy, meaning you’re less likely to feel the need to ‘catch up’. On the occasions where I’ve gone out sober and been met by a group of already very drunk people, I’ve felt the need to get to that ‘level’ immediately. This usually involves ordering a couple of drinks and some shots on the side, which can ultimately lead to getting drunker quicker. This in turn encourages you to drink more and more and before you know it, you’re laid in bed hungover AF.

6) Leave the card at home

I still haven’t mastered this one; I always end up convincing myself I should take my card ‘just for emergencies’. Unfortunately my emergency usually ends up being the overwhelming feeling that I MUST buy 10 shots for me and the girl I just met in the toilets, or something to that effect. Leaving your card at home saves money for one, and secondly means you physically can’t buy more alcohol than you actually plan to drink, thus reducing the risk of a hangover.

5) Take water to bed

You’re more likely to drink throughout the night if you don’t have to get up for it, and of course water is great for hangovers. I always make sure I have a bottle of water next to my bed before I head out, in case I forget or if drunk me forgets the importance of that H2O when I get home.

4) Stick to clear spirits

I’m not too sure about this one myself, but I think it is generally agreed that lighter coloured spirits like vodka or gin cause less severe hangovers than dark spirits like whiskey, for some scientific reason which I’m not going to pretend to know.

3) Find your best drink

Different drinks cause different reactions in everyone. For example, I’ve decided that Jägerbombs are a no for me, as they make me SO ill. Gin, despite being a lighter coloured spirit, also seems to give me a hangover from hell. So nowadays, despite the fact that I prefer gin, I tend to drink vodka as it gives me the least severe hangovers. My parents always think I’m mad when I say “I don’t want to be hungover so I’m just going to drink vodka”, but going out and drinking only the one drink that doesn’t make you so bad can be really effective in preventing being too hungover (providing you don’t use this as an excuse to drink way more than normal.)

2) 2 extra pints

Of water, that is. I try to drink a pint of water right before I start drinking alcohol, and another just before bed. This obviously stops you from being as dehydrated and can work wonders in preventing the dreaded dry mouth the following morning. Keeping hydrated should also ease a headache.

1) Lucozade

If all else fails, Lucozade is the answer to everything. Preferably orange flavoured.

Why we need to stop arguing over why feminism is called feminism

As I write this, International Women's day is 2 days away, but instead of being excited about such a positive event, I find myself anxious; preparing myself to spend the day being forced to defend my beliefs to people who choose to protest, yet refuse to listen to any other side but their own. I am readying myself for the hysterical cries of "but when is international men's day?", "Feminists are just man-haters!" and "women are already equal to men!"

For years now, the majority of feminists have calmly shut down these misinformed statements, attempting to guide people towards the true facts. Unfortunately, year after year the same things come up and to be honest, it makes me feel a little defeated. It seems as though so many people put out their opinion with no intention of listening to the other side of the story. It can often feel like talking to a brick wall. It frustrates me how day in, day out feminists are forced to defend our beliefs to people who won't listen anyway, which of course takes the focus away from the important things.

To be honest, I think we all need to take a step back and stop arguing over petty things. Before you start bashing feminists for what we believe, think about the true implications of what you're saying. A feminist is quite simply, as summed up perfectly by Beyoncé, "A person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes." If you read that sentence and believe in it, then congratulations, you are officially a feminist! It really is as simple as that.

Of all the arguments I've heard in opposition to feminism, there’s one that seems to come up remarkably more often. On the surface, I’ll admit it may appear to be a somewhat valid argument, which is why I thought I’d take a few minutes to address it. Hopefully then we can all stop arguing about what feminism is called and come together to tackle the real issues!

"Why is it called feminism if it's about equality?"

Because in general, between men and women, women are the gender who need to be empowered and provided with more rights in order for equality to be achieved. Yes, 80% of the focus of feminism is on females, but again, this is simply because far more work is needed in this area; men's rights are currently far exceeding the female equivalent in the majority of areas. However, regardless of the fact that feminism focuses heavily on women, any true feminist is also an advocate of men's rights. Feminists deal with issues such as paternal rights, domestic violence towards men, and tackling damaging male stereotypes and expectations. Does a 'meninist' do this? Or do they just distastefully attack feminists?

Two women per week are killed by their partner in England and Wales[1], and one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In most countries, women only earn 60-75% of what a man doing the same job earns. Two thirds of illiterate adults are women[2]. It is estimated that 200 million women who are alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, the act of removing external female genitals. This is often carried out without anaesthetic and in non-sterile conditions, posing risks including haemorrhage, HIV, tetanus and PTSD. In countries such as Egypt, Sudan and Somalia, it is estimated that over 80% of women will undergo this barbaric procedure[3]. The list of injustices, prejudice and violence women deal with every day is endless.

I think a simple way to figure out whether your argument against feminism is valid or not, is to put yourself in this situation. My challenge to anyone who has a problem with feminism and what it stands for would be to ask yourself, “would I feel comfortable presenting this argument to a girl who was forced to marry a man three times her age when she was 12?” or “would I feel comfortable explaining this to a woman whose own family threw acid at her for ‘dishonouring’ them?” If the answer to either of these questions is no, I would argue you need to think about the true relevance of your argument. I wonder how the women in developing countries, who are subjected to violence and injustice every day simply for being female would feel, if they knew people were attacking a group who are fighting for them for such irrelevant reasons.

Maybe some so-called feminists are man-hating extremists. Most causes have some individuals who are clearly not aware of the true morals behind the movement they claim to be supporting. Unfortunately, these are the people who attract the most attention, and it's easy for people to tar all feminists with the same brush. I think it’s time to stop arguing over why feminism is called feminism, and get to the real issues.

On a more positive note, happy International Women's day!

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[1] registered, guarantee (2016) Violence against women. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/violence-against-women (Accessed: 6 March 2017).

[2] Commons, W. (2016) 7 appalling facts that prove we need gender equality now. Available at: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/shocking-facts-gender-inequality-international-wom/ (Accessed: 6 March 2017).

[3] WHO (2016) Female genital mutilation (FGM). Available at: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/ (Accessed: 6 March 2017).

Political déjà vu?

Politics is something that has always fascinated me, in a way. Not so much politics on the surface; I probably couldn't summarise the budget, or name the defence secretary in 1992, for example. What interests me is the population's approach to politics; what makes people vote a certain way? What is it that makes some pretty unsavoury characters become so worshipped by hundreds of thousands of people? With Brexit in motion and Trump's inauguration looming, I have found myself considering the thinking patterns behind these decisions more deeply.

In the weeks and months leading up to the presidential election in the USA, we all saw the Facebook posts in which Donald Trump is likened to Adolf Hitler. This is what first got me thinking; with those similarities so prominent and undeniable, why was Trump still appealing to so many voters? After many hours pondering this question, I finally reached my conclusion.

I believe that the type of people favoured in politics is, and always will be, a cycle. As human beings we tend to remember the bad in people and situations. I suppose this is an evolutionary trait; a certain lack of trust will have been advantageous as far as survival in the distant past. After all, if a caveman thought another person was out to kill him, he's going to be a lot more prepared to fight than if he always saw the best in him. If you take this deep rooted human trait and apply it to the here and now, this essentially means that whatever politician is in power at the time, we notice the bad things about them. Ultimately, this means that every time there is an election, much of the population will be looking for someone who is the complete opposite to the last person. Our brains are hardwired to see the negative in current situations, and we therefore look for the opposite; the 'grass is greener on the other side' mentality, I suppose.

Don't get me wrong, I don't for one minute believe Trump is 'the same' as Hitler, as these social media posts suggest. I think it's important to remember the atrocities Hitler actually committed, and I don't believe that this should be in a way 'played down' to liken him to a presidential candidate nowadays. However, I don't think we can deny that the way Trump captured his audience before being elected was remarkably similar to the way Hitler attracted his. The hate directed at particular groups of people, the empty promises of making the country 'great', and the idealistic yet unrealistic views.

I believe that twenty years ago, Trump would have had no chance, and neither would Brexit. I believe that these things go in a cycle simply because people forget, which is why it's so important to remember what atrocities an attitude of hate and discrimination have caused in the past. The first and second world war shaped our views as human beings; we saw the inhumane suffering caused by hate and intolerance, and in the years afterwards - influenced by this, we changed our views. The world became more liberal and accepting, and so different leaders were sought after, and rightly so. However as the years have passed, I fear some of us may be failing to remember the horrors that an intolerant attitude can cause, and therefore be falling again into this trap of idealistic 'perfection'. After all, most of us nowadays did not experience the wars first hand, so it is difficult for us to have a full understanding. In no way am I suggesting that a 'world war 3' situation is looming, as I hope and believe that in a modern world, there are measures to prevent this from happening. However, I think it's important to remember the lessons that were learnt from those tragic years, and to be careful not to fall into a trap of hate and discrimination for the sake of unrealistic ideals.

On a side note, I am not trying to undermine anyone who voted a certain way in any situation, as I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I understand that many people will, of course, have campaigned non-hatefully, and voted by weighing up both sides and deciding what they thought was right. However, I do believe that many people may have got caught up in a hate-driven mob mentality in regards to recent politics, and I think we sometimes need to step back and really consider whether our actions are driven by love or hate.