Thanks in large part to the recent release of the new "live-action" Lion King, there's a meme going around about lions. Something to the effect that a real lion doesn't need to tell you s/he's a lion. I mean, generally speaking, you know a lion when you see it. But the roar--that's what differentiates lions from other big cats. There's nothing quite like it.
It's just a stupid meme, usually posted by people with too much time on their hands. But, this particular meme really bothered me. It was dishonest in a number of ways. If you were a real lion, you'd roar, because that's what lions do. I'm a lion. Leo to the core. When someone makes broad claims about "lions" and who we are, implying that what we are is not what we are, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Like when I drive three hours to see a friend, taking on the expense of a hotel, only to learn that the person I've gone to great lengths to meet isn't showing up. Hate to break it to you, but lions show up. That's why we're lions. If you don't show up, you're no lion. Not even close.
When I speak, it's only because I can back up my words with genuine action. That's what it means to be a lion in the first place. We roar because we can. Fangs and claws in the human world translate to being honest and effective. If that's not something to roar about, what is???
I don't expect a thank you for being straightforward or consistent. I don't expect anything...except respect. I've met non-lions who do what they say, too, but there's always expectations attached. Strings. One person acted as though he did me a favor by showing up for plans he made with me three months in advance...yet, he was somehow doing me the favor???
That's psychotic. In the literal sense. Real Dark Triad stuff. So it was no surprise when this same excuse for a human being wouldn't ride up in the elevator with me, yet later tried to kiss me. Not kidding. I mean, that's completely unstable behavior. Clearly a conflicted individual who apparently lacks self-awareness to an extreme.
So, while the person above did what he said he'd do (but only in the most technical of terms), he's no lion. Reminded me more of a bug actually. The scurrying kind. An insect that likes to hide under rocks.
The second thing that bothered me about the lion-related meme, was the underlying nastiness. It had a tone of indignant, self-righteous judgement. I think it was a poor attempt at being coy and/or clever. But it was neither. To a real lion, it looked pathetic and sad. Weak. Wanting to be something you're not always is...and, that's the message this person really conveyed. You can't fake strength. Or, convince legitimately strong people you're like them somehow by putting them down in order to raise yourself up.
People who are truly strong don't need or want approval from others. We also don't give a flying fig about labels. Anyone who desperately clings to labels is clinging to the limits of those same labels.
Choosing to remain in your cage when you don't have to is part of a psychology called "learned helplessness." Posting memes about who you want to be makes you feel more powerful than you are. That's a symptom of suffering. Surviving instead of thriving. A big blinking red sign to the world that you are anything but a lion.
Real lions are unlimited. We roar, sure, but we can back up our booming voices with swift and effective action. Yes, we can nurse wounds for a long time. And yeah, it likely hurts a few folks who aren't lions that we are so damn happy and confident. "Robust" is a word that comes to mind. But hey, if you were a lion, you'd roar about it, too. Why? Because you're a *fucking* lion. That's what we do. To say anything else is just a lie.
Critics of power are always those who lack it. These same critics love to address the "virtues" of humility. Being "humble" is something the weak talk about incessantly. To anyone naive enough to listen. When you've real power, it's dishonest to say otherwise. It's dishonest to pretend to be a sheep. Or a cow. Or, a human.
Lions have no use for liars, except as fodder. Fuel for the creative tank. I don't run away or hide when confronted by lies. I roar. Then, I use my claws, my fangs, my whole body, to devour the liars of this world. Expose them to my stomach, where they are broken down into their basic components. That's when I release them again. I release liars as the shit they are. Shit floats. There's nothing of substance in shit. So it floats.
Lions are full of courage, of truth--made of muscle, blood and bone--we don't float.
Lion's roar. We're known for it. We're not vicious. We don't have to be. We only eat when we're hungry. I haven't felt the need to eat in a long time. That's maybe something to keep in mind...for those who aren't lions, that is.
#Lion
It's just a stupid meme, usually posted by people with too much time on their hands. But, this particular meme really bothered me. It was dishonest in a number of ways. If you were a real lion, you'd roar, because that's what lions do. I'm a lion. Leo to the core. When someone makes broad claims about "lions" and who we are, implying that what we are is not what we are, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Like when I drive three hours to see a friend, taking on the expense of a hotel, only to learn that the person I've gone to great lengths to meet isn't showing up. Hate to break it to you, but lions show up. That's why we're lions. If you don't show up, you're no lion. Not even close.
When I speak, it's only because I can back up my words with genuine action. That's what it means to be a lion in the first place. We roar because we can. Fangs and claws in the human world translate to being honest and effective. If that's not something to roar about, what is???
I don't expect a thank you for being straightforward or consistent. I don't expect anything...except respect. I've met non-lions who do what they say, too, but there's always expectations attached. Strings. One person acted as though he did me a favor by showing up for plans he made with me three months in advance...yet, he was somehow doing me the favor???
That's psychotic. In the literal sense. Real Dark Triad stuff. So it was no surprise when this same excuse for a human being wouldn't ride up in the elevator with me, yet later tried to kiss me. Not kidding. I mean, that's completely unstable behavior. Clearly a conflicted individual who apparently lacks self-awareness to an extreme.
So, while the person above did what he said he'd do (but only in the most technical of terms), he's no lion. Reminded me more of a bug actually. The scurrying kind. An insect that likes to hide under rocks.
The second thing that bothered me about the lion-related meme, was the underlying nastiness. It had a tone of indignant, self-righteous judgement. I think it was a poor attempt at being coy and/or clever. But it was neither. To a real lion, it looked pathetic and sad. Weak. Wanting to be something you're not always is...and, that's the message this person really conveyed. You can't fake strength. Or, convince legitimately strong people you're like them somehow by putting them down in order to raise yourself up.
People who are truly strong don't need or want approval from others. We also don't give a flying fig about labels. Anyone who desperately clings to labels is clinging to the limits of those same labels.
Choosing to remain in your cage when you don't have to is part of a psychology called "learned helplessness." Posting memes about who you want to be makes you feel more powerful than you are. That's a symptom of suffering. Surviving instead of thriving. A big blinking red sign to the world that you are anything but a lion.
Real lions are unlimited. We roar, sure, but we can back up our booming voices with swift and effective action. Yes, we can nurse wounds for a long time. And yeah, it likely hurts a few folks who aren't lions that we are so damn happy and confident. "Robust" is a word that comes to mind. But hey, if you were a lion, you'd roar about it, too. Why? Because you're a *fucking* lion. That's what we do. To say anything else is just a lie.
Critics of power are always those who lack it. These same critics love to address the "virtues" of humility. Being "humble" is something the weak talk about incessantly. To anyone naive enough to listen. When you've real power, it's dishonest to say otherwise. It's dishonest to pretend to be a sheep. Or a cow. Or, a human.
Lions have no use for liars, except as fodder. Fuel for the creative tank. I don't run away or hide when confronted by lies. I roar. Then, I use my claws, my fangs, my whole body, to devour the liars of this world. Expose them to my stomach, where they are broken down into their basic components. That's when I release them again. I release liars as the shit they are. Shit floats. There's nothing of substance in shit. So it floats.
Lions are full of courage, of truth--made of muscle, blood and bone--we don't float.
Lion's roar. We're known for it. We're not vicious. We don't have to be. We only eat when we're hungry. I haven't felt the need to eat in a long time. That's maybe something to keep in mind...for those who aren't lions, that is.
#Lion
Waking Lions
by Pop Evil
Is this better
Tell me there's a better way
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna hide from the vultures above, serpents below
They wanna lay me to rest, but I won't go
Yeah
Is it better to die than live another day
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna run from the scars and within, burning your skin
They wanna lay me to rest, but I won't go
Yeah
I won't go
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead the way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Burning to ash, I'll die until I rise again
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna stop till I Break down this cage
Escape from this chase
You'll never silence my voice
No, I won't go
No, I won't go
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Far way too long
I slept inside the dark
But now I rise
It's time to make a move
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause feel we never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred my strong
I will never be the same
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Leigh Kakaty / Josh Adam Strock / Andrew Colin Fulk
Waking Lions lyrics © BMG Rights Management
by Pop Evil
Is this better
Tell me there's a better way
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna hide from the vultures above, serpents below
They wanna lay me to rest, but I won't go
Yeah
Is it better to die than live another day
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna run from the scars and within, burning your skin
They wanna lay me to rest, but I won't go
Yeah
I won't go
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead the way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Burning to ash, I'll die until I rise again
I'm not afraid
I'm not gonna stop till I Break down this cage
Escape from this chase
You'll never silence my voice
No, I won't go
No, I won't go
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Far way too long
I slept inside the dark
But now I rise
It's time to make a move
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause feel we never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred my strong
I will never be the same
I wanna stand up, a hundred feet tall
'Cause fear will never lead my way
I'm ready to run, a hundred miles strong
I will never be the same
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
Waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
I'm waking the lions in me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Leigh Kakaty / Josh Adam Strock / Andrew Colin Fulk
Waking Lions lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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