Waiting to Die.

I know what you want to say: "Marika, why the heck are you writing another note, and why is it titled 'Waiting to Die'? Isn't that a bit morbid?"

Yes, of course it's morbid! Do you even KNOW me? Huh? I am a rather morbid person--or, rather, I am merely fascinated by the things that society deems "morbid" but isn't really "morbid" because it's all part of life.

Anyway. To answer your question.

Let's talk about Americans.

"Oh goody!" you say. "Americans are fascinating creatures! They love money and fast food and buying things from Goodwill even though they are millionaires because it's hip!"

Indeed. But sometimes Americans do something they don't even know they are doing.

They are waiting to die.

"What!?" you spit. "I am an American and I am NOT waiting to die! I hate death!"

Well you don't have to get all defensive. Just hear me out, will you? Quit interrupting.

One day, my family moved to Czech Republic. It was scary, to say the least. We'd lived in Tennessee for 12 years almost, and we were very used to the All-American lifestyle. We lived in a small town in a nice-sized box house with a big yard and sapling trees. We had a hose and a garage. We had a creek in the back. It was perfect.

Except, we were waiting to die.

When we got to Czech Republic, I realized something amazing: Europeans actually live to live. They don't wait around for happiness to find them (and I'm speaking of the majority; some Europeans are settling into the Western trend of waiting to die). Europeans accept you, no matter what you look like (although some are kind of racist), no matter what you say, no matter what car you drive or where you live. They look at what you can DO. They look at your talents, the trips you've taken, the things you've learned, and they LISTEN TO YOU.

Wow. Isn't that cool? People actually listen to you in Europe. They sit in cafes, they stroll downtown, they go rafting or hiking in the mountains or biking in the country and they talk to each other and listen. They live.

"But wait," you say. "Don't they have to go to work and slave over twelve hour workdays like Americans do?"

Maybe. Here's the thing: they get 5 weeks vacation AT THE START OF A JOB. A lot of Czech people are earning minimum wage, and even below minimum wage, and yet they live wonderfully full and interesting lives.

How? Well, they don't care so much about work. They don't care about money. Yes, they need to pay the electric bill, but when free time comes along, they do FREE THINGS FOR FUN! No, they do not go to the movies; no, they do not go to the mall to shop all their paychecks away. Some go to their favorite bars, yes, and waste lots of money. But the people who really want to live, they go places and have fun. They play music with their friends. They talk about life, they talk about people and about the world. They enjoy the towns in which they live (and European towns are AWESOME--at least, most are).

What I'm trying to convince you of is this simple fact: Americans don't know what's important.

"I do!" you say. "I know what's important! Friends are important! Family! Pets! iPods! Macs! Range Rovers! The latest episode of Glee!"

Lemme tell you somethin'. I don't know many young European people who watch TV like it's a drug. They don't know what Glee is. They haven't heard of Gregory House, the sexy badass doctor. And if they have, they only know them by association. Because American things are slowly taking over the planet.

And as for Americans, well... we make friends. We stab friends in the back. We gossip about friends, make fun of them, shun them, tease them, hug them, push them away.

You know, I once had a friend for five years. Not once did she ever care to hear my play piano, or look at my artwork or read my writing. Why? Because gossiping was more fun to her. Talking about TV and internet was way more exciting.

In Europe, they may gossip--but it's directed toward the Prime Minister of England or that Tyrant running North Korea. They don't talk about their friends the way we do. As far as the Czechs I've met, they love to hear me play piano. They listen to me play guitar and sing. They want to help me become a famous singer. They want to read my novels. They want to help. HELP. Genuinely help.

Czechs will help a friend with a lot of things. Whether they're helping you reach your dreams, or help mend your broken heart, it doesn't matter. They don't USE friends to help themselves--they give themselves to friends, to help them.

Superficial, surface stuff doesn't fly over in Czech Republic. Even the pot-smoking, cigarette-dragging, fringe-sporting, capri-wearing young people are smart as tacks. They know what's going on in the world. They know American history better than we do.

I'm not saying Americans are stupid, or that we're a bunch of back-stabbing hill-billies with a desire to spend money.

That's not my point.

The point is that Americans tend to live life according to the American ideals, that work is everything and that money is the only way to have any fun. We also live in a society that rewards those who are individuals, but only if the individuals are unique in the "right" way. Maybe they'll become famous because they're so unique--like Kat Von D or The Duggers with their family of 21.

I wish people in this country would free themselves. I wish they wouldn't go with what society expects. I wish they wouldn't gossip or back-stab. I wish they would be more interested in the talents of their friends. Ask yourself this question, and really think about it: What do I do well? How many of my friends know of my talent? How many of them would take the time to encourage me to further my talent?

Now, take a look at yourself.

Are you waiting to die? Do you play it safe, live "normally", pretend to be someone else just because that's what you're comfortable with? Because that's what everyone else is comfortable with?

Americans tend to take life a bit seriously. We're a bunch of Drama Queens and Kings and we can't step back and say, "Wow, that was the worst day of my life. What a farce!"

Just try to think about Europe more often. Think about what I said, how they treat each other and treat themselves. They don't always live healthily (they smoke and drink like fiends), but those who take care of themselves are happy. Yes, I said happy. When's the last time you were truly happy? Did you know America is one of the unhappiest countries in the world? Does that surprise you?

Not a single Czech person I've met so far has had emotional problems or mental problems. They don't take life so damn seriously. They don't care what other people think of them, and they are free to be themselves. Dance in the restaurant! Sing in the street! Wear your favorite animal print t-shirt! Don't comb your hair! Get that tattoo! Be who you want to be!

Don't wait to die. Life should be much, much more than that.