If this past year has done anything, it’s shown that people, collectively, all deal with traumatic and generally bad experiences differently. And yes, this past year has been one long traumatic event.
I know, nobody experiences life the same way. And it seems to always feel like you’re going through life alone. It feels like you have to deal with the trauma, the bad days, the frustration, the feeling of being on rock bottom alone. Even if you have a support system, it seems like nobody will truly understand how you’re feeling, what you’re experiencing.
Here’s the thing. We all experience trauma. We all go through shit and have bad days. We all hit rock bottom, sometimes more than once. But why do we act like we are the only people experiencing whatever we are experiencing? Why do we think that nobody has gone through something extremely similar or that nobody will understand?
My theory: We’re told our experiences aren’t actually that bad. We’re told some people have it worse. But somebody will ALWAYS have it worse. It discredits your feelings, and makes you feel more alone. At least, that’s what I think my issue is.
Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us” brings light to the fact that nobody is really alone in their experiences. Someone, somewhere, has fought the same battle, and climbed back to the top of their mountain. We are all living our own lives, but that doesn’t mean we are alone in this life, alone in our problems. While the phrase “People Like Us” gives the impression that this is a specific group of people, it actually provides almost a more relatable idea. The lyrics talk about feeling down, like the world is against you, losing it, and being a misfit, but somewhere in this song, there is a line or phrase that resonated with you, making you a “people like us”.
While the song brings up some feelings and emotions, the main focus is standing up, brushing yourself off, and allowing for others who understand to help you up along the way.
Yes, this year has been kind of a disaster for many. Shit happens. But this past year doesn’t define the next one. Today doesn’t define tomorrow. So, in the words of Clarkson herself, “Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever.”
