Ohhh shucks. The last blog post on my outside reading memoir Eat Pray Love--just when I was getting the hang of managing reading and posting...
Dearest Liz,
Liz, as I finished the book tonight, felt sorrow as I realized that the last few pages were becoming even fewer. I feel like you have become my best friend, and mentor over the past weeks. I am so envious of your spiritual journey that made you such an amazing person. Who knew that rediscovering passion, prayer and balance could be found in traveling the world.
It's hard to believe at the end of the book that you are the same as that Liz who was on her bathroom floor, bawling her eyes out because she was so unhappy.Most everyone has done that, myself included. But that middle of the night tear-fest was one that actually changed your life.
Your little philosophies, and sayings about life stuck to me, and make me reflect at many moments of the day on my life and my actions. I'm proud of you Liz. You did a wonderful job, and through your transformation, although not as great as yours, transformed me. You are an amazing person,with an amazing heart (like when you raised all that money to Tutti and her mom to buy a new home in Indonesia!!) and I'm so happy for you and your new love, Felipe. You deserve it.
Allow me to share a word of wisdom that was passed to me from a very wise senior at Edina High School... When anyone makes you feel less than you are, especially yourself, tell yourself that "I am beautifully and wonderfully created."**
Pleased and grateful,
-C
**I would like to thank Eric for his wise words able to combat my self doubts. You inspire me, and frankly, rock =)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Finding Balance in Indonesia [Post A]
Definitions courtesy of www.dictionary.com
CAPRICIOUS [Gilbert 166]: subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic
STAGNATE [Gilbert 177]: to cease to run or flow, as water, air, etc.
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
" 'What's got you all wadded up?' he drawls, toothpick in mouth, as usual.
'Don't ask,' I say, bt then I start talking and tell him every bit of it, concluding with, 'And worst of all, I can't stop obsessing over David, I thought I was over him, but it's all coming up again.'
He says, "Give it another six months, you'll feel better."
"I've already given it twelve months, Richard."
"Then give it six more. Just keep throwin' six months at it till it goes away. Stuff like this takes time." [Gilbert 148] I really have come to love Richard. He is the best friend who will tell you the naked truth because it isn't like your love life is in jeopardy with him. This is just one of the many words of wisdom from Richard that stuck with me. When you are having a hard time, Richard's way to help fix it is to just keep giving it six months. You don't have to immediately go long term, but just six months at a time. Step by step.
"But I wish me and David could--"
He cuts me off. "see, now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be." [Gilbert, 150]. Again. This is Richard and his wonderful words of wisdom made simple so they are easy to remember. I do a lot of wishing sometimes about changing my past and decisions I've made, so Richard would probably be telling me to "alright, so wishbone now turns to backbone, and let's try and change the future so it turns out to be a past you are proud of.
"She says that peple universally tend to think that happinesss is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort." [Gilbert 260]
This a huge emotional appeal about how happiness is thought of. Happiness is something that is often what is sought out for an entire lifetime. Some find happiness in love, others find it in material objects. It doesn't take a guru to tell someone that happiness is the individual's personality, and nobody else's responsibility.
THEME:
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yourself (for your personal happiness and nobody else's)and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
[Completely nailed ;) ]
CAPRICIOUS [Gilbert 166]: subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic
STAGNATE [Gilbert 177]: to cease to run or flow, as water, air, etc.
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
" 'What's got you all wadded up?' he drawls, toothpick in mouth, as usual.
'Don't ask,' I say, bt then I start talking and tell him every bit of it, concluding with, 'And worst of all, I can't stop obsessing over David, I thought I was over him, but it's all coming up again.'
He says, "Give it another six months, you'll feel better."
"I've already given it twelve months, Richard."
"Then give it six more. Just keep throwin' six months at it till it goes away. Stuff like this takes time." [Gilbert 148] I really have come to love Richard. He is the best friend who will tell you the naked truth because it isn't like your love life is in jeopardy with him. This is just one of the many words of wisdom from Richard that stuck with me. When you are having a hard time, Richard's way to help fix it is to just keep giving it six months. You don't have to immediately go long term, but just six months at a time. Step by step.
"But I wish me and David could--"
He cuts me off. "see, now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be." [Gilbert, 150]. Again. This is Richard and his wonderful words of wisdom made simple so they are easy to remember. I do a lot of wishing sometimes about changing my past and decisions I've made, so Richard would probably be telling me to "alright, so wishbone now turns to backbone, and let's try and change the future so it turns out to be a past you are proud of.
"She says that peple universally tend to think that happinesss is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort." [Gilbert 260]
This a huge emotional appeal about how happiness is thought of. Happiness is something that is often what is sought out for an entire lifetime. Some find happiness in love, others find it in material objects. It doesn't take a guru to tell someone that happiness is the individual's personality, and nobody else's responsibility.
THEME:
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yourself (for your personal happiness and nobody else's)and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
[Completely nailed ;) ]
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Goodbye Italy, Hello India Post A
Definitions from www.dictionary.com
Fennel (Gilbert, 108): a plant, of the parsley family
Intrinsic (Gilbert, 121): belonging to a thing by its very nature
Emotional Appeals:
"But Syrause, the next day, is even better. The bus coughs me up on the street coner here in the cold rain, late in the day." (Gilbert, 112) This is in the very beginning of her trip to India. I, as the reader, feel like I am right there with her. Even though Liz doesn't use very descriptive language, I can still vividly picture it in my mind.
"It was in a bathtub back in New York, reading Italian words aloud from a dictionary, that I first started mending my soul. My life had gone to bits and I was so unrecognizable to myself that I probably couldn't have picked me out of a police lineup. But I felt a flimmer of happiness when I started studyng Italian, and wen you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after sch dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt--this is not selfishnes, but obligation. You were gven life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find someting beautiful within life, no matter how slight." (Gilbert, 115) I felt like I could relate very well with Liz when she said that beacause her life had gone to bits that she was unrecognizeable to herself. I know how that feels, so I could be empathetic with her. I understand that healing takes a long time, and when you find a the slightest ray of happiness, you have to embrace it to pull yourself out or you just get (and remain) more stuck.
"...thought is that you are never where you are. You are always digging in the past or poking at the future, but rarey do you rest in this moment." (Gilbert, 132) This quote represents me perfectly. I spend a lot fo time dwelling on the past, like broken friendships, lost pets, etc. and poking at my future , like worrying about my SAT and ACT scores, or how well I will do on my AP tests in May, or if I can find a college I will be happy with...but rarely do I think about right noww. What do I have to do right now to help align my future. That is what I feel so much of life is about. Dwelling on the past, wishing you could fix it, and laying the stones just right to have a perfect undisturbed path to the ideal future.
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yorself and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
(I think I have this book nailed ;] )
-C
Fennel (Gilbert, 108): a plant, of the parsley family
Intrinsic (Gilbert, 121): belonging to a thing by its very nature
Emotional Appeals:
"But Syrause, the next day, is even better. The bus coughs me up on the street coner here in the cold rain, late in the day." (Gilbert, 112) This is in the very beginning of her trip to India. I, as the reader, feel like I am right there with her. Even though Liz doesn't use very descriptive language, I can still vividly picture it in my mind.
"It was in a bathtub back in New York, reading Italian words aloud from a dictionary, that I first started mending my soul. My life had gone to bits and I was so unrecognizable to myself that I probably couldn't have picked me out of a police lineup. But I felt a flimmer of happiness when I started studyng Italian, and wen you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after sch dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt--this is not selfishnes, but obligation. You were gven life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find someting beautiful within life, no matter how slight." (Gilbert, 115) I felt like I could relate very well with Liz when she said that beacause her life had gone to bits that she was unrecognizeable to herself. I know how that feels, so I could be empathetic with her. I understand that healing takes a long time, and when you find a the slightest ray of happiness, you have to embrace it to pull yourself out or you just get (and remain) more stuck.
"...thought is that you are never where you are. You are always digging in the past or poking at the future, but rarey do you rest in this moment." (Gilbert, 132) This quote represents me perfectly. I spend a lot fo time dwelling on the past, like broken friendships, lost pets, etc. and poking at my future , like worrying about my SAT and ACT scores, or how well I will do on my AP tests in May, or if I can find a college I will be happy with...but rarely do I think about right noww. What do I have to do right now to help align my future. That is what I feel so much of life is about. Dwelling on the past, wishing you could fix it, and laying the stones just right to have a perfect undisturbed path to the ideal future.
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yorself and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
(I think I have this book nailed ;] )
-C
Monday, October 15, 2007
Film Lit Review aka EXTRA CREDIT
The Book Movie
The movie The 400 Blows easily won me over because I love French: French culture, French literature, French fashion, the French language, French food. I have a passion for it all. The 400 Blows was a bit odd, but is easily a general crowd pleaser. Director François Truffaut wonderfully combined literary, dramatic and cinematic aspects to create a classic film that will easily continue to be viewed by generations to come.
The alarmingly troubled life of Antoine Doinel, an unwanted eleven-year-old boy is seen through the eyes of a third party who seems to be following him through his rare ups and frequent downs. The supporting characters, Antoine’s mother Gilberte, best friend René, stepfather and teacher all have very strong personalities that oblige the viewer to feel black or white about them. Gilberte never fails to demonstrate that Antoine’s birth was a mistake, and she is not interested in her husband for the love (which is shown later when Antoine sees her kissing another man). René is the only ray of happiness in Antoine’s dark and loveless world. René is the boy who gets on a bike that looks much to large for him, and bikes to the detention center where Antoine is serving time to visit his friend. Although René is a very likeable character, he is also the one who supplies Antoine with cigarettes and alcohol. The stepfather undoubtedly gets an A for effort considering the circumstances he is in. He acquired this poorly behaved boy through marriage to an unfaithful woman who has no money and no support from her child’s father. He tries to be friendly with Antoine, and it only slightly pays off, when Antoine lies to his teacher about his absence from school with the excuse of his mother dying.
As for dramatic aspects, the most prominent in The 400 Blows is the use of lighting. The brighter a scene, the brighter Antoine’s mood seemed to be. The apartment where he resides with his distant mother and inexperienced stepfather is dark and shadowy. For Antoine, the apartment is sorrowful, because he doesn’t feel like he belongs. He doesn’t even have his own bed and his clothing appears to have been worn for a long time. Another dark place is school because of the harshly structured environment his teacher runs. On the contrary, the city of Paris is always much more of a cheerful illumination because it represents freedom in the form of no adult constraints on Antoine. Lighting can also take on a double meaning, for example, when Antoine is with René, the lack of light is not because he doesn’t enjoy the company of his best friend, but perhaps because he is doing things he shouldn’t, such as using tobacco and alcohol. Claire Maurier played the character of Gilberte flawlessly. Maurier had me fooled that she was only acting by the way she didn’t hesitate to yell at her troubled son, and the expression in her eyes often showed how she was really feeling. The French teacher also seemed to take on his role naturally with disciplining everything that was the slightest bit out of line. I’m sure that the actor, Guy Decomble, was a very kind man, but his steel like appearance is likely a large factor got him the part. René was love at first sight. His cute and innocent appearance fooled the viewer just long enough to believe that he would be the best influence for Antoine. The sweet looking Patrick Auffay was the perfect René. If I had read the book before watching the movie, this is exactly how I would have pictured him.
I often left the Language Arts room with the same little tune playing through my mind. The music seemed very similar, just at different tempos and dynamics. Very much like the lighting, the music varied in synch with the tone of how Antoine felt about his environment and how little control he had over it. Happy, more briskly paced, music box sounding music played most often in Paris. At his family’s Paris apartment there was little music played at all. He is very sad and unhappy at home which is most likely the explanation for Truffaut’s lack of background music. The camera was Antoine’s shadow. There was rarely a scene without Antoine in it; however, he never seems to notice it is there. Antoine only makes eye contact with the camera at the very end when he appears to be looking back, almost reflecting for a second on his life.
Both Antoine and Richard have very troubled childhoods trying to find their place in the world. There is a higher power: for Richard it is the white people, for Antoine the adults. Under the heat of the constraints of their superiors, they are very rebellious and make poor decisions because of their need to challenge the authority. On the contrary, what is very different is their parents. Although Richard’s mother is very strict, she loves him and wants what is best for him. Antoine’s mother wishes that he had never been taken back from the wet nurse. He is only a burden to her life.
Overall, I would recommend this film. The characters are very dynamic and actors merge flawlessly into their roles. Truffaut combined the important literary, dramatic and cinematic aspects tastefully into an easily enjoyable movie. The French culture that backs this movie made it all the more rich. It would be uncommon to find this film sold out at Blockbuster on a Friday night, but it is a classic, designed to captivate current and future generations
The movie The 400 Blows easily won me over because I love French: French culture, French literature, French fashion, the French language, French food. I have a passion for it all. The 400 Blows was a bit odd, but is easily a general crowd pleaser. Director François Truffaut wonderfully combined literary, dramatic and cinematic aspects to create a classic film that will easily continue to be viewed by generations to come.
The alarmingly troubled life of Antoine Doinel, an unwanted eleven-year-old boy is seen through the eyes of a third party who seems to be following him through his rare ups and frequent downs. The supporting characters, Antoine’s mother Gilberte, best friend René, stepfather and teacher all have very strong personalities that oblige the viewer to feel black or white about them. Gilberte never fails to demonstrate that Antoine’s birth was a mistake, and she is not interested in her husband for the love (which is shown later when Antoine sees her kissing another man). René is the only ray of happiness in Antoine’s dark and loveless world. René is the boy who gets on a bike that looks much to large for him, and bikes to the detention center where Antoine is serving time to visit his friend. Although René is a very likeable character, he is also the one who supplies Antoine with cigarettes and alcohol. The stepfather undoubtedly gets an A for effort considering the circumstances he is in. He acquired this poorly behaved boy through marriage to an unfaithful woman who has no money and no support from her child’s father. He tries to be friendly with Antoine, and it only slightly pays off, when Antoine lies to his teacher about his absence from school with the excuse of his mother dying.
As for dramatic aspects, the most prominent in The 400 Blows is the use of lighting. The brighter a scene, the brighter Antoine’s mood seemed to be. The apartment where he resides with his distant mother and inexperienced stepfather is dark and shadowy. For Antoine, the apartment is sorrowful, because he doesn’t feel like he belongs. He doesn’t even have his own bed and his clothing appears to have been worn for a long time. Another dark place is school because of the harshly structured environment his teacher runs. On the contrary, the city of Paris is always much more of a cheerful illumination because it represents freedom in the form of no adult constraints on Antoine. Lighting can also take on a double meaning, for example, when Antoine is with René, the lack of light is not because he doesn’t enjoy the company of his best friend, but perhaps because he is doing things he shouldn’t, such as using tobacco and alcohol. Claire Maurier played the character of Gilberte flawlessly. Maurier had me fooled that she was only acting by the way she didn’t hesitate to yell at her troubled son, and the expression in her eyes often showed how she was really feeling. The French teacher also seemed to take on his role naturally with disciplining everything that was the slightest bit out of line. I’m sure that the actor, Guy Decomble, was a very kind man, but his steel like appearance is likely a large factor got him the part. René was love at first sight. His cute and innocent appearance fooled the viewer just long enough to believe that he would be the best influence for Antoine. The sweet looking Patrick Auffay was the perfect René. If I had read the book before watching the movie, this is exactly how I would have pictured him.
I often left the Language Arts room with the same little tune playing through my mind. The music seemed very similar, just at different tempos and dynamics. Very much like the lighting, the music varied in synch with the tone of how Antoine felt about his environment and how little control he had over it. Happy, more briskly paced, music box sounding music played most often in Paris. At his family’s Paris apartment there was little music played at all. He is very sad and unhappy at home which is most likely the explanation for Truffaut’s lack of background music. The camera was Antoine’s shadow. There was rarely a scene without Antoine in it; however, he never seems to notice it is there. Antoine only makes eye contact with the camera at the very end when he appears to be looking back, almost reflecting for a second on his life.
Both Antoine and Richard have very troubled childhoods trying to find their place in the world. There is a higher power: for Richard it is the white people, for Antoine the adults. Under the heat of the constraints of their superiors, they are very rebellious and make poor decisions because of their need to challenge the authority. On the contrary, what is very different is their parents. Although Richard’s mother is very strict, she loves him and wants what is best for him. Antoine’s mother wishes that he had never been taken back from the wet nurse. He is only a burden to her life.
Overall, I would recommend this film. The characters are very dynamic and actors merge flawlessly into their roles. Truffaut combined the important literary, dramatic and cinematic aspects tastefully into an easily enjoyable movie. The French culture that backs this movie made it all the more rich. It would be uncommon to find this film sold out at Blockbuster on a Friday night, but it is a classic, designed to captivate current and future generations
Sunday, October 14, 2007
w0Rd [post B]
"[...]that every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there[...]"(Gilbert,103)
While Liz visits Rome, she has a language exhange partner, who helps her with her Italian, and in turn helps him with his English. Guilio is the name of her partner, and he is frequently helping Liz not only with her spoken language but with the Roman culture.
Giulio says that the word that defines Rome is SEX. When Liz was asked what defines New York, she said ACHIEVE.
What comes to mind that identifies when you think of: I called a few of my friends and asked some family about what they thought!!
America: [independent] {obese} (beautiful) ~opportunity~ /big\
Minnesota: [cold] {watery} (cold) ~variety~ /strong\
Edina: [affluent] {rich} (wealthy) ~classy~ /designer\
Edina High School: [ {prestigious} (busy) ~elite~ /intense\
Your home: [cozy] {tiny} (peaceful) ~charming~ /exciting\
Your family: [interesting] {odd} (loving) ~semi-normal~ /supportive\
You: [cool] {beautiful} (happy) ~meticulous~ /flawed\
While Liz visits Rome, she has a language exhange partner, who helps her with her Italian, and in turn helps him with his English. Guilio is the name of her partner, and he is frequently helping Liz not only with her spoken language but with the Roman culture.
Giulio says that the word that defines Rome is SEX. When Liz was asked what defines New York, she said ACHIEVE.
What comes to mind that identifies when you think of: I called a few of my friends and asked some family about what they thought!!
America: [independent] {obese}
Minnesota: [cold] {watery}
Edina: [affluent] {rich}
Edina High School: [ {prestigious}
Your home: [cozy] {tiny}
Your family: [interesting] {odd}
You: [cool] {beautiful}
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Short Discussion With Elizabeth Gilbert
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lCHDJV-4DCE
If you are interested.....
If you are interested.....
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Italy=Indulgence[post A]
Definitions from Dictionary.com
Dilettante [Gilbert, 73]: A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
Chakra [Gilbert, 49]: Yoga
Emotional Appeals:
Here, Liz is keeping a journal, where she talks to herself. It may sound silly but it works for her. She gets kind of schizo and talks about how Depression and Loneliness found her in Italy.
"In response, somewhere from within me, rises a now-familiar presence, offering me all the certainties I have always wished another person would say to me when I was troubled. This is what I find myself writing to myself on the page.
'I'm here. I love you. I don't care if you need to stay up crying all night long will stay with you. If you need the medication again, go ahead and take it-I will lve you through that, as well. If you don't need the medication, I will love you, too There's nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I will protect you until you die, and after your death, I will still protect you. I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me." [Gilbert, 55] This is a huge emotional appeal. Anyone would love to be told this when they are having a struggle and they feel weak. I think that the most imporant--and difficult thing to do--is to give yourself your love.
"In return, Giovanni told me that empathizing Italians say 'L'ho provato sulla mia pelle', which means 'I have experienced that on my own skin'. Meaning, I have also been burned or scarred i this way, and I know exactly what you're going through."[Gilbert, 71]. I really liked this Italian expression. I thought to myself that it is a lot more of an interesting way of saying "I have experiencd that." I feel like it has more of a personal connection.
"My sister is not a religious person. Nobody in my family really is. (I've taken to calling myself the "white sheep" of the family.) My spiritual investigations interest my sister mostly from a point of intellectual curiosity. 'I think that kind of faith is so beautiful,' she whispers to me in the church, 'but I can't do it, I just can't..." [Gilbert, 90] How many people acutally consider themselves "white sheep"? All families have their differences about religion. Some choose to take it more seriously than others. I wonder, however, what makes faith beautiful? Is it the location? Or the belief in a superior being that is invisible to the eye but vivid to the mind?
I still am keeping the same theme as I believed before, but it's also about making onself happy, for nobody else but you.
-C
Dilettante [Gilbert, 73]: A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
Chakra [Gilbert, 49]: Yoga
Emotional Appeals:
Here, Liz is keeping a journal, where she talks to herself. It may sound silly but it works for her. She gets kind of schizo and talks about how Depression and Loneliness found her in Italy.
"In response, somewhere from within me, rises a now-familiar presence, offering me all the certainties I have always wished another person would say to me when I was troubled. This is what I find myself writing to myself on the page.
'I'm here. I love you. I don't care if you need to stay up crying all night long will stay with you. If you need the medication again, go ahead and take it-I will lve you through that, as well. If you don't need the medication, I will love you, too There's nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I will protect you until you die, and after your death, I will still protect you. I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me." [Gilbert, 55] This is a huge emotional appeal. Anyone would love to be told this when they are having a struggle and they feel weak. I think that the most imporant--and difficult thing to do--is to give yourself your love.
"In return, Giovanni told me that empathizing Italians say 'L'ho provato sulla mia pelle', which means 'I have experienced that on my own skin'. Meaning, I have also been burned or scarred i this way, and I know exactly what you're going through."[Gilbert, 71]. I really liked this Italian expression. I thought to myself that it is a lot more of an interesting way of saying "I have experiencd that." I feel like it has more of a personal connection.
"My sister is not a religious person. Nobody in my family really is. (I've taken to calling myself the "white sheep" of the family.) My spiritual investigations interest my sister mostly from a point of intellectual curiosity. 'I think that kind of faith is so beautiful,' she whispers to me in the church, 'but I can't do it, I just can't..." [Gilbert, 90] How many people acutally consider themselves "white sheep"? All families have their differences about religion. Some choose to take it more seriously than others. I wonder, however, what makes faith beautiful? Is it the location? Or the belief in a superior being that is invisible to the eye but vivid to the mind?
I still am keeping the same theme as I believed before, but it's also about making onself happy, for nobody else but you.
-C
How Do You Define Passion & Happiness [post B]
PASSION: the object of such a fondness or desire
When I thought about how I dfeine and what I think passion is, I found it suprisingly difficult! I thought it would be very easy to come up with a list of things that could define passion, but I couldnt. I finally came to my definition of passion, as general and vague as it may be. I think passion is love. Tough love, genine love, love from friends, family, significant others.
HAPPINESS: the quality or state of being happy.
Thinking about what happiness is and means to me was much easier than thinking about passion. Everyone has a different list of what brings them happiness, but here is mine.
To me...
happiness is laughing so hard you cry.
happiness is watching Grey's Anatomy.
happiness is shopping with my friends.
happiness is dancing until we get too sore to continue.
happiness is trying on hideous clothes and just cracking up.
happiness is falling asleep with your best friends after a night filled with adventures.
happiness is taking a nice long nap.
happiness is cooking dinner with my family.
happiness is colouring in a colouring book.
happiness is reading my favourite books over and over again.
happiness is playing with my dog Maeve.
happiness is painting my nails.
happiness is watching Gossip Girl.
happiness is writing in my journal.
happiness is going for a run--until I hurt my ankle--now it's walks.
happiness is laughing at the sight of each other in our marching uniforms.
happiness is going to bed early.
happiness is when my dad says "You drive." ;]
happiness is dancing in the rain with rainboots and a raincoat.
happiness is wearing an adorable outfit.
happiness is listening to my iPod.
happiness is walking around Centennial Lakes.
happiness is watching The Hills.
happiness is going party dress shopping.
happiness is never letting go of the dumb things you and your friends say and repeating them over and over again.
happiness is doing yoga.
happiness is taking fun pictures with photobooth.
happiness is hitting the snooze button.
happiness is loving, and being loved.
What's your definition of passion? What's your definition of happiness? Where do you find them?
-C
When I thought about how I dfeine and what I think passion is, I found it suprisingly difficult! I thought it would be very easy to come up with a list of things that could define passion, but I couldnt. I finally came to my definition of passion, as general and vague as it may be. I think passion is love. Tough love, genine love, love from friends, family, significant others.
HAPPINESS: the quality or state of being happy.
Thinking about what happiness is and means to me was much easier than thinking about passion. Everyone has a different list of what brings them happiness, but here is mine.
To me...
happiness is laughing so hard you cry.
happiness is watching Grey's Anatomy.
happiness is shopping with my friends.
happiness is dancing until we get too sore to continue.
happiness is trying on hideous clothes and just cracking up.
happiness is falling asleep with your best friends after a night filled with adventures.
happiness is taking a nice long nap.
happiness is cooking dinner with my family.
happiness is colouring in a colouring book.
happiness is reading my favourite books over and over again.
happiness is playing with my dog Maeve.
happiness is painting my nails.
happiness is watching Gossip Girl.
happiness is writing in my journal.
happiness is going for a run--until I hurt my ankle--now it's walks.
happiness is laughing at the sight of each other in our marching uniforms.
happiness is going to bed early.
happiness is when my dad says "You drive." ;]
happiness is dancing in the rain with rainboots and a raincoat.
happiness is wearing an adorable outfit.
happiness is listening to my iPod.
happiness is walking around Centennial Lakes.
happiness is watching The Hills.
happiness is going party dress shopping.
happiness is never letting go of the dumb things you and your friends say and repeating them over and over again.
happiness is doing yoga.
happiness is taking fun pictures with photobooth.
happiness is hitting the snooze button.
happiness is loving, and being loved.
What's your definition of passion? What's your definition of happiness? Where do you find them?
-C
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Meditation--The New Lunch Break
Watching Liz Gilbert go through the junk drawer of her life is really fascinating. I know that in my life I already have many live and learn experiences.
Reading this book and learning about Liz's styles and questions that she asks herself to detox her life has really made me think about how my life might be different if I took time to unwind and set aside the time, instead of thinking "...well...maybe if I can afford the couple minutes of not doing my AP World notes...". I realize that if I do not set aside time or put it in my planner, it will not get done. Just like the physical therapy that haunts me by an uncontrolled clumsiness in my right ankle. I never have the time to acutally do my physical therapy, therefore it has left my right ankle and leg [up to my knee], very weak and unable to support me.
I think I just overally wish that I could have more time to know and recognize being at peace with myself. Maybe instead of taking a lunch break, a meditation break might do just as much good--to you know...just, recollect. :)
-C
Reading this book and learning about Liz's styles and questions that she asks herself to detox her life has really made me think about how my life might be different if I took time to unwind and set aside the time, instead of thinking "...well...maybe if I can afford the couple minutes of not doing my AP World notes...". I realize that if I do not set aside time or put it in my planner, it will not get done. Just like the physical therapy that haunts me by an uncontrolled clumsiness in my right ankle. I never have the time to acutally do my physical therapy, therefore it has left my right ankle and leg [up to my knee], very weak and unable to support me.
I think I just overally wish that I could have more time to know and recognize being at peace with myself. Maybe instead of taking a lunch break, a meditation break might do just as much good--to you know...just, recollect. :)
-C
Week 2 Post A
Definitions found at www.dictionary.com
abysmal:(Gilbert, 17) A greatness beyond measure
disaphanous: (Gilbert, 25) Having two heads
androgynous: (Gilbert, 27) Having both male and female characteristics
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
"True wisdom gives the only possible answer at given moment, and that night, going back to bed was the only possible answer." (Gilbert, 16). I definately think this is an emotional appeal and it definately provokes thought in people. Here, when Liz is praying, she wasn't expecting a definate answer to her current problems that she is praying about. The honest rational voice said just to go back to bed, because that was the most logical thing to do. That voice didn't say "stay up all night and think about if deciding to divorce is the right decision" because then she would be so exhausted and wasted the next day tat she wouldn't be able to thin clearly. I think that sometimes, the right answer is just expected, when relly, the thing that most likely comes to mind is generally wahts best for the moment. True wisdom. Word.
"To find the balance you want [...] this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs instead of two. That way, you can stay in the wold. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead." (Gilbert, 27) So far in the book I am under the impression that Liz has a very hard time staying grounded,so when the medicine man in Indonesia tells her that she must stay grounded in order to be closest to God. I think it is interesting that the medicine man would say that you must be so grounded as if you have four legs instead of two.
"Because how could two people who were so in love not end up happily ever after?" (Gilbert, 22) This is where I really feel for Liz. She has such a hard time with love and finding a commitment to a man who doesn't "burn out" on loving her. First its her failed marriage with her soon to be ex husband, and then David, who she keeps breaking up with, and then aquiring more confidence outside the relationship and then goes back to him. She just cannot seem to get the men situation right--even though the "men situation" is part of the foundation for this book.
SIGNIFICANT QUOTE:
"It is better to live a life of single-pointed focus, he [Rumi] taught." (Gilbert, 29). Liz has spent most of her life doing everything the right and expected way. She pays her bills on tie, she never misses a deadline, voted, took care of loved ones, etc., but since her life has so many points of focus, she finds her life more scattered and as far from complete as most people get in heir lifetimes.
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yorself and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
-C
abysmal:(Gilbert, 17) A greatness beyond measure
disaphanous: (Gilbert, 25) Having two heads
androgynous: (Gilbert, 27) Having both male and female characteristics
EMOTIONAL APPEALS:
"True wisdom gives the only possible answer at given moment, and that night, going back to bed was the only possible answer." (Gilbert, 16). I definately think this is an emotional appeal and it definately provokes thought in people. Here, when Liz is praying, she wasn't expecting a definate answer to her current problems that she is praying about. The honest rational voice said just to go back to bed, because that was the most logical thing to do. That voice didn't say "stay up all night and think about if deciding to divorce is the right decision" because then she would be so exhausted and wasted the next day tat she wouldn't be able to thin clearly. I think that sometimes, the right answer is just expected, when relly, the thing that most likely comes to mind is generally wahts best for the moment. True wisdom. Word.
"To find the balance you want [...] this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs instead of two. That way, you can stay in the wold. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead." (Gilbert, 27) So far in the book I am under the impression that Liz has a very hard time staying grounded,so when the medicine man in Indonesia tells her that she must stay grounded in order to be closest to God. I think it is interesting that the medicine man would say that you must be so grounded as if you have four legs instead of two.
"Because how could two people who were so in love not end up happily ever after?" (Gilbert, 22) This is where I really feel for Liz. She has such a hard time with love and finding a commitment to a man who doesn't "burn out" on loving her. First its her failed marriage with her soon to be ex husband, and then David, who she keeps breaking up with, and then aquiring more confidence outside the relationship and then goes back to him. She just cannot seem to get the men situation right--even though the "men situation" is part of the foundation for this book.
SIGNIFICANT QUOTE:
"It is better to live a life of single-pointed focus, he [Rumi] taught." (Gilbert, 29). Liz has spent most of her life doing everything the right and expected way. She pays her bills on tie, she never misses a deadline, voted, took care of loved ones, etc., but since her life has so many points of focus, she finds her life more scattered and as far from complete as most people get in heir lifetimes.
Now I am STILL thinking that the theme of this memoir is how to rediscover yorself and just make sure that your emotional and spiritual ducks are in a row to make sure that you are a spiritual and physical and emotional whole.
-C
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