The last day of the first month of the year. Only 11 more months of bloggage. Only 11 more months of this whole entire existence in 2011. Pretty crazy.
This will be a reflection post, where I go back and look at some of my best posts and remind you of my philosophical wisdom. Or lack thereof.
Well, here we go.
everyone matters, 1 January
This was a perfect way to start off my blog. It seems a little cliche, saying that everyone is special, but sometimes lovey-dovey cheesy cliches are true. That one woman in Staples who did my whole calender for free made my day. And she was just an employee at Staples. She wasn't a Peace Corps volunteer, a religious missionary, or some other world savior. But she made my day, and that's all that matters. Be the person who makes other people's days.
indulgence, 2 January
I personally liked this one because I feel that in our modern world we don't allow for much indulgence, and I think that personal needs should be met as well as the needs of others. I think I should indulge in a few minutes - into my bed.
Beethoven's 5th, 3 January
No, I am not going to go through every blog. I guess I was just on a roll for the beginning ones. Anyways, I think it's important to jump start your life with something new. Even if you just walk to your classes a different way, or if you do your homework on the trampoline, you are still spicing up your routine.
bonne année et bonne santé! 4 January
This was a good one because my streak of great luck and wonderful joys was gone. I started to get sick, which is something I don't do, but I turned it around with that really sad article on CNN. It's sort of twisted to feel better about your own life when you read about the hardships of another, but it puts everything into perspective.
plant some passion in your mental garden, 7 January
What I loved about this one was my really fabulous metaphor. And also I liked the message I was going for. I mean, what's life with no passion? Drab. Yes, I answered my own rhetorical question. Now you'd call it a hypophora. Bam.
emotion math, 8 January
This was interesting because it was my climactic moment of the month. It was when I realized that even though this is a happy blog, I don't have to ignore my sadness, grief, angst, and any other range of emotions that we angsty teenagers have. And it's important for everyone not to ignore their emotions and let them out. Let me reiterate that sometimes it's important to hold them back, like if you wearing really awful heels and they kill. You don't have to scream and shout like a madman. Yet. And if you get your math test back and fail it, you should probably hold back the tears. I know, that's hard to do and you have to be pretty skillful to do it.
don't deny it, 10 January
Aahh, the first of my snow week blogs! This was by far the best day of powder as well, and I soaked up the fun. With a bunch of middle schoolers. And fourth graders. And they were all boys. But who cares? I don't. Live your life. Come out of your social self and be your own soul. Live the way you want to live. That's the message. Even if you have to do it in snow pant-overalls, a puffy jacket, and a hat that makes you look like a boy.
my vacation scrapbook called "life", 12 January
Life really is just a vacation on earth. A long vacation. And if you have ever gone away for a while you end up having to do none-fun things too, like laundry. Don't take even one moment for granted, and enjoy every moment of it. Because you don't know when your outgoing flight is. I know that sounds morbid, but it's true. This is my second cliche of the night: live life to the fullest. Typing the unoriginal conventional phrase makes me sick. Bleh.
it's all the same grass, 13 January
My second post about perspective. It was actually interesting, not just useless fluff I put in just to put it in. I actually realized that it was getting boring after 4 days snowed in, and that I wanted to get to school. So don't think that the life you don't have is better than your current one. It's all the same grass.
plan b, 14 January
Plan B is interesting as well because it is almost never used by us Type-A personalities. We have a master plan, actually multiple master plans, and we don't ever deviate from them. But it's important to realize that things often go wrong and plan B is the next best option.
dance like a freak, 17 January
I loved this title because it's pretty much my life. I dance like a freak all the time. I have these ridiculous shoulder dancing moves that just look really ridiculous. But that's OK because this whole post is about dancing like a freak. I refereed to an art journal I once did about things that make me happy, among them eating donuts and kayaking on the beach. So even though some things might seem trivial, enjoy them. Eat your donuts and dance like a freak.
gross national happiness, 21 January
This was my Oxfordian-style attempt at a "What is happiness?" lecture. I liked how it wasn't focused on my life. While my life is unique and overly exciting all the time, I thought I'd do something different. It's a lot more philosophical than intuitive but it's as interesting to read as it was to write.
pick yourself up by your own bootstraps, 22 January
If you want happiness, go find it. Because you can't just sit there and say "I'm sad!" and expect the whole world to rush to your side and hug you. I mean, maybe they will. But my guess is they won't. So pick yourself up by your bootstraps and find your little corner of happiness.
to conform or not to conform, that is the question, 24 January
I am a non-conformist. After my name on a business card, it should say "N.C." for nonconformist. Basically, don't let a number, a score, a grade, whatever you want to call it, mess with your head. Because your worth is immeasurable. What you do can only be judged by you. I know, I made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
a tribute to Walden, 30 January
My final blog of January 2011, besides this one, was dedicated to my fish, Walden. He taught me so much. His philosophical ix between Taoism and Buddhism has shaped my thinking for today. Think about fish in a different way.
By the way, I still have Walden in a Ziploc bag. I will bury him in the backyard tomorrow. :(
These are not all of them, just a sampling. If you haven't read them, try to. Not just because I was to brag about my writing, but to enlighten yourself. To enrich yourself in your pursuit of happiness. Make a wish for February!
31 January 2011
30 January 2011
a tribute to walden
My dear friend Walden,
I know that now you are taking your last few breaths, your last few minutes of blood circulation, and that by the time this post is finished you will have passed into the supernatural. I want you to know that you shall always be in my heart. There is a special pond in my heart named after you. I loved coming to see you each morning, having you rely on my each day to give you the nourishment for your long life. You were my speechless friend who never complained, but just listened. You were always a jolly and chipper soul, and I loved your carefree gaiety and joy for life.
May God treat you well, my dear friend.
This was an excerpt for a eulogy I just wrote. It was for my fish, Walden. I named him after my also deceased Transcendentalist friend, Henry David Thoreau (he, you know, went to Walden Pond). I am closely tied to Walden Pond, since it was near where I grew up, and I have been there a few times. He was an allegorical fish. And my friend.
Fish are some of the bets friends you can have. Because they teach yo to live a more simple life. When I feed Walden every morning, I always imagine what it would be like if I was a fish too. Eat. Secrete. Repeat. What a life.
But the thing is, Walden wakes up each morning overjoyed to have food (well maybe he isn't overjoyed; some scientists argue on whether or not fish can feel emotions; I affirm their suspicions). I wake up, eat my breakfast in half-slumber, put on some clothes, and rush out the door. Yes, I brush my hair and teeth too..
Walden is content with his food. I am not even content with my morning, and I can do a lot more than him. I can walk around. I can feed myself. I can go to school and produce thoughts. I can go outside in the beautiful air and enjoy the wonderful weather. Walden can't. He sits in his tank. Walden can't do any of these things. Yet he is happy with his life the way it is.
Walden has taught me, and I just now realize it, that life is about the simplicities. Even though the only excitement in his day was his daily ration of 4 flakes of 35% crude protein, he went about his life in the tank as if it were wonderful.
We can all learn from Walden and his simplicity. He taught me that when it all comes down to it, life is about the simplicities, and we shouldn't have to worry about some of the trivial things we stress over, like personal appearance. And in this sense, we really are all equal. We may look different on the outside but our cells are all the same on the inside. If we were educated or not, we still had thoughts. Rich or poor, money cannot control when we die.
Walden taught me an invaluable lesson. A wonderfully philosophical lesson. Perhaps his name is much more allegorical than I thought.
I know that now you are taking your last few breaths, your last few minutes of blood circulation, and that by the time this post is finished you will have passed into the supernatural. I want you to know that you shall always be in my heart. There is a special pond in my heart named after you. I loved coming to see you each morning, having you rely on my each day to give you the nourishment for your long life. You were my speechless friend who never complained, but just listened. You were always a jolly and chipper soul, and I loved your carefree gaiety and joy for life.
May God treat you well, my dear friend.
This was an excerpt for a eulogy I just wrote. It was for my fish, Walden. I named him after my also deceased Transcendentalist friend, Henry David Thoreau (he, you know, went to Walden Pond). I am closely tied to Walden Pond, since it was near where I grew up, and I have been there a few times. He was an allegorical fish. And my friend.
Fish are some of the bets friends you can have. Because they teach yo to live a more simple life. When I feed Walden every morning, I always imagine what it would be like if I was a fish too. Eat. Secrete. Repeat. What a life.
But the thing is, Walden wakes up each morning overjoyed to have food (well maybe he isn't overjoyed; some scientists argue on whether or not fish can feel emotions; I affirm their suspicions). I wake up, eat my breakfast in half-slumber, put on some clothes, and rush out the door. Yes, I brush my hair and teeth too..
Walden is content with his food. I am not even content with my morning, and I can do a lot more than him. I can walk around. I can feed myself. I can go to school and produce thoughts. I can go outside in the beautiful air and enjoy the wonderful weather. Walden can't. He sits in his tank. Walden can't do any of these things. Yet he is happy with his life the way it is.
Walden has taught me, and I just now realize it, that life is about the simplicities. Even though the only excitement in his day was his daily ration of 4 flakes of 35% crude protein, he went about his life in the tank as if it were wonderful.
We can all learn from Walden and his simplicity. He taught me that when it all comes down to it, life is about the simplicities, and we shouldn't have to worry about some of the trivial things we stress over, like personal appearance. And in this sense, we really are all equal. We may look different on the outside but our cells are all the same on the inside. If we were educated or not, we still had thoughts. Rich or poor, money cannot control when we die.
Walden taught me an invaluable lesson. A wonderfully philosophical lesson. Perhaps his name is much more allegorical than I thought.
29 January 2011
enjoy your sick day
What a wonderful day to enjoy outside. Unlike other parts of the country, at the end of January it is 65 degrees here and there literally are not any clods in the entire vastness of the sky. Perfection. But what I loved about today was its lazy and relaxing nature that just made life seem so wonderful. If it wasn't already.
My favorite kind of weather is when you are wearing a tank top and shorts and you walk outside feeling completely comfortable. You don't need a jacket, but you aren't getting ready to start shedding 90% of your body weight in sweat. That was what today was like. It was a little cold, but not if you were moving around.
I worked on my drawing for the Google contest a little, then when I felt like it I went outside and walked around, went on the trampoline, gazed at the sky, felt the warm breeze gently graze over my skin. What a completely blissful day.
I liked it because there was no schedule, no things that had to be done. Actually, there were many things that had to be done, like reading for anatomy (gotta learn the endocrine system), reading 14 chapters in Huckleberry Finn, and doing some obscure assignment for French. But I wasn't thinking about those things at all. All of my stresses were taken away by the sweet rhythms of the breeze. I was already coming down with spring fever.
It was now that I realized how sick I was of winter. And it had really only been going on for 3 months, while in Massachusetts where the rest of my family is (and Chicago and Minnesota, and other northern places) winter started when the calender hit October 1. Even earlier. Like mid-September. And it goes on well through March. I can remember Easters in April where we are freezing waiting to get into church because it's 20 degrees outside. Fun times.
I guess the south has spoiled me with this nice weather. So after a couple days (or a week) worth of snow I am done with winter. Until our northern winter - summer - begins. Probably in Mach and ending in October.
Anyways, today was a sick day, if you will. A spring fever sick day. I enjoyed the day as it lazily chugged on and as the sun passively floated above my head. All I need was a hammock, a ukulele, and some Jack Johnson and the ambiance would be perfect. It was either way.
When spring starts to emerge where you live, enjoy it. Take a sick day. And enjoy it. Because after winter comes spring, which is the rebirth of everything. I almost think New Years should be in the spring. It makes a lot more sense that way. But I'm not on that committee.
Days like these only come a few times. Those quintessential perfect days when everything goes right must be celebrated. We have to withdraw and enjoy the world in its natural beauty every once in a while, especially on days like this.
Grab that ukulele, kick back in your hammock, call in sick - and enjoy your day.
My favorite kind of weather is when you are wearing a tank top and shorts and you walk outside feeling completely comfortable. You don't need a jacket, but you aren't getting ready to start shedding 90% of your body weight in sweat. That was what today was like. It was a little cold, but not if you were moving around.
I worked on my drawing for the Google contest a little, then when I felt like it I went outside and walked around, went on the trampoline, gazed at the sky, felt the warm breeze gently graze over my skin. What a completely blissful day.
I liked it because there was no schedule, no things that had to be done. Actually, there were many things that had to be done, like reading for anatomy (gotta learn the endocrine system), reading 14 chapters in Huckleberry Finn, and doing some obscure assignment for French. But I wasn't thinking about those things at all. All of my stresses were taken away by the sweet rhythms of the breeze. I was already coming down with spring fever.
It was now that I realized how sick I was of winter. And it had really only been going on for 3 months, while in Massachusetts where the rest of my family is (and Chicago and Minnesota, and other northern places) winter started when the calender hit October 1. Even earlier. Like mid-September. And it goes on well through March. I can remember Easters in April where we are freezing waiting to get into church because it's 20 degrees outside. Fun times.
I guess the south has spoiled me with this nice weather. So after a couple days (or a week) worth of snow I am done with winter. Until our northern winter - summer - begins. Probably in Mach and ending in October.
Anyways, today was a sick day, if you will. A spring fever sick day. I enjoyed the day as it lazily chugged on and as the sun passively floated above my head. All I need was a hammock, a ukulele, and some Jack Johnson and the ambiance would be perfect. It was either way.
When spring starts to emerge where you live, enjoy it. Take a sick day. And enjoy it. Because after winter comes spring, which is the rebirth of everything. I almost think New Years should be in the spring. It makes a lot more sense that way. But I'm not on that committee.
Days like these only come a few times. Those quintessential perfect days when everything goes right must be celebrated. We have to withdraw and enjoy the world in its natural beauty every once in a while, especially on days like this.
Grab that ukulele, kick back in your hammock, call in sick - and enjoy your day.
28 January 2011
la festa italiana
Sometimes the best things in life are the basics. Water, shelter - and food.
I could blog for days about food and how wonderful it is, but I only have this short time. Anyways, today after school I had this pasta party for swim team. And even though my friend was going to a concert tonight and was going to miss it, leaving me alone at the party with only mere acquaintances to mingle with, I went.
Because (a) I love pasta and (b) I love free pasta. If you knew me, even the basics, you'd know that me and pasta are best friends. If I ever decide to marry, which I doubt, it will be to an Italian chef. My uncle calls my cousin, who also loves pasta, a pastatarian. This is my scientific food preference name as well.
So I went to the party carrying my mom's stuffed shells - moist pasta shells enveloping rich ricotta cheese and covered with a sweet tomato sauce. Classic Italian beauty.
there were other dishes too - Chinese noodles with shrimp (I don't eat fish or Asian food), some baked zitis, a lasagna, and one of my favorites, a baked ziti with meat sauce.
Euphonious sounds of violins and cellos playing a passionate love song went through my head as I ate, especially the stuffed shells. I had so much food I almost fell on the floor. And what I loved is that my friends joined me. One girl said that the word "diet" did not apply to tonight. And I loved it. We all just feasted on the absolutely wonderful Italian delicacies fed to us, forcing morsels of pasta and cheese down our throats even though our stomachs had reached their maximum capacities. It was an Italian [food] love affair.
The message is not to go out and gorge yourself and gain 50 pounds. It's important to be healthy. But sometimes, one must indulge - remember my indulgence blog earlier in the month - to appreciate the beauties in life.
It's "in" now to diet and be thin, but that doesn't mean snatching a warm chocolate chip cookie - or 2, or 3, or maybe 4 . . - is bad for you (unless of course you are fatally allergic to peanut oil or other cookie ingredients. Perhaps you can try a soy cookie, if those even exist). Give yourself an amazing meal and savor it - without going on your Calorie Counter app on your iPhone to check how many calories you're consuming.
Grazie a Dio per il cibo italiano!
ps - I'll have to learn Italian so I can express my love for Italy's food when I go there.
I could blog for days about food and how wonderful it is, but I only have this short time. Anyways, today after school I had this pasta party for swim team. And even though my friend was going to a concert tonight and was going to miss it, leaving me alone at the party with only mere acquaintances to mingle with, I went.
Because (a) I love pasta and (b) I love free pasta. If you knew me, even the basics, you'd know that me and pasta are best friends. If I ever decide to marry, which I doubt, it will be to an Italian chef. My uncle calls my cousin, who also loves pasta, a pastatarian. This is my scientific food preference name as well.
So I went to the party carrying my mom's stuffed shells - moist pasta shells enveloping rich ricotta cheese and covered with a sweet tomato sauce. Classic Italian beauty.
there were other dishes too - Chinese noodles with shrimp (I don't eat fish or Asian food), some baked zitis, a lasagna, and one of my favorites, a baked ziti with meat sauce.
Euphonious sounds of violins and cellos playing a passionate love song went through my head as I ate, especially the stuffed shells. I had so much food I almost fell on the floor. And what I loved is that my friends joined me. One girl said that the word "diet" did not apply to tonight. And I loved it. We all just feasted on the absolutely wonderful Italian delicacies fed to us, forcing morsels of pasta and cheese down our throats even though our stomachs had reached their maximum capacities. It was an Italian [food] love affair.
The message is not to go out and gorge yourself and gain 50 pounds. It's important to be healthy. But sometimes, one must indulge - remember my indulgence blog earlier in the month - to appreciate the beauties in life.
It's "in" now to diet and be thin, but that doesn't mean snatching a warm chocolate chip cookie - or 2, or 3, or maybe 4 . . - is bad for you (unless of course you are fatally allergic to peanut oil or other cookie ingredients. Perhaps you can try a soy cookie, if those even exist). Give yourself an amazing meal and savor it - without going on your Calorie Counter app on your iPhone to check how many calories you're consuming.
Grazie a Dio per il cibo italiano!
ps - I'll have to learn Italian so I can express my love for Italy's food when I go there.
27 January 2011
open up a big box of happiness
When I was logging into Blogger today, I noticed I had surpassed the amount of posts from my first blog in Oxford. I had 23 posts on my Adventures of a Curious Traveler blog and 28, excluding today's, on this blog. It seems like time was passing so slowly at Oxford, but in a good way, because it seemed like each day was filled with so much more than these current ones. This month has gone by in a humdrum, fast yet droning way.
I guess time passed by less quickly in Oxford because I was always filling ever hour of the day with something fun. So my time was never wasted. I feel like I waste a lot of time nowadays. So I guess you should just live in the moment. One time I was working out with my dad and he said how when you work out you are really living in the moment. Each second goes by so much slower and you are getting everything out of each second. That's true. Even though you may think time flies when you are having fun, it also flies when you waste time.
But anyways, since I have to watch the State of the Union speech for extra credit in AP Lang, I better hurry along.
If you asked my mom one thing I like to do a lot, she would say enter contests. I mean, that probably wouldn't be her first response, but if you mentioned contests, she would say that I enter them a lot. And I do. Anytime there is a contest I enter it. Usually, actally never, winning. Except once. But I love the hope and anxious-ness that contests have.
I always enter the skill-based ones since I think those are somewhat easier. Sort of. I've entered photography contests (I'm in the middle of one now), story contests, creativity contests (I won an orange iPod when I was one of 9 finalists in the Goldfish Crackers Create Finn's New Friend contest), and art contests. I'm even contemplating an online science fair.
I am in the middle of working on my submission for Doodle 4 Google. Keep it on the down-low, around kids, because I need to have as little competition as possible. So anyways, I have been working on it for a week. And whenever I am overflowing with homework and other pressures, I go into my little world and work on my drawing. And it helps me to be happy. Even if I don't win, it's good to do something like this. Something larger-than-life, bigger than me, something that I have to work really hard at. And when it's all done, it will be great. Picture(s) to come.
Working on a big project can be a lot of work, but finishing it will be so gratifying that you will just be overwhelmingly proud. You don't have to enter the contest - actually, only kids can do it - sorry. But you can pick something you love and work for it. Happiness does come in envelopes, but it also comes in big packages, too. So don't just shuffle through the flat envelopes - open up a big box.
I guess time passed by less quickly in Oxford because I was always filling ever hour of the day with something fun. So my time was never wasted. I feel like I waste a lot of time nowadays. So I guess you should just live in the moment. One time I was working out with my dad and he said how when you work out you are really living in the moment. Each second goes by so much slower and you are getting everything out of each second. That's true. Even though you may think time flies when you are having fun, it also flies when you waste time.
But anyways, since I have to watch the State of the Union speech for extra credit in AP Lang, I better hurry along.
If you asked my mom one thing I like to do a lot, she would say enter contests. I mean, that probably wouldn't be her first response, but if you mentioned contests, she would say that I enter them a lot. And I do. Anytime there is a contest I enter it. Usually, actally never, winning. Except once. But I love the hope and anxious-ness that contests have.
I always enter the skill-based ones since I think those are somewhat easier. Sort of. I've entered photography contests (I'm in the middle of one now), story contests, creativity contests (I won an orange iPod when I was one of 9 finalists in the Goldfish Crackers Create Finn's New Friend contest), and art contests. I'm even contemplating an online science fair.
I am in the middle of working on my submission for Doodle 4 Google. Keep it on the down-low, around kids, because I need to have as little competition as possible. So anyways, I have been working on it for a week. And whenever I am overflowing with homework and other pressures, I go into my little world and work on my drawing. And it helps me to be happy. Even if I don't win, it's good to do something like this. Something larger-than-life, bigger than me, something that I have to work really hard at. And when it's all done, it will be great. Picture(s) to come.
Working on a big project can be a lot of work, but finishing it will be so gratifying that you will just be overwhelmingly proud. You don't have to enter the contest - actually, only kids can do it - sorry. But you can pick something you love and work for it. Happiness does come in envelopes, but it also comes in big packages, too. So don't just shuffle through the flat envelopes - open up a big box.
26 January 2011
all you need is faith
Yes, I am alluding to a Beatles song.
Sometimes all we can do in times of troubles is to wait. Sometimes changing your perspective does not help, and sometimes being positive does not help your troubles dissapear.
A couple months ago when the miners were trapped underground in Chile, we just waited and prayed. We prayed that they would be able to be rescued some day. We prayed that no one would get hurt. And things got better. Every miner was safely resuced. Every single one.
And they waited too. They didn't sit there saying, well, it could be worse, or I'm lucky that I'm still alive. Because for most of them it probably couldn't get worse and they were not very lucky because they were trapped for months underground with no sunlight or natural earth. I mean, perhaps they were saying these things, but they probably did not make anyhting better.
One thing they did receive from the rescue teams through small holes were religious statuettes of saints and a crucfix. When they were not sleeping, eating, or passing the time with card games, they prayed. One miner led them in prayer. No one knows what they prayed about, but it was probably about hoping for their rescue.
And their prayers were answered. They were rescued.
Sometimes all you need is faith and hope that things will get better. The youngest miner who was trapped (age 19) said that "after the bad comes the good." And he is right. He never lost hope that he would be rescued, even though he was the age of a college freshman and was trapped more than 2,000 feet below the surface.
You don't have to face hardships like the miners did to gain faith. You choose to have faith or to cower in fear.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there.
Author Unknown
Sometimes all we can do in times of troubles is to wait. Sometimes changing your perspective does not help, and sometimes being positive does not help your troubles dissapear.
A couple months ago when the miners were trapped underground in Chile, we just waited and prayed. We prayed that they would be able to be rescued some day. We prayed that no one would get hurt. And things got better. Every miner was safely resuced. Every single one.
And they waited too. They didn't sit there saying, well, it could be worse, or I'm lucky that I'm still alive. Because for most of them it probably couldn't get worse and they were not very lucky because they were trapped for months underground with no sunlight or natural earth. I mean, perhaps they were saying these things, but they probably did not make anyhting better.
One thing they did receive from the rescue teams through small holes were religious statuettes of saints and a crucfix. When they were not sleeping, eating, or passing the time with card games, they prayed. One miner led them in prayer. No one knows what they prayed about, but it was probably about hoping for their rescue.
And their prayers were answered. They were rescued.
Sometimes all you need is faith and hope that things will get better. The youngest miner who was trapped (age 19) said that "after the bad comes the good." And he is right. He never lost hope that he would be rescued, even though he was the age of a college freshman and was trapped more than 2,000 feet below the surface.
You don't have to face hardships like the miners did to gain faith. You choose to have faith or to cower in fear.
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there.
Author Unknown
25 January 2011
let go of your kites
Sometimes the only thing to do when you are frazzled, confused, and stressed is stop. A lot of times people think that when you are stressed you will be better off finishing everything you have to do and not stop. But what is the point in that? You will just be backlogged on sleep and still have things to do the next day. So there really is no point in overworking yourself when you are already stressed. It's like if you just broke your arm and still insisted on swimming in the meet. You'll get it all done, but you won't be able to swim in the next meet because you will be in worse shape than before.
When the world caves in and the elements tell us all sorts of things, sometimes we need to look inside ourselves for the answer. Perhaps to the oversoul. The oversoul is a Transcendentalist idea, which is why I include it in here. The oversoul is a spirit that is inside of you and it tells you to do all the good things you do in your life. The oversoul guides you through your life. This is almost identical to the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) and God.
So whether you believe in a God, a pagan god, the Holy Spirit, or the oversoul (or something else, or no spirit/god at all), it's important to look inside yourself and find peace. This often conjures up the idea of meditation.
I'm not really talking about going to India and sitting completely still in an ashram, saying something like "hummm" over and over. I mean, you can do that too. But meditating is really just clearing your mind of everything you are worrying about. You may think it's hard to do, but once you get into a routine, it's easy.
It's almost like holding on to a bunch of different kites that you can't control. Each thought is a kite. And when you let one go, you feel more in control of your other kites, or other thoughts.
"I'm going to make a pop culture reference", as my AP Lang teacher says, about Spongebob. You can really apply him to a lot of things. So in one episode, Squidward wanted to impress his arch nemesis, Squilliam, by pretending that he owns a 5-star restaurant. So he asks Spongebob to become a really amazing waiter, and gives him a large manual and tells him to learn every word. So he does, and he starts going insane. Squidward starts freaking out because Squilliam will be arriving any minute and Spongebob is running around like a madman. So Squidward tells Spongebob to "empty his mind" of everything that doesn't have to do with "fine dining and eating". It goes into Spongebob's brain and it shows a bunch of mini-'bobs throwing away all extraneous thoughts. It worked, and Spongebob was as suave as ever. Until he realized he forgot his name and everything went crazy and Squidward was humiliated. Again.
But that's not how it works on land. Meditation always works if you do it right. And meditation does not have to be completely still. You don't have to sit on the floor and do nothing with your eyes closed for an hour. I meditate through swimming. I can't really hear anything when I swim, and the strokes' even rhythm are meditative. Maybe you find running or walking as meditative. But whatever makes your mind feel less overflowing will help you.
It's almost like cleaning out your folders for school. They literally break when they aren't emptied every once in a while. So empty your mind and let go of your kites.
When the world caves in and the elements tell us all sorts of things, sometimes we need to look inside ourselves for the answer. Perhaps to the oversoul. The oversoul is a Transcendentalist idea, which is why I include it in here. The oversoul is a spirit that is inside of you and it tells you to do all the good things you do in your life. The oversoul guides you through your life. This is almost identical to the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) and God.
So whether you believe in a God, a pagan god, the Holy Spirit, or the oversoul (or something else, or no spirit/god at all), it's important to look inside yourself and find peace. This often conjures up the idea of meditation.
I'm not really talking about going to India and sitting completely still in an ashram, saying something like "hummm" over and over. I mean, you can do that too. But meditating is really just clearing your mind of everything you are worrying about. You may think it's hard to do, but once you get into a routine, it's easy.
It's almost like holding on to a bunch of different kites that you can't control. Each thought is a kite. And when you let one go, you feel more in control of your other kites, or other thoughts.
"I'm going to make a pop culture reference", as my AP Lang teacher says, about Spongebob. You can really apply him to a lot of things. So in one episode, Squidward wanted to impress his arch nemesis, Squilliam, by pretending that he owns a 5-star restaurant. So he asks Spongebob to become a really amazing waiter, and gives him a large manual and tells him to learn every word. So he does, and he starts going insane. Squidward starts freaking out because Squilliam will be arriving any minute and Spongebob is running around like a madman. So Squidward tells Spongebob to "empty his mind" of everything that doesn't have to do with "fine dining and eating". It goes into Spongebob's brain and it shows a bunch of mini-'bobs throwing away all extraneous thoughts. It worked, and Spongebob was as suave as ever. Until he realized he forgot his name and everything went crazy and Squidward was humiliated. Again.
But that's not how it works on land. Meditation always works if you do it right. And meditation does not have to be completely still. You don't have to sit on the floor and do nothing with your eyes closed for an hour. I meditate through swimming. I can't really hear anything when I swim, and the strokes' even rhythm are meditative. Maybe you find running or walking as meditative. But whatever makes your mind feel less overflowing will help you.
It's almost like cleaning out your folders for school. They literally break when they aren't emptied every once in a while. So empty your mind and let go of your kites.
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