So today we learned about our next writing adventure! Who are you? What do you care about? What do you BELIEVE in? You have some thinking to do.
I'd like you to take some time to listen to some examples. (Perhaps you'll have better luck than we did in class.) Go to this website: http://thisibelieve.org
Check out the site, and click on the "listen" tab. There are lots of ways to navigate the site. You can search for an essay written by a certain individual (there are lots of famous contributors) or you can scroll through themes or topics.
Once you've listened to one, add a comment to share a quick summary and your thoughts about the essay. Make sure you name the essay title and author, and include specifics. If you repeat an essay that someone's already written about, you'd better be sure to add additional insight.
Please add your comment by Wednesday January 5th.
Remember, your completed "This I Believe" essay is due at the start of class on Wednesday January 12th.
One piece of writing that I read was “The Power to Forget” by James from Columbia, Missouri. This man’s father was murdered yet he has learned to forget the murderer of his father. He does this to create more peace and happiness within himself. I think it is amazing how he tries to forget this main so there is less harm. He believes that if people are able to forget there will be fewer problems within the world. He is able to create a “blank slate” for himself to overcome this obstacle. I think it is truly amazing that he is able to put aside his hatred for this murderer to create what he believes will be a happier world.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting piece that I read was "The Practice of Slowing Down" by Phil Powers. He talked about how the technique of how you're supposed to climb a mountain, can relate to how you should pace yourself in life. I enjoyed reading this because I can relate to not taking time to enjoy life yet and speeding through everything. Its really neat how this one situation in his life could help him realize just how much more he could live life to the fullest if he just paced himself and slowed it down a bit.
ReplyDeleteI read the essay, "Finding the Flexibility to Survive" by Brighton Early. This story was about a girl who grew up having to go to the gas station for her groceries because her mother couldn't afford it. Through these struggles and experiences she learned to believe in flexibility. She learned to be flexible because her family was still getting the necessities. I thought this was a really interesting piece because it showed me that I have a lot of luxuries and privileges in my life and I need to be flexible when I don't get what I want. This is a great belief to live by.
ReplyDeleteThe story I found most interesting was "Pennies From Heaven" by Reg Stark from Sugar Land, Texas. The author, Reg, lost his wife of 43 years to cancer and recalled how she would put pennies in her shoe for good luck. He mentions how he would never think anything of it, but once she passed away he started finding pennies all over the place and he thought it was a sign that she was still with him. He recalls finding pennies in every airport he travels to, and also mentions finding 6 pennies at different times all under the same chair at the same airport. I thought this story was important because a lot of times once people leave our lives we tend to forget about them and let them drift away, but Reg has found a lot of meaning in the pennies he believes his wife Linda blessed him with.
ReplyDeleteThe story I found to be interesting was "Grace is a Gift" by Laura Durham. The story is about when Laura was in third grade and the leason her teacher taught her. She'd been excluded from the class activities because she'd forgotten to bring in her speeling test after having it signed by a parent. Her teacher took her aside and told her to join the class becuase she felt bad. This taught Laura that graciousness is a gift. She tries to give the same graciousness. I think that is a good policy to follow. It's important to remember that no one really deserves to be treated poorly.
ReplyDeleteOne piece that I found interesting was "Disrupting My Comfort Zone" by Brian Grazer, an Academy Award-Winning Producer. His story was about how he likes to make things difficult, and how he challenges himself in difficult situations. For him, "restlessness is a away of life." He paraphrased a biologist he met one time saying that "if you're not growing, you're dying." To me this struck me as wow because I am sort of the opposite. When I try to challenge myself, I don't really ever ask others like old Presidents to help me in the process, but more keep to myself. Brian Grazer wants to go far out of his comfort zone, and I believe that by doing that he is advancing himself more/farther in his life. He is learning more new things everyday, and achieving his goal of "disrupting his comfort zone" in the process.
ReplyDeleteThe People Who Love You When No One Else Will by Cecile Gilmer
ReplyDeleteThis I believe story made me think of how my family is always there for me and how lucky I am to have them. It kind of made me happy listening to this because I have a family to come home too and some people don't and I never really think about it that way. This also reminds me how my uncle and aunt adopted my cousin, it just reminds me how Cecile was so thankful for the Beaches and my cousin isn't and there are tons of children without families. Cecile is strong because of the Beaches and it sounds like by this quote that she is happy she is not in her past, "They kept me from being paralyzed by my past, and gave me confidenceto open my heart."
The story I found to be interesting enough to listen to was "A Walk in the Woods Together" by Cindy Lollar. This was a story about the love she has with her partner. She was a lesbian woman but because of the laws in place in her home state her and her partner could not be legally married. But she believes that after her 20th anniversary this year that they will be married legal or not. She believes that she will be married because her and her partner have a endless love for each other and they don't need their state to recognize that. She was also stating that she believes being married is a civil rights issue and that gay people should be treated equally as anyone else. I thought this essay was very good, and it was relevant to my life, having a couple of family members who are gay I can understand why she believes that if they are in love that they are officially married in their minds. She just wants to show people gay and straight alike that even though her love will not be recognized by the state that she can accept this fact and just love her partner all the same and live her own idea of a "married life".
ReplyDeleteThe story I read why "The Love I Choose" by Jessica Zerr, a college writting instructor. It was about her views on love and how its changed through her lifetime. When she was little she viewed love as how it was protrayed in princess movies where the right guy would always come along and live a happy ending. Her views changed when she asked her mother who she loved more, her (the daughter) or her husband. Her mother responded with that she will always love her baby no matter what, but she chooses to love her husband which makes it extra special. I found this to be a good peice because it really shows how special someone can be in your life and how marrage should be viewed. It's a commitment of being with someone that you are willing to love over and over again and would always choose them no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the essay "How Do You Believe In A Mystery" by Loudon Wainwright III. The essay was about mysteries and our belief in the unknown. Wainwright spoke about how mysteries are sometimes a disliked topic. He talked about how they can turn a person cynical after a childhood with truth about the Tooth Fairy. From his experience, Wainwright explains how his songwriting is inspired by a mystery and he admits that, even though he doesn't often do it publicly, he occasionally thanks a mystery watching him from above. However, he also says that he'd prefer not knowing about a mystery. Knowing about a mystery would defeat the purpose. I thought that the essay was highly interesting because it was about mysteries. This essay really made me think about a lot of things that have been called a mystery. It's with this view that I connect to this essay because I often think about questions and mysteries and their possible answers. To know a mystery defeats the definition and destroys it and yet we constantly look for answers. Because of this, I agree with him; mysteries are mysteries for a reason. According to Wainwright, "I'd prefer not to know. In fact, I'd prefer not to talk about it anymore. It might scare the fish away."
ReplyDeleteI read the essay that Tony Hawk made. It was called: "Do what you love". His essay basically talked about how, when he got his first skateboard when he was nine, decided that he wanted to become a professional skateboarder for his career. When he said this to his teach, one day in his high school class, his teacher basically laughed at him and told him he wasn't going to make it anywhere in life with that "job". His teacher also said that becoming a pro skateboarder is not a career, it's basically what crazy kids and goons do to look cool. But, to Tony, it was his passion; his love. At a time, he could barely get gas money, and he says that "Taco Bell was a big night out" to go and eat at. But now, he is making all kinds of money, he is married and has some kids, his oldest (being 13) loves to skateboard, and in fact, has obtained many sponsorships, and is a great skateboarder aswell. All together, this story says: Do what you love, no matter how much money you make, or what people tell you.
ReplyDeletehttp://thisibelieve.org/essay/22870/
I listened to the "Pennies from Heaven" podcast. This podcast told the story of a husband who believed that since he lost his wife to cancer, seeing pennies on the side of the road is a sign that his wife is still with him. The author, Reg Stark said that during his marriage, his wife would handle all of the money situations. Because she is gone now, he feels as if it is his responsibility to get anything he can. I thought it was really amazing to see how the little things in life can mean so much to a person, and be able to keep them happy.
ReplyDeletehttp://thisibelieve.org/essay/10939/
"The Choice to Do It Over Again" by Dan Flanigan of Redford, Michigan and it takes about he beleives that everyone should be allowed to go back and remake choices. He talked about how he dropped out by the 9th grade and him using drugs to help him cope with the fact that he was illitarite. He then had a son in 2002 and decided that he needed to get a better life for him son and to be a good role model. He got his GED by his son's 4th birthday and is now a full-time college student. It was pretty cool to see someone write about "Do Overs" and have a good ending to their story.
ReplyDeleteI read the essay titled "In My Father's Tears," written by Lawrence Kessenich. In short, it is about a young man (the author) and his father, who both had very different religous beliefs while he was growing up. They would always be getting into heating arguments about religion. One day, for the first time in his life, the father chased the author around the kitchen table in attempt to hit him. Before any damage was done, the father broke down crying. The author saw nothing but love in these tears, and it really inspired him to do good. He now does incredible things for charity, such as helping the blind, donating 10% of his income, and helps lead Alternative to Violence workshops in prison.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very touching story. Parents are where kids learn to behave, even if they don't try to be. This incident told the author that his father could never hit him, and that love was a very powerful aspect of life that can control people's actions and emotions.
I listened to "Come to My Table" by Shannon Denney of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shannon writes about how she believes in food, how she believes how powerful food is and the importance of it. She says that it is a proud feeling being able to make food for her feeling. She says that one has somewhat power over the family because the one who makes the food chooses what the family eats. Shannon talks about the great memories and comfort home cooked meals like her grandmother's chicken dumplings and her aunt's coconut pie. She remembers when her family was poor, but the one thing that always remained present was food, it is a staple fore families. She associates food with a mother's only way to be certain that their children will have their love wherever they go. Mothers can't protect their children from the outside world, but they can ensure that their children will leave the house happy with a full stomach of love. Whoever comes to her table will eat there as they were family; they are family when they come to her table. She hopes that when you eat her food at her table, you will say "mmm, this is what it is supposed to taste like" when you say that, that is the love in the food, the time and care she put into the food that you are eating. This is what she calls power. I love this essay, it almost brought me to tears. This essay reminded me of the great times I had when I was a child learning to cook with my godmother, great aunt, and aunt. These were my three teachers, better than any world renowned culinary school could ever teach. This essay brought me to realize that food is so much more powerful than I thought it was. I also believe in food, and if you come to my table, you too WILL also become family, and you WILL eat like family.
ReplyDeleteI also read the essay "In My Father's Tears" by Lawrence Kessenich. This story stuck out in more than one way, showing me that there are many relationships you can have for a loved one, but that love will always override any negative emotions that you have for that person. In order for Lawrence to realize the love his father had for him, it took one last argument and emotional break down for his father for him to see that as much as they fought, his father only wanted the best for his son. His father was able to restart his life and give back to the people in so many ways, and this was able to inspire his son Lawrence to follow that idea. This story also showed me that I can't be selfish and keep anything for myself, because there are other people who need the help and get overlooked for everything. And in order to feel successful in my endeavors first, I need to be able to help others achieve their goals just as well.
ReplyDeleteI read "The Gift of Kindness," by David Copperfield. I really enjoyed this story because often many people forget what a small act of kindness can do. Copperfield writes about how we are raised to be "macho" and we are taught that the "nice guy finishes last." He goes on to tell how many people put on a tough-guy act because that is what they think is cool,and many are not kind to one another selfishly. Copperfield writes, "But I believe Economics 101 is right. The value of a thing is determined by its scarcity. Which makes kindness spiritual gold" By making this analogy, Copperfield really had me thinking how specail a simple act of kindness can be. I like these stories because they inspire me in a sense.
ReplyDeleteToday will be a better day
ReplyDeleteJosh Rittenberg - New York, New York
When I read this I was surprised at what this kid was saying a 16-year-old thinking about the future to come. I'm the type of person to believe that tomorrow will be a better day. The other day I was listening to the news and how they are finding ways to cure cancer or prevent it, it made me think. Having read this story made me think wow other kids think the same things I think.
Another thing that struck me was his parent talking about his future from that moment I really thought he was talking about schooling, but he said it was about the world. I believe that schooling has to do with the world the more knowledge the more people know how to stop a pandemic disease or change the generations to come.
I guess I can say this piece really made me think about my life in the future and brought new ideas to my mind for what I am going to do for my paper.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI listened to "An Ideal of Service to Our Fellow Men" by Albert Einstein. He talks about a few different things, but his main idea is his position that we need a planned established economy, and for our studies to go toward more social goals. He says that people as individuals in society are dependent on society. He says that the dependence is threatening peoples economic existince and would force people to rely on each other instead of depending on the society as a whole. So this is basically saying that individuals casually take for granted the daily society, but if it was taken away, many people would feel threatened and afraid to have to rely on other individuals. He also says that he believes that mysterious things are the most beautiful things in life. As you slowly start to find the smallest new things about a mystery, even though you haven't solved the whole thing, you get excited because you are that much closer to understanding the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteI read the I believe there is no god. This statement was very powerful because the author has to be their beliefe out agaisnt billions of people that do believe in god. I like how the author never gave in and stuck to their beliefe showing she would not be persueded easily just because someone tells her to believe. When we are kids we are just told what to believe about god but this author was comfortable enough in their belief to publicly voice it. This assignment is powerful because it makes you voice a belief without wavering for opposition.
ReplyDeleteI read: Pick-Up Ball is Community, by Jack in Texas. Jack talks about how pick-up basketball is something special to him, and how age, size, skin color doesnt matter when your playing, and its true. I can relate to Jack because I play pick up basketball in the summer also and this story was interesting to read, because there were a lot of parts i would say "oh yeah" too. I like how he talked about the simplicity of streetball, and how there are no coaches, refs, or anybody else to slow down the game, you just play a fast paced style of basketball. This piece of writing is good, because It's something I believe in, and relate to.
ReplyDeleteI Read "hockey" by Jerad. in his essay he goes over why the sport of hockey is so great. he explains why it means so much to him. i think that it is really what he believes but he tells it in a cheesy way. he tells us some details about the game but compares it to soccer multiple times. to really show how great the game is i think he could have compared the sport of hockey to more games and sports. i think he wasn't as pure and truthful as he should have been. this ... this i believe essay could have been more personal and it would have been much better. i am going to try to balance that in my essay by being personal but not to cheesy.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the paper titled "I didn't wash my car last week". I went into the story thinking it would've been about this person not being clean. But it was not about this it was about missing out on life and that looking back on life he wasn't going to say he wished he would've washed his car more but infact he wished he relaxed more or seen things first hand rather than reading about them. this paper was my favorite out of the five i read because it had humor and was to the point. this guy truly believed what he was writing he made a good point on living life to the fullest and don't waste time doing things that will be of no importance later in life.
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