A Leap of Faith

The Risk of a Young Boy

“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range of risk of comfortable inaction.”

~ John F. Kennedy

          Trying to fit in can make you do crazy things; in the short story, Through the Tunnel, by Doris Lessing, Jerry nearly kills himself trying to fit in with his older peers. Throughout the story, an eleven year old boy contemplates whether or not he wants to compete with older boys who easily conquer an obstacle he can’t. “After a long time, the boy came up on the other side of a bog dark rock, letting the air out of his lungs in a sputtering gasp and a shout of triumph. Immediately the rest of them dived in.” This story takes place on a beach where anybody can jump off of a rock and touch the bottom with ease. The other side of the beach is where Jerry’s mom waits for him everyday. “Of course, Jerry. When you’ve had enough, come to the big beach. Or just go straight back to the villa, if you like.” Jerry spends everyday practicing holding his breath and taking a leap of faith attempting the risk of a lifetime. 

Again and again he rose, took a big chestful of air, and went down. Again and again he groped over the surface of the rock, feeling it, almost hugging it in the desperate need to find the entrance. And then, once, while he was clinging to the black wall, his knees came up and shot his feet out forward and they met no obstacle. He had found the hole.

          The theme of fitting in relates to this piece of literature heavily. Jerry never backed down, never gave up, and never let anybody know of his troubles. “He would do it if it killed him, he said defiantly to himself... his nose bled so badly that he turned dizzy and had lie limply over the big rock like a bit of seaweed, watching the thick red blood flow on to the rock and trickle slowly down to the sea.” Throughout the nosebleeds, the dizziness, and his head throbbing, Jerry intended on making in through the hole inside the underwater cave. Trying to fit in by putting yourself in harms way is never the way to go. Jerry had to learn that the hard way.

Happy Mother’s Day

Oh my dear mother please enjoy this day
your love has been the guiding force for me 

We’ve been through things that would leave astray

but you have cleared my eyes for me to see

that even though one day you will be gone
that I’ll survive the world through thick and thin
you’ll see my kids playing on the front lawn

and I’ll put castor oil on their skin

I’ll remember the morals that you gave
and apply them to life that is ahead
for you I promise that I will behave
your love’s been passionate it’s been widespread 

you’ve taught me how to take care of my scars

and to remember who and who’s you are

   Money and Work

    Common sense is common but not everybody has it. In the chapter “Money and Work”, Thoreau explains that although money can buy things, money isn’t everything.Thoreau explores that life is too precious to spend working. You will only get things done in life, if you put action to it. The entire chapter is him going over the cost of things and how he was able to pay as little as possible. Thoreau tells us that he was able to get by in this world by doing the bare minimum and not working to his fullest ability.“For more than five years I maintained myself thus solely by the labor of my hands, and I found that, by working about six weeks in a year, I could meet all the expenses of living.”If we were to apply this to life today, our lives would be so much easier, but wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable or pleasing. We are so dependent and reliable on the everyday privileges we have that Thoreau’s way of life wouldn’t feel comfortable to us. This also relates to a previous chapter about necessities which isn’t even imaginable to most of modern society. Henry David Thoreau knew the real way to live. Only if we were nearly as knowledgeable.

Just listen

To the echos bouncing from wall to wall

The vibrations beneath your feet 

Only to be ignored by the bigger picture

Letting go of the stress and anxiety of life

While focusing on every stitch of the net beneath the rim

The connection between the man and the ball in his palms

Looking into the empty road ahead

Waiting to be filled by the experiences

That all men must face

It’s funny how just a game can change such strong emotions

How times can change

And people can grow

But the game still stays the same

No matter how much rules change

No matter how many people come and go

The foundations of life remain

The gym will always be a place of comfort for me

Whether I’m at Fenn or my next endeavor 

Just listen

   The Little Things

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies

~Mother Teresa

    I sit quietly following the blue mark on the wing of a hummingbird with my eye. The other eye catching onto the dirt left on the foot of a hungry squirrel. Who would have thought there would be so much food for thought at a local park. The same park my brother’s had half a dozen birthday parties at. This place brings back so many memories— some good; like the time our godfather surprised us with gifts. And some bad; like the time my uncle got pooped on by a goose— which was still pretty funny. My neighborhood park has changed so much without me every realizing: the old water park where the creepy old guy hung out was gone. And the large seal made of stone that spat fluoride filled tap water out of it’s mouth. There are always small things in life that seem insignificant until they are gone. We never know how to cherish and appreciate them which was a hard pill to swallow when memories start to fade away. I guess making the most of the simple things with the people you love is the only way to keep those memories from dissipating. Appreciate the nature, animals, and loved ones around you; you never know when they might be gone. 

Keeping It Blunt

The Wonders of Thoreau

    Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.

~ Henry David Thoreau

    Honesty isn’t always the best policy. In the chapter “Economy”, in the book Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes about many aspects of life that aren’t uncalled agreed on in the modern world. This piece showed me that the privileges that I have in my life should not be taken for granted. Henry David Thoreau is trying to dive into the deeper necessities of life and show the reader that whatever fancy life they live isn’t reasonable. Many of these aspects are personal ones that encourage the reader to think about their own life. I actually agree with Thoreau and see where’s he’s coming from. “I cannot believe that our factory system is the best mode by which men may get clothing.” This is a direct reference to the fact that we rely so much on companies and manufacturers just to get our everyday items. Our species is not in touch with nature which will eventually hurt us in the long run. 

    Thoreau warns us by writing You don’t need fancy clothes to define you and what you wear is not indicative of who you are.“Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.” He wants us to realize that we don’t need all of these fancy clothes that companies are trying to advertise to us. It’s ironic that Thoreau lived in such a less media driven time and he was still so knowledgeable about these things. Everything he wore and everything he did was the simplest way of life he could have possibly lived. Thoreau also explores the instinctive parts of childhood without all of our fancy gadgets and such that we enjoy now. 

“Every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors, even in wet and cold. It plays house, as well as horse, having an instinct for it. Who does not remember the interest with which, when young, he looked at shelving rocks, or any approach to a cave? It was the natural yearning of that portion, any portion of our most primitive ancestor which still survived in us.”

    He wants to us to realize that no matter how much times change, the simple needs and wants of our species remains the same. Walden pond was his daily simple task that he enjoyed before going to back to his secluded home away from everybody and everything else.

    Reading this writing piece was something that was really relatable. I agreed with almost everything Thoreau was saying which made me feel smart. Overall, the piece itself was boring at times, but captivated me every once in a while. Thoreau’s writing challenged me to think outside of comfort zone and look at my life through a new lens. I felt differently about what I think is a necessity and could not live without. 

    Thoreau makes it clear that we are a long way from recognizing when we are being tricked by our authorities daily. Sometimes we don’t know what we have in life until it’s gone. 

Keeping it Blunt

The Wonders of Thoreau

    Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.

~ Henry David Thoreau

    Honesty isn’t always the best policy. In the book Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes about many aspects of life that aren’t uncalled agreed on in the modern world. This piece showed me that the privileges that I have in my life should not be taken for granted. Henry David Thoreau is trying to dive into the deeper necessities of life and show the reader that whatever fancy life they live isn’t reasonable. Many of these aspects are personal ones that encourage the reader to think about their own life. I actually agree with Thoreau and see where’s he’s coming from. “I cannot believe that our factory system is the best mode by which men may get clothing.” This is a direct reference to the fact that we rely so much on companies and manufacturers just to get our everyday items. Our species is not in touch with nature which will eventually hurt us in the long run. 

    Thoreau warns us by writing You don’t need fancy clothes to define you and what you wear is not indicative of who you are.“Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.” He wants us to realize that we don’t need all of these fancy clothes that companies are trying to advertise to us. It’s ironic that Thoreau lived in such a less media driven time and he was still so knowledgeable about these things. Everything he wore and everything he did was the simplest way of life he could have possibly lived. Thoreau also explores the instinctive parts of childhood without all of our fancy gadgets and such that we enjoy now. 

“Every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors, even in wet and cold. It plays house, as well as horse, having an instinct for it. Who does not remember the interest with which, when young, he looked at shelving rocks, or any approach to a cave? It was the natural yearning of that portion, any portion of our most primitive ancestor which still survived in us.”

    He wants to us to realize that no matter how much times change, the simple needs and wants of our species remains the same. Walden pond was his daily simple task that he enjoyed before going to back to his secluded home away from everybody and everything else.

    Reading this writing piece was something that was really relatable. I agreed with almost everything Thoreau was saying which made me feel smart. Overall, the piece itself was boring at times, but captivated me every once in a while. Thoreau’s writing challenged me to think outside of comfort zone and look at my life through a new lens. I felt differently about what I think is a necessity and could not live without. 

    Thoreau makes it clear that we are a long way from recognizing when we are being tricked by our authorities daily. Sometimes we don’t know what we have in life until it’s gone. 

Keeping it Blunt

The Wonders of Thoreau

    Honesty isn’t always the best policy. In the book Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes about many aspects of life that aren’t uncalled agreed on in the modern world. This piece showed me that the privileges that I have in my life should not be taken for granted. Henry David Thoreau is trying to dive into the deeper necessities of life and show the reader that whatever fancy life they live isn’t reasonable. Many of these aspects are personal ones that encourage the reader to think about their own life. I actually agree with Thoreau and see where’s he’s coming from. “I cannot believe that our factory system is the best mode by which men may get clothing.” This is a direct reference to the fact that we rely so much on companies and manufacturers just to get our everyday items. Our species is not in touch with nature which will eventually hurt us in the long run. 

    Thoreau warns us by writing You don’t need fancy clothes to define you and what you wear is not indicative of who you are.“Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.” He wants us to realize that we don’t need all of these fancy clothes that companies are trying to advertise to us. It’s ironic that Thoreau lived in such a less media driven time and he was still so knowledgeable about these things. Everything he wore and everything he did was the simplest way of life he could have possibly lived. Thoreau also explores the instinctive parts of childhood without all of our fancy gadgets and such that we enjoy now. 

“Every child begins the world again, to some extent, and loves to stay outdoors, even in wet and cold. It plays house, as well as horse, having an instinct for it. Who does not remember the interest with which, when young, he looked at shelving rocks, or any approach to a cave? It was the natural yearning of that portion, any portion of our most primitive ancestor which still survived in us.”

    He wants to us to realize that no matter how much times change, the simple needs and wants of our species remains the same. Walden pond was his daily simple task that he enjoyed before going to back to his secluded home away from everybody and everything else.

    Reading this writing piece was something that was really relatable. I agreed with almost everything Thoreau was saying which made me feel smart. Overall, the piece itself was boring at times, but captivated me every once in a while. Thoreau’s writing challenged me to think outside of comfort zone and look at my life through a new lens. I felt differently about what I think is a necessity and could not live without. 

    Thoreau makes it clear that we are a long way from recognizing when we are being tricked by our authorities daily. Sometimes we don’t know what we have in life until it’s gone. 

Necessities

Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities

~ Benjamin Franklin

    When you have the words 21st century and teenagers in the same sentence, there is an endless amount of things that any kid would say are are on that list. But the only hard thing about finding the necessities in life is that innovation and new generations have made our species so reliant on insignificant things. Teenagers these days will tell you they need their phone, clothes, education, and money. And then if they think hard enough, they’ll get to the actual important stuff life water, food, shelter, etc.  If you asked me, I would say the human necessities first, and then the necessities of a modern day 15 year old. We all need food, water, and shelter like I said before, but I’d say we need some form of communication such as a phone. But most importantly we all need love. It’s a natural human instinct to love because it’s the beginning to reproducing which is the entire purpose of a species. I don’t want to keep going on a tangent but the necessities of life vary based on who you ask. Just don’t ask me.

The Thoughts of a Cycle

Summer: 

Bubbles flying up

Endless blasting music

The humid air of a backyard barbecue

Waves rushing in

Sand seeping in my swim trunks 

Too much showering in July

Never knowing when

The hard work will be ruined

Of my castle of sand

Graduation day

Off to a new start

One things stands in your way

Metacognition: Summer was a fairly easy season to write haikus on. There’s so much that goes on in summer and there are endless thoughts and feelings about it which made writing poems about it enjoyable.

Autumn:

Leaves changing colors

Layers added on

School buses added on to traffic

Red, brown, orange, yellow

Falling, withering, blowing

All rakes 20% off

New beginnings

Meeting up with old friends

Who’s your advisor?

Leaves dying everywhere

Oh you poor squirrels

Better get to diggin’

Metacognition: This was definitely the hardest season to write about. Throughout my times writing the haikus, I kept putting this season off because of the troubles I had coming up with things to say. But once I got in the grove of the season, it was easy sail.

Winter:

Floating crystals

Shoveling for mom

Cars slipping on ice

The inevitable 

Countdown of couples

Till the ball drops

Waiting at home

Bored out of mind

I still don’t want to go back to school

Cocoa in one hand

My phone in the other

Oh how times have changed

Metacognition: Winter is one of my favorite seasons so writing about it wasn’t too difficult. I tried to reminisce back to memories of the labor behind winter time. But it was also interesting to looks at it from a different standpoint.

Spring:  

The blossoms of daffodils 

The sightings of birds

Only my pencil stays the same

What is that smell

We should have never

Tried to clean the house

Frolicking in flowers

Rolling down hills

Only my allergies stand in my way

Raining one month

Honey bees in another

Oh how you confuse me

Metacognition: Spring is pretty much the ending and beginning of everything. It’s a time for everybody to relax but also start trying to become a better person in their daily lives. It’s also a difficult season to understand weather wise so I enjoyed the challenge of taking on a spring poem about weather.