Just an update on reading

I have been reading short stories for a while now. I have liked them, and I think I have gotten a good amount of information and knowable from them. I'm not too sure if this is supposed to be another reading log where we depict our stories, but I am just going to write about the feelings of reading, and stuff like that. I think these short stories gave me some good analyzation skills. Most short stories are about some random thing, but the whole point of it is really just the meaning. Like in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, it was about community stoning someone, but its actually meaning is how people can blindly follow traditions. This sort of reminds me of a video I saw on Youtube by CGP Grey, an educational animator. This story can be found here. It is about a very powerful dragon that lives at the top of a mountain. The village below had no way to kill it. They were too weak. The dragon demanded 10,000 random villagers every day, and since the village couldn't fight it, they had to oblige. The teachers then taught the children how the dragon has its part in society, and is good, because it makes people live the best lives they can. There is much more to the story, so watch the video if you have the time. The Lottery reminded me of this story because they have similar meanings. In this video, the village could not refuse the dragon, so instead of trying to come up with a way to defeat the tyrant, they just accepted it in its place in society. In The Lottery, people accepted a horrible tradition just because it was already in society. They didn't question it. This also made me think that in The Lottery when the tradition was first introduced, it was probably questioned a lot and tried against, but in the end, it had its place. After years and years of the ritual happening, people just stopped questioning it. Overall I have liked reading short stories instead of an actual book more, because each one is different, and helps me understand more.

Family and Chores

How quality time with you family is worth it

“Every child must have chores to do. It gives them dignity in work and the joy of labor.”

-Earl Hammer Jr.

Almost everyone has to do mundane tasks. In my life, this isn’t too apparent, and usually these mundane tasks are a blessing in disguise. Cleaning up after dinner with my mom was one of these.

The quiet nighttime deafened the plates bumping into each other. My mom was there to my left, helping me wash and put the plates into the dish washer. I looked out the window and observed he humid summer night, We always had to after dinner, it was just one of my chores, but this time, my mom joined me. 

“How was camp today?” The boring question made me roll my eyes. I don’t want to talk about something so basic and rudimentary. “How bout’ we talk about what we should do tonight? Maybe a movie? As we cleaned, we talked. We talked about our plans, but also how we feel about current situations. We talked about the leak in our house that needs to get fixed, and we talked about recent news. We talked and talked, and eventually the dished were done. I realized something important about family that day.

I found out that misty night that chores are now something you should groan over, but something you should cherish, because they usually are with your family, and to help your family. That is what life is all about. Family.

Family is truly the most important thing you have. Some may say it’s a blessing.