Because the Transcendentalists are more philosophical than many of the authors we study, one learning objective I have for this unit, beyond exposing and helping you to understand its literature, is exploring that philosophy in the context of your own lives, contemplating to what extent you are a Transcendentalist or aspire to be one. Part of this exploration includes our Transcendental experience, exploring the practice and pracality of this philosophy in our own lives.
With that objective in mind, capture your thinking about this experience. Firstly, tell us what you did. Next, explore your success or lack thereof: how easy/ challenging was this experience for you? Why? Conclude, then, by addressing to what degree you find these ideas inspirational and/ or practical. Will this be a practice you will continue to challenge yourself to incorporate in your day-to-day life? Why/ why not?
Starting Monday afternoon I came down with the flu. I was in bed sick until an hour ago and I decided that since I was sick I would take a break from all electronics to see if that could help me rest. I chose to do this because I was sick at home and figured I needed to get this project done. I didn't cheat on my plan until now to do my homework. My parents thought that this was a great idea but some of my friends thought I was crazy. It made my life seem simpler since I wasn't constantly checking things or glaring at a tv screen all day. The fact that I am now feeling much better could be a sign that spending time looking at electronic screens is not good for a persons health. By spending this time without electronics I realized that I can get a lot more done without electronics which is why I will try and use less in the future. What I have learned about myself in this process is that I really don't need to have so many distractions in my life
ReplyDeleteI used this project as an opportunity to see if I found a safe environmental to think for myself, just to catch up on what was possibly bothering me. Truth of the matter was that it became relatively easy for me, not realizing that when I took the time for myself I would actually feel more confident to tackle whatever was troubling me. On Sunday, when it began to snow, I started down to Arapahoe Park down the street from my house, knowing not many people would be around and, not minding the cold, would like to see the scenery, because snowy days were my favorite to look at. This is were I began with pondering what was going through my life and find some solutions to the stress put on me from school, as well to sort out my schedule and focus on positive things that I wanted more of, such as hanging out with friends and family. And finally, I asked myself how Transcendentalism applied to me, and I looked back on how with just a little time to isolate myself from the world, I could help myself cope with reality when it was finally time for me to return. What really surprised me was when I was back in my house, how many messages I had on my phone and that I apparently had spent over 3 hours outside, just setting priorities straight. Overall, it was a real time to collect myself together, and I wouldn't mind doing it again just to escape the pressures of my regular life because it just seemed like I always had enough time (which is a great feeling).
ReplyDeleteDuring this project, I decided to reflect on my actions and thoughts to see if there was some way to not be influenced by outside opinions, in other words practice being self reliant. As I started thinking about this, my mind started to delve into the intricate weavings of the world's societies and how seemingly impossible it is to be truly self reliant. As Elise and I argued during the car ride home, we started to get to the impossibility of being unaffected by outside sources, "Well, to be truly self reliant you wouldn't be able to use anything, anything at all. You would be born and then die because even living off of the land is not relying on yourself, you would be relying on outside sources." "Even then, you were reliant upon your mother so that's not even true self reliance. A plant might be considered self reliant because it produces its own food, but then again it's relying on the sun, water and carbon dioxide." Well the conversation went like that for the most part anyways, a little less articulated and longer if you want the real truth. After I was dropped off at home, I started thinking how rebellious I could be if I completely stopped listening to others and only listened to myself. No school, California, and uniqueness ran through my thoughts, but then homelessness, being unsuccessful, and unknown risk followed. Without the support of anything, life simply perishes. After all, from a scientific viewpoint the only reason we are here is because of everything around us. We would all be dead without the sun, or oxygen, or water to name a few. And from an American viewpoint, without support financially, morally and without obtaining knowledge a person is seldom successful. The realities of self reliance do not work in a modern world, or any for that matter. Especially considering it is contradictory to say I will not let my society affect me from now on, while the society you were in had already influenced you to reach that decision. Although there is obviously flaws within being completely self reliant, the message at the heart of the theory is an important one. As these few days progressed, I tried to be self reliant as much as possible. Not in the “I’m going to survive off of only myself” way, but rather in a way where I rely upon myself to get things done. There is a huge reward to being reliant on yourself successfully, the self confidence instilled as well as the feeling of accomplishment to follow. I found it rewarding when I did all the dishes, cleaned my room thoroughly, and did my laundry entirely by myself. There was a flaw to this as well because I live with my parents and they buy me food, clothes and I live off of their money and support. Despite all these flaws, I agree with the heart of the theory. The idea that your thinking and uniqueness of your humanity is the most valuable trait of a human, I completely agree with. Although influenced by school and other’s opinions, the thinking that I have is not exact to anybody else. In that manner, I will be self reliant.
ReplyDeleteMy transcendental experience was venturing to a nearby nature area and reflecting. This experience was very successful for me. Anytime I able to escape the real world and get consumed by my environment, I am able to unwind. This experience was fairly easy for me. I never mind leaving technology and accepting nature. These experiences are very inspirational. Any time you are removed from your normal environment and are placed in a less familiar one, you notice more and are inspired by more. This is an experience I will do my best to keep up with because I believe it benefits me, but I don't think I will be able to experience this everyday.
ReplyDeleteTo simulate a transcendental experiment, I chose to try and be completely self-reliant and try my best to not ask others for their opinions etc. This experience I found was very challenging for me. I concluded that the culture and society I grew up with, it’s common habit to ask others for their opinions. I did not succeed greatly in my transcendental experience because I was so used to asking others their advice on problems, or asking how to questions, or even asking advice on what outfit to wear. I often caught myself and noticed I was not being self-reliant. As time went on, I became better and better at being self-reliant, but it is not necessarily a trait I wish to acquire. I agree with transcendentalist’s overall ideas, but I don’t think they are always practical or necessary. I think it is an inspiring thought to know one’s self so completely, that they can be completely self-reliant, however it is not practical in my opinion. I think that people should be able to problem solve and decision make on their own, however, I do not think it is bad to ask others for advice. I personally care about other people’s opinions and views; I think it is almost self-centered to only care about one’s own opinions. Again, transcendentalists have great ideas on paper, but in reality, they seem too extreme for someone to actually live by, especially in today’s society. With trying to be completely self-reliant, I found it almost impossible to completely be. As I am young, there are still things I need to know. For instance my dad had to show me how to put my car into four-wheel drive for the snow. I could have figured it out, but didn’t want to ruin the car by truing to be self-reliant. I will not rule out being self-reliant, and I will continue practicing this to an extent, because it is a good idea…to an extent. This experience told me I would not make a very successful transcendentalist, I cannot simply change old habits and don’t particularly aspire to.
ReplyDeleteI chose the last one, to be self reliant with my own thoughts. This was hard because without listening to other's ideas, it doesn't help you or your ideas any. Also, is each decision mine or someone else's was also hard because the ideas can be used both ways. Thinking for yourself is what, to me, this experience boiled down to. This is hard because there are always people around you telling you what to do, and even in school, most of the ideas are the teachers, so what I do is mostly on the teachers. This idea is very practical in the world we live in now. We all must think for ourselves and not be drones of other people's ideas., but the practicality and execution of the idea is near impossible. We all listen to others for advice and guidance, and also directions. I, personally, can't do this because I look to others for some ideas and use that to help me make some decisions and I'm also told what to do.
ReplyDeleteTranscendentalism, and the ideas that go along with it, like self reliance, are inspiring and I think somewhat empowering. For my transcendental experience I went out for a walk at a park near my house. The park is up on higher ground than most of the land around it. I closed my eyes and thought about self reliance, how would it be if all the land surrounding "my park" was void of the houses, the people who live in those houses, the stores, the cars, the noise, everything. How would I deal with the emptiness? I concluded that I couldn't, I'm not an extroverted person, but I'm not an introvert either. I like being alone, but I know I couldn't be alone for the amount of time Christopher McCandles was. I feel like as humans we're meant to have companionship,I don't think it is even possible to be truly self reliant. Even at the park, in pretty much total seclusion I still though about the people who'd been there with me. When I tried to be honest with myself, about my life, a lot of the issues that need improvement were relationships, or I needed others to help or support me in the things I want for my life. I think having the mindset of a transcendentalist, and actually living as one are two very different things. I think that if your mind is set to getting where you want to go, self reliance can be rewarding. I don't think the actual idea of being completely alone is practical at all. I guess when I comes down to it, I like the ideas transcendentalism has to offer. I would like to know that I could be self reliant and achieve my goals alone, but I don't think that's how life works. So, I could never be one myself, because the advice and input of others into my life is important to me.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I exercised the idea of being completely self-reliant on my own ideas and opinions. I found that this idea of being self-reliant is challenging in our society today. The main struggle I had was the fact that I live under my parent's house, and follow my parent's rules. It was hard to listen to myself when my parents are demanding me to do something. Not only was it hard for me to listen to my own ideas in my house, but at school, as well. I feel that someone would have to be very isolated from everything in order to be completely self-reliant. After my transcendental experience, I can conclude that the idea of self-reliant can only apply to an extent. To be totally self-reliant, one would probably have to live by themself and be disconnected from the world today. As a result, total self-reliance seems impractical. Personally, I like the idea of transcendentalism, but I don't believe I could achieve the self-reliance that it takes.
ReplyDeleteWhile sitting alone thinking of what to write for my transcendental experience, I found myself wanting to Google the definition to find others’ opinions on the subject. This and many other aspects of my personality show me that I could never be a true transcendentalist. I love culture and it definitely influences who I am as a person. Culture and its influences on society is my passion, which is why I want to go into journalism. However, I strongly believe in being your own person. I think it is okay to be influenced by society, as long as you take those influences and translate them your own way. In fashion for example, a runway show might influence a person how to dress. However, to be truly stylish and unique, you must interpret the trend in your own way. I think this could be used for anything in life. A truly unique personality does not have to be completely self-reliant. I think what makes the person unique is how they take the influences and express them in their own way. Something else I was thinking about while sitting alone was the difference between being independent and self-reliant, and also, if anyone could ever be truly self-reliant. I consider myself to be pretty independent. I work hard to earn money. I pay for almost everything I want myself; clothes, makeup, entertainment, etc. I stand up for myself and what I think is right, and I try to be my own person. I have my own beliefs and refuse to be pressured into someone else’s unless I truly agree. I try to rely on myself for mostly everything. However, I think this is just being independent. To be truly self-reliant, one would only rely on themselves. For me this is confusing… how would one survive relying only on oneself? Do we not rely on shelter, clothing, food and water daily in order to survive? If we were truly self-reliant, we would not live very long at all. I think being independent is the closest thing that gets to being self-reliant. The ideas of transcendentalism are definitely some that we can interpret into our own lives, however, no one can ever be a true transcendentalist, because no one can ever be truly self-reliant.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I chose to sit in silence for a half and hour and just catch up on my thinking. I at first I had a hard time letting go of all the worldly things, and just sitting there and relaxing. I came to realize that I had a lot on my mind and a lot of decisions I had yet to make. Things were troubling me that I had failed to notice because of all the outside distractions. It was great to be able to catch up on all of my thinking and once I was done, I noticed that I had an easier time focusing. I think that this idea of sitting in silence and putting everything away is a fantastic idea, and not very hard to do. I will continue to do this at least a few times a month, just to see what is really troubling me, and to let go and get caught up on life. If I could, I would do it once a day but life is too hectic. However, the ideas of transcendentalism are not very practical. We all have to rely on others, and worldly things in order to live in this world. It is not very likely for anyone to be a true, full-out transcendentalist.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I chose for my transcendental experience is to go to the gym, just me, and shoot free throws over and over and over again. This is one of the best ways that I can release all the stress of my life, because one I am playing the sport I love and two the monotonous rhythm of the ball gliding through the hoop just puts me utterly and completely at peace. I like to think that shooting free throws is a great example of self-reliance, because no one is up there to help you, no one to guide you, only you can make that shot. While I was shooting, I noticed that after a while my mind just seemed to clear, allowing me to focus on what I was doing at that moment, and not having to worry about all of my outside problems. The great thing about this particular method of self-reliance is that it will always occur for me, allowing me to mull over my thoughts every time that I step up to that line.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I gave up watching TV for a week. At the end of each day when I normally would watch TV, I did something else. I worked on homework, read a book or went to bed. My family was not surprised, in fact the were very supportive and reminded me that I couldn't watch TV. On the whole I thought it was actually hard. I didn't realize how much I liked watching television until I gave it up. It also made my life easier. Before this I would rush everything I needed to do so I could watch some show. This past week I had time to finish my homework and spent time on things that really matter like friends and family. Also I did not stay up late watching, instead I went to bed and got a good nights rest for once. A television is not a necessity in my life and I think I would benefit from only watch TV on weekends and brakes. From this experience I have learned that I need to know the difference between wasting my time and using my time wisely.
ReplyDeleteI have been continuing a transcendental experience which has been going on in my life for a while now. This past semester of school I have been taking the time for homework only when I feel like I'll actually benefit from it. It is transcendental in that my ideas are being all thats respected as something of value. It has resulted in me having more time with my own thoughts and ideas being the sole use of my time. Throughout these months I have been just as happy as I was when I stressed over trivial grades and I feel like my process of becoming a more intelligent person has maintained its past trajectory. I'm not fully transcendent, and don't intend on becoming so. I still enjoy learning for the sake of learning and find other people helpful when it comes to my education.
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ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided to go out on the greenbelt behind my house on Friday of last week, into a thickly wooded area, and simply sit and reflect on the nature of humanity. I can achieve the alpha state, a place between sleep and consciousness on command, so I simply closed my eyes for 5 minutes in that state. When I opened my eyes, my mind jumped oddly, as I saw a label for everything as it was in the scientific realm. The most abundant feature I saw was trees and their leaves. I instead saw a system of xylem and phloem bringing water to and from cells, and, instead of green, I saw 475 nm wavelength light, reflected off of C55H72O5N4Mg. Chlorophyll A.
So I began to speculate on why exactly I had this mindset, running through my neurons. I realized something there. I had a scientific and mathematical mindset. I could think of a Rubiks' Cube in my mind. So I began to wonder what other minds were, in essence. Could they just calculate complimentary colors, or visualize a picture while only working on a centimeter of it? I decided that this was probably as close to the truth as I could get. I decided that not only environmental, but also scientific facts must contribute to human uniquity. By developing a more left-sided brain, I was able to find beauty in nature, with a more scientific than artistic mind. An artistic mind might be able to find the beauty in that easier, yet find solutions to scientific problems that require creativity. In short, all humans must be in some sense equal in their abilities, and all necessary to create the world we live in. Society has bonded them together, and presented them with the chance to flourish. Society, however, could only work as well as its inhabitants. If people don't want security, they will hate society. Ironically, security was the guarantee of human rights, like that of life. These speculations led me to believe that society could one day achieve peace if, and only if, those being ruled embraced it, built on it, and evolved.
For my transcendental experience, I decided to give up Facebook for a day. The most common reaction from my friends and family on my decision was, "Good luck with that". During my experience I didn't cheat by going on Facebook showing that I have a strong will despite my wants. I learned that I really like talking to my old friends and that without it I get a lot more homework done. It's not a necessity but it is nice to get in touch with my old friends. I chose to give up Facebook because I wanted to see what my day would be like without it.
ReplyDeleteFor this activity I decided to go for a walk, without bringing my iPod like I usually do. It was not hard for me, and it really helped me at a time like this. Right now I am stressed out with homework and preparing for finals. I have also been thinking a lot lately about the rest of my life and what I want to do. The hardest part for me is being completely honest with myself. I have very high expectations for myself, and to meet those I decided I need to start doing a lot better. I really need to focus on what is important and try not to be as distracted as I usually am. Along with making me think about that, the walk really helped me to get rid of a lot of my stress, and really re-focus on what is truly important. I like the idea of transcendentalism, but not to the extreme. I do think it applies to my life, because I do things like this often, but I would never completely drop everything to go live in the woods. I do a lot of thinking in a quiet special place, not always in nature, but I have found it really helps me to get rid of some of my stress, and mostly get my priorities straight. This had been very easy for me, and very beneficial, I will defiantly continue to do it.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided to complete the first option. I went simply to a small, grassy area that surrounds a creek near Powell Middle School, right by my house. As I sat, I began to think what really matters to me, and what is essential to me as a person. I noticed that what was really important to me seldom has to satisfy others. I realized that if there are certain things I feel will benefit me as a person, I should work my best to accomplish these, and ignore the thoughts or opinions of others. I'm not really sure how this will effect me in the long-run. On one hand, this type of self-reliance is essential to improve yourself and your outlook on life. But on the other-hand, there will always be people more powerful or influential than you, and angering these people never gets one far. In this life, I've always have and have high expectations for myself. But after further thought, I realize that this may be slightly naive, and that sometimes its not probable to achieve what I wish to achieve. But in the end, I think there are many things that I feel are important, and that if I hold these values and ideas to high worth, I will end up happy. Maybe not quite as successful as I would like to be, but happy nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience I decided to give up facebook, texting, and my iPod for a week. Out of these three things I gave up, I found texting to be the most challenging thing to go without. It was so inconvenient for me to call people to tell them things like I'm sitting at a table near the north hallway opposed to texting them where I was. However, I did not cheat and found that while inconvenient, it was rewarding in a way because I felt like I was communicating more personally with people without facebook and texting. I did not find transcendentalism practical because I found it impossible to achieve full self-reliance. For example, although I wasn't relying as much on technology I was still relying on other people, I gave Mrs. Lee my iPod because I knew I would have cheated if I hadn't. I will continue this practice in my day to day life because the experience was beneficial and rewarding. I will definitely lessen my amount of time with technology, just not to the extent I took it this week.
ReplyDeleteThis week I gave up my cell phone. I chose this because in reality cell phones are fairly recent, and as hard as it is for me to believe the world survived without cell phones, and I wanted to see if I could go a week without it. This impacted me by making me plan ahead, I had to plan out my day and stick to that plan so my parents would know what I was doing and when I would be done. With a cell phone I usually give a estimate and then say I’m running fifteen minutes late or I’m going over matt’s house after school. While I didn’t die, I did not like fallowing a strict schedule. I don’t think this shows too much about me, a cell phone isn’t super hard to live without. I learned that I use a lot of things that aren’t necessary but make my life easier, while Thoreau might not agree I would still use them. I realized I disagree with many of the ideas of transcendentalism; I don’t think people should leave society and live like Thoreau. I believe people should be members of a society, being around people can help one become a bigger and better person. Living with others can help make you decide who you want to be. In my eyes transcendentalism is selfish, instead of working to create a better world they decide to go backwards, to live for themselves. I also disagree with the transcendentalism view of technology, having tools that make are life’s easier is good not bad, technology also goes beyond just a convenience, It betters most lives. Technology is a sign of progress, progress that is made by those willing to give back to the community.
ReplyDeleteIn order for me to truly get away, I went for a long run on some trails near my house. I ran through the almost country side of Centennial and Greenwood Village, where the people had stables and tons of land. While doing so, I imagined running through the cornfields that my family's owned for almost two centuries, into the desciduous forest, and by the Mississippi River on the Illinois side, like I did this past summer. I've discovered that I'm very good at being alone, a lot more than I thought. I love it, in fact. Being in touch with nature, and the homeland of my family allows me to hear myself think, to smile at the positive aspects, and interact with my thoughts internally. My whole life, I've been alone for long periods of times, mainly due to my parent's job situations in the past, so doing this transcentdental experiment was a piece of cake. Depending on the type of person you are, acting on being alone can be practical or inspirational. If you're one of those people who sometimes feels overwhelmed about your hectic lifestyle, trancendentalism could be inspirational, because it means finding the time to be able to be alone, calm down, and allow your thoughts to wander. If you're one of those people who isn't the social butterfly, or isn't highly desired to be around among others, then transcendentalism could be practical, because it may be more common for you to be alone on numerous occasions. It would probably be hard to adjust to a very social lifestlye. For me, it's practical because I'd probably go insane if I couldn't mellow out by myself. I can't help not practicing this in my daily lifestlye because it's a part of me. It helps me cope with anxiety and stress.
ReplyDeleteWith the recent weather we have been having, I felt the need to go sit amongst the bitter cold. I bundled up, grabbed my iPod and set out towards Puma Park, near my house. I originally sat down on a bench and watched the sun set. As I got cold I started to walk around and found myself walking on a track near my house. I began to think about the questions from the first option. I feel as though I try and make the most of everyday. Ask anyone, I don't go a day without smiling or laughing at even the littlest things. Some people ask me why I smile so much and I can't help but ask why they don't. I am content with my life. There is nothing more I could ask for. Not even money. "money burns. It is the enemy of music." My place in the world is small, but that's okay. I don't plan on making an impact on the entire world, but more on the people in my life that choose to be there. I believe the only way to change the world is one person at a time. You can't expect to change the world in just one gust. It takes time. I'm not quite sure how I measure up, but I know I will never reach the expectations for myself because they are set so high, and I understand that. One of the most important things to me, and it may sound petty, is music. Without music, I have no idea how I would even cope with the world and everything that goes on In it. And, of course, my family. I'd be nothing without those people in my life. Not to mention religion. When I get caught up in friend issues or family issues, I go to the Bible. And lastly, friendship comes before anything and everything. These are my main foci. School gets in the way. It's hard to be a well rounded teenager and that definitely adds stress to my life. That stress from school (and everything that comes with it) does take me away from what I really should be focusing on which in all, is happiness. And I can do better, everyone can do better. There is ALWAYS something to improve upon. Really taking the time to think and enjoy nature for my transcendental experience has benefitted me and would be nice to do again. :)
ReplyDeleteOn Wednesday I had to stay after school a little longer because my parents weren't able to pick me up. I went outside because I felt warm and I wanted to take a walk. I had no intention of having a transcendental experience, but I did. I think that's the best way actually. Anything we experience is best if we don't plan it beforehand. Many would argue that any transcendental experience must be self-imposed, but from my perspective one cannot be themselves if they force themselves to do something. If it is not enjoyable or something, or if that something is thought of as a duty then that person cannot be doing the thing for themselves. They are motivated by the feelings of others. Of course I considered none of this as I made my way outside. I enjoy walking, one can choose their own pace and direction and that appeals to me, although out of habit and fear of getting lost I usually choose the paved road. I made my way to the north side of the school and found a beautiful piece of snow, untouched but for one set of tracks and a few scattered leaves, knocked of by the last storm. Feeling welled up in me at the untouched canvas, the blank page ready for any sort of artistry that one could provide. Cautiously I took a step, then another, already aware that I wanted to form a circle. The silent snow was my only companion, there was no one to judge the work I did and yet I felt pressure to make something that deserved to be posed alongside the beauty of nature, something I would be proud to take ownership of. I stepped slowly, feeling each footprint worth of snow give way under my boots. There was both a childlike feeling and godliness to it. I was playing but even so I was creating something. I went back to it again and again, stepping in my own footprints, to fix perceive errors and blemishes, until I felt I had accomplished something I could be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI went to the backcountry trails behind my house, found a bench, and sat. It was cold, but I enjoyed the peace and quiet; the escape from stress by the simplicity of sitting alone. Yes, there were some points when I really felt like I was wasting valuable finals studying time, but looking back, I am glad I took time out of my day to do it. That was the only challenge that it presented to me, which in the big picture transcendentalist view, was that I was thinking about the past and letting it affect my present. I am not surprised that I had this challenge though, because it is my personality to do everything I can to stay ahead in classes and want to be doing something productive at all times (hence why I do not think I am much of a transcendentalist). The transcendentalist thinking is somewhat inspirational to me because of the peacefulness of your conscience that takes place as I simplified my life. On the contrary, I do not feel that these ideas are practical. I feel a strong passion to make a positive difference in people's lives, and hitchhiking to Alaska I feel would prevent me from doing so. I do not think I will be practicing this challenge anymore than I already do in my life because I feel that I don't need more of it. I go camping or play the piano for hours to escape if I need to, and I feel that this is a perfect balance between peacefulness and my drive to be my own definition of successful.
ReplyDeleteFor my Transcendental Experience, I gave up facebook for a week, only used my phone if absolutely necessary, and tried to focus more on what was important to me than important to others when making decisions. I easily staying off of facebook, seeing as it gave me more time to work on school work and read, which was beneficial. Sometimes found it difficult not to pull out my phone and talk to a friend, at a point I decided I would give up texting, so as to only use my phone to call someone if I could do nothing else. I also found myself seeking them out in order to talk to them in person more, which I find to be a much better way of communicating. When it came to making my own decisions, however, it proved to be a more difficult task. This assignment was a bit of a blessing to me, because I have been trying to make a decision about something for quite some time, and it was extremely difficult. But, once I stopped caring about what others thought or how others felt about it, and only cared about what I needed to do for myself, it was much easier. But, this is not true for all cases. Certain decision making cannot be handled as thus. Yes, giving up facebook and texting can be easily done and are quite practical, but to completely ignore others opinions and in doing so, their feelings, I find making my own decisions to be more of an issue. I do not think this is practical at all. I think it is an inspirational idea, but not very well thought out. I understand not basing your actions upon others beliefs or judgments or opinions, especially if it is only done when the person is aspiring to conform, and to be honest I completely agree with this. What I do not agree with however, is ignoring people’s opinions, beliefs, and feelings to a point where, if it is beneficial to the person making the decision, they will do something that can upset others or hurt them. I am not saying all transcendentalists act this severely, but in some of our readings and inquiries, I saw some of this behavior. I admit I am a people pleaser, which is why it is difficult for me to make my own decisions without consulting others, but I also care about others immensely and do not wish to upset them, especially if it is for selfish reasons. Therefore, I will continue to practice no facebook, no texting, and making my own decisions, but as for the latter of the three, I will watch my behavior and make sure I do not ignore others feelings and make decisions for myself out of selfishness, because I care more about others than about making decisions out of desire for my own personal gain.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience I took a trip to my family room to ponder deep aspects of my life. I know this is not out in nature and civilly disobeys the prompt, but that legitimized my transcendental experience all the more. During this time, I sat by my lighted Christmas tree, gazed out the window at the sparkling blanket of white snow, and evaluated my life as a fairly normal middle-high class teenager in the United States. I found that this was both easy and difficult for me because I am a fairly productive person that wished to get other homework done. However, during the Christmas season I have a certain peace that allows me to be enchanted by curling up in deep thought. Throughout this experience I realized that I am a half-caf transcendentalist. I like the whole independence and self-confidence idea but take into account that even this thinking is good in moderation. I love when I can cooperate with the people around me and get ideas from them; therefore I admire the quote in the Self-Reliance text from Ralph Waldo Emerson “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” This statement really connects with me because I have been contemplating my ability to find my true self for a while. This has been an issue with me because of my faith and also because I am a teenager. Most kids my age have this kind of dilemma because of social pressures and what not. I do wish to be the same person out in the world as I am while doing an exercise like this, but the journey has been difficult. Other things in my life have taken charge that has pushed me to simply going through the motions. This is why this activity is something that should be done regularly. It is important to keep yourself in mind as you go through whatever it is you may be going through, but don’t forget the wonderful presence of others in your life. Their watching out for you may be something you don’t want to blow off because you simply want to be your own person. In order to get better at evaluating myself I will think about both of these ideas daily. I will appreciate both myself and friends and family. Through this maybe I will, in a somewhat different way than transcendentalism, find who I really am.
ReplyDeleteI decided to attempt to listen only to my ideas and act on them. I cannot say that I succeeded in doing so. This experience encouraged self-reliance, which has benefits but I have come to realize that I disagree with being self-reliant in certain aspects of life. Monetarily I believe individuals should be self-reliant, but in relationships with others I believe in reliance. Accepting help from others, and relying on others is extremely humbling. Saying “I need your support” seems intimidating and, to me, embarrassing. In accepting help and giving help I find more happiness, and a more full life. So when I was truly faced with the challenge to only listen to my own ideas I failed. I feel that every person should be an individual, unique from society, but they should not be afraid to ask for help when they need it. I feel that the transcendentalists have great ideas about being an individual, but took it to an extreme in practicing complete self-reliance. For this reason, I find their work inspirational, but not practical. I wouldn’t do what they say, but I have learned from their ideas.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I chose to go without Facebook for one week. I also made a special effort to make my decisions for what would be best for my self. Going without Facebook was a lot easier then I thought it would be. It gave me more time to myself and more time to ponder and actually think for myself. It's amazing what someone can do without being on Facebook. Even though this isn't something a true transcendentalist would do, I felt it was good enough for me and I learned a lot from it. My other experience was making a special effort to make decisions for my own well being. This on the other hand was a lot harder than the first one. I am a HUGE people pleaser! It was so hard to say no to people even if saying no was best for me. I feel it helped me a lot because my stress level went down and I was happier. I wasn't worrying about anyone else's lives, just my own.
ReplyDeleteI find both of these ideas very practical and inspirational. Everyone needs a break from the world and take some time for themselves. These ideas will impact my life. I plan to not get onto Facebook as often, and save some time for myself.
For my personal transcendental experience I decided to go to go to the open space by our neighborhood and sit for a couple hours. I unfortunately put this off until it had snowed a few inches earlier this week. But the snow added to it all because it made me feel like I was even further removed from the rest of the world. In the cold there is a certain stillness that leaves you nothing but your thoughts and the reminder of how cold you are. It was nice taking this rest from the increasingly stressful world I absorb myself in every day. When it was just me without any distractions or worries about trivial things I was able to dig deeper into my own thinking. I realized how little I think about long-term concepts and how much I focus on the day to day when all of these previously imprisoned thoughts unleashed themselves while I was sitting in the cold. It made me think about how fragile life is and how often we take that much for granted. I gained a new perspective while I was contemplating that allowed me to see how little some of the things I worry about are in the big picture. This time to just sit and think not only take a break from the frantic and fast I live but offered time to think about things that would normally never even cross my mind.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience I went cross country skiing by myself in the woods behind my grandparents house for about four hours, at about two hours into my ski I came to the top of a ridge where the woods had recently been clear cut. I sat on a pile of wood and just reflected on my life while enjoying the overwhelming beauty of the mountains surrounding me. Based on what I just said you probably have realized that this was a mostly easy experience for me because I am happy with my life and my character that has made me who I am today. Upon exploring my life though what struck me is how pointless all the things that we do is. Recently my grandpa died from cancer and this realization of death really hit home a point with me that life is short. Also, I realized that whatever we do now will probably be forgotten within a short amount of time, in fact even if we do something great it will probably be forgotten some day. With me being a Christian I realized that the only worthwhile thing we can do in this life is to serve God because whatever work God does can never be reversed. I also realized how pointless the constant worries and stresses involved in school are. Now at this point you are probably thinking I am an extreme pessimist or at least extremely cynical but I think that these thoughts/realizations are in fact very freeing and practical. Why? Because once you realize how short life is you are freed to only work on the things that really matter, the things that you will be remembered by and will impact the world for good. Also, as a Christian it certainly does not seem hopeless or even a pessimistic viewpoint. I know I went off topic there so I will now go back to answering the original question that is what I think about the philosophy of Transcendentalism and about whether the practice of reflecting on your life. First off I would like to say that Transcendentalism although based on good morals and practices really misses the mark and can even become a poison to our lives. This is because transcendentalism teaches you to do whatever you want to do, whatever makes you happy and gives you purpose in life. Also it goes on to say that all humans are generally good unless they start trying to imitate or follow another human, and then they turn bad (does anyone see a flaw in that concept?) Also transcendentalism basically teaches that you are “god” and that you need not rely on anyone else because you are “god”. This thinking can of course cause you to become arrogant and poisons relationships. However, despite the actual philosophy being misleading, the principles that it is based upon are both healthy and good. For example, self-reliance, this is a good quality that my current generation has a great lack of. But, the philosophy goes too far in this and makes being self reliant almost a religion in itself. Another principle is reflecting on life, this again is a healthy practice that this generation is also lacking because there is almost no silence, there is almost no time where you can sit and only think to yourself. In summary, this philosophy misses the mark by a long shot but the basic principles of self reliance and reflection of life are good and healthy practices.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I sat alone on my back porch, with only the sounds of nature and the occasional car passing by. It occurred to me, I would have to go a long ways out to completely remove myself from society as McCandless and Thoreau did. It made it even more real to me how truly dedicated to this idea of independence and seclusion they really were. However, that is the society I live in, always moving and always changing, it's very hard to just "escape". I found it quite challenging to put my thoughts of what happened yesterday and what's happening tomorrow aside and just think about life, and my own thinking. With finals coming up and many assignments still due tomorrow, I am more stressed than ever. I think that it is very hard to forget about this stress, as it's right up front, it's what's happening NOW. I am living in the present. When it comes to the concept of Transcendentalism, I find myself one foot in and one foot out. I agree with half of the ideas and strongly disagree with the other half. I think that it is impossible to be entirely self reliant, an idea that transcendentalists believe strongly. You cannot learn all by yourself, after all, life is about learning from your mistakes and victories and other people's mistakes and victories. It's not about doing everything over again, just because YOU want to do it yourself. However, I do find it very important to be relatively self-reliant. I agreed with the article we read about parents letting their children solve problems by themselves, though you do still need the support and occasional help from your parents, as we are still only teenagers. While thinking to myself, alone, outside, I realized how much I do not like to be alone and secluded from other. I am the kind of person who 99.99% of the time enjoys other's company. (I was very much a people person as a child too.) I still am shy when meeting new people, and I'm not exuberant all the time, but I'd rather be with someone then alone. I find that I have high expectations for myself, and I find it hard to be entirely honest with myself. So, after thinking alone, I find myself wanting to work on enjoying the simple, silent moments, and being more honest with myself. This will not be easy, and I probably won't think about it constantly, but I do believe this will and can make me a better person.
ReplyDeleteI transcend society by running. So feet pounding, arms pumping, lungs inflating and deflating I set out to ponder on my usual route. While on a run my thoughts are the clearest and I have the ability to escape from the distractions of the world that usually clutter my thinking. I was truly a lone woman with her thoughts. During this particular run I came upon a transcendental quandary when I was cruising by a shopping center that broke the beauty of nature around me. I wondered at that instant how society ever got so complicated and why we felt the need for it to be that way. On the shopping center side of my view complexity was exhibited through the complicated construction/layout of the building and through the intricacies contained in the exchanges between the people and goods. The other side consisted of the antithesis, trees, a stream, and foliage for as far as I could see down the path. These features were simply composed; stem, leaves, and roots. The vegetation purely meant for the good of the earth and its people, one soul purpose and that was all, not to make money, keep up with supply and demand, have a replenished inventory, just be there to enrich our lives. "Simplicity! Simplicity! Simplicity!" Transcendentalism is a fascinating philosophy by its way of finding the beauty in simplicity. Simplicity to them is the way to live your life to the fullest and to live in the moment, not in yesterdays moment or tomorrows moment, just the now. I find transcendentalism an inspiring topic if you look at it surface level and accept it for what it is flaws and all. The idea that your thoughts are what you should live by are invigorating and inviting, but only initially because without interaction with others I would be at a loss for so much knowledge and insight they grant me. As you get into the logistics of being self reliant and the mere impossibility of being so, transcendentalism is non sensible. The unpracticality lies within the beliefs of not letting others ideas and opinions permeate into our own, it is near to impossible by our close proximity to each other and the fact that communication is huge in our lives to truly evade others and their beliefs, thoughts, and opinions. The transcendental idea that human were created with an internal goodness, does align with my belief of being optimistic about others in our lives, and seeing them for all they offer, their good side and not what they lack or their innate evil. I do feel that I will try to indulge in the transcendental concepts of taking a break from the world every once in a while because it is very cleansing. I will also continue to grow as an individual by not succumbing to conformity but developing myself in a different way. Transcendentalism may not be for me in its entirety but nor are any philosophies, I believe them to just be a stop sign where you yield and look at life through a different looking glass once in a while.
ReplyDeleteI chose to give up Facebook for my transcendental experience for a week because whenever I am on the computer, I am constantly checking it and getting side-tracked from my homework. Instead of just logging off of my Facebook account I completely deactivated it to ensure that I would not visit the site. I thought this would be difficult; however, it did not affect me that much. There were no instances where I "cheated" and checked Facebook. My family thought that giving up Facebook was an excellent decision. They also thought the decision would raise my awareness of how I use Facebook in my everyday life. Deactivating my account has made me spend my free time wisely doing more productive things. I will definitely continue to limit my use of Facebook because finals week is coming up and I do not want to waste study time. I have learned that Facebook takes up more time than you think it would. It should not be important to check Facebook during free time. This decision, although not life changing, did help me learn that I don’t really get any useful information from using Facebook during times where I could be doing homework and focusing better.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience I chose to give up a possession. I gave up my iPod and my radio. Usually I always turn on my radio when I walk in my room or I have my iPod on at all times. I guess I do that so I don't have to hear silence. But I had to hear silence this week and that gave me a chance to think about things and really hear people. I usually don't keep my headphones in when people talk to me but sometimes I do and I realized that when I do that, I don't hear people fully, I don't get the whole extent of the story. Since I made my mom keep my iPod with her since Saturday, I've paid much closer attention to my family. I found that I laughed more with my brother and talked more with my mom.
ReplyDeleteI also gave up my radio. Whenever I walk into my room or my bathroom, I turn on my radio. So, in getting ready for school the past few days, I didn't have the sound of Alice 105.9 or 98.5 KYGO to entertain me. In those times of quiet, I had time to think about myself and ponder aspects of transcendentalism that we've been discussing. I learned a few things about myself like how I feel about things going on in my family and other aspects of myself. I think this was a really interesting experience. I think I'll leave my iPod at home and my radio off more often.
I did the second selection which was going without an item that you depend on, which in my case was my iPod. This task was fairly easy, because I realized that throughout the day I rarely use my device exept for on the way to shcool and when I'm waking up in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI personally did not find any of these ideas inspirational or practical, because I really only think that one should choose whether they want to embark upon a transcendental experience and what that experience should be instead of having to choose from a select few. On that note, I do not think that I will incorporate this into my daily life, because I find that it is easier to concentrate and focus on other things than gossip when I'm listening to music and not just random conversations.
For my trancendental experiance I gave up my ipod for a few days. Usually I use my ipod a lot either for listening to music or watching movies. By not using it I realized that it isn't something that I really need. I've only had it for a year but it has become a big part of my life. It is something that I use all the time and usually ignore my family and schoolwork for. By getting away from it I had a lot more attention to devote to those things. I also was more prepared for school becasue I would normaly stay up pretty late watching movies and therefore not getting enough sleep to be ready for school. Overall by not using my ipod for a few days I really saw that it is something that I really don't need in my life. Before I had it I didn't miss it and now that I have it it has become something that I can't seem to live without. By doing this activity I learned that I really dont need my ipod and if I can limit my use of it I can become a better person.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I just now took a long walk in my neighborhood park, with only the light of the moon to guide me. I found a secluded place on the snow (even though the park is completely empty at this time of night) to lay down and think. I found this experience of trying to clear my mind with so many thoughts in it very challenging. I found myself distracted with worries on my mind and in all seriousness, I worried that some on might find me alone in the park at 7:30 at night laying in the snow and question my sanity! But, despite the FREEZING COLD, I eventually found my self relaxing, enjoying the experience, and thoughtfully focusing on some topics larger than my own small worries. I observed the stars, how each little star had it's own place in the universe, but it wasn't about one star, it was about the fact that each little(from our point of view) star made up the BIG picture, and that was what made it important. And, standing before a vast open space of white snow, I understood how little I had gone and how far I had to go. The majority of my thoughts were regarding how people are more insignificant than they think and act. The world does not revolve around us. It is part of a much bigger picture, a picture of our universe. And even the universe is not the end, there is a picture even bigger than that. And we sometimes forget that. This experience helped me remember, by taking me away from my own little self-centered world of constant communication with other self-centered teenagers and screens. Although it is not practical to say I will take late-night walks and silent times every night, I found it inspirational and effective experience. Not only is it good for my health to get away from the screens and let out the stress, but for my soul also. I will challenge myself to include some short down-times in my day out in nature, so I can feel the same contentness and fullness and humbleness I felt tonight under the stars. Perhaps the experience will become easier after I practice clearing my mind more. Transcendentalism rocks. :)
ReplyDeleteFor my trancendental experience, I decided to go find a secluded place where I could just think and be alone. But, this proved to be harder than I thought. I realized that I do not really have a place where I can go and just think by myself, but I managed in the end. I decided to go out to my backyard and sit on my trampoline to think. Thankfully it is pretty secluded, except the only problem was it is covered in leaves and snow, but I got past that. I sat down and tried to relax and let my thoughts become serenity, but it was very hard. I realized how hectic my life is, and how much I always think of the approval of others whether it be parents, teachers, or even anyone in general. I am always worrying about what my grades will be, what people think of me, and where I am going in life. But, I never spend time to see: What I think is what matters and I should worry about the "now", and not the "then". I realized that my life is what is important, and I should let myself take control of it. Not someone else. I realized that I am important and I can truly make a difference. If I try my hardest, I will always be the best to myself, and that it all that truly matters. Clearing my mind and going into peace may have been hard, but it is extremely successful. I guess I should go sit on my trampoline more often!
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided to forgo my iPod for a week. I was curious to see what it would be like to not use it for a week, since I use my iPod almost daily for music and to play games. The first two days at the start of the week were pretty challenging; all I kept thinking about was how I couldn’t use it. I wanted to listen to music, but I couldn’t. It was interesting how when I did not have it, I made up all of these scenarios of how I wish I had my iPod because then I could listen to music while I study, I could put together a Christmas playlist, or I could play one of my games with a friend, but in reality if I did have the iPod I probably would not have done any of those things that I kept thinking about doing. However, after about three days I did not really miss it anymore. I forgot about it/got used to it, and then just substituted my life with other, more important things. Overall, after reflecting about my week without my iPod, I decided that I enjoyed some aspects of not being able to use it. Since the temptation to play frivolous games and waste my time was eradicated, I ended up getting more done, including going to bed a little bit earlier. I learned that my iPod is definitely not a necessity, and that I should try to treat it more as something fun that I can utilize when I have some free time. I already knew that I am a big procrastinator, but I think that after this experience it was very apparent just how much so because it made me realize how much time I waste not doing the things I should be doing. It was also stress-relieving because my thought process would go something like: oh, I want to screw around on my iPod, but I can’t because of this assignment, so I guess I will just have to do my homework. My parents thought that it was a good idea to give up my iPod because they consider it a waste of time, but friends who were not a part of this assignment were confused and doubtful for me giving up my iPod. However, it really was not hard. I like the ideas of transcendentalism, but I find it very impractical to practice these methods 100% (unless you are one of those very rare people who want to trek out into Alaska with nothing but yourself and live there for the rest of your life), just because of the way that society has evolved and become dependent on these things that Thoreau would have detested. After this experience, these thoughts, and many more, I have come to the conclusion that if these technology tools are available to us, i.e. computers, cell phones, iPods, etc. why not use them? They will actually help our lives become simpler by making things easier, but when you use these things in excess, or when you have more important things to do, they become a distraction. I need to set priorities, and I can use my iPod to help achieve those priorities.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I chose to take part in the first option. Similar to how Ian Stockdill carried this out, I went to the open space in our neighborhood to sit and spend time with my thoughts. While I sat on the snow-covered ground, the main idea which circled my mind was how insignificant I am compared to the rest of the world and how I have to give myself meaning for my own life. I came across this idea by connecting how unimportant a single snowflake is to an entire field to my life. I can apply this idea of self worth to my own life by taking pride in the achievements that I do accomplish and examining how to achieve more in areas in which I struggle. When I live through this philosophy, I believe that I will be able to become more of the person that I would like to be. The person that I want to be is one who embodies a free spirit. This would be by living the kind of life one chooses without a second thought on how others view them. I would also want to make. So far, I don’t measure up very high on how my goals are set, however, I also haven’t put that much effort or time into living up to these ambitions. Once I catch up with all of the work I have to do in my life, I plan on striving to achieve this goal. This time to sit down with my thoughts has proved valuable in discovering who I want to be in my life and how I am going to get there.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I chose the third option of practicing self reliance. I had to ask myself in almost every decision that I made, “if this really my choice, or is this my peer’s?” During class one day, I think it was Katie who said that it’s hard to truly have your own ideas, because even when you do things like log onto Facebook you are taking other people’s ideas into consideration rather than your own. Tiny things such as statuses and photos can effect what your true and personal opinion is, and it was frustrating for me because I felt as if I wasn’t really showing who I was. Also, while in this practice, I found that it’s not always easy to listen to myself. I would find myself asking “what will others think?” or “what would she have done?” This experience opened up a new perspective on ways that I live my life. I learned that I don’t always have to take other’s people’s voices and make them my own, or else my ideas might become background noise. I was incredibly pleased with the outcome though. For example, little things I used to do like ask my friends what they think matched this shirt or these jeans disappeared. I didn’t need to know their opinion, and in this way I was able to express myself better and more thoroughly. I didn’t need to second guess myself on what I was wearing or how I was acting because I was comfortable with my own ideas. I was only able to practice this less than a week before this is due, but I have no intention of giving it up. It has opened up a new side of who I am, because I realize that I am me and not all the people around me. These experiences have been incredibly practical and interesting, and I don’t see why everyone shouldn’t practice them. In conclusion, I’m just wishing I had had this experience earlier.
ReplyDeleteI was unsure what to do for my transcendental experience. I wanted to spend some time in nature, but when I get home from school, it is already dark. But then I realized, what difference does it make if it is dark outside? I stepped out on to my deck in the backyard. I walked through the hard, icy snow and sat down on a cold metal chair. I felt free, being away from the artificial heat and light of civilization. I was surprised how easy it was for me to slip away into thought. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I was immediately struck by the light of the full moon above me -- a complete contrast to the pitch black sky around it. Its light silhouetted the trees and was reflected by snowflakes in the piles surrounding me, mimicking the stars above. Yet I was also struck by the light in the houses around me: indicating all the people who were missing the beautiful moon, trees, and snow. It was then I realized why the simple natural beauty of Walden Pond, close to civilization, yet far away, had such an appeal for Thoreau: enjoying nature is a wonderful break from the routine. My similarities to Thoreau’s transcendent worldview, however, stopped there. Where Thoreau saw natural simplicity, I saw the eloquent complexity of God’s creation: all the processes of chemistry and physics that are required for the moon to shine its light, the amazing way my body can perceive the world around me, the unique structure of each snowflake. Where Thoreau saw self-reliance, I saw dependence: the necessity of everything in our universe: the laws of physics, the structure of our cells, the economy and politics of the world, all under the rule and care of the Creator, to work together in order for man to exist and enjoy it. As Thoreau saw dullness in civilization, I saw beauty there as well: in human relationships, in art, in technology, in people. Imperfect and fallen though it is, I, in fact all people, should spend more time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation (civilization and humans included) on a day-to-day basis. It is a very rewarding experience.
ReplyDeleteFor my Transcendental experience I reached out to what I love, my horse. I went out one day right after school to just spend some time with her. While I was there, I decided to enhance the experience by giving up my phone and ipod, which I am usually tapping away on even while I'm riding my horse. I simply hopped up bareback with her halter on and went for a walk, leaving my phone and ipod in the car. As we walked I paid attention to my thinking and surroundings and as we made our way back to the barn, it started to snow. It was very easy for me to follow through with this experience. Even though it seems simple, I was very inspired by the 30 minutes I spent in silence. All I heard was the gentle footsteps of my horse, her deep breathing, and the sound of the snow and wind swirling around us. I thought about the realities of the situation I was in. I was sitting on an animal that weighs 10 times more than I do and is 50 times stronger than I am. At any given moment she could throw me into the dirt, or take off running, or trample me. But the amazing thing is that she doesn't do any of that. I find it amazing how even though we can not speak to each other with words, we are inseparable. By leaving my phone and ipod back in the car, I had no choice but to listen to what was going on in my mind. I realize that because of items like phones and ipods, our attention span has become so much shorter. I thought about cutting our ride off short several times because I wanted to go check my phone. However, I let my horse bring out my better side and we went all the way around the property. My experience riding my horse in the snow helped me discover that despite differences, peace is possible. Between my horse and I is a level of peace. Between friends and even between enemies. If only this theory would be taken more seriously on a global level!! Because I really got a lot out of my transcendental experience I will definitely be trying it again soon. Maybe it's good to work on my attention span so that it will be longer than 10 seconds. Either way, I really enjoyed my peaceful ride with my horse. :)
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided that I wanted to get as close to nature as I could, in order to more fully understand what Thoreau saw in his experiences in nature and how these might look in my own life.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the closest I could get to nature with all the snow was my neighborhood path. I found, however; that this was a good place to think about the effect nature has had on me in the past. I took a journal with me to help me capture my thinking.
I found myself thinking about what I see in nature and why it is so special to me. I wrote: "We tend to look for ourselves in others, to model certain aspects of ourselves after those we admire - those who seem to have a strong sense of self. We look to nature because when we look there we see no doubt and no questions, only the answers we seek. In our search for us, we destroy our very nature. We make ourselves everything but simply who we are. We look for approval and acceptance in others, but not within ourselves. We forget that our very nature is imperfect, and by attempting to deny it we will only hurt ourselves. We look to find ourselves by holding ourselves up for comparison to everything else. We need to remember that no matter what we see there will always be people around us who will measure us a different way. We need to remember that questions and doubts are more important than certain answers and to find ourselves we must not shy away from who we are to become someone we can never be: someone else."
In understanding this, I was able to see that I am very much like a trancendentalist, except for a few of the finer points. The major difference I found while thinking about my transcendentalist self is that I do not believe that humans are intrinsically good, but rather that there will always be both good and evil in everyone, regardless of how hard we may try to suppress it.
For my transcendental experience I chose the third option of practicing self-reliance. I tried to rely only on my self and not be influenced by friends or family or any of my peers. I found that this was very difficult especially being a student and a teenager. At my age a lot is expected of me and there is a lot of responsibility, however teenagers are monitored heavily throughout this, leading to difficulty being truly self-reliant. While I tried to be self-reliant I found myself relying on others for transportation, money, help with schoolwork, working with partners, and other tasks. While I still live under my parents roof I play by their rules and they fund most of my costs meaning lunches, or for that matter, any type of food, clothing, school supplies, and everything else that I need making it hard for me to be self reliant without any type of job. However in my attempts I deposited money in the bank so that hopefully in the future I don’t have to my so dependent.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I had difficulty providing the basic necessities on my own, I succeeded in being mentally and emotionally self-reliant. Normally I ask others opinions and get feedback before making any major decisions but throughout this week I made most every decision on my own. One thing that came as a result of this was that I worried about the consequences of these actions because I feared someone might be upset because I didn’t ask their opinion or the negative connotations of a decision that I missed. However being self-reliant in my decisions and other mental tasks was much more time efficient. Instead of pondering for hours and weighing the pros and cons and getting other peoples ideas and influences, I went with my gut instinct and while they weren’t always the best option, I learned from my mistakes.
While I don’t agree with all of the ideas of the transcendentalist, I do agree with self-reliance, but not completely. I think others opinions and ideas are important because they allow you different perspectives and viewpoints that can help you make a better decision, but you can’t rely on other for your own happiness or success.
For my transcendental experience, I chose to find a "quiet place" so to speak, a place where I was free to think and do what I wanted. There were plenty available, and it was easy enough to find a good one. I only had one problem: I didn't want to go there. At all. Staying there for more than 5 minutes was extremely hard for me because, as I found out during this exercise, I don't necessarily need one. As Mrs. Lee already knows, I essentially speak and think freely everywhere I am, sometimes to the point of annoying other people, so I don't necessarily need a specific place to do this. I can see the practicality of these ideas for those who feel constrained by society. For me though, I will not continue to use this in my life because I feel like I don't need. Transcendentalism is something I don't necessarily agree with or need.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided to give up something that I relied on but, never needed. I gave up facebook for 5 days. It was something that was just always and even conversations with my household were about posts. When I started thinking about what to give up I had to think of what I used a lot, which I never needed to. I thought about a computer or a cell phone, but with school work and talking to my dad on his business trip I decided against them. Then I thought about a more specific thing. Facebook came to my mind. I thought that it shouldn't be that hard. Well the first day proved me wrong. I found out that once you know you can't do something, it is always on your mind. You constantly think, "Don't follow the nightly route of Facebook." Luckily that only lasted for about 2 days.Although I found it hard not to check it, I never did. It became easier as I broke that habit. I discovered that it really isn't necessary. It inspired me to check it less often and apply this lesson to other things, like television. Now that doesn't mean I will never do things like it again, but simply limit them. I find most of these things practical, as long as they don't say I'm going to never eat again for 4 weeks. Things like that seem hard or impossible to do. Although I to complete these things, the person doing it needs to be totally sure that they can do it. They can't have doubt and they need to want to do it. Like the man who went to Alaska to just be with himself. He wanted to do that. His mind was set on going there. A person can't be told to do something. It goes back to the point of you want everything you don't have. Transcendentalism is something that I believe comes from the soul or thought. It is something not everyone wants or needs to do. Those who try to find inner peace or to find themselves or anything like that do and those who don't feel that deep need simply don't. For reasons we comprehend or not. They could have already found what they were looking for or never had needed to fill something they thought wasn't there.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I decided to sit in silence and reflect on my life. Due to the cold, I decided it would be detrimental to my health to go outside; so instead, I sat in my living room and gazed out upon my snow covered lawn. At first I just sat, staring out at the edge where the snow met the fence. Then I realized there was something much greater to look at: the soft shadows cast in the overcast light, the contrast of varying shades of grey, the crisp, white steam rising up in the air, the peaceful quiet of twilight. Inside I felt a strange sense of loneliness, a kind of loneliness that no amount of personal interaction could change. I was separated from nature by a mere sheet of glass, yet I felt so far away. There is a certain satisfaction that cannot be attained through personal interactions; like Thoreau said in “Solitude,” “no exertion of the legs can bring two minds much nearer to one another.” The only place where man can find a feeling of fulfillment is by reconnecting with nature.
ReplyDeleteI found this experience to be extremely inspirational because it made me realize that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have. You’re opinions will never be fully understood by other humans, and the only way to find peace is through solitude in nature. I intend to spend more time alone in nature, even if that means sitting in the cold and listening to the silence; the chance to escape the chaotic world in which I live is compelling enough for me.
For my transcendental experience, I decided to deactivate my Facebook for the week. At first, the temptation of logging on to Facebook was there, however I eventually realized that I could improve my grades without it. Although it did not completely go away, most of my desire to go on Facebook was gone. Also, every time I wanted to go on Facebook, I remembered that nobody ever posts anything interesting on there anyway, so it would just be a waste of time as well as defeating the purpose of my transcendental challenge. As the week went on, resisting Facebook became easier, almost habitual.
ReplyDeleteI find that getting rid of your Facebook for a week was a very useful transcendental experience. It is a prime way to get away from the opinions of others on every subject under the sun. Although it may not seem practical for the majority of Facebook addicts to get off of Facebook for a week, as you continue to do it, the process eventually gets easier. However, I do not think that all ideas of self-reliance are practical. For example, completely relying on yourself in every aspect of your life is unrealistic. We all have different abilities, and with the help of someone else, you can come to a potentially more successful idea or even discover something about yourself that you had never known before.
I do not think that I will challenge myself to do this after finals week. I feel as though staying off Facebook for finals week is a good way to potentially improve my grades in the majority of my classes. Once finals week is over and winter break is on, I may find that I will go back to my Facebook addict ways. However, I will not be influenced by what the people of Facebook have to say. Just because somebody posted a video that they think is funny does not mean that I necessarily have to agree with their perspective or try really hard to see their perspective.
On Sunday, December 4th, from the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep, I spent the day in my room without the use of my cellphone, clock or any technology or outside influence whatsoever. This time period was about 5 to 6 hours, since I didn't wake up til about noon and fell asleep at 6. I would consider this goal a success, because I was exclusively self-contained and self-motivated, allowing time to think and reflect about everything. I found that this experience was moderately challenging, since there was a lack of food and entertainment. I found that the self-reflection and ideas about everything were inspirational and helped further any mindset of transcendentalism. I will not be incorporating this practice daily, since I would eventually give up this practice, since it is very time consuming and very limiting in the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteIn order to connect with the themes of transcendentalism I spent a day in total silence. This allowed me to test if one who lives within a society can truly separate themselves from it. I found that it was easy enough staying quiet when I wasn't with my friends, but when around them it was difficult to remain quiet. All in all, I was able to remain silent throughout the day, but I learned some things about the truth of transcendentalism. Even with my self imposed silence I was able to communicate, and even socialize with my friends, leading me to the revaluation that humans are deeply social creatures and when in the presence of others it is almost impossible to remain aloof. This being said, the themes of transcendentalism simply aren't practical for anyone who still lives at home and independence is limited even in the wild. One cannot always control their circumstances and trying to remove yourself from society is detrimental to humanity as a whole. If everyone tried to be transcendental, there would be no society to speak of. For these reasons I will not be attempting to incorporate transcendentalism in my life because it impairs my potential to succeed.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I spent some time reflecting on my life outside, away from all distractions. For the most part, this was an easy experience, though I sometimes had trouble staying focused on what I was supposed to be thinking about. Society today is so fast-paced that it is hard to stay focused on doing anything for an extended period of time. The transcendental idea that I focused on was, ironically, focus. The questions asked me to consider how successful my life was, and to do that I had to define my goals overall in life. This is another aspect of life that has been neglected by society. Many, many people live their lives with no purpose. They are performing the means (going to school, getting a job, and everything else that “most people” do) but have no end in mind. They are following the same path as everyone else but they don’t know where it leads, or why everyone wants to go there. Then when they finally get there, they wonder why they came. Sure, doing the things that society labels “normal” isn’t necessarily bad (though sometimes it is), but people need to live their own lives, not everyone else’s. I don’t agree with every transcendental idea; in fact I hardly agree with any of their ideas. But I do agree on this point: everyone needs to have a specific goal in life, and you can’t just do what everyone else does.
ReplyDeleteOverall, this practice was inspirational and at least somewhat practical. I will definitely continue in maintaining focus in my life, and though I can’t have a transcendental experience every day, I can certainly perform this practice systematically to stay on target in my life.
My transcendental experience was that I used only my own beliefs and ideals in formulating my life this week. This task was harder than I had originally thought it would be. I often found myself wanting to take the easier route and use those opinions formulated for me, by those organizations in which I am a part of. It would have made my life easier, to use all these premade ideals and lifestyles, but it wouldn't have been my life. It would not have been my choices and my thoughts, this is what transcendentalism emphasizes. You have to live your own life, and live it to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience, I spent a week being totally self reliant. I didn't ask anyone for their opinion, and I made sure that all of my decisions were my own. I found that the hardest part of this experience was telling people what I was doing, since it probably seemed that I was offering excuses for not listening to their reasoning. However, the actual act of being self reliant was not hard, as I have engaged in situations in the past in which I have been completely self reliant. One of these experiences was when I spent two and a half weeks backpacking on my own. With no one to talk to or ask for help, I became completely self reliant. These habits carried over to my usual life, as I still am fairly self reliant. Because of this, my experience did not differ from my usual life. In being consciously self reliant, I noticed that I am usually unconsciously self reliant as well. This got me thinking; is being self reliant more beneficial for someone in this society? The attitude of social Darwinism that is present in today's world lends itself more to those who are self reliant, and those who can count on themselves to tackle any challenge. It is for this reason I would encourage everyone to spend a week being completely self reliant. I'm glad that I'm a self reliant person. Although this experience did not change my behavior greatly, it made me aware of my ability to be self reliant, and I am grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteOn Thursday I went on a walk on the high line canal without my phone out ipod. This wasn't incredibly challenging for me, as I am entertained easily. Because I couldn't text or listen to music, it made my walk in nature much more enjoyable. I could actually think clearly and not have to worry about anything. I also noticed a plethora of things I've never noticed before. By thinking clearly I was able to focus on one thing at a time which ultimately had a relaxing effect on me and my mind. This experience inspired me to leave my phone and ipod at home more often so that I may enjoy and experience the true beauty of all things.
ReplyDelete-Jessica Hutchins
My transcendental experience really wasn't much. All I had to do was go without facebook for a mere four days. I completed this task fairly well minus an accidental slip on the fourth day(although I blame memory loss for that). I wanted to challenge myself to do something that I didn't really think much of but I soon realized that Facebook actually plays a larger role in my life than I had originally thought. I just naturally hit the facebook icon right before I begin to view teacher pages. This, of course, is the reason for my slip on the fourth day. Facebook, as one of the larger social outlets, is a very tempting source of technology. It is easy to say that you don't really use facebook that much. And in comparison to a lot of users, this could be completely true. However, I if I was able to do one thing during my transcendental experience, it was to realize just how tempting it is to hit that icon when you see that you have a message. Now, my facebook use doesn't often reach further than the bounds of student council purpose so I am no expert, but I will say that going any extended period of time without facebook is not the easiest thing. So this brings me to my conclusion. Facebook may not be the source of technology that I most use; however, I learned that things that seem unimportant only seem that way until you no longer have them in your possession.
ReplyDeleteFor my transcendental experience I sat near a tree by the creek behind my house and watched the creek for about thirty to forty minutes. I found it challenging for a few reasons. Firstly it was really cold. Secondly it was a long time to sit and do nothing. Finally I was beginning to feel lonely by the end. Although I did encounter these challenges, I did discover a benefit to this experience; free uninterrupted thought. Sitting by myself caused me to only think of my own thoughts and other people weren't interrupting them or changing them. I think this is helpful because it allows you to be original and come up with authentic ideas. I think this could be very useful when writing, creating artwork, or doing other creative things. However, I do not think this practice is very practical. I for one do not have the time to do this when I have homework, sports, and a social life. I also feel like there are more important things I could do rather than sit and just think. I personally rather be out helping people rather than trying to discover some deep thought all by myself. I think that i learn more from other people than I do from just myself. I will not continue this practice everyday because of the reasons I mentioned, but I may engage in it when I am writing or creating art.
ReplyDeleteFor my trancendental expirience, i atempted to give up t.v. thinking my life would become much less stressful. I figured since I had so much homework anyway, I would be able to give it up. I am not going to lie here and say that I stuck with it and that I am a much better person because of it. My goal to last the whole week lasted for about 1 day. The reality, my reality is that I spend my free time, what little I have now a days watching t.v. I feel like it is my way to escape the stress of life. I think that Emerson might look down upon my " superficial" life and tell me how un- trancendental I am but, I am ok with the fact that I can't last a week without tuning into the radio or catching up on the latest t.v. drama. Overall my trancendental expirience rvealed how reliant I am upon society but also that I can follow my own thoughts while doing so.
ReplyDelete1. What did you read? Give the author and work title.
ReplyDeleteFor our fall ALIS selection I chose to read, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
2. To what extent did you enjoy your reading experience?
I have to tell you this is a very depressing book, and the main character is in a dismal state for most of the novel so everything she explains is so bland and lifeless that it becomes difficult to read the same perspective over and over again at moments can lose your interest. Though looking closer to the end of the text the mood brightens more and you realize the author had the intention to make the first three fourths of the story so pessimistic to hit home with a point of how the main character truly was feeling. I gained a lot from the book after I read the forward about the book and how it was an autobiography of Sylvia Path's and all the waves it created in society when it was published and many other things that make you contemplate the meaning further and gain more respect for the novel. All in all it is and easy to medium read and well worth your time to .
3. To whom, if anyone, would you recommend this piece? Why?
I would recommend The Bell Jar to a reader that doesn't mind a few dry sections and can pull through until the end that then makes the piece come full circle. If you can look at your reading experience more from a holistic stand point and pull the details into one big picture this book would be a good fit. It is a quasi fiction since it is an autobiography of/by the author, Sylvia Plath. So if you enjoy the fiction genre than it is right up your ally. As well as, you kind of have to be able to slip into the authors shoes and the characters shoes in order to experience this novel to its fullest. So if this describes you as a reader, then The Bell Jar will be a perfect match for you.
4. How conducive was this work to the ALIS experience? Consider this question as a reader AND as a writer. In other words, how easy/ hard was this work to write about? Why?
This book was very conducive to the ALIS experience if you have patience with annotating. Some section the main character drones on and others are loaded with good sections of text to pull annotations from. There a prevalent themes and motifs throughout the book that are not to hard to decipher nor detect. As well as many different angles to pull for when it comes to writing your actual essay. One issue that arised during my writing process was finding a minor character that revealed a theme because the protagonist meets other characters but does not really stay with them throughout the whole book and the few that do I did not find as having big roles and lacked nuggets of gold pertaining to my theme I could use for my essay.
5. What content, if any, did you find objectionable and/ or might others find inappropriate?
The Bell Jar contains a little objectionable content such as the main character has suicidal thoughts and attempts that persist through out the whole book, a womanizer character, and touches briefly on an in-descriptive relation between the main character and another character. Other than that I feel it contains appropriate content.