A Modern Transcendentalist

A good example for a transcendentalist, I think, is my grandpa. My grandparents owned a little piece of land by a lake. They would go up there with some trailers and stay their for a few days, sometimes my family would accompany them. I noticed that my grandma would always like to stay in the trailers or go out walking through unmarked trails. I think she just enjoyed the fresh air. My grandpa would always go into the woods or go out onto the lake with his boat and try to catch some fish. He would usually be quiet and stare at the lake or forest. He would sit out by the fire pit and look at the birds flying around or just close his eyes and listen to the wind blowing though the trees. He always seemed at peace up at the lake. When he would be at home he would always be moving around like if he was cleaning or attempting to bake but end up having grandma interrupt and make the food for him. Up at the lake he always took only how much he needed. If we went into the forest he would always make us cut down the smaller and/or dead trees. He always would point out the rotten logs infested with carpenter ants. He loved to put those logs in the fire so he could hear the popping of ants. My grandpa didn't like to talk about nature he would usually just say, "Just enjoy it."
My grandpa always saw the good in people. He always though that god is everywhere he went. It comforted him. He was always friendly to everyone he met, even if he didn't like them. He saw good in everyone. I don't see how he could do this. Its hard for me to see all of those people who do bad things have god in them. Somehow my grandpa could. My grandpa was almost always smiling. I hardly ever saw him with a frown on his face. When he had a frown you knew you had to clear out.
My grandpa always liked to make things more simpler. He never liked to buy new things. He always wanted things simpler. He wanted to keep his old stuff because it was simple to him. Don't get me wrong is wasn't like he never bought anything new he just like everything how it was. He only bought new things when he absolutely had too, or in other words when my grandma wanted him too.

The Great Gatsby Question

Are all of Gatsby's stories true or are they all false? Could some of the stories be overstated or exagerated?

Poetry

Poetry

Valuable or Not?

Poetry, I think, is very important to learn. Even though people complain you don't need poetry to get a job. Your whole life isn't a job. If it is then I feel sorry for you. I remember Mr. Dubois telling my class that his mom fell in love with his dad because he could recite poetry. Hopefully that wasn't the only reason she fell in love with him but it doesn't hurt to have that as an attribute. Poetry is a thing that helps you escape real life. Even though they relate to real life it gets you away from everything. Many poets have had depressing life which can relate to the brilliance of the poetry they write. I'm not saying you need to have a depressing life to be good at poetry but its something that a lot of poets have in common. I really like poetry but i hate it when we have to tear apart the poem to find the figurative language. Its good to learn, but some poetry is just meant to be enjoyed.

American Dream

American Dream



When I think of the "American dream" I think of having endless wealth while having to do no work at all. Bruce Wayne is a perfect example of the American dream. Bruce Wayne has endless amounts of wealth and he doesn't have to do any work.

People have many different ideas of the American dream. Some people say that the American dream is where u work hard and love it. That doesn't seem right at all. The American dream is where u have to do nothing but relax and get everything you have ever wanted. Even though to achieve the American dream you have to work hard. Unless your a movie star.
My sisters boyfriend is a insurance guy and he always deals with rich clients and he says they are never happy. Even though they have a lot of money they don't feel happy. Its because they don't have any challenges. Challenges are what make life worth living i think.
Money may sound awesome to people like us, but think about it. If you have a lot of money then you could buy anything you want. But after you do all of that what do you have left. You have no challenges.
I really like the idea of the American dream. It gives something for people to work for. Every new minority that comes to America always talks about the American dream. It gives everyone hope. And that's what everyone needs.