ENTRY NINE

October 10, 2018

I wrote this for my English Class

The gifts of Solitude

Solitude as defined by the dictionary is the quality or state of being alone or remote from society. When I read this it seems like solitude is sad, negative and depressing. I have met many that agree. However, I find that a bit odd. Yes, solitude can be depressing but being alone isn’t all bad. There are great reasons to be in love or enjoy solitude.

I, personally enjoy solitude. Why? First of all, solitude gives me the gift of silence. When I become too busy in life, schoolwork, social and family life plus when there is a lot going on inside and outside of my head, it just makes me overwhelmed. Silence just gives me a chance to breath. Not just to breath, but consciously. Each breath taken in calms me down, each breath being released relaxes me. Silence allows me to take a step back and see the bigger picture to know what is really going on and to see what is the most important and most urgent. In schoolwork, I am able to weigh it all in and prioritize making me more efficient and effective reaching optimum productivity.

 Second, solitude gives me the gift of observation. Have you ever wondered what your world is really like? Have you ever stop and look at the trees, the sky or the birds? Have you? When in solitude one can now make keen observation on his or her world with full attention. Now, one is able to get all the details and not just glimpses. This is very important to us because we live in a fast paced world where everyone is either working too  hard or multitasking. We tend to forget to just stop, look and sometimes to even listen. Nature has always been whispering to us, the gush of the wind on the leaves, the sun beaming down on us, the tender sky when it’s dark, the stars glistening at night and so much more.

Lastly, solitude gives me the gift of independence. Independence? Let me explain. I shall explain with a little back story on me. In high school I surrounded myself with my best of friends and wherever they go I go. But before stepping on senior high my friends and I decided to part ways so it left me on my own. It was horrible like a stinking sinking eerie feeling inside of my chest. I realize I depended on them too much for my own good. However, as the introvert being that I am I embraced solitude and it was liberating. I was able to find who I was beyond the ties and relationships I created with my friends. But don’t worry, I am still very close with then and I get to see them on a daily basis. In addition, with the gift of independence I was able to make friends in senior high. It was a win-win situation.  

Solitude is indeed great and beneficial for the overall growth of a person. Hence, I suggest it to anyone and everybody. Maybe in the process of your journey with solitude it might give you your own set of gifts.

xoxo

ENTRY EIGHT

October 9, 2018

I wrote this for my English class.

" All human activities aim at some good. Every art and human inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, it is thought to at some good; and for this reason the good has been rightly declared as that at which all things aim." (Nicomachean Ethics 2:2)

I believe in the good life.

          Have you ever been asked, what if you could choose to be born in a different era, what would you pick? Or have you ever wished you were born in a different decade? I sometimes do.

          To be born in a completely different world is a wild concept that I so like to marvel at. Why? Well, the choices are endless from the agricultural revolution to the modern globalized world of today. Try it, imagine being alive in the time of Martial Law. It wasn’t best of times. But what would have it been like? Aren’t you curious? Or the time before all technology was invented and the internet was non-existent, it was a simpler time. What would have it been like?

          For me, I chose the time of the Greeks. Why? Why would one choose an era which is long dead and unheard of except in books? Let me explain. First, the time of the Greeks was a time of inquiry. Everybody asked questions. What is a human being? Why are we alive? What is life? How should one do with his life? What is good in this life? Greeks asked a lot of questions that shaped the way they value life. And they value it very highly. I value life as they value it. I value the good life. I value in living well and doing well.

          If you make me chose between two lives. One is that I could live for about 85 years but I would live in pain, sadness and in regret, a life where I would be drowning in self-pity and the victim game. Oh! I wish I didn’t do this or that. Oh! I was born in a less able family. I didn’t have much growing up. All people are dumb. People hate me and I hate them. Or I could live for about 20 years and I would live it in love, goodness and harmony. I would spend my days choosing to make positive impact and changes that flourishes me and others. I would chose to live 20 years short but worthwhile. I picked as the Greeks did. I value a good quality of life rather than the sanctity of life, short but worthwhile.

Second, since they believe in the good life, attaining the good life is finding your happiness and purpose not in material pleasure and anything superficial but in truth. Things that is intangible. As I quote from the Little Prince “What is essential is invisible to the naked eye.”

Lastly, the good life comes from living a life of virtue, of kindness. Each one of us has the capacity to be kind only if one chooses to practice it.

In conclusion, I chose the era of the Greeks because they believe in what is important. Our society has become too toxic. I feel suffocated and trapped because I feel like every move I make is being carefully watched, monitored so when finally do make a mistake they pounce on like a lion. So maybe if we think like the Greeks, just maybe, things might change.

xoxo