tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post4430486073026669700..comments2014-05-18T14:14:05.244-06:00Comments on Begin and Be...: What It All MeansJessie C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01711523852272478418noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-7347249940879028472014-05-18T14:14:05.244-06:002014-05-18T14:14:05.244-06:00The Great Gatsby and Mrs. Comp's story really ...The Great Gatsby and Mrs. Comp's story really made me think about the role of dreams in our lives. Dreaming is an essential part of the human life. We constantly aspire and hope for a better brighter future. Some dreams are small; the affect only a small fleetingly era in someone's life. Someone might dream of making a school sports team or getting that one thing for Christmas, but the realization or lack thereof of that dream only influences a person's life for a relatively small amount of time. Some dreams are big; these dreams envelope entire futures and consume entire portions of our lives. These dreams carry weight. The search for these dreams involves risk, but the ultimate payoff is fulfillment. Gatsby risked everything for Daisy. He risked his face, his wealth, his friendships all in the desperate hope that he could finally have the dream of Daisy. Dreams are individual and unique to each person. Some people dream of fame and fortune, others of humble modesty. Even if we strive for a dream and fail, we adapt, readjust. We always keep going through sadness and disappointment. If this means finding a new more realistic dream or continuing to believe in a better future then so be it. Dreams are like a shove into the future, but happiness comes from the steps along the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-83568312414356813772014-05-18T14:13:38.940-06:002014-05-18T14:13:38.940-06:00I believe that all people are capable of cruelty; ...I believe that all people are capable of cruelty; we all have the capacity for evil and the yearning for frivolous glamour. Every day we make an active choice to mold the person who we would like to become, but sometimes that is all we create: a mold. We enact shells of ourselves, playing a role, but never really living it. We blunder through life with false investment and half-assed participation. Along the way, we damage others unlucky enough to play into our game. Just as Tom and Daisy use their wealth as a shield, we draw inside our molds, acting as a distant puppeteer following a script. Those who are cruel lose themselves in the attempt to embody the mold. They stand behind a glass wall, separated from the pain they cause others. However, those who are cognizant of their actions and strive to live undefined by any mold are free of the pressure to resort to cruelty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-75154503045645690202014-05-15T20:16:11.025-06:002014-05-15T20:16:11.025-06:00I think its really interesting how we do build up ...I think its really interesting how we do build up these huge expectations, much like Gatsby did with Daisy. It makes me ponder whether we should build up this expectations or if we should just go with the flow and let whatever happens happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-30788549845634639762014-05-15T07:49:41.512-06:002014-05-15T07:49:41.512-06:00The ultimate sign of money and wealth is power. I...The ultimate sign of money and wealth is power. If a person has enough money that they can use it to control others then they have won the wealth game. And if power and money is what makes a person happy then a persons power over the world is the ultimate sign of their happiness too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-3871742762587869532014-05-15T07:45:41.311-06:002014-05-15T07:45:41.311-06:00Do we have a right to judge these characters?Do we have a right to judge these characters?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-65151754328514101212014-05-14T19:48:40.337-06:002014-05-14T19:48:40.337-06:00I don't think it is necessarily all that selfi...I don't think it is necessarily all that selfish. I'm not saying that you should disregard everyone for yourself but I really meant the only person you truly know is yourself. With that the only person you really know will be there is yourself. In Gatsby people like Jay Gatsby spent their whole lives trying to be good enough for someone else, and in the end that person was not there for them. If Gatsby had done what he did maybe to better himself rather than for Daisy's love, less romantic yes, but it may have had a different ending. Before you can love or be there for others you must love and be there for yourself.hannahl2016https://www.blogger.com/profile/11268032278769529367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-81961217129100256072014-05-14T18:41:11.747-06:002014-05-14T18:41:11.747-06:00Jackie, I think people spend so much time looking ...Jackie, I think people spend so much time looking to the future and creating unrealistic scenarios, but when we reach that point it cannot live up to our expectations. It was better in our minds, so we become disappointed and want to return to the past, before we were disappointed. If, in the future, you end up being a millionaire, but you expected to reach billionaire status, you will be somewhat upset that you don't have as much as you thought you would. The future is so alluring because it can be what ever we want it to be. No one knows what will happen in the future, but we make impractical guesses and end up discontented with the results.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-84485391470754962592014-05-13T22:20:29.603-06:002014-05-13T22:20:29.603-06:00I wish I was able to live my life as if I only had...I wish I was able to live my life as if I only had a week to live every day. If this were true, I would literally live life to the fullest and pack it with the most meaningful things I could. I would become who I would want to be, I would instantly lose the fear of what others may think of me, and I would be spending more time doing things that make me happy rather things that don't. I think many realizations about life would come to me if I only had a week to live and I could learn many lessons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-19925387632168130922014-05-13T22:16:09.597-06:002014-05-13T22:16:09.597-06:00Time is scarce. The time we spend on Earth is not ...Time is scarce. The time we spend on Earth is not a lot, but it also isn't a little. What would you do if you had an infinite amount of time? Wouldn't life be boring? We would have nothing to motivate us to become better. Value is determined by how rare something is. Since time can not be sold, its “rarity” is heightened and its value increases. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-10933954532857151472014-05-13T20:06:47.866-06:002014-05-13T20:06:47.866-06:00I think you have pointed out something very intere...I think you have pointed out something very interesting in that it almost takes a life just to learn how to live a life. People are constantly learning and discovering new things every day. Finding a new philosiphy on how to live, trying to think in a certain way, learning how to react to certain situations, etc. Sometimes it is important to plan for the future and reflect on the past. But there is also a point where one must live simply for today, and hope that they will live it to the fullest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-21570715981480005702014-05-13T19:55:23.611-06:002014-05-13T19:55:23.611-06:00Question:
What makes people focus on things that a...Question:<br />What makes people focus on things that are unimportant or negative? Why isn't it natural to focus on the good instead of the bad? Why do people tend to think certain things will make them happy that never do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-61751884970814386532014-05-13T19:50:59.352-06:002014-05-13T19:50:59.352-06:00I think that both The Great Gatsby and Mrs. Comp’s...I think that both The Great Gatsby and Mrs. Comp’s story both show that money really isn’t the most important thing in life. While it may look glamorous to be rich, wealth itself does not bring lasting joy and happiness. I think I have learned that to be happy you must do things that you enjoy and spend time with people that you love being around. Life has so much stress and difficulty packed into it, so why focus on things that will only make you feel more that way if it isn’t absolutely necessary. I believe that people should take time to notice the beauty of life around them and to see the things that are right in front of them. In the summer my mom always points out the flower beds planted near the sidewalks or on the sides of the roads. She always tells my sister and me to look at the beautiful flowers and she goes on and on about how pretty they are. When the fall season starts to approach she says, “Look at the flowers girls! They won’t be here for long!” I used to think it was kind of ridiculous how excited she got over flowers but now I get it. Even those simple flowers bring beauty to everyday life, and we might as well enjoy them while it lasts. My grandma does the same thing with the mountains when she comes to town and says, “ Oh look at the mountains, you girls don’t know how lucky you are to get to see them every single day. I don’t get to see the mountains in Oklahoma.” Now I really appreciate the mountains, flowers, trees, clouds, sunrises, sunsets, stars, and the moon that I see every day and night. They are absolutely beautiful and I don’t want to miss one ounce of that beauty. I take time to notice these ordinary things each day. I hope I can apply this to other areas of my life and will soon learn to notice and focus on the beauty of everything and everyone and not the bad parts of life. Life is to short to worry about being filthy rich, or about what kind of car you drive. Life is to short to worry about all the problems you might have tomorrow. But life can be very full if you fill it with good things and good people. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-40654965776424443982014-05-13T17:12:29.506-06:002014-05-13T17:12:29.506-06:00What do we learn from. The past. When we dream o...What do we learn from. The past. When we dream of the future what do we dream of. A day that is better than the current one. The past is what motivates us to change our future. Without the past driving us we would not have a future because we would have nothing to return to or escape from.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-20596792901351503162014-05-13T12:53:16.328-06:002014-05-13T12:53:16.328-06:00Continued on next postContinued on next postAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-62019479080933694522014-05-13T12:52:41.500-06:002014-05-13T12:52:41.500-06:00One may say yes, but those who have nothing actual...One may say yes, but those who have nothing actually do have something, they have a purpose and a reason to live. they strive for survival living day to day not knowing if they will make it to tomorrow. The rich and wealthy have assurance that they will live for a long period of time, yet they have no purpose. They have worked their way up so high that they forget to look down and see those who are less fortunate. Along with the enormous wealth of the rich, they also have developed a lack of human characteristics.They have lost their sense of morality and have thrown many morals out of the window. Not having a sense of empathy and sympathy for those who are less fortunate is a sense that has been lost in their many stacks of money. The rich live fast but don't die young. It can be said that this is how nature works; survival of the fittest. Society is split into the haves and have not's, but why is the world like this? How does wealth or success mean that somebody is better than a person who is less wealthy or fortunate. Survival of the fittest should be determined by characteristics of the body, brain, and heart. Those who can feel for their fellow humans, provided the world with positive solutions, and live free from greed and selfishness are the people who deserve to achieve happiness. Money has evolved to a point to where it runs our live, mind, and world. We see success as having a lot of money. Many say that monetary means are a direct example for how successful someone is. I say the amount of experiences, good and bad, show how successful someone is. I plan to live my life to the fullest, appreciating everything around me, and to have as many experiences as possible. When you are lying on your death bed what will you measure your life in? Or will you even measure it at all? Does your life need comparisin to something? What do you need to prove by convincing yourself that you had purpose in your life? Shouldn't the drive to reach one's full potential and happiness in life be their purpose, and shouldn't it be innate? I today's society it is very hard to live a life like this. But just knowing what you live for a reason can help a person live a full life. I disagree with modernist ideas. Life is fulfilling and there is a purpose to everyday in ones life. I think it is the individual who makes life purposeless or unsatisfying. Your life is in your hands. Be what you want to be. Do what you want to do. Who or what is stopping you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-34286242120213069582014-05-13T12:52:12.855-06:002014-05-13T12:52:12.855-06:00Through reading the Great Gatsby,I have learned an...Through reading the Great Gatsby,I have learned and noticed many things about life.I think life is great and beautiful,yet it is poisoned by the actions of humans. Who are we, humans, to dictate the fate of the world? Why do we have so much power over each other? If we think about life, everything is controlled. Yes in America we have freedoms, but why is their even a need for a place where we are considered free? In nature, there is no power over one another; there is no discrimination. The Great Gatsby reveals many thing to the audience;lesson about life. Fitzgerald really can make the reader think about life and the direction they are headed in. For me I realized how horrible humans are. The Great Gatsby is a book in which there is plenty of glitz and glam, yet beneath in all lies darkness. The tenants that the characters represent within the book are dark ones, besides Nick. They represent and illuminate the darkerside to humanity. It shows that people struggle to find purpose in their life, but when they do, they stop at nothiung to achive it. They do what it takes to get their goal, wether it be spending money, ruining relationship, and even cutting down what they stand for. The individuals in this book throw away morals in an effort to achive their so called "happiness". But who am I to tell the world not to chase and achive happiness? Nor am I a person certified to direct what happiness should be, yet what I have noticed of these actions as a side effect are darker undertones. In the nature there is a food chain, not a ruking species, but a way of life dependant on abilities that each species is born with. Many may say that we were born with our brains and our thinking power and as humans we should rule the animal kingdom due to our high intellectual capability and complexity. But when I look at the human race, I see some very primitive actions that show bad morality not intellect capability. Now I'm not trying to say that everything in the world is evil and darkness. After reading The Great Gatsby, I see darkness in those all around me. It has been said that the poorest people are the happiest people, and the rich are the unhappiest people. Why is this?Why does the world work this way? Wouldn't you be sad if you have nothing and happy if you have everything? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-70175241752775675532014-05-13T11:34:45.591-06:002014-05-13T11:34:45.591-06:00Sadly enough, I would say yes Faith. We always ha...Sadly enough, I would say yes Faith. We always have the ability to be cruel and heartless, but we also have a choice in our actions. There will always be hateful, spiteful, vindictive people and their hearts are jaded by something that they have never dealt with or refuse to see. Jessie C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16674285119933706044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-73741814538073485142014-05-13T11:34:28.239-06:002014-05-13T11:34:28.239-06:00We let ourselves get so caught up in what could ha...We let ourselves get so caught up in what could have been because so many people live their lives with regret. Instead people have to say what they want to say and do what they want to do without be scared. And instead of looking back to imagine what could have been, to look forward to new opportunities, and the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-48051034110285950212014-05-13T11:34:17.795-06:002014-05-13T11:34:17.795-06:00Individuals might be afraid to go deeper simply be...Individuals might be afraid to go deeper simply because they are disillusioned in the temporary satisfaction that gossip and materialism provides, most likely to make up for a missing element. I agree with Nate, I believe that the character in the novel and many individuals strive to find joy in materialism merely to make up for a lack of spiritual concepts, or faith in themselves. Materialism provides an easy solution and acts as a quick fix.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-78023099413641108182014-05-13T11:34:04.833-06:002014-05-13T11:34:04.833-06:00Money is the focus on humanity, and the one thing ...Money is the focus on humanity, and the one thing that can allow you to get that money is time. Time to get an education to get a job to get you that money. Time is not only for the earning of money, though, and that is why it is the most valuable thing of all. Time is relative and uncertain, time has infinite possibilities. You can do anything given time, and as it is limited to our life, we cannot waste it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-71986721666169233082014-05-13T11:33:57.766-06:002014-05-13T11:33:57.766-06:00I think as the time window that you have in your l...I think as the time window that you have in your life shortens, the magnitude of your dreams becomes bigger. For example, if I were to think about what I would do in the next week if my death bed was waiting for me next Tuesday, I would try to do all the huge things that I missed out on in life. On the other end, if I were to live forever, I think that I would be able to focus on the smaller things, and perfect the things that weren't perfect. This has to do with the idea that time is the destroyer of everything, and that while living your life to a deadline, life is more demanding and scary.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-68751133188924834922014-05-13T11:33:41.108-06:002014-05-13T11:33:41.108-06:00I think that those who live in the past will never...I think that those who live in the past will never be able to have a future because Davis is right, we can't change the past. It is that tricky balance between looking back to the past for guidance but making sure to come back up and apply that to the future. Some people get stuck in what they thought they knew in the past instead of what they can know in the future. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-31039660898815362952014-05-13T11:33:36.991-06:002014-05-13T11:33:36.991-06:00To some degree, I think that we do choose our path...To some degree, I think that we do choose our path, but the the fact of the matter is that we are victims of others' choices. We may do all we can to direct our lives, but there will always be the unexpected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-51232257322314511042014-05-13T11:33:31.308-06:002014-05-13T11:33:31.308-06:00Davis these questions are great. If I had a week t...Davis these questions are great. If I had a week to live I probably try my best to sleep very little. I would do all the stupid and fun things that I hadn't done such as skydiving or taming lions or hitting on girls out of my league (very few). I would see all the important people such as my family and my friends and I would try to see as much of the world as I could. This question really makes me think about how much of my life right now that I am wasting and how I want to live my life from now on. How much time of our lives do we do we waste? Should we be focusing on more important people/things in our lives?<br /><br />I will leave you all with a deep quote:<br />"No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051861194913665784.post-8211879508038861642014-05-13T11:33:11.549-06:002014-05-13T11:33:11.549-06:00I would live my life much in the same way that I d...I would live my life much in the same way that I do now. Every moment for itself, every little thing is important. I would pick up sparkly blue pencils in the hallway and be thrilled about it for the rest of the day for no reason. I would cry for joy because someone I admire paused to say something, anything, to me. I would continue writing, drawing, crafting, and singing my life onto the fabric of eternity. My stress, so monumental, but still lesser prioritized, would vanish entirely with the certainty of either life or death, and my behavior would not change at all. I only would lose the ever hanging burden of fear. I would not change my behavior around people. If someone makes me mad, I pretend they never did, if I make someone mad, I right the wrong and move on. I would still feel so much happiness over small things, like getting a nice comment in the hallways. Or, better yet, someone stopping to talk to me for a while. My greatest pleasure would still dwell in hearing my own name from the mouth of another student, and realizing they know I exist. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com