Nature Walk

I took my nature walk on a rainy, Monday morning on the beautiful Whidbey Island. It was a little different, walking by myself with a camera but it truely is important to stop and take a look at your life. Graduation is just around the corner, and as I am going to college out of state I realized how much I will miss this island, despite the terrible weather. It is so easy to take things for granted and this walk helped me to truely appriciate how blessed I am to have a place to escape to on the weekends.

With dark clouds spouting angry rain at me, I walked briskly down the road lined with trees on one side and Usless Bay on the other. The first thing I noticed was a little pumpkin sitting on a post. I wondered how that pumpkin could have survived months of rain and still be in one piece!
For the rest of my walk, I tried to look at things through a different light, as individual objects rather than a landscape of scenery. The piece of ductape on the ground really caught my interest. A piece of trash is something that is usually forgotten but this duct tape for some reason was inspiring to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed my walk. It allowed me the chance to experience nature in a different light and think about where I've been in life and where I'm going!

Proposal for Positivity Project

On Saturday, November 6th, I plan to take a walk down California Ave. in West Seattle and post positive thoughts on sticky notes, placing them wherever they might stick. The resources I need to complete this task are sticky notes, my sister (to help me), and good weather! I think this will help bring positivity to people's days, because seeing a simple note can often lift your spirits even in the worst of times.

On Sunday, November 7th, I plan on attending a monthly meeting for the philanthropic organization that I am involved with. This organization is called Make the DASH Count (talking about the dash between your life and death date on your tombstone) and our mission is to research non profit organizations that support at risk youth, fundraise, and grant the money to the organizations that we choose. Although this is somewhat long term as it takes place over the entire year, I believe it will spread positivity within the lives of less fortunate Washingtonians.

Beowulf Response

Beowulf was the embodiment of an epic hero in the Middle Aged times filled with grief, despair, and a lack of overall confidence. Therefore, when Beowulf steps forth with his arrogant and confident self image, the people are drawn to this idea of what can be seen as a personal savior. Here is a man, who boasts of his conquests, yet finds the humbleness inside his heart to unlock Herot from its grief and terror. It is Beowulf's bare hands that bring the people joy and happiness amid their pain and suffering. For me, Beowulf was inspiring, yet a little out of touch in the modern world. In a society where boasting and arrogance are frowned upon, Beowulf would be looked upon as a self serving, air headed yet talented man. Speaking honestly, if facing such a foe as Grendel, I would not have the courage to fight with my bare hands for fear of death. Rather, I would take up a sword, knowing that with its help I would have greater odds of being successful. Doubt of course is not a sin, but rather a bad habit. Questioning oneself removes confidence, however, which is a necessary part when tackling life's battles. Beowulf was so puffed up with confidence that he was able to throw all his inhibitions out the window and take on the monster with much more strength. Each day, we face "epic" battles as Beowulf did. Right now, I am plagued, like all seniors, with the challenge of college plans. Each day I question the decision, yet instead of tackling it with my bare hands, I use my sword: family, friends, and God, my ultimate support system who will help me face my toughest fears. Despite the battle wounds that result from every encounter of "evil" it is important to maintain confidence, and learn from each experience. As a relatively independent person, I enjoy tackling things on my own to ensure that the results are up to my standards. Therefore, it is often hard for me to trust others. However, this past year I have learned how necessary the sword is to a battle, not only to hold but to use. God has not designed me to have every talent imaginable, but he has designed us to come together and use our talents for His glory. Therefore, in order to defeat the monsters of our lives we must realize that unlike Beowulf we cannot do it alone. Surely we can try, but ultimately it is our choice to embrace the sword and be confident in its power. I believe that Beowulf is a good mythical war hero, as he embodied the self confident spirit that the people needed to get out of the dark, depressing rut they were stuck in. A challenge cannot be defeated until it is confronted, and this is the stance I hope to take with all of life's struggles as I embrace my inner hero.

Myers-Briggs Results

After taking the Myers-Briggs personality test, I discovered that I am an ISTJ. This means that I am slightly introverted (22%), moderately sensing (25%), moderately thinking (25%), and very judging (78%). I wasn't surprised to find out that I have a keen sense of right and wrong, a devotion to duty, and take a step by step, logical approach to everything. After taking the Myers-Briggs test, I discovered that I am patient (which is somewhat true, although not all the time I admit), and super dependable, which I loved to hear. From this test, I also discovered that my type becomes frustrated by others inconsistencies, which would explain my dislike of group projects! Furthermore, I was glad to hear that an ISTJ is rather involved in the community despite being slightly introverted.
The only thing that suprised me (in a bad way) about my Myers-Briggs results was the fact that my type is normally cold and aloof. I personally don't think I come off as that, as I believe I am a generally friendly person. Overall, I really enjoyed taking the Myers-Briggs test, as it taught me a lot about myself.

Research Paper (paragraphs one and two)

We know Him simply as God. God: our heavenly father, who is all knowing, all seeing, and always there. We are His creation, whether believer or non believer, ethically sound or not. But what constitutes a morally upstanding follower of God? In most cases, people who choose to live piously, respect the laws God has laid out for His people, and those who do their best to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our Savior. Perfection in these choices, however, is extremely unachievable. We may try to attain an idealistic sense of the word, but in the end fall short due to our innate, sinful nature. The complexity of God is immense and we as His people, although made in His image, should not be expected to completely and fully understand Him and what He chooses to do. One of the most obvious instances where Christians and non Christians alike begin to question God's motives is in the narrative of Job. This account tells of a godly man who is suddenly, and without due cause, put through many trials as an ultimate test of faith. Of his trials, Job defiantly says, "Though He may slay me, yet will I hope in Him" (Job 13:15). Job stands as an example of a morally righteous man of God, as his actions exemplify the pure trust all Christians should strive to have throughout their lifetime.
To say again, it is impossible to fully grasp and understand God. Much controversy has risen both in the church and outside of it regarding the reasons why God allows some things to happen and others to not. Job, however, seems to be the only morally sound believer in this case, as though he could not understand, he still kept the faith. In many cases, when a catastrophe occurs, believers lose sight of their faith and walk away from God because they cannot comprehend His divine decisions. On the other hand, non believers often use these same catastrophes to denounce the Christian faith, using it as evidence of what seems like God's angry temper and instability lashing out on His creation. However, despite these negative reactions, many believe that terrible experiences bring to light positive results. Even so, the question remains a controversial battle: If God loves us, why does He allow terrible things to happen to morally upstanding people?

Test Blog #1

This summer I had the chance to go to New York for the first time in my life. It was extremely hot and dirty but so much fun! The coolest part was that everwhere you looked there was something new and exciting. However, I was often clastrophobic because there are so many people walking the streets of New York!

My inspirational quote:

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." James Dean

A quote by my favorite author, Ernest Hemingway:

"All my life I've looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time."

In all situations, it is important to go into things with an open heart and an open mind. You may be surprised at what you learn!