Post Three: Sylvia Plath

As I am reading through Sylvia Plath’s collection of poems in the book Ariel, I am finding a lot of similarities between Plath and the famous Lewis Carroll. The words they choose and the gibberish rhythm that accompanies their poetry is captivating. Though Plath’s motives clearer than Carroll’s, I still find them almost intertwined. I can’t really explain it, but I recommend the reading to you. It’s a little dark, as this selection of poetry was written towards the end of Sylvia Plath’s life just before she committed suicide. (Ya, sorry for that dismal bit, but it really is lovely poetry).

http://pinterest.com/pin/184155072233549894/

My feelings towards these poems makes me think of a quote by the clever Lemony Snicket (author of The Series of Unfortunate Events). 

If you've never taken the time to read poetry, I am sorry for you. It is one of the most amazing experiences one could have. It fills you with such majesty, and it makes you feel painfully smarter than the average bear if you know what I mean.

Journal Four: Believe, Obey, and Endure

Moving back home has been, challenging to say the least. Yet, never once have I doubted that I did the right thing. Sometimes I wished I’d done the selfish thing and stayed in my lovely new home, but I know that if I did, I would be wishing to be where I am right now. It wasn’t an easy choice, and required much praying and crying.

And here I am.

In President Thomas S. Monson’s talk entitled Believe, Obey, and Endure, he addresses the struggles that young women have in this mortal life. He also relates ways to overcome these struggles to lessons we can learn from a lighthouse.

It was one that I really needed to read I suppose. It was a good morale boost and reminder that because I’ve done what the Lord asked of me, I won’t be led astray. So I’ve accomplished the believe and obey section of this trial, now I’m just stuck in the endure rut…waiting for the next chapter to begin.

President Monson gives this definition for enduring: “to withstand with courage.” That’s the best thing ever to me because sometimes I think we forget that enduring is an active process. It isn’t just standing by and waiting.

http://pinterest.com/pin/184155072232990705/

 

And courage can take many forms.

I wrote this poem a while back and I think it applies to what I’m trying to say here. I wrote in while taking an institute class called Women of Faith. To me, it symbolizes the struggle and dedication of sister saints. Hope you enjoy!

Sisters of the Well

Down on our knees

Heavy are the burdens

Muscles beneath skin

Draw pure water

To fill a man of God

Down on our knees

Dirt on our skirts

We listen and believe

Strengthened by the word

Spoken by the men of God

Down on our knees

A light in our eyes

Weathered palms

Never a murmur stir

Or a cry escape our lips

Down on our knees

In the service of the Lord

Read this awesome talk for yourself, even if you’re a boy!

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2012/03/believe-obey-and-endure?lang=eng&query=%22believe+obey+and+endure%22

Update

I am getting pretty deep into This Dark Endeavor and so far I find it very intriguing and the characters are all very well rounded. Describe in one word so far: Erie…

Regarding The Accidental, it is a very poetic and metaphorical read, taking a little more time to understand details and appreciate the wording. Describe in one word so far: Hopeful.

The Poetry selections are both marvelous. I highly recommend them! Bellocq’s Ophelia is the shorter of the two if you, yourself are short on time. (Though, reading them both is HIGHLY recommended as mentioned earlier.) Perhaps I’ll post some later and my responses to them as well? We shall see.

Happy…something to all of you!

Journal Three: Learning: You Have a Work to Do

In the General Young Women’s Meeting, Mary N. Cook gave a talk entitled: Seek Learning: You Have a Work to Do. Normally, I steer away from young women’s topics that involve anything to do with schooling or vocations. Especially when I was younger. As I’ve grown however, I’ve gained a new perspective on things, especially regarding the role of women in the church and in the home.

Recently, to my utter disgust and quaking anger, I read a post on facebook by an acquaintance of mine (I should explain now that I have a very low tolerance for ignorance). It bashed on marriage and the bible in a short, ignorant paragraph. I had read it yesterday and it was still bothering me today. I thought of it again as I read this lovely talk. Granted, the talk isn’t entirely about marriage, but it still made it evident what the responsibilities are for a mother, rather than the common misconception and poorly understood connotation of the role of a woman in society. True, in bible times, the women were treated differently. They were also treated differently in the middle ages and in the 1920’s in early America. Women’s rights have been a long argued topic, but when it comes to being a mother, women DO have certain responsibilities that are non-negotiable.

As Sister Cook invites and instructs women to gain an education to be able to support themselves should the need or desire arise, she also points out that, “A mother’s education level has a profound influence on the educational choices of her [children].” Profound? Not really. She goes on to explain, “Educated women “tend to: Give birth to healthier babies, have children who are healthier, be more confident, resilient and have improved reasoning and judgment.”

Being a mother is a privilege. Being a woman is a divine calling. Being a man is, also, a divine calling. Working together, as man and wife, to produce a family and send new people into the world to be productive and happy members of society…that is a piece of Heaven, and should be treated and regarded as such.

To address this acquaintance’s stab at marriage and wanting to change the definition: No. Yes, God took a rib from Adam’s side on purpose to create Eve. He could have created her as he did Adam, but he chose to make her a part of Adam, taking from his side. Not from his feet, nor from his shoulders or head. He took from Adam’s SIDE. Men and women were meant to be equal from the beginning, it just took us, imperfect humans, time and experience to realize such a fact. Marriage, in the bible terms, isn’t meant to be a dominion of one partner over another, but to be an equal and sacred partnership charged with the responsibility of creating life and raising it with love.  

Please feel free to read this lovely talk and enjoy!

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2012/03/seek-learning-you-have-a-work-to-do?lang=eng&query=%22seek+learning%3a+you+have+a+work+to+do%22+%28collection%3a%22general-conference%22%29

Journal Two: Having the Vision to Do

The Vision to Do is a talk that was given by Elder O. Vincent Haleck of the Quorum of the Seventy. At first, the talk was a little dry to me, as my mind is on other things today, but as I continued reading, I felt the Spirit enter into the room and sit next to me, prompting me to pay attention to the lines that would mean the most to me.

One such line was: “The Savior saw more in those humble fishermen whom He called to follow Him than they initially saw in themselves; He saw a vision of who they could become.”

How wonderful is that? To know that there is someone out there who is rooting for you, encouraging you to become all you can be because He knows you can be extraordinary? It nearly took my breath away, for I had quite forgotten how much my Savior knows about me, how much He has in store for me. It’s quite humbling, but at the very same time, empowering. It makes me think of the scripture: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Another line that touched me was: “What did He see in Peter, James, and John and the other Apostles that prompted Him to act to invite them to follow Him? Like His vision of them, the Savior has a great vision of who we can become. It will take the same faith and courage the first Apostles had in order for us to refocus on the things that matter most in bringing lasting happiness and great joy.” It’s similar to the first line, but it tells us that we need to have the courage it takes to change ourselves and give up things trivial and useless.

How we separate those things out, I don’t really know. I imagine it takes a lot of fasting and prayer and diligence in following the guidance of the Spirit. It is also going to be different for everyone. For me, I imagine letting myself stop worrying and truly trusting in the Lord and His timing is a big step towards becoming like Christ.

I feel it’s much like turning a kaleidoscope. There are many possible patterns that may emerge, but there is one that is the most beautiful. We just have to keep turning towards the Savior until we find it in ourselves.

Check out the full talk:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/having-the-vision-to-do?lang=eng&query=having+vision+do

 

Post Two: The Tentative Syllabus

Okay, so I went to the Library today and picked up a few books to deliberate over. As of right now, the plan stands at:

Possible Readings:

(DAILY JOURNALS)

May 2012 LDS Conference Ensign

Other talks sent to me by lovely missionaries ;)

(LITERATURE)

The Accidental- Ali Smith

This Dark Endeavor- Kenneth Oppel

(POETRY)

Ariel- Sylvia Plath

Bellocq’s Ophelia- Natasha Trethewey

For those of you who would like to follow along and add your own comments about the readings, feel absolutely free to do so. I’ll probably add a couple more books onto this list, and more poetry if I can find some suitable to my tastes, so I’ll keep you posted about that as well.

I should tell you all that I am ALWAYS open to suggestions for literature and especially movies.

Movie Review: Fantasia

http://www.onlygoodmovies.com/blog/good-movies/10-good-disney-animated-movies/

Wow, how long has this movie been out? 1940!! (Thank you imdb.com) And how many times have I watched it and still found it amazing? A few too many I’m guessing.

The  first piece by Bach is shown in a fashion that reminds me of a lab assignment I had in a psychology course I took. In the lab, we discusses synesthesia. Dr. Peter Grossenbacherâ’s definition of synesthesia is as follows: “Synesthesia is the conscious experience of systematically induced sensory attributes or sensations that are not experienced by most people that are under comparable conditions.”

He gives this example: “In one form of synesthesia, sounds enduce colors whereas most people don’t have any visual experience when hearing sounds, certain rare individuals have a lifelong experience of both hearing sounds and seeing colors when they hear sounds.” (Good thing he decided to put that in English, right?)
Towards the middle of the film, we are introduced to a lovely character known as the soundbite. Holy synesthesia, Batman! If ever there was a personification for what I'm talking about, it would be this lovely Disney character with no face, just color and sound. Simply lovely. 

Who knew we had all experienced this through a Disney classic?! Thanks Walt!

Journal One: Racing

For my first journal entry, I chose to read The Race of Life by President Thomas S. Monson from the April 2012 General Conference. The title is what appealed to me, for lately I have felt like I was racing around, much like a dog chasing its tail. I wasn’t getting anywhere. I wasn’t progressing.

This talk really helped me to reset my perspective to the Eternal Setting we are often encouraged to keep, but often set aside.

President Monson talked about running the good race, fighting the good fight. The statement that really pricked my attention, and made me really pay attention to what I was reading was this: “In this fast paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths?”

Now, if you’re not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka the Mormon Church), don’t you worry. This isn’t a journal entry trying to convert you, or trying to place one religion above another. It’s simply a journal entry talking about the need to eliminate trivial things from our lives. No matter what religion you choose to believe, or whether you believe in any at all, everyone needs to examine what it is they spend their everyday doing.

For instance: my love and obsession with cop shows and murder mysteries (not so much in books mind you, but television and film). How useful is it to be able to solve a fictional mystery when someone on the screen is doing all the investigating while I lounge lazily on the couch and figure it out ten minutes before the climax? Not too useful in the grand scheme of things.

Well, what’s useful? Or as my father would say marketable?

I grew up hating that word. Marketable. What an annoying word. That’s all people care about anymore. How marketable am I? Will this get me a job? Am I more valuable than “them”?

What HORRIBLE questions!

I hope there was a time when people asked: What kind of person am I? Did I make a difference today? Did I brighten someone else’s day? Did I reflect God in my countenance? Did I give 100% at everything I did? Did I keep all my promises? Was I honest in all my dealings? Was I there for those in need? Did I enjoy my day? Did I do the right thing when presented with something difficult? Was I able to hold my head high and not let temptation or prejudice get the best of me? Did I set a good example for others to follow? Was I steadfast and immovable? Did I make God proud?

Here's a link to the talk by President Thomas S. Monson. Ready through and enjoy! http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-race-of-life?lang=eng&query=race+life

Post One: Self Preservation

Hello…?

Well, to anyone reading, I apologize for your boredom. Though, if you’re reading this, you’re not even close to how bored I was. I’ve been spending the summer trying to stay busy, but I keep finding myself on the couch watching re-runs of Law and Order, convincing the sorry saps around me that I’m a criminal genius because I’ve memorized who the killers are…

Somehow, that’s become boring. Shocking. I know.

So, what to do, I ask myself. Break a world record? Nope, takes too much repetitive…ness. Travel? Ha, yeah, that would be nice if I had some $$$. Lack of $$$ really cuts down your options A LOT, if anyone hasn’t noticed.

To cut to the chase, I decided to learn. What better way to spend summer? (Other than, well, anything else, like hanging out with friends or falling in love…)

But, how can I teach myself something I don’t know? Asked myself the very same thing you avid reader, you ;)

I decided to broaden my knowledge, challenge what I already know and see how well I really know it, or if I know it at all. (Wow…I think I just had a Captain Jack Sparrow moment). My specialty: Literature. Yes, literature. I’ve read all the classics: Moby Dick, King Lear, Lord of the Flies. You get the picture. So what to study? Hmmm…Twilight? (I’ll die first!!!) Absolutely not. That’s been the real challenge, but after immense amounts of deliberation, I’ve decided on two books, two selections of poetry, the May 2012 LDS Ensign for daily journals, and a handful of inspirational essays and free response poems. I’ll probably include some art projects too…since I have the time. And definitely some movie reviews if I get around to that. Basically, I’ll be doing A LOT of ungraded and unnecessary work. Nerd Alert!! Yeah, I get that a lot. But, sitting here, waiting for fall, just isn’t gonna cut it anymore.

I have 48 days until my fall semester starts. 48 days to complete these self-imposed assignments. 48 days to get through without slipping into insanity, or couch vegetation.

Feel free to follow along?