Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Literature Circle
I found 'Looking for Alibrandi' quite an interseting book. It didn't have as much going on as I though it would, but the writing style was so descriptive it made it interesting. The characters are her Mum, Dad, Nonna, her friends; Sera, Lee and Anna, her crush; John, and her enemies; Ivy and Jacob. The setting was just out of Sydney, in a suburb called Glebe, she lives in the lower economic side of town, and her school is in the richer area. It is summer, the start of year 12 for Josie and she is trying hard to succeed at her Catholic school, where she got a scholarship, but she is too different. The plot is about a girl who meets her Dad for the first time, and she's trying to work hard at school while struggling with her social life. At first she hates her Dad, and they agree to avoid each other, but afterwards she admits to regretting that decision. She has a good relationship with her friends and Mum, but they often fight, and she can't stand her Nonna. The new words I found were facades, voluptuous, requisites, chauvinistic and epitome. Facades is the font of a building. Voluptuous is something luxurious that gives a person pleasure. Requisitaries is something in particular that someone needs. Chauvinistic is loyalty or patriotism to a group or country. Epitome is an extreme of something, either something really good or really bad.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Peaceful Warier
I found The Peaceful Warrior a really interesting, deep and thought provoking movie. It really made me think about how it compared to my life, and how I could change my life to make my time more efficient, and to keep going, even when life seems too hard and the circumstances make my goals seem impossible.
I don't think there are any ordinary moments in life. Everyone has the seemingly pointless times, where it feels like what your doing has no purpose. It may not be clear to the person experiencing boring period, but everything we do we learn something new, something that can be used later in life. If we look at the bigger picture we can see every moment in life has a reason.
As for the quote, "A warrior acts; and only a fool reacts," many people, after suffering tough times, feels like there is no hope. They react with either anger, sadness and often give up. Fools get themselves down, and it takes lots of time and energy to bring hope back into their lives. Whereas a warier would learn from these tough times, so next time the opportunity comes along they would act differently.
With the notion, “If you can’t do what you were born to do, what is there to do?” It doesn’t mean, if as a toddler you wanted to be a fairy princess, and things don’t work out your life is meaningless. You may never know what you were born to do. Maybe not until you’re doing it, but that doesn’t mean until then your life is pointless, the journey is just as important as the destination. Some people think, that after they’ve done what they were born to do, they’re life has no point, but what they fail to realise is that everything we do we were born to do, good or bad. It all has a meaning, and a purpose, maybe not in our lives, sometimes in others, and sometimes we won’t even realise it.
As the movie made it very clear, every move is about the move. There are many things that if you make a mistake, it could be fatal. Take something like a heart surgeon. How would you feel if you were having a heart transplant, but the surgeon was off with the fairies? Even something like rock climbing, if you lose focus for a second, either you could fall, or let go of the person on top of you. Even in everyday life, say in a job interview or in an important presentation, every move is about the move. Not about the end product, or about what your friends will think about you, or about what you’re having for dinner tonight. It’s about the here and now.
I think the advice, “Don’t fall into the trap – If only I had this, I’d be – If only - , I’d get to be happy,” is very good advice. I think it makes such a difference in your life when look at things positively, when you say, ‘I’m so glad I have this. I’m such a lucky person. I’m so happy with myself.’ People think that happiness comes with possessions and materials, but it’s actually about your state of mind. Ever wondered why the children of Africa are so happy yet they have nothing, and spoilt rotten Australian children aren’t happy and they have everything. It is a gift being an optimistic, a skill, and being pessimistic is a burden. That’s why I think it’s the best advice anyone can give you.
I knew a girl once, who wasn’t much fun to be around. All she did was complain and whinge, because of this she had no friends. I tried hard to spend time with her, point out the good things of the day, but she would always find a bad thing in the positives. Even about herself, she was a beautiful girl, but hated how she looked. She spent all day looking in the mirror, wishing she looked different. But worst of all, she was judgemental; she’d point out all of the negatives about you. It would drive me crazy; it wasn’t until we reached high school I found out she’d been beaten by her father. Not physically, but verbally, that’s why she did it to everyone else, and herself. Her mother moved up to Queensland with her knew man, and Emma lived with her Dad, who sat around in front of the TV all day, heavily drinking. I didn’t realise it at the time, but all those times I’d tried to brighten her day had made a huge difference. This really relates to the saying, “The people, who are the hardest to love, often need it the most.”
To ‘Take out the trash,’ you need to focus on the here and now, live in the present. Instead of living a life of doubt be sure of yourself, who you are what you believe in. And forgive yourself; no one is still blaming you for past failures, only yourself. Then for future victories, well they’re not 100%, they should be a motivator, but not a reason. You should just enjoy the journey you are on, and if you are victorious, that is just a bonus. It is important not to boast and focus on past victories, but to strive ahead, still focusing, and loving the here and now.
The definition of ‘Knows that knowledge is not the same as wisdom’ is someone who realises that we can study all text books in the world, but you have to go deeper, you have to experience thing first hand to have a for real understanding.
The definition of ‘Is never better than anybody, the same way you’ll never be any less’ is someone who knows everybody’s equal. No matter how rich, smart, pretty, old, popular, or if they’re a different gender or race, we’re all still humans, and we’re all still equal.
The definition of ‘Experiences the moment,’ is someone who lives in the here and now, they love and cherish the moment, live life to the full, move by move.
The definition of ‘Has no limiting beliefs’ is someone who can dream as big as they like. They have huge imaginations, and can dream the seemingly impossible. They set all sorts of goals, and commit to them.
The definition of ‘Stays adaptable,’ is someone who is very flexible, they don’t stick they’re heels in. If the circumstances change, they can change with it. They are not stuck in they’re ways and can easily change if needed.
The definition of ‘Doesn’t let their emotions control them’ is someone who can put on a brave face, no matter what they’re feeling on the inside they don’t show it. They manage to control their lives the way they want to live it.
The definition of ‘Devotes life to higher purpose, service to others’ is someone who thinks about others first. They serve others before themselves, they’re not selfish and ego centric. They manage to put others first and devote their lives to helping them.
The definition of ‘Finds love in one they do’ is someone who is happy no matter what the circumstances. They are optimistic even in the hardest parts of life. No matter how difficult what they’re doing is, they can find love in it.
In conclusion, the movie had many important quotes that can assist in living a life of happiness and true peace. It was a deep movie that made people ponder on life, thinking of how they could change to make themselves better people. I know I’ve brought a lot of wisdom in that movie that I would like to use in my own life.
I don't think there are any ordinary moments in life. Everyone has the seemingly pointless times, where it feels like what your doing has no purpose. It may not be clear to the person experiencing boring period, but everything we do we learn something new, something that can be used later in life. If we look at the bigger picture we can see every moment in life has a reason.
As for the quote, "A warrior acts; and only a fool reacts," many people, after suffering tough times, feels like there is no hope. They react with either anger, sadness and often give up. Fools get themselves down, and it takes lots of time and energy to bring hope back into their lives. Whereas a warier would learn from these tough times, so next time the opportunity comes along they would act differently.
With the notion, “If you can’t do what you were born to do, what is there to do?” It doesn’t mean, if as a toddler you wanted to be a fairy princess, and things don’t work out your life is meaningless. You may never know what you were born to do. Maybe not until you’re doing it, but that doesn’t mean until then your life is pointless, the journey is just as important as the destination. Some people think, that after they’ve done what they were born to do, they’re life has no point, but what they fail to realise is that everything we do we were born to do, good or bad. It all has a meaning, and a purpose, maybe not in our lives, sometimes in others, and sometimes we won’t even realise it.
As the movie made it very clear, every move is about the move. There are many things that if you make a mistake, it could be fatal. Take something like a heart surgeon. How would you feel if you were having a heart transplant, but the surgeon was off with the fairies? Even something like rock climbing, if you lose focus for a second, either you could fall, or let go of the person on top of you. Even in everyday life, say in a job interview or in an important presentation, every move is about the move. Not about the end product, or about what your friends will think about you, or about what you’re having for dinner tonight. It’s about the here and now.
I think the advice, “Don’t fall into the trap – If only I had this, I’d be – If only - , I’d get to be happy,” is very good advice. I think it makes such a difference in your life when look at things positively, when you say, ‘I’m so glad I have this. I’m such a lucky person. I’m so happy with myself.’ People think that happiness comes with possessions and materials, but it’s actually about your state of mind. Ever wondered why the children of Africa are so happy yet they have nothing, and spoilt rotten Australian children aren’t happy and they have everything. It is a gift being an optimistic, a skill, and being pessimistic is a burden. That’s why I think it’s the best advice anyone can give you.
I knew a girl once, who wasn’t much fun to be around. All she did was complain and whinge, because of this she had no friends. I tried hard to spend time with her, point out the good things of the day, but she would always find a bad thing in the positives. Even about herself, she was a beautiful girl, but hated how she looked. She spent all day looking in the mirror, wishing she looked different. But worst of all, she was judgemental; she’d point out all of the negatives about you. It would drive me crazy; it wasn’t until we reached high school I found out she’d been beaten by her father. Not physically, but verbally, that’s why she did it to everyone else, and herself. Her mother moved up to Queensland with her knew man, and Emma lived with her Dad, who sat around in front of the TV all day, heavily drinking. I didn’t realise it at the time, but all those times I’d tried to brighten her day had made a huge difference. This really relates to the saying, “The people, who are the hardest to love, often need it the most.”
To ‘Take out the trash,’ you need to focus on the here and now, live in the present. Instead of living a life of doubt be sure of yourself, who you are what you believe in. And forgive yourself; no one is still blaming you for past failures, only yourself. Then for future victories, well they’re not 100%, they should be a motivator, but not a reason. You should just enjoy the journey you are on, and if you are victorious, that is just a bonus. It is important not to boast and focus on past victories, but to strive ahead, still focusing, and loving the here and now.
The definition of ‘Knows that knowledge is not the same as wisdom’ is someone who realises that we can study all text books in the world, but you have to go deeper, you have to experience thing first hand to have a for real understanding.
The definition of ‘Is never better than anybody, the same way you’ll never be any less’ is someone who knows everybody’s equal. No matter how rich, smart, pretty, old, popular, or if they’re a different gender or race, we’re all still humans, and we’re all still equal.
The definition of ‘Experiences the moment,’ is someone who lives in the here and now, they love and cherish the moment, live life to the full, move by move.
The definition of ‘Has no limiting beliefs’ is someone who can dream as big as they like. They have huge imaginations, and can dream the seemingly impossible. They set all sorts of goals, and commit to them.
The definition of ‘Stays adaptable,’ is someone who is very flexible, they don’t stick they’re heels in. If the circumstances change, they can change with it. They are not stuck in they’re ways and can easily change if needed.
The definition of ‘Doesn’t let their emotions control them’ is someone who can put on a brave face, no matter what they’re feeling on the inside they don’t show it. They manage to control their lives the way they want to live it.
The definition of ‘Devotes life to higher purpose, service to others’ is someone who thinks about others first. They serve others before themselves, they’re not selfish and ego centric. They manage to put others first and devote their lives to helping them.
The definition of ‘Finds love in one they do’ is someone who is happy no matter what the circumstances. They are optimistic even in the hardest parts of life. No matter how difficult what they’re doing is, they can find love in it.
In conclusion, the movie had many important quotes that can assist in living a life of happiness and true peace. It was a deep movie that made people ponder on life, thinking of how they could change to make themselves better people. I know I’ve brought a lot of wisdom in that movie that I would like to use in my own life.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
PHOTO ESSAY
I handed in my visual essay yesterday and am presuming I write my reflective statement here. For my picture essay I focused on how the victims of Black Saturday had to use mind over matter. I chose the graphics I did because I thought it was the right proportion of metaphorical and symbolic pictures to realistic and factual pictures. I tried to choose mostly red colours in the first few pictures, (the red clock, red panic button and the fire)then mostly black and white in the next few photos, (the girl, the sign and the dead trees) and mostly green pictures in the last few pictures, (the chick, sunrise, butterfly and epicormic shoots.) At first I was going to separate them onto 3 A4 pieces of paper (and glue them together): the red, the black and the green. But then found the large newspaper cover and decided to use that, although that meant I had to put it on wood, and it made it rather large. I also tried to make it 3D, although I think by the time it was finished all the leaves on my tree were dead, and it looked a bit silly. I hope my text was quite efficient, it may have been a bit too long, seeing I have a tendency to ramble on, and I may have repeated the same facts more than once, but overall I think it was a fairly efficient text.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
About me
I'm Bethany and I'm 14 years old. My Mum's a speech pathologist and my Dad works with a funeral company. I would like to do teaching in Africa and my older brother, Jacob, who's in year 12 would like to do something with maths/science and music. I also have one dog named Tash whose a 6 year old golden retriever and 2 hilarious chickens. I like to read realistic adventure stories and my favourite set of books are the 'Tomorrow' series by John Marsdon. My favourite movies are 'Blues Brothers' and 'As it is in Heaven.' My favourite poem is 'The Highway Man' by Alfred Noyes and my favourite song is 'The Chariot' by The Cat Empire. I don't have a favourite actor or actress, but my favourite singer is Missy Higgins. My role model is Shane Claibourne and my small group leaders from church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)