Do you simply “tolerate” immigration in this country or do you openly welcome all to, “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”? Dr. Brandon said that, “how America has come to treat immigrants is clearly at odds with the founders intentions that all are equal.” The next wish of this traveller will be to know whence came all these people? They are mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arisen (de Creveceour). In his essay, he was mostly referring to immigrants from Europe. Today we have more immigrants coming from countries where the standard of living is quite retched. The top three countries include Mexico, China and the Philippines.
I used to feel differently about illegal immigrants here in America than I do now. I am a native born citizen of this country. I am a thirty year old, Caucasian female, born and bred here in the U.S. My son’s father (who shall remain nameless and does not reside here in VA) is here in this country illegally. There is something to be said of our laws and proper procedure for coming to and living in this country. However, it is what it is and the fact remains I would not want him to be sent back now and for my son to be denied his father.
Can a wretch who wanders about, who works and starves, whose life is a continual scene of sore affliction or pinching penury; can that man call England or any other kingdom his country? A country that had no bread for him, whose fields procured him no harvest, who met with nothing but the frowns of the rich, the severity of the laws, with jails and punishments; who owned not a single foot of the extensive surface of this planet? (de Creveceour) He is here now and he wants to belong. He works hard, most times employed with two or three different jobs at a time, doing jobs no one else wants and for a wage no one else would work for. Although he has bread and harvest, he is still looked down on with frowns not from the rich but those who are rightful citizens.
Often illegal immigrants have no face and no name. They are one amassed group of millions “who don’t belong and shouldn’t be here. Look at my blog home page and see the face of my child. Stare into those enormous brown eyes that could melt glaciers and tell him he can’t be with his papa anymore. His father was searching for more opportunities for himself and more opportunities for his extended family. He came here the only way he knew how. I do not justify the means by which he did it but he is here now. “His country is now that which gives him land, bread, protection, and consequence: Ubi panis ibi patria, is the motto of all emigrants. What then is the American, this new man? He is an American, who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds he becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world” (de Creveceour).
Dr. Brandon said, “The founders wouldn't have cared who became a citizen. Essentially, they argued that everyone had the same rights and were due the same consideration.” Do only some people have the right to adopt America as their country? Since 2000, legal immigrants to the United States number approximately 1,000,000 per year, of whom about 600,000 are Change of Status immigrants who already are in the U.S. (Wikipedia.com). The U.S. should continue to be a place of refuge and a land of opportunity for all seeking it. We should stay true to the vision of the founding fathers and welcome all who wish to come here, within reason. Whether someone is a legal or illegal immigrant, I know many people feel this is our country and want everyone else to get out or stay out. Like I said, I used to feel differently than I do now. I know my son’s father is here illegally and I choose not to do anything about it. What you do?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Week 8: reflection and rough draft
When I enrolled in Early American Literature I was excited. I love to read. However, when I brought the books home and started skimming through them, I was really disappointed. I was sure this class would be dreadful, long, boring and tedious. I have never been more happy to be wrong. I will not be the first to say that the way Dr. Brandon’s class is organized is very conducive to reading, understanding and applying the literature in a fun and creative way. If the class was not set up in small committees, if we did not read and then write about the literature this class would have been agonizing and over whelming.
I have learned how to read real literature. I never knew reading literature could be SO different from novels. It has been vital over the last eight weeks to slow down and take more time. I have realized I have to allow time to read and think and reread. The technique that works best for me is when I read the writing prompt first so I have some idea of what I should be looking for in the reading. While I am reading I take quotes that will fit in with what I want to write about and my essays start to form and take shape. Although I do love to read, I have never had much exposure to transcendentalists and romantics. I had heard of Emerson, Thoreau and Poe but never laid eyes on their work. Men are like plants; the goodness and flavour of the fruit proceeds from the peculiar soil and exposition in which they grow. We are nothing but what we derive from the air we breathe, the climate we inhabit, the government we obey, the system of religion we profess, and the nature of our employment (de Crevecoeur, 56). I would add we are nothing but what we derive from the knowledge we acquire and apply in our lives. This has allowed me to take what I read and change myself and my life because of it.
I have learned how to apply the readings in my life. Before the class started I thought I would be a passive participant and a lot of parroting would take place. “In the right state, he is, Man Thinking. In the degenerate state, when the victim of society, he tends to become a mere thinker, or, still worse, the parrot of other men's thinking” (Emerson). This was my biggest moment in this class. Emerson hit me like a ton of bricks and opened my eyes. I thought of myself as a great student. I never thought of myself as a scholar. Now, I don’t know if I could even be called that. I have been parroting back information to try and earn high grades but I haven’t really been learning anything. I definitely haven’t been using the things I learn to spark unique and individual thought. I am ashamed of myself. I know I am capable of more than I have been doing. I was proud of my accomplishments so far but now the bar has been set higher. I want more out of my education and Emerson has opened that door to my personal greatness.
When I started reading our first assignment from de Crevecoeur I thought, “who in the world is so long winded that they can write one essay that is this many pages long?” The society and the authors that produced the literature came from a different world then we live in now. Someone pointed out to me that this was before television; this was before all of the modern technological distractions we have today. The world was more unstable and uncertain in an entirely different way. There were more unknowns, there was more that was changing and they had more time to ponder on these issues. As Dr. Brandon has told us, “Romanticism as a movement placed a tremendous value on the worth of the individual person and their ability to feel greatly, to imagine, and to sympathize. Romanticism was pivotal in providing Americans with an intellectual and artistic tradition.” The works that these authors produced played a very important role in shaping our country.
These works have had a tremendous impact on me. “To be awake is to be alive. I came to die only to discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep; to suck all the marrow out of life.” (Thoreau) I knew exactly that Thoreau was saying when he wrote that. It echoed the path I have been on for the last few years of my life. I enjoy learning and although, at times, the words of these great authors are very difficult to understand, they excite me. They inspire me to higher thinking and more fulfilled living. “It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson). If each individual lived true to the independence of solitude it would completely change society as a whole. I believe that no one person can change the world but if each individual changes then those changes can affect the whole world. Sometimes when I am out in the world I feel like a treasonous imitation of myself. I don’t know why I find it so hard to maintain that independence.
Wikipedia says that the term sublime especially refers to a greatness with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation. Poe focused on terror and horror when feeling the sublime. Dr. Brandon also shared that the sublime can be elation or joy. The reason behind the search for these moments is that at no other time do we feel more alive. Sometimes life can feel like dream. The day to day monotony can drag and feel hauntingly repetitive. These moments snap us awake from our sleep walking. They are so intense and raw with extreme emotion there is no doubt that we are alive.
I will argue for an A. At this point it would be an A-. I enjoy writing very much and I think I am quite exceptional at it. I love words and because of my love for theatre I have quite a dramatic flair. I know that I can improve on the promptness of my writing assignments. My sublime moment I wrote about temporarily blinded me to my real life responsibilities. I have refocused and prioritized so I am back on track. The quality of my writing is well above average and the quantity is always exact to the specification of the weekly assignments page. The only other thing I need to do is continue to incorporate my readings into my writings like I did at the beginning of the semester.
I have learned how to read real literature. I never knew reading literature could be SO different from novels. It has been vital over the last eight weeks to slow down and take more time. I have realized I have to allow time to read and think and reread. The technique that works best for me is when I read the writing prompt first so I have some idea of what I should be looking for in the reading. While I am reading I take quotes that will fit in with what I want to write about and my essays start to form and take shape. Although I do love to read, I have never had much exposure to transcendentalists and romantics. I had heard of Emerson, Thoreau and Poe but never laid eyes on their work. Men are like plants; the goodness and flavour of the fruit proceeds from the peculiar soil and exposition in which they grow. We are nothing but what we derive from the air we breathe, the climate we inhabit, the government we obey, the system of religion we profess, and the nature of our employment (de Crevecoeur, 56). I would add we are nothing but what we derive from the knowledge we acquire and apply in our lives. This has allowed me to take what I read and change myself and my life because of it.
I have learned how to apply the readings in my life. Before the class started I thought I would be a passive participant and a lot of parroting would take place. “In the right state, he is, Man Thinking. In the degenerate state, when the victim of society, he tends to become a mere thinker, or, still worse, the parrot of other men's thinking” (Emerson). This was my biggest moment in this class. Emerson hit me like a ton of bricks and opened my eyes. I thought of myself as a great student. I never thought of myself as a scholar. Now, I don’t know if I could even be called that. I have been parroting back information to try and earn high grades but I haven’t really been learning anything. I definitely haven’t been using the things I learn to spark unique and individual thought. I am ashamed of myself. I know I am capable of more than I have been doing. I was proud of my accomplishments so far but now the bar has been set higher. I want more out of my education and Emerson has opened that door to my personal greatness.
When I started reading our first assignment from de Crevecoeur I thought, “who in the world is so long winded that they can write one essay that is this many pages long?” The society and the authors that produced the literature came from a different world then we live in now. Someone pointed out to me that this was before television; this was before all of the modern technological distractions we have today. The world was more unstable and uncertain in an entirely different way. There were more unknowns, there was more that was changing and they had more time to ponder on these issues. As Dr. Brandon has told us, “Romanticism as a movement placed a tremendous value on the worth of the individual person and their ability to feel greatly, to imagine, and to sympathize. Romanticism was pivotal in providing Americans with an intellectual and artistic tradition.” The works that these authors produced played a very important role in shaping our country.
These works have had a tremendous impact on me. “To be awake is to be alive. I came to die only to discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep; to suck all the marrow out of life.” (Thoreau) I knew exactly that Thoreau was saying when he wrote that. It echoed the path I have been on for the last few years of my life. I enjoy learning and although, at times, the words of these great authors are very difficult to understand, they excite me. They inspire me to higher thinking and more fulfilled living. “It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson). If each individual lived true to the independence of solitude it would completely change society as a whole. I believe that no one person can change the world but if each individual changes then those changes can affect the whole world. Sometimes when I am out in the world I feel like a treasonous imitation of myself. I don’t know why I find it so hard to maintain that independence.
Wikipedia says that the term sublime especially refers to a greatness with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation. Poe focused on terror and horror when feeling the sublime. Dr. Brandon also shared that the sublime can be elation or joy. The reason behind the search for these moments is that at no other time do we feel more alive. Sometimes life can feel like dream. The day to day monotony can drag and feel hauntingly repetitive. These moments snap us awake from our sleep walking. They are so intense and raw with extreme emotion there is no doubt that we are alive.
I will argue for an A. At this point it would be an A-. I enjoy writing very much and I think I am quite exceptional at it. I love words and because of my love for theatre I have quite a dramatic flair. I know that I can improve on the promptness of my writing assignments. My sublime moment I wrote about temporarily blinded me to my real life responsibilities. I have refocused and prioritized so I am back on track. The quality of my writing is well above average and the quantity is always exact to the specification of the weekly assignments page. The only other thing I need to do is continue to incorporate my readings into my writings like I did at the beginning of the semester.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Nature
Why I didn’t take a walk.
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Washington state is home of the Emerald city, the Cascade mountain range, Mt. Rainier, the Puget Sound and miles of Pacific Coast shoreline and highway. It is breathtakingly beautiful. When I say that I mean stop you dead in your tracks, consciously remember to breathe and pick your jaw up off the ground beautiful.
I am spoiled, totally and completely spoiled from having grown up in such a magnificent part of the country and world for that matter. I inherited a deep seeded love for nature. For its’ beauty and all it has to offer. I am from a lower middle class family and I have six brothers and sisters. Since we didn’t have a lot of money growing up my family usually went for the free outdoor activities and for that I am truly grateful. Instead of going to Disneyland we went camping. Instead of going to amusement parks we went on day trips to the ocean. Instead of a fancy vacation we took road trips out to the Olympic Peninsula. I wouldn’t trade the experiences or the memories for any others.
I can see most of our recent readings manifest in my experiences with nature. I am my true self out in the woods. When I am swimming through icy glacial run off or hiking through a forest so green it looks like it was taken straight from Oz or the Emerald City. When I am immersed with the independence of solitude I can listen to what the earth is trying to teach me through the winds song, the sunsets vision and the feel of the breeze on my skin. When I am living a full life I become one with the mountains and I know that with enough faith I can move them. My life would not be full if I didn’t have the peace I feel from leaving the crazy modern world behind and seeking out the stillness of the outdoors. Those moments are sublime when words escape me and I am moved with emotion, to tears, at the beauty God has created and given to us, his children.
My relationship with nature is one of reverence and awe. My relationship with nature is one of peace and gratitude. My relationship with nature continues to strengthen and grow. I hope I will be able to share that relationship with my son. I hope he will grow up to know and love nature the way I do.
Why I didn’t take a walk… there are many things I wish I had time to do that I simply don’t. My days are filled with school work (being a scholar), my son (living a full life) and work (just one of those necessities). I simply didn’t have time to get out and enjoy one of the things I love the most. It is going on the “to do” list and the next time I do get out I will think of this assignment. I hope I will enjoy it even more!
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Washington state is home of the Emerald city, the Cascade mountain range, Mt. Rainier, the Puget Sound and miles of Pacific Coast shoreline and highway. It is breathtakingly beautiful. When I say that I mean stop you dead in your tracks, consciously remember to breathe and pick your jaw up off the ground beautiful.
I am spoiled, totally and completely spoiled from having grown up in such a magnificent part of the country and world for that matter. I inherited a deep seeded love for nature. For its’ beauty and all it has to offer. I am from a lower middle class family and I have six brothers and sisters. Since we didn’t have a lot of money growing up my family usually went for the free outdoor activities and for that I am truly grateful. Instead of going to Disneyland we went camping. Instead of going to amusement parks we went on day trips to the ocean. Instead of a fancy vacation we took road trips out to the Olympic Peninsula. I wouldn’t trade the experiences or the memories for any others.
I can see most of our recent readings manifest in my experiences with nature. I am my true self out in the woods. When I am swimming through icy glacial run off or hiking through a forest so green it looks like it was taken straight from Oz or the Emerald City. When I am immersed with the independence of solitude I can listen to what the earth is trying to teach me through the winds song, the sunsets vision and the feel of the breeze on my skin. When I am living a full life I become one with the mountains and I know that with enough faith I can move them. My life would not be full if I didn’t have the peace I feel from leaving the crazy modern world behind and seeking out the stillness of the outdoors. Those moments are sublime when words escape me and I am moved with emotion, to tears, at the beauty God has created and given to us, his children.
My relationship with nature is one of reverence and awe. My relationship with nature is one of peace and gratitude. My relationship with nature continues to strengthen and grow. I hope I will be able to share that relationship with my son. I hope he will grow up to know and love nature the way I do.
Why I didn’t take a walk… there are many things I wish I had time to do that I simply don’t. My days are filled with school work (being a scholar), my son (living a full life) and work (just one of those necessities). I simply didn’t have time to get out and enjoy one of the things I love the most. It is going on the “to do” list and the next time I do get out I will think of this assignment. I hope I will enjoy it even more!
Committe review and discussion Week: 6
Pennsylvania Committee review: Week 6
I, the unofficial and self appointed, Pennsylvania Committee crier ring my bell and stand up on my soap box. Greetings to one and all.
Committee member Jennie- “I started being one of those nasty girls who makes rude comments about people, who gets all caught up in the latest drama. I guess you could say I was one of those typical mean, dramatic high school girls who needed a major reality check and indeed I did receive one.” At least you learned this lesson young. It is a hard lesson to learn and some people never learn it! I am proud of you. It is not easy to admit when we are wrong and even harder to change ourselves from the inside out. “I believe that in order to live a full life you really do have to embrace everyone and everything around you. You need to try to meet every person you can, because you never know how positively that they could impact your life.” Our views on living a full life are closely related. I love your outlook.
Committee member Jon- Trying to make too many happy is one of the fastest ways to complicate your life. I think, although it is important to be unselfish and care for others, it is important to set boundaries and not try to please others at your own expense. “I face many problems in my life that I seem to make living ideally much harder. I try to make too many people happy and I do occasionally worry about menial things and tasks. I believe that most of this stems from the fact that I am a poor organizer.” I loved your statement, “ I wouldn't worry so much about my future because I would have the control to do what I needed to do instead of letting my bad habits control me.” Our bad habits can do control us. Only when we become masters of ourselves are we truly free to live our lives fully.
Committee member Connie- “I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude”. (Thoreau) I think it shows great character when some can and enjoys being alone. Many great things can happen in solitude such as discovery of self, communication with God and peace within. “That means going within your soul and search for what makes you happy, at peace, and complete. I think Thoreau experienced this as he isolated himself from society, living a simple life.” That peace is priceless when it is finally discovered. “At one time, life began to seem more like a prison than an opportunity. Not always but many times this has caused uncertainty and pain. Forgive yourself and others. This frees guilt and bitterness.” I felt like I was in a self imposed prison and there was a lot of pain because of my choices but I found hope. You talked about faith and faith is an amazing thing. I love the saying, “Our faith and attitude determine how happy we are.”
I, the unofficial and self appointed, Pennsylvania Committee crier ring my bell and stand up on my soap box. Greetings to one and all.
Committee member Jennie- “I started being one of those nasty girls who makes rude comments about people, who gets all caught up in the latest drama. I guess you could say I was one of those typical mean, dramatic high school girls who needed a major reality check and indeed I did receive one.” At least you learned this lesson young. It is a hard lesson to learn and some people never learn it! I am proud of you. It is not easy to admit when we are wrong and even harder to change ourselves from the inside out. “I believe that in order to live a full life you really do have to embrace everyone and everything around you. You need to try to meet every person you can, because you never know how positively that they could impact your life.” Our views on living a full life are closely related. I love your outlook.
Committee member Jon- Trying to make too many happy is one of the fastest ways to complicate your life. I think, although it is important to be unselfish and care for others, it is important to set boundaries and not try to please others at your own expense. “I face many problems in my life that I seem to make living ideally much harder. I try to make too many people happy and I do occasionally worry about menial things and tasks. I believe that most of this stems from the fact that I am a poor organizer.” I loved your statement, “ I wouldn't worry so much about my future because I would have the control to do what I needed to do instead of letting my bad habits control me.” Our bad habits can do control us. Only when we become masters of ourselves are we truly free to live our lives fully.
Committee member Connie- “I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude”. (Thoreau) I think it shows great character when some can and enjoys being alone. Many great things can happen in solitude such as discovery of self, communication with God and peace within. “That means going within your soul and search for what makes you happy, at peace, and complete. I think Thoreau experienced this as he isolated himself from society, living a simple life.” That peace is priceless when it is finally discovered. “At one time, life began to seem more like a prison than an opportunity. Not always but many times this has caused uncertainty and pain. Forgive yourself and others. This frees guilt and bitterness.” I felt like I was in a self imposed prison and there was a lot of pain because of my choices but I found hope. You talked about faith and faith is an amazing thing. I love the saying, “Our faith and attitude determine how happy we are.”
Reflection: Week 6
Week 6 reflection:
“To be awake is to be alive. I came to die only to discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep; to suck all the marrow out of life.” (Thoreau) Last week I was reminded of what really matters and what is essential to living the fullest life. To me this quote by Thoreau summarizes how I was living my life and how I feel now. I have completely changed the direction of my life in the last two and a half years. I wasn’t doing anything with my life. I didn’t have any goals. I wasn’t headed anywhere but to a future of misery and loneliness. Like Thoreau, I realized I was going to die and look back and see I had never really lived my life the way God intended me to. I know I have been blessed with the love of learning, with a passion for the arts and the ability to create and inspire others. I wake up in the morning excited to see what the day will bring, who I can reach out to and what ways I can make life better for me and those within my sphere of influence.
“To be awake is to be alive. I came to die only to discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep; to suck all the marrow out of life.” (Thoreau) Last week I was reminded of what really matters and what is essential to living the fullest life. To me this quote by Thoreau summarizes how I was living my life and how I feel now. I have completely changed the direction of my life in the last two and a half years. I wasn’t doing anything with my life. I didn’t have any goals. I wasn’t headed anywhere but to a future of misery and loneliness. Like Thoreau, I realized I was going to die and look back and see I had never really lived my life the way God intended me to. I know I have been blessed with the love of learning, with a passion for the arts and the ability to create and inspire others. I wake up in the morning excited to see what the day will bring, who I can reach out to and what ways I can make life better for me and those within my sphere of influence.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Sublime --
I find myself in the midst of the sublime. My heart skips a beat. Butterflies cause unease in my stomach. When I picture his face I can almost feel his lips on mine again. When we lay in each others arms it is as if the rest of the world has fallen away or stopped existing. That moment is all there is. It is all consuming. It is bliss.
The first moment I saw him, he caught my eye. In that instant I was drawn to him. Yet, I proceeded with caution and he approached me. I looked up at his handsome face and smiled into his eyes. Those eyes are captivating. Those eyes are gentle and genuine. They are a crazy green- brown and can see right into my soul. When he smiles it shows in those eyes. They do not judge; they do not assume.
Then he spoke. Could it be possible this man, this incredible individual, could give me a run for my money. He oozes enthusiasm. He is like this ball of energy and it is contagious. The evening is a whirl wind of music and lights, of smiles and laughter. The connection is instantaneous and the night marches on. A slow song together is followed by a gentle embrace. It is an embrace that communicates more than words could at that point. Confidence. Sincerity. Intrigue. Desire. Two people close to one another. Two hearts pound as the dance floor becomes our private playground.
This is just the beginning. This is the start of something wonderful, amazing and ethereal. Did God, himself, have a hand in this? Was this meeting, this union, blessed from above? I feel as if I slumbered; only remotely aware of all the goings on around me. I am awake for the first time in a long time. Life has new meaning. Endless hours of conversation are followed by days of pondering, wishing, hoping and dreaming.
Can falling in love be compared to jumping from a plane? Yes! If when you fall in love you fall all the way. If the fall into love is done with your whole heart with no walls to impede the descent, the intensity can rival that jump from a plane. Love can be all consuming and override every emotion. It can transform you and change the world around you. It is more powerful and lasts longer than the jump. It is even more frightening because a broken leg heals faster and easier than a broken heart. It is worth it. All the way!
That fall into love is more treasured than the jump. The jump is planned, scheduled and calculated. All the risks are weighted, the liability forms are signed and every precaution is taken. The fall into love can come at any moment and no one knows which corner it is waiting behind. It comes out of nowhere and grabs a hold of your heart, your mind and your soul. There is no warning. It takes you by surprise, knocks you off your feet and you never know what to expect out of this thrill ride. Climb in and hang on. Throw caution to the wind. Commit to give all of yourself to the experience and live with love in your life.
I find myself in the midst of the sublime. My heart skips a beat. Butterflies cause unease in my stomach. When I picture his face I can almost feel his lips on mine again. When we lay in each others arms it is as if the rest of the world has fallen away or stopped existing. That moment is all there is. It is all consuming. It is bliss.
The first moment I saw him, he caught my eye. In that instant I was drawn to him. Yet, I proceeded with caution and he approached me. I looked up at his handsome face and smiled into his eyes. Those eyes are captivating. Those eyes are gentle and genuine. They are a crazy green- brown and can see right into my soul. When he smiles it shows in those eyes. They do not judge; they do not assume.
Then he spoke. Could it be possible this man, this incredible individual, could give me a run for my money. He oozes enthusiasm. He is like this ball of energy and it is contagious. The evening is a whirl wind of music and lights, of smiles and laughter. The connection is instantaneous and the night marches on. A slow song together is followed by a gentle embrace. It is an embrace that communicates more than words could at that point. Confidence. Sincerity. Intrigue. Desire. Two people close to one another. Two hearts pound as the dance floor becomes our private playground.
This is just the beginning. This is the start of something wonderful, amazing and ethereal. Did God, himself, have a hand in this? Was this meeting, this union, blessed from above? I feel as if I slumbered; only remotely aware of all the goings on around me. I am awake for the first time in a long time. Life has new meaning. Endless hours of conversation are followed by days of pondering, wishing, hoping and dreaming.
Can falling in love be compared to jumping from a plane? Yes! If when you fall in love you fall all the way. If the fall into love is done with your whole heart with no walls to impede the descent, the intensity can rival that jump from a plane. Love can be all consuming and override every emotion. It can transform you and change the world around you. It is more powerful and lasts longer than the jump. It is even more frightening because a broken leg heals faster and easier than a broken heart. It is worth it. All the way!
That fall into love is more treasured than the jump. The jump is planned, scheduled and calculated. All the risks are weighted, the liability forms are signed and every precaution is taken. The fall into love can come at any moment and no one knows which corner it is waiting behind. It comes out of nowhere and grabs a hold of your heart, your mind and your soul. There is no warning. It takes you by surprise, knocks you off your feet and you never know what to expect out of this thrill ride. Climb in and hang on. Throw caution to the wind. Commit to give all of yourself to the experience and live with love in your life.
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