What personal principles did you adhere to before entering this course and where did they come from? Were they taught to you? Did you develop them on your own? How have our readings and discussions impacted those principles? Of the principles covered which are you drawn to the most and why?
Since the day I was born, I've grown and learned how to live my life through the guidance of my family and friends and from my experiences. The simple rules like "please & thank you" and being kind to others were all things that were taught to me by my parents. There are a few things, however, that I had to learn on my own. Never giving up is on principle in my life that I hold onto strongly, and it is because I've learned through things I went through in my life. I think I realized enough times that things usually get better when you push yourself, so it has sort of become like second nature. Another principle I live by (though sort of morbid) is to have fun and never take anything too seriously, because we all are going to die. Everything ends, and while that is one of the most depressing truths, it is kind of "incentive" to live life like you want to. The first reading that we did was kind of depressing, but only went on to prove my point about living and dying. One class period we talked about happiness, and how it is what we are all working for. Then we talked about attaining the highest amount of happiness, only to be doomed by the fact that things can only go downhill from there. It is mind-boggling to think of all the possible reasons not to enjoy life: you're going to die, happiness will only last so long, or there's no true definition of happiness. I choose to believe that waking up everyday is a gift, and it is easier to live life rather than wonder what will happen next.
The most interesting reading that I believe we have had so far was the one about Taoism. The principles and perspectives that they follow are amazing. I feel that a world full of Taoists would just be a world full of peace because there would be no worries or reasons to get upset. I read Tao Te Ching for my philosophy class last semester and Lao Tzu said some of the greatest quotes in that book. There was one about a burning flame- I think it said something like if it burns brighter it only lasts half as long. This follows up on the discussion we had about reaching your highest potential: you can only fall down farther. While this was my favorite reading, that doesn't go to say that the others weren't interesting. All of the perspectives that we're reading about life open my eyes to different ways of thinking about our time here on earth.
I commented on Alisa Semetis' blog. http://alisasemetis.blogspot.com/
