Dear Reading Groups,
It's really sad that John's dad passed away because of his illness. He has a collection of coins and hid it in the backyard. He told John to find it in the backyard and he did. He found the 1926 D buffalo nickel and there was lots of different coins. He always talked about coins because he had lots of different story about each of them. John was surprised by finding all his father's collection. It will probably worth a lot of money. John was upset because his dad left him. He had a simple funeral and then went to his own house.
John came back from the trip and visit Savannah. Savannah was married to Tim. I felt bad for John to see that Savannah had a ring on her finger. When John came back, Tim was having an illness on the back of his body. Tim has a brother named Alan. I felt sorry for Alan and Savannah because they are scared that Tim is not going to make it. It is really depressing that Alan and Savannah has to face it to Tim. I felt bad for Tim too because he was a nice man. I didn't even know he would have an illness too like John's dad. I felt terrible for Tim to have such an illness.
John sold his dad's collection of coins to the people because he wanted to help Tim by paying the treatments. John felt happy that he wanted to see Savannah and Tim are being happy through the life. Also for Alan too. I didn't even know John would do that for them. John understand what is true love. He does not want to be a third person and ruining the marriage just for him. I think it is great for John to understand what is true love.
Your friend,
Vicky
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Definition of Happiness
The standard definition of happiness is that it is a condition of supreme well-being and good spirits. There can be many definitions of the word happiness. It can be applied to many examples. Many people are often in search of happiness.
One meaning can be explained when someone tells a joke. If one finds the joke funny, they laugh. This condition of happiness is the most temporary one, for it only lasts a moment. No one will be affected deeply into their emotions by a joke. It is more like a comical relief.
Another way of happiness is when something good happens to someone. Maybe getting a good grade on a test or getting a raise at work. This kind of happiness usually comes from personal accomplishment. One will be happy if they know they did something good. They do not necessarily have to be rewarded to
feel happy. For example, some people find happiness in just living a good life, a life of piety.
Often, people may find happiness in the simplest of things. Maybe being alone in nature or playing with a puppy will provide happiness. One may or may not show their feeling of happiness. Sometimes their happiness is just a feeling of contentment, while other times they may actually be smiling. Lifelong happiness is something many people strive to achieve.
As happiness arrives at a personnel level therefore there is no precise definition of happiness. It is basically a personnel feeling and it can be triggered at different situations. Some of these situations are like; happiness is where there is no fear in your heart. Happiness is where you are on top of the world. Happiness could be where confidence flows. Happiness is peace of mind. Happiness is opposite to you; therefore it is a temporary stage of not being yourself.
Everyone defines happiness according to their personal perspectives. Each individual describes their inner feelings in a way that you can't compare with another. Happiness originally and logically means the inner state of well being or a pleasurable or satisfying experience. It enables you to profit from your highest: thoughts, wisdom, intelligence, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values in your life. What makes you happy and what makes me happy are different things. Whatever it is that gives you warm fuzzes is determined by you, and only you. This difference is what makes the world interesting.
Most of the happiness that we experience comes from the feeling of love. So many people look to their love relationships, especially marriage to give them the happiness that they cannot find on their own. Love is not enough to provide happiness, then there must be many frustrated lovers in the world. The belief that love guaranteed happiness is left over from the ideology of romantic love that tells us we will live happily ever after if we can only find the right person with whom to spend our life with. If we realize that love by itself will not bring happiness, then hopefully we will be more tolerant of the imperfections of those we love. If our relationships have their problems and if those we love do not always meet our expectations, it doesn't mean that we have lost our chance for happiness. When we do not expect love to give us the happiness we seen, there will be more room for forgiveness of the imperfections and problems that always accompany love.
One meaning can be explained when someone tells a joke. If one finds the joke funny, they laugh. This condition of happiness is the most temporary one, for it only lasts a moment. No one will be affected deeply into their emotions by a joke. It is more like a comical relief.
Another way of happiness is when something good happens to someone. Maybe getting a good grade on a test or getting a raise at work. This kind of happiness usually comes from personal accomplishment. One will be happy if they know they did something good. They do not necessarily have to be rewarded to
feel happy. For example, some people find happiness in just living a good life, a life of piety.
Often, people may find happiness in the simplest of things. Maybe being alone in nature or playing with a puppy will provide happiness. One may or may not show their feeling of happiness. Sometimes their happiness is just a feeling of contentment, while other times they may actually be smiling. Lifelong happiness is something many people strive to achieve.
As happiness arrives at a personnel level therefore there is no precise definition of happiness. It is basically a personnel feeling and it can be triggered at different situations. Some of these situations are like; happiness is where there is no fear in your heart. Happiness is where you are on top of the world. Happiness could be where confidence flows. Happiness is peace of mind. Happiness is opposite to you; therefore it is a temporary stage of not being yourself.
Everyone defines happiness according to their personal perspectives. Each individual describes their inner feelings in a way that you can't compare with another. Happiness originally and logically means the inner state of well being or a pleasurable or satisfying experience. It enables you to profit from your highest: thoughts, wisdom, intelligence, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values in your life. What makes you happy and what makes me happy are different things. Whatever it is that gives you warm fuzzes is determined by you, and only you. This difference is what makes the world interesting.
Most of the happiness that we experience comes from the feeling of love. So many people look to their love relationships, especially marriage to give them the happiness that they cannot find on their own. Love is not enough to provide happiness, then there must be many frustrated lovers in the world. The belief that love guaranteed happiness is left over from the ideology of romantic love that tells us we will live happily ever after if we can only find the right person with whom to spend our life with. If we realize that love by itself will not bring happiness, then hopefully we will be more tolerant of the imperfections of those we love. If our relationships have their problems and if those we love do not always meet our expectations, it doesn't mean that we have lost our chance for happiness. When we do not expect love to give us the happiness we seen, there will be more room for forgiveness of the imperfections and problems that always accompany love.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Letter 2
Dear Reading Groups,
I enjoyed the book because it's a love story between John and Savannah. I agree with Rebeckah saying that Savannah fell in love with another men instead of John. Anyways, John knew it was coming and their relationship was becoming distant. A lot of my friends said that John and Savannah are not going to be together for a long time because they don't have the feelings for each other. I thought John and Savannah are going to last forever but I was wrong about it. I was wondering, if John and Savannah were close distant, would they still be together or not break up?
The relationship with John and his father are getting along and being talkative to one another. They seem happy because they usually don't talk that often. I am proud that John and his father are having a great time chatting. When Savannah came to John's house to meet his dad, Savannah knew that his father got aspergers. So Savannah gave a book to John because she wants John to understand his father's situation. I knew why John was mad because he didn't think his father would have an illness. I didn't even think his father has a type of illness. After John cool down, he finally understood what's the situation about and started to read the book. That's how things get along with him and his father.
My prediction for the last part is that something bad is going to happen. My friends said the end of the book is kind of sad and it won't be a happy endings. They also said it will be a sad endings. Anyways, I hope I can finished the book because I really wants to know what's going to happen next.
Hope you guys have a fun time reading the book!
Sincerely,
Vicky
I enjoyed the book because it's a love story between John and Savannah. I agree with Rebeckah saying that Savannah fell in love with another men instead of John. Anyways, John knew it was coming and their relationship was becoming distant. A lot of my friends said that John and Savannah are not going to be together for a long time because they don't have the feelings for each other. I thought John and Savannah are going to last forever but I was wrong about it. I was wondering, if John and Savannah were close distant, would they still be together or not break up?
The relationship with John and his father are getting along and being talkative to one another. They seem happy because they usually don't talk that often. I am proud that John and his father are having a great time chatting. When Savannah came to John's house to meet his dad, Savannah knew that his father got aspergers. So Savannah gave a book to John because she wants John to understand his father's situation. I knew why John was mad because he didn't think his father would have an illness. I didn't even think his father has a type of illness. After John cool down, he finally understood what's the situation about and started to read the book. That's how things get along with him and his father.
My prediction for the last part is that something bad is going to happen. My friends said the end of the book is kind of sad and it won't be a happy endings. They also said it will be a sad endings. Anyways, I hope I can finished the book because I really wants to know what's going to happen next.
Hope you guys have a fun time reading the book!
Sincerely,
Vicky
Friday, March 12, 2010
Definition of Friendship
Friendship is not simply a "relationship", knowing someone, conversing with that person, or dealing with that person in business, school, or in casual acquaintance. True friendship is not just a "relationship", but self-sacrificing love. A friend is also one who supports, sympathizes, and is a person in whom you can confide. There are unique qualities that a person must have to be considered a friend. When I think about what makes someone a good friend, I think about all the characteristics of my own friends. My personal definition of a friend, is someone who is always looking out for me, and will help me if I’m in trouble. A friend has to be someone I trust and who trusts me in return. Another important characteristic in a friend is someone who I can talk to, and makes me laugh.
To have friendship is to have comfort. In times of crisis and depression, a friend is there to calm us and to help lift up our spirits. There are many illustrations that show why a friend can be a great comforter. For example, if a student is going through a hard time at school, a friend can offer guidance, encouragement and support. A true friend is also someone who loves and respects us.
An acquaintance is not automatically considered a friend. Just because you know someone does not mean there is an instant friendship.This does not mean that an acquaintance cannot change into a valued friendship. There are qualities that a friend must have, but time is also a factor. A friendship can develop in as short as a day, or it could take as long as a few years for full development. In the end, if time is taken for full development, then a real friendship will develop. The main way that trust is built up is with time. When you and a friend have trust, there will usually be a strong friendship. If you can’t trust each other then it is impossible to establish a strong relationship.
When I was very young, I was told not to talk to strangers. Even though I understood the potential for danger, I couldn’t help thinking I might miss out on getting to know someone important if I didn’t extend my friendship. In church, I would peek my head over the pews and smile at one or two people. Most people would smile back at me, and there was not a better feeling in the world! As a child, my definition of friendship included the relationships I had with anyone who smiled back at me.
In junior high school, it became more difficult to acquire and maintain friends. At the time, I felt I was the only one experiencing constant friendship changes. In retrospect, all young people are subjected to the ever-changing nature of children who define and redefine friendship, experiment with identity, and frequently imagine themselves as a different people. We defined ourselves by our dress and speech and by our “cliques.” People were often accessories to their moods. Hearts were broken, but hearts usually healed quickly.
Thus, few people maintain strong friendships with childhood buddies. The children we played sports with or copied our homework from became unique individuals, developing and pursuing diverse relationships. Our paths crossed early on, we grew, and moved on. Every friendship should offer that invaluable opportunity to grow, emotionally connect to another person, and to discern when that connection can carry one through a brief period of life or throughout our entire life.
To have friendship is to have comfort. In times of crisis and depression, a friend is there to calm us and to help lift up our spirits. There are many illustrations that show why a friend can be a great comforter. For example, if a student is going through a hard time at school, a friend can offer guidance, encouragement and support. A true friend is also someone who loves and respects us.
An acquaintance is not automatically considered a friend. Just because you know someone does not mean there is an instant friendship.This does not mean that an acquaintance cannot change into a valued friendship. There are qualities that a friend must have, but time is also a factor. A friendship can develop in as short as a day, or it could take as long as a few years for full development. In the end, if time is taken for full development, then a real friendship will develop. The main way that trust is built up is with time. When you and a friend have trust, there will usually be a strong friendship. If you can’t trust each other then it is impossible to establish a strong relationship.
When I was very young, I was told not to talk to strangers. Even though I understood the potential for danger, I couldn’t help thinking I might miss out on getting to know someone important if I didn’t extend my friendship. In church, I would peek my head over the pews and smile at one or two people. Most people would smile back at me, and there was not a better feeling in the world! As a child, my definition of friendship included the relationships I had with anyone who smiled back at me.
In junior high school, it became more difficult to acquire and maintain friends. At the time, I felt I was the only one experiencing constant friendship changes. In retrospect, all young people are subjected to the ever-changing nature of children who define and redefine friendship, experiment with identity, and frequently imagine themselves as a different people. We defined ourselves by our dress and speech and by our “cliques.” People were often accessories to their moods. Hearts were broken, but hearts usually healed quickly.
Thus, few people maintain strong friendships with childhood buddies. The children we played sports with or copied our homework from became unique individuals, developing and pursuing diverse relationships. Our paths crossed early on, we grew, and moved on. Every friendship should offer that invaluable opportunity to grow, emotionally connect to another person, and to discern when that connection can carry one through a brief period of life or throughout our entire life.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Letter
Dear Reading Group,
The novel of the book I read is called “Dear John” by Nicholas Sparks. The first part I had read was good because it was about life and relationship. There was a guy named John Tyree and a girl named Savannah Lynn Curtis. They met at the beach because Savannah lost her purse in the ocean, and John helped her picked it up. That is how they met each other. In my opinion, I think John Tyree is in love with Savannah Lynn Curtis. Also, I think that John Tyree will have a better relationship with his father.
My favorite part was when John and Savannah first met. Savannah invites John to volunteer to help the poor. They went and Savannah introduces John to her friends. After for a while, they both tell each other about themselves. When John told Savannah about his dad, she wanted to meet his dad. So John brought her to see his dad because Savannah was so curious about the story of his dad’s coins collection. Savannah told John about her parents and childhood. Savannah has two parents that are educated. It looks like John really likes Savannah.
The part I think it was sad is when John and his father doesn’t talk much every single day. They are silence during dinner and the day. They wouldn’t have deeper conversation. It sounds like they are friends when they say hi to each other. They talked about coins because that’s the only thing his dad says more. I wish they could talk more by asking each other their business so they can understand what's going on.
I am really interested in this book because it's about teen's and father's relationship. I wonder what will happen next. I predict that John and Savannah are going out and having a fun time together. Also I predict that John and his father will have more things to talk about.
Sincerely,
Vicky
Friday, March 5, 2010
Definition of Pride
Any great accomplishment can make someone feel proud about their work. It makes one feel good; it raises a person’s spirits. There are also the bad points of pride one must consider, before being proud. Pride can deceive a person into being ambitious, and make them strive for something that is not rightfully theirs. Pride can also cause a bad relationship with the people one loves most. Pride can lead to much worse things; it can put a person in a position to be their ultimate cause of their death. A real pride is also allegiance.
Pride is not a bad attribute to have, it is actually very important. One definition for pride is: A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect. Self respect is a very good quality to have, however, there's such thing as too much of a good thing. This is especially the case if you are a hero in a Greek play that has too much pride. Pride is the most central flaw in Greek tragedy, even in heroes. In the plays, "The Odyssey", Odysseus' pride causes them unnecessary problems that could have been easily avoided if they had just kept their pride in check.
In "The Odyssey", Odysseus is the hero with excessive pride. Excessive pride was such a common theme in tales about heroes it got its own name, hubris. These heroes are very concerned with making sure others will hear of their fantastic deeds and this is exactly what gets Odysseus into trouble. He disregards the safety of his crew because his pride blinds him from thinking of the consequences. This causes many hardships during his voyage home which could have been easily avoided, but he let his pride get him and his crew into trouble when he shouts at the Cyclopes. "Cyclopes, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca!". It seems as if Odysseus must brag after doing anything notable. If Odysseus would have kept his mouth shut, he may have escaped Poseidon and all of men wouldn't have been killed. This action set off a chain of events that could have been avoided. He would have made it home much earlier cutting of years of travel time. He would have saved the lives of his men sailing with him. Also making it home earlier would have stopped the suitors taking too much advantage of his wife's and son's hospitality and home.
A real pride is allegiance to people, places, feelings, beliefs, points of view, ideals, principles. This is about allegiance to honesty, dignity and inner strength. It is all about staying the person you are under any circumstances, which implies knowing who you are and what qualities you possess. If a person is faithful to her own loved ones and friends, if her opinion about them does not change under the influence of any factors, if her beliefs are profound and her deed are in a harmony with her words, then the person can be proud of himself. Allegiance has honesty and devotion as its integral part. So, a person that is devoted to her opinions till the very is worth of being proud of. This is why pride is allegiance.
But its major aspect is that the subject of pride has to bring positive changes to the life of the person and to the world around her. Whether it is a family, a job or allegiance, it is always about staying on top of things: living in harmony with the family, achieving self-realization through having a job or being honest and devoted to people and feelings. Each of these is pride and pride is all these things at the same time.
Pride is not a bad attribute to have, it is actually very important. One definition for pride is: A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect. Self respect is a very good quality to have, however, there's such thing as too much of a good thing. This is especially the case if you are a hero in a Greek play that has too much pride. Pride is the most central flaw in Greek tragedy, even in heroes. In the plays, "The Odyssey", Odysseus' pride causes them unnecessary problems that could have been easily avoided if they had just kept their pride in check.
In "The Odyssey", Odysseus is the hero with excessive pride. Excessive pride was such a common theme in tales about heroes it got its own name, hubris. These heroes are very concerned with making sure others will hear of their fantastic deeds and this is exactly what gets Odysseus into trouble. He disregards the safety of his crew because his pride blinds him from thinking of the consequences. This causes many hardships during his voyage home which could have been easily avoided, but he let his pride get him and his crew into trouble when he shouts at the Cyclopes. "Cyclopes, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes' son, whose home's on Ithaca!". It seems as if Odysseus must brag after doing anything notable. If Odysseus would have kept his mouth shut, he may have escaped Poseidon and all of men wouldn't have been killed. This action set off a chain of events that could have been avoided. He would have made it home much earlier cutting of years of travel time. He would have saved the lives of his men sailing with him. Also making it home earlier would have stopped the suitors taking too much advantage of his wife's and son's hospitality and home.
A real pride is allegiance to people, places, feelings, beliefs, points of view, ideals, principles. This is about allegiance to honesty, dignity and inner strength. It is all about staying the person you are under any circumstances, which implies knowing who you are and what qualities you possess. If a person is faithful to her own loved ones and friends, if her opinion about them does not change under the influence of any factors, if her beliefs are profound and her deed are in a harmony with her words, then the person can be proud of himself. Allegiance has honesty and devotion as its integral part. So, a person that is devoted to her opinions till the very is worth of being proud of. This is why pride is allegiance.
But its major aspect is that the subject of pride has to bring positive changes to the life of the person and to the world around her. Whether it is a family, a job or allegiance, it is always about staying on top of things: living in harmony with the family, achieving self-realization through having a job or being honest and devoted to people and feelings. Each of these is pride and pride is all these things at the same time.
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