Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind!

This week, so far, the readings have all been very good and thought provoking.  But the reading that I got the most out of was a segment of writing by Helen Keller, at the end of the 5th chapter.  Its entitled Three Days to See.  

Helen Keller was an amazing individual.  She overcame more than anyone else ever had up to that point in history, and she didn't take life lying down.  I think that most people if they were born blind and deaf would pity themselves... and make excuses for themselves.  But Helen rose above any expectations people had for her and then kept on rising.  She is far smarter than I am... and I have both my hearing and sight.  She is an inspiration for everyone, not just the blind and deaf... but those of us who have our hearing and sight and don't use them to their full potential!

In her writing three day's to see she discusses how sad it is that those of us who can see rarely do see.  She speaks of an encounter she had with a friend who took a walk through the woods and when Helen asked her what she saw her friend replied "nothing in particular" Helen was blown away by this because when she took walks through the woods she would learn so much just by feel.  Just by touching a tree trunk she could tell what it was and if a bird was singing in that tree she could feel the vibrations from the song in the trunk! she writes "at times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things.  If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight!".  Helen then says something that i love! she says "long ago I became convinced that the seeing see little"! It is so true!

Helen then goes onto describe what she would see if she only had three days to see.  The first day she would spend with friends.  She would look at their faces but especially into their eyes so she could see into their souls.  She would look at her dogs that were so loyal to her and brought her so much joy.  And that night she would watch the sunset and the beautiful colors that nature can create.  The second day she would watch the sunrise, and then spend the day in museums... looking at the whole of human history, and the whole of human art! That night she would spend at the theater watching a movie or a show as she so often desired to do.  And the third day she would spend in the city... watching the people run around and seeing technology at its finest.  

She ends with saying "I who am blind can give one hint to those who see ... Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind."

She is amazing! she inspires me to want to learn more... to want to be better... and to be more grateful for what I have!  If she who is blind and deaf can know so much about literature, about art, about history, and about the human soul and nature, then the only thing that is keeping me from learning this much is my own self.  I can be my best friend or my worst enemy when it comes to learning about the humanities and other fields of interest!  I want to be a smart individual who knows how to look at high art, ballet, and classical music! I want to read literature and poetry and be able to discover the many meanings hidden in them! I hope that one day after I die I can meet Helen Keller and look into her eyes and tell her that I did not take my blessings for granted.  I did not waste my sight on things of no worth.  That would be an amazing statement to honestly be able to say.  That is one of my goals in life... to live as if tomorrow I would be stricken blind!

Cultural To Do List

This is my current Cultural Event list for the summer... Cultural Event List:

Week 1: Farmers Market

Week 2: Monday the 29^th Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat

Week 3: BYU Museum of Art Dan Steinhilber exhibition

Week 4: children’s matinees in the park

Week 5: Deer Valley Music Festival

Week 6: Muse film screening

Week 7: August 8 Dance Sport at BYU WSC Ballroom

Week 8: Farmers market

The Farmers Market: a beautiful hidden gem of the world!!!

So, for my first cultural event of the semester I went to Provo's Farmers Market.  And let me tell you, that place is AMAZING!  I don't think you could find so many different cultures of crafts and food jammed together in such a small place anywhere else! 

There were so many interesting booths.  There was something there for everyone: Crafts, Music, Homemade soaps made of goats milk, (i never knew that even existed! haha) and my favorite part... the food! 

There were soooooo many wonderful smells! From middle eastern cuisine, to thai food, mexican food, and tropical drinks there! Basically I wanted everything that I saw, and that was ok because every stand had samples!  I sampled a smoothie stand, a salsa stand, a woodfire pizza oven, and a plum b-b-q sauce.  But in the end I got an egg role at the thai food stand for 50 cents... it was served in a small amount of red sweet sauce which made it delicious! And then my appetite was drawn to a taco stand that served tacos for $1.50.  These tacos were fantastic! They reminded me of authentic taco's from mexico... very similar to ones that I ate when I went on a cruise down to Mexico a long time ago.  I next stopped at the salsa stand and bought a quart of mild homemade salsa! I am so excited to get some chips and snack on that over the next week! The last thing I bought was a homemade pineapple drink to have with my taco. All in all I spent $9.00 and was completely stuffed full of deliciousness! 

I saw a girl on the sidewalk playing her violin for the crowds that walked by.  She had her violin stand open and people were tossing one dollar bills into it to show her their appreciation for her musical talent.  That is so neat that she has the confidence to play her music in front of all those people like that.  I play the guitar and it is hard for me to have the confidence to play and sing for others.  

I was amazed by all of the talented people that were there selling their arts and crafts.  It was fun to see all of the different talents that can be found just in Utah!  And who knows... maybe i'll get out there with my guitar sometime and try my luck with the crowds at the Farmers Market!

I'm excited now!

After reading the assigned reading in the text for class today (Wednesday) I am really excited to begin studying Humanities!!!  There were so many interesting things in the first 4 chapters... and that is only the introduction to the course!  The book did a very good job of convincing me of the importance of Humanities to the human race.  With out the humanites we would not be where we are today, scientifically or socially. 

I found the section on the Sophic and Mantic sides of man to be very interesting.  Mainly because my fiance and I were just discussing how we were different in the way that we thought about the world around us, and now I can put words to our different brain types!  He is definitely a Sophic thinker! haha! He is very analytical and practical in the way that he approaches decisions, and he is very good at legistics... he can see the small details that need to be done and get them done.  This is very good! mainly because I am the oposite of this! haha I am the mantic one in the relationship.  I am very emotional in the way that I approach decisions.  I tend to act through my heart, and my instinct.  Not necessarily my head.  This can be a good thing in some instances... for example I am able to sympathize with people very easily... I can also follow ideas and feeling much easier without needing physical proof to back them up.  But it can also be a bad thing... I let my emotions get the best of me in many situations and I have a hard time admitting i'm wrong when I feel very strongly about things... even when I really am wrong! haha But i'm working on it and hopefully one day I'll get better at it!

1st day of class!

I have never been a blogger... however, I'm very excited to start now! This will be a fun semester and a fun assignment! Hopefully I get the hang of blogging!

When I entered my humanities class today I honestly did not know what to expect.  I was not sure what you studied in humanities.  Was it history? or perhaps poetry? I was very surprised to find out that it was possibly a combination of both, but that it also included zombies, art, books, TV shows, and my favorite, music (of all types!).  I still have a lot to learn about humanities and all that is involved in the study of humanities, but from just the small amount we talked about today I am starting to realize the full importance that it holds in our secondary studies at BYU.   

We watched a performance online and analyzed it.  It was fun to look at all the different aspects of the performance.  From the outfits of the performers, to the words of the song.  All of these things are important to the complete meaning of the work of art.  Like an art masterpiece, TV shows, and music are all meant to convey a meaning from the artist to his or her audience.  Everything involved with the piece of work are important and can relate it to everyday life and people.

Again I state that I do not know hardly anything about Humanities yet, but hopefully over the next 7 weeks I will learn more and start to more fully appreciate all that is involved with it!