We were prompted to write about forgiveness today:
Can you forgive the person you hate the most in your life? How?
I'll be straightforward here- the person I hate the most in my life is Dr. Phil.
It all started years ago, when my mom was a stay at home mom. I thought I was a pretty good girl- I had just gotten the student of the month award for manners, I did my homework before I watched TV, and I tried to make my bed every day- and for the most part, my mom seemed to think so too.
And then my mom started watching Dr. Phil. The show was on weeknights at 5:00 PM, directly passing over the hour during which she made supper every night. Day after day, Dr. Phil would teach my mom how to control my uncontrollable habits and put me in my place. Dr. Phil was like the unwelcome stepdad in my home. He was worse than Super Nanny.
It was because of Dr. Phil that my mom coated my nails with hot sauce, made me stay home from the school movie night to eat my meatloaf, cut my computer time down to one hour a day and loomed over me as I brushed my teeth every morning and every night. Dr. Phil became the single restriction on my boundless freedom which I never grew to accept- and for that, I'll happily stay bitter forever.
Write about a time you were forgiven or when you forgive.
I've heard many times before- and I'm sure you have too- that true friends fight. I guess it's true, or maybe I was born with debating blood (just meet my family), because I can't think of a single friend I haven't fought with. It doesn't take much to get my blood boiling, and spend enough time with me and you'll witness it for yourself. Between my friends and I there have been countless fights quickly forgotten, but a handful were never resolved. I believe it's a way of weeding out the good ones.
Does time heal all?
No.
Is forgiveness a good thing? Why? Can it be bad?
I've racked my brain for a few examples of forgiveness as a bad thing:
- Abusive relationships. I do believe forgiving bad intentions is unhealthy.
- Forgiving for benefits. Who hasn't forgiven someone for the benefits? I'd probably take a ride home from a friend over my pride in an argument.
- When it seems appropriate. You shouldn't forgive someone to follow social standards.
- False forgiveness. Premature or unjustified forgiveness can make things awkward... I think it's called 'the elephant in the room.'
Those are a number of points in my perspective.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Comparing Upbringings
In Writer's Craft this semester we're reading The Glass Castle. I've already read the book, which makes related assignments a lot easier. It's a memoir of the life of author Jeannette Walls, whose unpredictable and controversial upbringing always leads to classroom discussion (for that reason, I'd suggest it to teachers).
My teacher asked us to write about our own childhood in comparison to that of Jeannette's- definitely a topic thick with contrast. Jeannette was raised with a sense of adventure and danger and recklessness. I'm tentative to show envy of some aspects of Jeannette's life- she demonstrates a certain gumption that I'd rather earn in alternative ways. Her life is ruled by a very definite unpredictability. I imagine only those who've read the book can fully grasp this oxymoron. It keeps the reader turning pages even after recurring paraphrases of the veritable lie, "Everything's fine now."
To write a thoughtful response to the topic at hand, I had to consider my own situation. I found it difficult to find myself in a land of dreamers, where readers find their own lives becoming the story. Readers often believe a situation as romantic as Jeannette's can only be found in stories- although I like to believe the heart of the memoir isn't captivating in going-ons, but rather in impeccable writing. If we take the vivid descriptions and momentum of plot from The Glass Castle, we're left only with the drab in-between which we all experience in the bulk of our lives. The part that isn't worth writing about.
Albeit my apparent hesitance to admit it, there are a few things I envy of Jeannette's life. She's been many places, she's tried many things (how many other kids have gotten to pet a cheetah?), and she's lived many hardfalls. The obvious things. Realistically, there are a few aspects of her life which I believe could be translated to my own life, which I felt the most effective. For one, the Walls family has a knack for leaving things behind.
We had an in-class excercise last week in which we had to write all the things we would bring if we had 10 minutes to pack the car. It didn't surprise me that everyone chose the same 'necessities': phones, wallets, clothes, pets, food. Some mentionned sentimental belongings. Everyone was more than amused by the excercise; we all knew it was unrealistic. Here is where I see some of the strongest contrast between our own lives and those of the Walls family. What's unrealistic for us is simply living for the Walls.
Living by this example could be a healthy improvement for the vast majority of people like us- people living in cities and suburbs- people with money. We could all clear our lives of the needless, redistribute and reconsider what clouds our homes and our minds. Letting go is a life skill that our consumerist nation can learn from the example of the Walls family.
My teacher asked us to write about our own childhood in comparison to that of Jeannette's- definitely a topic thick with contrast. Jeannette was raised with a sense of adventure and danger and recklessness. I'm tentative to show envy of some aspects of Jeannette's life- she demonstrates a certain gumption that I'd rather earn in alternative ways. Her life is ruled by a very definite unpredictability. I imagine only those who've read the book can fully grasp this oxymoron. It keeps the reader turning pages even after recurring paraphrases of the veritable lie, "Everything's fine now."
To write a thoughtful response to the topic at hand, I had to consider my own situation. I found it difficult to find myself in a land of dreamers, where readers find their own lives becoming the story. Readers often believe a situation as romantic as Jeannette's can only be found in stories- although I like to believe the heart of the memoir isn't captivating in going-ons, but rather in impeccable writing. If we take the vivid descriptions and momentum of plot from The Glass Castle, we're left only with the drab in-between which we all experience in the bulk of our lives. The part that isn't worth writing about.
Albeit my apparent hesitance to admit it, there are a few things I envy of Jeannette's life. She's been many places, she's tried many things (how many other kids have gotten to pet a cheetah?), and she's lived many hardfalls. The obvious things. Realistically, there are a few aspects of her life which I believe could be translated to my own life, which I felt the most effective. For one, the Walls family has a knack for leaving things behind.
We had an in-class excercise last week in which we had to write all the things we would bring if we had 10 minutes to pack the car. It didn't surprise me that everyone chose the same 'necessities': phones, wallets, clothes, pets, food. Some mentionned sentimental belongings. Everyone was more than amused by the excercise; we all knew it was unrealistic. Here is where I see some of the strongest contrast between our own lives and those of the Walls family. What's unrealistic for us is simply living for the Walls.
Living by this example could be a healthy improvement for the vast majority of people like us- people living in cities and suburbs- people with money. We could all clear our lives of the needless, redistribute and reconsider what clouds our homes and our minds. Letting go is a life skill that our consumerist nation can learn from the example of the Walls family.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Here I am!
I'm Kaylie Benner, a graduating high school student aiming for a bachelor in applied arts and animation. I'll be documenting my day-to-day life in classic blog-style. Expect artwork along the way.
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