For your new blog response, complete the latest TIB readings and then answer ALL 3 of the following questions here:
1) In "Peace Begins with One Person," the author talks about a time she buys breakfast for a customer at the diner where she works. She then discusses what happens after that event. Have you ever seen/committed a similar random act of kindness and been surprised by the results?
2) In his essay "Do What You Love," pro skateboarder Tony Hawk says "You might not make it to the top, but if you are doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous." Although you don't have to decide on a career yet, you're probably already thinking and wondering about what you would like to do after you finish college. At this point, do you agree or disagree with Hawk's statement?
3) In "Combating the Tyranny of the Positive Attitude," Barbara Held makes the surprising argument that being positive is *not* always the best thing. After reading through her reasons, do you agree/disagree with her argument?
Length: 1 paragraph per question
Due: Before our next regular class meeting
Reminders:--> If you haven't already, please do sign up for your conference with me. Don't be late--your conference will count as your class attendance for Thursday (since we are *not* having regular class on 3/11).
--> Sarah is having walk-in hours in the Tutoring Center on Thursday from 12-2. This is a great chance to get further feedback as you think about how to revise Paper #2.
--> Don't worry about the HW assignment on the calendar that says This I Believe reflection. By answering the above questions, you are reflecting on your reading.
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1) The last random act of kindess I can think of that I committed inlvolved walking a good distance to get my manager at work a glass of water from starbucks that had no ice in it, she didn't like ice. I wasn't surpised by the results, but I could understand that she was grateful for what I did for her. Even if it was for a silly thing like that.
ReplyDelete2) I totally agree with Tony's statment. Find something that you enjoy doing, and just do it. If its exciting and something that you love, its all worth doing. No matter how much money you make or not, doing something you love probably has a stronger outcome of happiness over doing something just for money.
3) I agree with Held's argument. To make people themselves, they really should be what they are made of. Being yourself could have a negative or positive outlook on the rest of society. But as long as you're yourself, you shouldn't have a hard timing caring and trying to fit in with everyone else.
1.I feel that it is important to commit unconditional acts of kindness because it seems that they are more likely to be returned if I do so. I don't do it for this reason though. The reason is that I hope that someone will turn around and do the same for someone else.
ReplyDelete2.I agree with Tony Hawk one hundred percent in that you should aspire to be great in a field you find worthwhile, regardless of what anyone says. I am in a band that I know will never get a record deal, but that's not why I do it. I do it because I love music.
3.I didn't even have to read her arguments to know that a positive attitude can be far more damaging than what you are trying to cover up with it. I am in no way saying that it is bad to have a positive attitude, but to fake one in the eyes of negativity or depression almost drains what little energy one has left. I feel that it is peoples unwillingness to deal with others who aren't cheerful that leads us to force ourselves into this false person who appears to be fine but is in desperate need of some T.L.C.
1.) I believe that it is our goal to do some kind of act of kindness everyday, whether it is borrowing someone a pencil in class or taking your elderly neighbors trash cans up from the curb for them. I think that once you do something nice for someone else they will be more likely to reciprocate, not just to you but to anyone. The only time I get surprised by the out come of an act of kindness is when someone is ungrateful for it.
ReplyDelete2.) I defiantly agree with Tony Hawk’s statement. I think that if you’re doing what you love to do with your life, it doesn’t matter if you become rich or successful. You need to have a deep passion for the career that you choose and keep trying to improve. Although, I think you can’t just say “well I like video games, why don’t I turn that into a career” and then just think that playing them all day will work out. You actually have to have some long term goals to support yourself and your family and try somehow to turn that into a career.
3.) I don’t agree with Barbara Held because I believe that a positive attitude can overcome anything. I don’t think that being a positive or negative person is deeply imbedded into your DNA. I believe that you can choose to have a positive or negative outlook on any situation. Also that if you try to look at things in a more positive way everyone, not just yourself, will be happier. I don’t think that you should put up a fake front about being positive but just try and actually change you way of thinking about the situation.
1. I can think of a few nice acts of kindness I have seen/committed. Last week or two I was leaving my friend's apartment and an older woman was carrying a bag full of trash. She wasn't able to open the gate or also throw the trash over the garbage bin. So I offered to do both. I know it wasn't much but I can tell how thoughtful it was by the way she thanked me.
ReplyDelete2. I do agree with Tony Hawk's statement. Although being rich and successful is something everyone wants in life, it is better to do something you have passion for and enjoy doing every day. You will be far more happy in life waking up and enjoying what you do rather than it be a drag going to work every day. Finding what you love and doing it can make your life that much better.
3. I believe that everyone should try to have a positive attitude all the time. Although, I do not think you should force yourself to be positive and have to pretend in front of others. Everyone controls their emotions differently. If people have a negative attitude towards something it can possibly be that they truely are not happy at the moment and really aren't positive for that situation. This probably makes me sound negative but it is just what I think. So in a way, I do agree, BUT disagree in some situations.
1)My most recent random act of kindness came the other day when I noticed my moms tires were getting bald and I offered her money to replace the tire's. They weren't cheap and I knew that she would not be able to replace them herself. I was not surprised by her reaction, I knew that she would be grateful
ReplyDelete2)I don't really agree with Tony Hawks statement that you should pick a career in life that you really enjoy even if your not making that much money. I feel that its very easy to say something like that when you get to ride around on skateboards all day and make millions of dollars, therefore his Tony Hawks opinion is not credible to me. I would much rather be miserable at work and come home to my mansion.
3)I am a very realistic person so therefore I do agree with Held's argument. I feel that you its never good to be fake and put on a front, you should always be yourself. Its pretty simple to me, if you feel positively about a certain situation than that is how you should feel, but there is no need to force yourself to think positively about something that you can be realistic about to know the outcome.
1) I work at a movie theater, and see many people come and go. A man came in and wanted to watch a movie. He asked for a ticket, and I told him the total cost. He said he didn't have the total amount. The old man seemed sad and tired, so I just gave him a pass and told him not to tell on me with a smile. He smiled at me like I had just handed him a hundred bucks. It felt great to see that something as simple as, a free movie ticket, could change a persons day.
ReplyDelete2)I agree with Tony Hawk, when he says to do what you love, even if you don't make a lot of money. Money doesn't make you happy, it can add to your happiness, but if you're alone, it can only last for so long. I grew up in a family without a lot of money. My dad used to tell me, "we may not have a lot of money, but we have a lot of love." I like to try and live by that saying. So many people have a lot of money, but not much love in their lives and therefore unhappy.
3) I agree with Barbra Held's argument. I definitely have experience in that area. It's hard to smile and be positive, when your whole life is falling apart around you. It never helps to keep all of your sadness and emotions inside. The sadness will pile up, and you'll end up having an emotional breakdown. There is always hope for happiness again, but you have to deal with your feelings first. It helps to be sad and cry for a bit. A person can only keep up a brave face for so long.