My Teachers #2

My Teachers: Patricia (My Mother)

A native Floridan, my mother was country to the bone, and stuck in the cycle of wealth that comes with having a father in construction work.  By eight years old she was practically independent, knowing how to cook, clean, fish, and hunt for herself.  Raised with four other siblings she also knew learned to fight, a skill she still possesses today unfortunately.  Although very opinionated and loud, she revels in respect for higher authority and demands the up most best from her children.

"Blood's thicker than water, but mud can get rid of both of them."

My Mother's twist on two classic quotes, was used during family crisis.  It implies that though family and friends are important, they are not here forever.  This quote reminds me to never hold a grudge, not be easily offended, and not let things separate one from whats truly important.  Her ability to see past the petty squabbles that drown life like the ocean to the dilapidated cruiser, amazes me.  Arguments have been dropped faster than they were started for someone in need, and it shows how empathetic she is.  This is what I learned from my mother, the need to care for anybody in need at the risk of your own safety.

My Teachers #1

My Teachers: Michael (My Father)

My father was a city boy born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota; unfortunately making me a Vikings fan; he went military after college.  He traveled for the first few years of marriage with my Mom, and still travels after resigning from the military.  Currently, he works in Djibouti, Africa while my Brother, Mother, and I live in the states.

"Life's hard, truly a traumatic experience, for those who aren't good at it."

Life's cruelty seems to be the reoccurring theme of this blog (real positive), because it really is a mean world out there.  My father raised me knowing this so he taught me to see adversary as not only a challenge, but as an insult.  Insults are not taken lightly in my house hold, and are not left unquestioned.  My dad also taught me to deal with my problems by just jumping into them, a lesson he taught metaphorically while throwing me off a bridge into water (his way of curing my phobia of heights, bridges, and deep water).  My Father of the Year set the standard for facing my problems head on and I intend to stick to his lessons so that i can be "good" at life.  My kids will also be getting this lesson taught to them, although maybe not in as drastic of a way as this.

Famous Americans #3

Famous Americans: Ernest Hemingway

America has bred some truly terrifyingly awesome men, whose life seems more like a action hero than true life.  Top among this list is probably Ernest Hemingway, a writer/journalist by trade he was also a very notable soldier, drinker, fighter, and quite the ladies man (married five times).  He was the original Overly Manly Man, though the evils of war took a strain on him and he took his own life in 1961.

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places."

The world's a harsh place, one bad day seem to have the tendency to snowball.  Hemingway recognized this early in life and spent years detailing the horrors of life in his novels.  He had been broken by life more times than i would care to count, but he preached that from these broken places greatness can be sown.  I find this quote applicable to the hardships of my life now seek closure of those events, so that I can become strong at those places.  

Famous Americans #2

Famous American: Nikola Tesla

Maybe the most cheated inventor in U.S. history.  Originally interning for a famous inventor he developed many inventions such as the light bulb, alternating current, and the Tesla Coil.  His teacher, the famous Thomas Edison then patented Tesla's inventions as his own.  Tesla was actually willing to forgive this, just for the right to at least have partial credit, but he was then sued into oblivion and put to shame in the scientific community.  Only recently has evidence against Edison come to light, proving him of stealing not only Tesla's inventions but many other inventor's work.

"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the  human heart like that felt by the inventors as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success… such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything."


Tesla's quote shows his dedication to his work, his desire to succeed and create.  His drive is inspirational, he revolutionized the world just because he had a passion for inventing.  I hope to feel this intensely about my dream one day, to be able to give everything I have for my dream.  To be so committed I forget about food and sleep for it.
Source:

"I do not think there is... at BrainyQuote."Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quo

Famous Americans #1

Famous American:  Mark Twain

Mark Twain is the American writer, he created the classic, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which is the basis of American literature.  Hemingway was once quoted saying just that.  Later in life he became involved in politics  and was famously anti-imperialist.

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today."

Mark Twain's quote inspires the drive to do something remarkable.  He is not saying this after some awe inspiring event, he is simply declaring that anything can happen.  On a average day anything can happen, anything can be created.  This one quote inspires tenacity, determination, and the want to be remarkable.

Source:
"Apparently there is nothing that... at BrainyQuote." Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes

Mockingbird #5

Words of Wisdom:

"Your father’s right," she said. "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” 

Atticus first introduces it, but Miss Maudie explains the biggest line of the book, how it is wrong to kill a mockingbird because it is innocent.  This line represents not only the biggest conflict of the book, but also the biggest lesson to be taught.  It foreshadows several important events in the book, from Tom Robinson’s conviction and death to Boo Radley’s appearance.  To kill a mockingbird is to kill innocence, to wrongly convict a man, to take away a man’s peace and expose him to the horrors of the world.  The lesson Jeb and Scout are to learn is that there is no reason to hurt an innocent man, woman, or animal. Jem is first to learn this, as he stops Scout from killing a roly-poly because it wasn’t hurting anything.  But this lesson is more than protecting animals; it’s the foundation of all the other lessons of the book.  Standing up for what’s right, being able to see other’s opinions, recognizing evil people, and forgiveness to those who wrong you all branch from just being a moral person and not seeking to wrong those who have not done anything.  This quote symbolizes the basis of human morality and empathy.

Mockingbird #4

Words of Wisdom:

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

One of Atticus’s biggest lessons to his children is to stand up for what’s right even if it’s not a popular decision.  Atticus takes the Tom Robinson case knowing it is futile, knowing that Tom would be sentenced to death and that he would be ousted by the town, but he takes it anyways.  He says if he didn’t take this case he wouldn’t be able to even look his children in the eyes, that’s how committed he is to being a role model to his children.  He wants his children to know and be able to stand up for what’s right even at the risk of losing the life he built.  To see that even though it’s impossible, a morally sound person sticks his or hers neck out for the innocent.  With this lesson in mind, I reflect on all the evil in the world and see where righteousness is hidden by morally grey people.  That if people showed true courage the world would be a safer place for all.