One of the many reasons I decided to become an English teacher rather than a counselor was due to the rich conversations a person could have when discussing a piece of literary text. Literature presents various issues and situations that life throws at us. Not only does a book or poem present the issue, it also offers a solution or suggest an alternative answer. Perhaps something we had never thought about before. Literature forces us to challenge the issues. Face the thing we may fear most. And most importantly, challenges us to change our complacent place and stretch ourselves beyond the point we ever thought we could reach.
I've linked two video clips from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." Recently this piece has drastically challenged the way I view everyday living. To give you a little background, Emily Webb was just a regular small town girl who had great dreams in her life. One was that she would receive a good education.along the way her dreams deferred and she decided to get married instead. While during childbirth, Emily passes away leaving behind her young husband. The scene that opens up is a bit unique. The play shows a crowd of people sitting on stage in rows. Those people, along with emily, have all passed away. The rows they are sitting in are suppose to symbolize their graves. All of the people present are reflecting on their past lives. Watch please.
Watch: Part 1 Part 2
"Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute?"
The truth of this scene rings so prevalent in my life. Am I even realizing how lucky I am? Am I even living? After watching this scene, everyday, every moment I try to visualize myself in Emily's situation and try to find one simple thing worth thriving in. I implore and encourage you to try it. You will not look at life the same.
so as I sit here and type this, right here in this moment here is my list of simple things.
warm blankets, tv shows, laying down on a couch, comfortable clothing, writing, matts smile, my hair in a ponytail, making things, deep thinking, pizza, coke, the warm of a heater, playing on the cell phone, pictures, rain boots, sniffles (yes even that).
The simple things.
I've linked two video clips from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." Recently this piece has drastically challenged the way I view everyday living. To give you a little background, Emily Webb was just a regular small town girl who had great dreams in her life. One was that she would receive a good education.along the way her dreams deferred and she decided to get married instead. While during childbirth, Emily passes away leaving behind her young husband. The scene that opens up is a bit unique. The play shows a crowd of people sitting on stage in rows. Those people, along with emily, have all passed away. The rows they are sitting in are suppose to symbolize their graves. All of the people present are reflecting on their past lives. Watch please.
Watch: Part 1 Part 2
"Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute?"
The truth of this scene rings so prevalent in my life. Am I even realizing how lucky I am? Am I even living? After watching this scene, everyday, every moment I try to visualize myself in Emily's situation and try to find one simple thing worth thriving in. I implore and encourage you to try it. You will not look at life the same.
so as I sit here and type this, right here in this moment here is my list of simple things.
warm blankets, tv shows, laying down on a couch, comfortable clothing, writing, matts smile, my hair in a ponytail, making things, deep thinking, pizza, coke, the warm of a heater, playing on the cell phone, pictures, rain boots, sniffles (yes even that).
The simple things.
