Breakfast Club Challenge. You're in detention for whatever reason. Mr. Vernon assigns a short essay. In 100 words or more. write Who you think you are. Who are you? What would you write?
Dear Mr. Vernon,
I am not a bad person. So far I've had a pretty good life. I've made some mistakes but I have achieved a few long term goals. I'm not a straight A student but I excell at the arts and humanities. I am writer. I am an artist but I don't draw as much as I used to becuase the world has shown me that money is more important than dreams. I am a dreamer and a mystic forever searching for something deeper, something magical. I don't believe in magic but love stories about magic as a metaphor for power and desire to change the world, to make a stand for what is right. My only real goal is to live in the moment, not stuck in the past, not always looking to the future but focusing on the here and now.
People claim that there is a spiritual force in the universe that some call god. I am an atheist because I don't see evidence that a god exists or manifests in reality. My mind is free of that type of thinking. I don't fear eternal punishment for any thing I may have done. And I don't do things with the intention that there is an eternity in some heaven. An eternity of anything is not paradise, and an eternity in a place of torment and despair is just sadistic and a concept created to control the minds of ignorant people.
I love fantasy. I love books and movies and animation. I love scifi and fairy tales. They have their place for archetype, moral lessons, and escape from the struggles of this world is never bad. I believe we would have less war, poverty and injustice if people spent more time imagining a better world than creating horrors in the real world.
There are teachings in all most Bibles of the world as well as in stories and legends. 1. Beware of materialism and greed. 2. Take time everyday to meditate. Sit. Be still. Quiet your mind. Breathe. There is nothing "spiritual or supernatural" going on. There is just this moment. Here. Now. 3. Service to others and practice kindness, compassion and uphold some core virtues. 1- Honesty - always try to tell the truth, there times when lies and deception maybe be necessary for survival and defense but lying in general causes mistrust and harm, and as Jon Stewart once said, If you smell bullshit, say something. 2- kindness - treat others as you wish to be treated. That principle is older than the Gospels. If you harm someone chances are they will harm you back or pass it on to someone else. If someone tries to harm you you have a right to fight back or run or find help. 3- sense of humor- when you feel hurt, scared or depressed find away to laugh at your pain, or life is bad joke but if you can keep laughing in the face of anger and hate you will be stronger than any wizard. 4- Sense of Wonder- Take some time to enjoy this world because we only have a short time on this planet. Drive out to the beach and listen to your favorite songs. Eat your favorite foods, go to parties with friends and family. Spend some time in nature without your devices and apps. Just be in that moment. Breathe in the air. Smoke some weed if you can get some legally (or otherwise). Relax. Enjoy life. Take some photos. Draw, write, play, color, go to movies, plays, art galleries, museums, national parks, tell jokes, follow your bliss.
5. Question Everything. In questioning things religion, politics, beliefs, rules, standards, traditions, your own observations of the world. You may find that you need to change something or that there a flaws and imperfections and dangers in this world that can be prevented by asking questions. And have the courage to seek the answers. There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't know". There is something wrong with just making up an answer even if it is false and misleading people to the point of oppressing and silencing outside information and questions that still need answering.
I believe I am the lead character in my own story. One hundred words or a thousand will not capture who I am. But I can tell you that I am a hero who has been through the Dark Night of the soul and emerged victorious. Sometimes Darkness Strikes back but we must always be ready becuase there is good in this world and it's worth fighting for(samwise gamgee). And I want to live in the world and stand for what and who I am.
Yours truly,
Brett L. Harry
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