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1A. Thoreau Walden- "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"

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1A. Thoreau Walden- "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"

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"The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour."

The image illustrates how the morning allows one to boldly start anew, demonstrating the ability of nature to create opportunities for peace, clarity, and seeking freedom/the truth in one's own mind.

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"But the walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise... but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day. If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life."

The image demonstrates how walking in nature is a place to adventure by discovering the beautiful and meaningful things in life, by simply learning to appreciate the peace it provides.

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"The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood."

The image serves to emphasize how when surrounded by nature and animals, man finds himself in simpler times while also discovering who he is as an individual as he grows in wisdom, thoughtfulness, and truth through the solitude and peace nature provides.

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"Even the corpse has its own beauty."

The dead flower, symbolic of a corpse, contrasts the standard view of external beauty, yet its individuality as it stands decaying alone shows there is innate beauty and goodness in all things- nature and man.

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"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide... that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till."

The red flower contrasts the conformity of the yellow flowers because it doesn't seek to envy or imitate them, rather, it values its own individuality, its own ability to seek the truth, and becoming the flower it now is by working with what it was given and what it knows, not what society (the yellow flowers) told it to think/be.

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Walt Whitman's poem "O Me! O Life!" illustrates the depressing, repetitive nature life often follows, yet calls upon the reader to take a stand against such patterns with their own "verse." Although people may feel pressured by society to conform to selfish and hypocritical values, each person has the choice to choose "the light" that they crave by a contributing their own "verse" that seeks to improve the condition of the world. The individual, although he may feel insignificant, has much power through the way he impacts the world and society around him through his "verse" because even little yet good actions can make a big difference. Each individual posses a moral responsibility to wisely add a verse to the poem that is life in order to better the world and hopefully convince the members of society to value their own individual verses as well.

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Man must stand opposed to the customs and desires of society if he is to achieve his individual pursuits and joy.

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Although this world may be filled with cruelty, injustice, and a glorification of power, I vow to fill my life with kindness, treating others with fairness, and doing what is right with humility. I will contribute my verse to the world through always seeking to reflect upon my actions and look for ways to improve myself, while valuing my purpose not as a singular large effort to better the world, but through daily small actions to improve the lives of each individual.

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As he gazed upon the stars brightening the dull night sky
He could not  help but ponder all that had transpired to lead him here
To a state of mind bequeathed with peace
And freer than a dove released from its cage
And yet the sorrows of the world trample man like a steed
Could he have not yet been more free?
Like the slave escaped from his master
Like the son defiant of his father
Like the pupil disobeying the lessons of his teacher
He likened peace to freedom, and freedom to intellect

Although his wrists may be imprisoned in shackles
Although his ankles may be encircled in chains
Although his debts may have surmounted his earnings
Although power is gained at the expense of morality
Although his words may be twisted to contradict what is just
Although he may be scourged for opposing cruelty
He may stand firm knowing his mind is untainted by the world
Having chosen freedom and righteousness of thought
For just as the stars brighten the dull night sky
So does the just man to society when he ceases to comply

Image made in Gravit

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This poem describes how rather than conforming to her society's traditional views on women, Malala used her individual free thought to value women's rights to education.

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This photo of a flower I took in my backyard illustrates how nature, even in its smallest forms, acts a beautiful reminder that appreciating the simple things in life, such as a flower, can bring peace and joy.

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Walking around Balboa Park with my family and friends while enjoying the koi pond and Japanese Friendship Garden helped me embrace transcendentalism by learning to appreciate how nature can play a role in our everyday lives.

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7B. Looking for nature while walking through an urban area

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7B. Looking for nature while walking through an urban area

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Going on a walk in my neighborhood encouraged me to look around at the greenery and watch as the sun set and the moon appeared to help me clear my mind and embrace my individual thoughts.

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7C. Appreciating the serene beauty of nature

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7C. Appreciating the serene beauty of nature

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Walking through forest trails gave me tranquility by being surrounded by green trees towering over me and listening to nothing but the chirping of the birds and the steady breeze.

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8. Modern Challenges to Transcendentalism 

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8. Modern Challenges to Transcendentalism 

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This image illustrates how man, distracted like an infant, is so consumed with pleasing others on social media and making sure he doesn't miss a single notification, that his life around him has become barren because he has abandoned his individual moral values and simple appreciation for life.

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Standing firm in his own beliefs, the red highlighted man challenges society head on by walking up the steps, rather than down, symbolizing a contrast for his pursuit of joy and justice against society's conformity and corruptness.

Transcendentalism teaches people to model themselves after nature through creating a greater appreciation for life and the ability for self-reflection in order to grow as self-reliant individuals who possess greater moral values so as to separate themselves from the corruption of society so the life of the individual and society may both be improved.

"Appreciation for beauty beyond the physical world allows man to embrace himself as an individual because he also values the workings and beliefs of his own mind and heart."

"Man, by using nature to 'awaken' himself to the truth in life, separates himself from society so he may become a free thinker who is strong enough to stand up for his beliefs."

"When man values his own self-reliance, and his own 'plot of ground,' that is when each individual will find himself truly happy because he will be fulfilled by his own works and desires, not consumed by the hypocrisy of society."