Transcendence by

"Where I Lived and What I Lived for" (#1)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-03 19:47:59 UTC

"Still we live meanly, like ants; though the fable tells us that we were long ago changed into men; like pygmies we fight with cranes; it is error upon error, and clout upon clout, and our best virtue has for its occasion a superfluous and evitable wretchedness."

This is the first sentence of the last paragraph in "Where I Lived and What I Lived for". This stood out to me because even though it calls the human race something that makes so many mistakes, we have the opportunity and ability to recover ourselves from what we have brought down on us. I think that society can relate to this a lot because everyone makes mistakes but its the most important thing in our society to be able to recover and overcome.

My verse to the world (#4)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-04 18:59:49 UTC

Performance has grown to be a massive part of my life as I joined colorguard, a sport in which we compete in performance with props such as flags, rifles, and sabres. My captain Zoe and I have just performed and are cleaning up!

Wants vs. Needs (6)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-04 19:24:15 UTC

Wants:

Sleep
Hanging out with friends
Cooking
Reading
Time

Needs:

Good grades

Exercise

Friends

Clothes

Shelter

Food

The simplicity of childhood (12)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-04 19:24:49 UTC

As I drive by Fuerte Elementary school, my first real school, I look at the playground and all the children playing around. Being a child was so simplistic and yet no one appreciates it until it's over. When I think about it, I think about all the free time I used to have, the liberty of being able to sleep before midnight, the lack of technology we used to all enjoy. In my early childhood, kids used to always play together outside, rather than sitting inside and playing video games. We'd interact socially and have no true stress in life, simply, we only had to play and enjoy our time while others took care of us. Even when we played with our friends we did not have to focus on talking and socializing, we just had to play our games. Childhood was so simplistic and it is something in our lives we will never experience again, but we will always experience the nostalgia and joy from thinking about it.

The life of a Teenager (#5)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-05 19:28:38 UTC

Sitting alone, in peace and quiet
Yet my mind is beating, racing, thumping.
Oh god, I have so much homework
So much stress, grades that need to go up.
I freak out.

Nature surrounds me and I begin to breathe with ease
Thoughts flood my mind, but it's not the same feeling.
I am in control of my own life.
It's okay to fail a class,
It doesn't determine who I am, this isn't the end of the world.
I am allowed to decide what happens to me.

This world has so many expectations,
But most people aren't perfect.
And my mistakes aren't permanent,
Society forgives us,
But who cares because we have people who love us
I am going to be okay.
We all are going to be okay.

#LivingToTheMax (#7)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-07 19:31:53 UTC

Everyone has different maximums that they can reach because of mental and physical things stopping them. The most important thing in life is to simply focus on your own maximum and living at your own personal pace, but still go all out as much as possible. Here, my color guard team and I fool around at Disneyland before we are about to perform in the parade.

Challenges to transcendentalism (#9)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-11 19:21:45 UTC

It's a crazy world to live in nowadays, but it's always been hard to live. Society now challenges transcendentalism with the overpowering force of social media and technology. We are never truly alone anymore, at least physically.

Anywhere and everywhere, there is no place to go to escape the pressures of society. When you're alone, you aren't, because with a tap from your finger, you can communicate with anyone that has access to technology, which is basically everyone. This challenge surrounds us but has such a large mental aspect. If we were not so tempted to enjoy simple, time wasting pleasures, humans as a species would have so much more time to enjoy our lives and appreciate transcending.

Overall, it is hard to transcend in our modern world, but it always has been. There are so many distractions in our lives, but if an individual wants to, they can transcend and overcome many things in their lives and achieve any goal they set. Nature can assist us, but in the end, it is you as an individual.

One with nature (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-11 20:30:00 UTC

Enjoying being so close to the bison and geysers at Yellowstone national park with my family!

Stop and smell the roses (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-11 20:35:52 UTC

Enjoying the beautiful roses in the famous national rose gardens in Portland, OR.

#tbt (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-11 20:40:19 UTC

Throwback Thursday is popular slang to a reference to your past. In eighth grade, my friend Emily and I had the time of our lives and transcended without technology at the beach for our eighth grade field trips! A moment we can't ever recreate. <3

"Self Reliance" (#2)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:34:38 UTC

"Every decent and well-spoken individual affects me and sways me more than is right."

This stood out a lot to me because I can relate because people do affect me. However, I don't agree with the statement because I believe that it is acceptable and right, in fact it's significant because people should affect us. I think that for us to become the people that we have grown to be, we had to be influenced by other. And even though some people might be bad, the people influencing us are more important in life

Modern Transcendentalism (#6)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:35:03 UTC

Pop/punk rock might be loud and for "no good teens" who are rebellious and edgy, but there's a reason that they're so obsessed with it. As a genre, punk rock reflects inner thoughts and can consist of the deepest thoughts of an artist. Fall Out Boy is a band which writes many of these philosophical songs, though some of them might be just silly fun, Save Rock and Roll, which features Elton John, reflects transcendentalism. Below are the lyrics:

I need more dreams
And less life
I need that dark
In a little more light
I cried tears you'll never see
So f*ck you, you can go cry me an ocean
And leave me be

You are what you love
Not who loves you
In a world full of the word 'Yes'
I'm here to scream

No, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
I only plugged in to save rock and roll
Rock and roll, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
I only plugged in to save rock and roll

Blood brothers in desperation
An oath of silence for the voice of our generation

Whoa, how'd it get to be only me?
Like I'm the last d*mn kid still kicking
That still believes

I will defend the faith
Going down swinging
I will save the songs
That we can't stop singing

No, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
I only plugged in to save rock and roll
Rock and roll, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
I only plugged in to save rock and roll

Oh no, we won't go
'Cause we don't know when to quit, oh oh

You are what you love
Not who loves you
In a world full of the word 'Yes'
I'm here to scream

No, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
I only plugged in to save rock and roll
Rock and roll, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
Only plugged in to save rock and roll

Oh no, we won't go
'Cause we don't know when to quit, oh oh

No, no
Wherever I go, go
Trouble seems to follow
Only plugged in, save rock and roll

Portland, OR (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:35:23 UTC

Enjoying the nature during a hike at Portland with my girl scout troop!

My Walden (8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:36:57 UTC

My personal Walden in my life is different from what anyone would expect, but also so common and generic. It's my bedroom, but only in when no one in my family is home. When no one is home, my Walden would also include the living room, which is connected to our kitchen. When no one is home, it is so quiet and peaceful, there is no one to bother me and tell me I have things to do. The only commitment I have is to be happy and to nap, eat, or watch Netflix, an escape from reality and from the stress of the world. Society might be next to me but I can't make a mistake at home alone and I completely forget about all homework, which might cause more stress later but it is the best way to be happy and alone.

Save Rock and Roll (#6, pt 2)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:55:52 UTC

Save Rock and Roll (#6, pt 3)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-12 20:56:52 UTC

Dead Poets Society (#3)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-13 20:25:30 UTC

Transcending with friends! (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-13 20:42:07 UTC

My friend Giselle and I at our banquet for band! It was super relaxing to have makeup applied on me by my sister.

Friends, friends, friends (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-13 20:52:40 UTC

New years party, 2016. It's so hard to imagine that this was nearly a year ago. People change so much but living in the moment and transcending is so important and should be a large part of your life.

Fab times in gardens (#8

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-13 20:56:13 UTC

The Chinese truly appreciate transcending. It is traditional in Chinese culture to walk all the time, similar to "Walking". There is no point to the walking except to reflect on life or just not to think at all. Traditionally, this is done after every single meal.

Reflection of society (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-14 20:44:49 UTC

Dead Poet Society (#3)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-14 20:46:58 UTC

Challenging Transcendence (#9)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-14 20:59:14 UTC

My girl scout troop and I during our trip to Sacramento! Even though it was extremely beautiful we are all still distracted by the idea and need to record that we were doing something.

Portland, Oregon (#8)

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-14 21:34:24 UTC

chen_charlene34 — 2016-10-17 19:27:14 UTC