Transcendentalism Challenge #FindYourVoiceSD by JULES STEELE

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

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:17:41 UTC

"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep."

The focus on self and existence on this Earth with purpose connects us to who we are and what it means to be a human.

1B. "Walking"

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:18:09 UTC

"To come down to my own experience, my companion and I, for I sometimes have a companion, take pleasure in fancying ourselves knights of a new, or rather an old, order—not Equestrians or Chevaliers, not Ritters or Riders, but Walkers, a still more ancient and honorable class, I trust."

A focus on relying upon oneself and returning to man's roots as a being on Earth helps many to connect with the adoration of the simple man living his simple life.

1C. "Nature"

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:18:18 UTC

"Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky, without having in my thoughts any occurrence of special good fortune, I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration."

Nature awakens a primal happiness within mankind, allowing him to feel connected with the simpleness of what life should be.

1D. "Beauty"

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:18:29 UTC

"A leaf, a sun-beam, a landscape, the ocean, make an analogous impression on the mind. What is common to them all, — that perfectness and harmony, is beauty."

Beauty is not found in excess, but rather in simplicity, as the beauty of nature is found where nature exists only as it does at the current moment.

1E. "Self-Reliance"

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:18:43 UTC

"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; 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"

Highlighting the ineffectiveness of traditional thought, educated men should come to terms with the inherent goodness found in all things.

2A. "O Me! O Life!"

372811_1 — 2024-10-16 18:21:11 UTC

Walt Whitman poses many questions about life, personifying life and writing to him, "What good amid these, O me, O life?" (7) in order to prove to readers of poetry that the fact that one is alive is simply enough reason to go on living by later answering the questions posed within the same poem. Whitman writes "Answer" (8) signifying the change of the structure of the poem, moving from the anaphorical structure beginning with "Of" to beginning with "That." The change helps emphasize the shift to a less cynical perspective on life, where simply being alive and waking up every day is counted as a blessing.

2B. Dead Poets' Society

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:43:13 UTC

"You must strive to find your own voice, boys, and the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all."

Transcendentalism places a focus on finding one's self and identity; of relying solely on oneself for support and backing.

3. Declaration Of Self

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:43:54 UTC

I vow to be a lifelong seeker of knowledge and truth. Through continuous learning, critical thinking, and open-minded exploration, I will expand my understanding of the world and its myriad complexities. This wisdom I gain shall not be hoarded but shared to illuminate the paths of others just as I will do for myself. I will remain as solid as a rock throughout my friends' lives and support them through thick and thin, vowing to support them no matter the case. I will use my voice and actions to challenge systemic injustices, to uplift the marginalized, and to work towards a world where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and realize their full potential. I will matter.

4. Echoes of the Wild

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:55:38 UTC

Amidst the glow of screens and endless noise,

A quiet voice still calls from leaf and stone.

Though wires connect us, something deeper buoys

The soul that dares to wander out alone.

In forest glades and on windswept hills,

We find again our link to something more.

The rush of streams, the song of whippoorwills

Remind us of the truths we can't ignore.

Beyond the complexities of our man-made world,

Lie insights waiting: patiently unfurled.

In solitude, away from watchful eyes,

We shed the masks that daily life requires.

Our inner beauty, too often in disguise,

Burns brighter as nature's beauty inspires.

The strength we so desperately seek lies in our inner choice,

As whispers from the earth begin to rise.

When thoughts are free and hearts are given voice,

We find the courage to embrace the skies.

Though centuries have passed, the truths remain:

In nature and in self, we break the chain.

5. Modern-Day Transcendentalism

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:56:04 UTC

The song, "A Sky Full of Stars," by Coldplay encompasses transcendentalist ideas of nature and simplicity as being beautiful through the song's use of metaphor to convey the meaning of beauty.

6. #FindYourVoiceSD

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:56:20 UTC

Living as a transcendentalist is about finding out who you are as a person! What better way to do that than in nature?

7A. Transcendentalist Living

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:56:40 UTC

In nature admiring the beauty of the desert at sunrise, following values of Transcendentalism, and being mindful of my surroundings.

8. Challenges

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:58:48 UTC

Modern-day life often interferes with individuals' ability to focus on themselves and truly transcend, overwhelming them with the many tasks required of them by daily life.

9. Essay

372811_1 — 2024-10-17 17:58:56 UTC

These ideas, nature, self-reliance, individualism, all contribute to happiness, especially in the modern world, as constant distractions that always beckon one’s attention demand attentiveness and scrutiny from all eyes; and thus a reconnection to the self and nature is needed to live with proper purpose and true happiness

The digitization of life affects one's ability to focus on the present moment, due to the many different forms of duties that constantly beg for attention.

7B. Transcendental Living

372811_1 — 2024-10-23 14:35:38 UTC

At the beach enjoying time with my family, living according to the values of Transcendentalism.

7C. Transcendental Living

372811_1 — 2024-10-23 14:37:07 UTC

On a hike in the desert with my family, admiring nature as we travel through the canyon.