Andrea’s Angel

This morning when I walked into my English class, I wanted to see how many page views my blog has. I had thought that maybe there would be a couple hundred, no big deal, but when I saw the number, it scared me. Right now, at precisely 10:05, the number of pageviews is 1,001. I am shocked, yet pleasantly surprised, that so many people have looked at my blog. To those who read and follow my blog: thank you!   I never thought that when I started this blog that I would have many people looking at it. I had hoped that someone would see it, and like what I put on it, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would be seen by so many people. I hope that you readers like what I have to say, and please feel free to comment on anything you like.                                                                   ...

"To be or not to be, that is the question" -William Shakespeare. To be or not to be. To do or not to do. We all struggle with making this one small choice that could change the rest of our lives, the one that sets the stage for our future endeavors, and may alter the course of our lives forever. Ralph Waldo Emerson says that you should be. You should be yourself no matter the repercussions, the trouble, or the hardships it may cause. You are you, and nobody will live your life fo you. You need to always express what's on your mind, because you never know if what you are thinking could be utterly genius. In his essay, On Self-Reliance , Emerson references Moses, Plato, and Milton, because they weren't afraid to speak what they thought. They always spoke their truths, and look where it got them.  I think that maybe I should follow what Emerson says, and start speaking out. I believe that we should all listen to what Emerson has to say.

The essay, On Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, begins with the line: "Ne te quaesiveris extra". It means don't look outside yourself. Emerson starts with Latin to try to get us to really understand and pay attention to what he is saying, and he writes with a formal, ancient, and often philosophical tone. Even though this essay was written many years ago, the main topics somehow still manage to connect to todays society. Emerson says that actions speak louder than words, excellence is a habit, and that we all fear rejection. Does any of that sound familiar? If it doesn't, well then it should. These are things that many people have a hard time either believing in or getting past. If any of these issues apply to you, I highly recommend reading this essay.