I am Buddhist :: essays research papers

I am Buddhist An often forgotten essential in our short existence we call â€Å"life† is our need for at least a quintessential connection of spirituality for our own subsistence. And as this world we live in, develops into supposed â€Å"development’’ and as evolution directs our way of life into a tedious search of happiness derived from money†¦ and a person in a modern society barely has a moment for a prayer and â€Å"time’’ being as impatient as it is, the youth have no seconds to just sit and contemplate the power of a higher being, that a GOD might be the one that governs our destiny and fate†¦ and to have a flicker of an instant where one experiences a religious outlook on life†¦the air we breathe turns a little fresher and a load gets lifted off shoulders of stressed mentalities†¦ and call it a â€Å"pre-mature revelation’’ or a pious unveiling of my character but I have encountered such an emotion when I visited a ha ven called Bodh Gaya. Situated in the most corrupts of states in India, Bihar†¦it is an oasis of belief and hope and maybe the only answer and truth to some. It’s an uncanny placement for enlightenment, one might suggest†¦ but as a Buddhist, imagining all the struggle and suffering that the Buddha had overcome and all the adversities he had surpassed and of course the harsh truth he reveals to us and conveys with such meaning in his simple diction is at most overwhelming. At first sight the Mahabodhi temple standing tall among such meagre neighbours, humbled me at once†¦ petrifying in some ways and yet it seemed to comfort me all at once. As for the papal tree where Buddha had gained salvation is surrounded with such spirituality that it seemed to bog down upon my shoulders and yet at the same time it uplifted my spirits in the most unexplainable way. The hustling and bustling noises of Indians selling odd trinkets and beggars among the streets are drowned by the Tantric chants of monks praying in union. A pilgrimage that changed the way I thought about the youth†¦ and I was young too, therefore it basically changed the way I thought. As words are my limits†¦ so is word my only limits through which I cannot describe and do justice to the communion that one has to go there and experience for oneself. ‘’Nothing is as constant as change’’ and the journey through life does not end until death.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 14

Micha We end up racing home. I let her win, even though I'd love to have the favor, which would include lots of dirty things that she's not ready for. So now I owe her a favor and she tells me she has to think about it, with this little tease in her voice that makes me grin. We part ways at our houses and she leaves me with the promise she'll try to come over later tonight. She's slowly changing back into the girl I know, although that night still haunts her eyes, but I'm not sure she'll ever really get over it completely. It's still raining and lightning like hell, which means the party's going to have to take place inside. Ethan and I drag the wet keggers inside and stand them on the kitchen table. There's a note tacked on the wall from my mom, telling me she's going to be home late. Ethan starts rummaging through the cupboards for some food. â€Å"What band's playing?† â€Å"Naomi's.† I head to my room to change and get my guitar. â€Å"Answer the door if anyone knocks.† In my room, I tug on a grey t-shirt and pull a black pin-striped shirt over it. I slip on a pair of black jeans and put on a studded belt. Then I grab my guitar and text Naomi. Me: When u planning on heading over?† Naomi: Soon. Why? You waiting on us to tell us some super exciting news. Me: I haven't decided yet. Naomi: Don't turn it down. It's a great opportunity. Me: I'm not sayin yes or no. See u in a bit. When Naomi took me backstage at the coffeehouse, she first proposed the idea that I should replace their guitarist and hit the road with them. At first, I was all for it. It's what I've wanted to do since I was twelve and rocked out with Ethan and Dean in the garage. But then I thought back to Ella's sad eyes and doubts washed over me. The doorbell rings and I head to the living room to get the party started and clear my head for one night. Ella By the time I decide to go over to Micha's, things are already getting out of hand. Cars are parked on the lawn, and garbage cans are tipped over. Someone's even sitting on the roof. Lila talks me into going and we run up the driveway with our arms over our heads to shield our hair from the rain, but the crowded foyer overwhelms me and I start to back out. â€Å"Stop being a baby and go in there,† she says, giving me a gentle shove forward. â€Å"I want to see the tough girl everyone keeps talking about.† â€Å"No, you don't. Trust me,† I tell her. â€Å"She was mean and she would have never been friends with you.† â€Å"Okay, then show me a happy medium.† She has a dark blue, strapless dress on that matches her shoes and her blonde hair rests on her shoulders in curls, which have slipped loose because of the rain. â€Å"You can change yourself without losing your identity completely.† I turn away from the crowd toward her. â€Å"Why have we never talked like this before?† She smiles sadly. â€Å"Because you would never let us.† She says something else, but the music stifles her words. I fan the smoke from my face and step into the kitchen. Holding the bottom of my black skirt, I maneuver through the crowd toward the table. I lose Lila for a moment, but when the crowd thins, Lila stumbles out, stomping on a guy's foot with her high heel. She curses, fussing with her hair. â€Å"Has Micha ever heard of a little thing called air conditioning?† â€Å"He probably forgot to turn it on!† I shout over the music. â€Å"Wait here. I'll go turn it up.† I squeeze through the crowd toward the living room and the band. The music is deafening and I realize it's Micha playing with Naomi. They're sharing the microphone and he looks like he's enjoying himself. I stop in the middle of the room and watch him from the crowd. He's gorgeous under the light with his hair hanging in his eyes as he spills out his lyrics to people and strums on the guitar. I back through the room and into the hall. There's a couple making out in front of the thermostat. The music quiets down and then starts up again as I gently guide them over and they move out of my way without breaking their lips from each other. Fanning my face, I turn up the cold air. Suddenly, long arms encircle my waist and the scent of him fills my chest. â€Å"I thought you were playing,† I yell over the music with my hand pressed to my heart. â€Å"I was, but I took a break to see you.† His breath smells like beer. I scrunch up my nose. â€Å"Are you drunk?† â€Å"I've only had one beer,† he says. â€Å"I'm just excited to see you.† â€Å"And to be playing again,† I state. His smile is huge and it makes me happy for a moment. â€Å"Yeah, that too. I saw you watching me.† I shrug, playing it off. â€Å"I'm glad you're happy. You looked sad earlier at the drive-in.† His hand finds my hip and he grips it tightly, sending heat through my body. â€Å"I'm even happier now that you're here.† I relax against the wall. â€Å"You know I've heard you use that pickup line on girls before, right?† â€Å"Come on, let me have some fun with you,† he begs with a tease in his voice. â€Å"Pretend like you don't know any of my moves.† â€Å"You want me to pretend like I'm someone else?† I question. â€Å"Haven't you been telling me to do the opposite?† The reflection of the light dances in his eyes as he leans forward and wisps of his hair brush my cheek. â€Å"Just be the girl I used to know. The one that had fun and laughed all the time.† â€Å"That girl would have never pretended with you, even if you requested her to.† â€Å"I know that.† His other hand finds my waist and his body slants toward me. Glancing from left to right, I slide my hands up his firm chest and link them around his neck. Then I pull myself onto him and hitch my legs around his waist. His expression is stoic, but he lets out a growl and his lips come down hard on mine. Our chests press together as he thrusts his body into me. Our tongues connect, feeling each other thoroughly. My back is pressed into the thermostat and my skirt barely covers the top of my thighs. My head falls back against the wall as he trails kisses down my neck. My breathing is rapid and so is my pulse. What is he doing to me? The music stops and Naomi's voice rises over the speakers. â€Å"Micha Scott, get your ass back up here and play right now.† Micha pulls away, breathless. â€Å"I have one more song to play and then you and I are going to pick right back up with this.† Before I can answer, he leaves me in the hall. Touching my lips, I watch him weave back to the stage, knowing if he does pick it up, I'm not going to be able to stop it this time. Struggling with the loss of control over my own body, I wander back into the kitchen. Lila's over by the cooler, sipping on a drink and talking to Ethan. Straightening my shoulders, I march up to the counter and pour myself a drink. Lila and Ethan's eyes are on me as I knock it back. The alcohol burns my throat as I slam the cup down on the counter. â€Å"Who's up for a game of quarters?† *** Two hours and three shots later, I'm feeling pretty good. The band has finished playing and Micha has joined our game at the table. â€Å"Sail† by AWOLNATION beats through the stereo, soft lyrics and a sultry rhythm and it takes me back to another time. â€Å"I think I'm going to go dance,† I announce to the table. â€Å"Ah ha, I knew you secretly liked to dance.† Lila slams her hand down on the table and then hiccups. â€Å"Oh, excuse me.† Ethan laughs at her like she's the cutest thing in the world. â€Å"Are you reaching your limit little girl?† Lila narrows her eyes impishly at Ethan. â€Å"I'm not the one who missed the last three shots.† He replies with a comeback, but I don't hear it as I rise from my chair anxious to dance. Micha watches me inquisitively as I make a path through the crowd. Faceless people bead with sweat and the air smells like salt and is lit with desirable heat. The farther I descend into the crowd the hotter it gets. By the time I'm in the center, my skin is damp with sweat and the thin fabric of my strapless shirt is sticking to my back. There's a darkness inside my chest, like the devil hidden inside me is about to make a grand appearance. I raise my hands and sway my hips, letting my hair fall down my shoulders and back. I breathe freely, just like I use to. The more the music plays, the more relaxed I become. My head falls from side to side and my eyelids drift shut. I feel someone move up behind me and they smell of desire mingled with an earthy scent and something mouthwatering. Micha places his hands on my hips, his hands domineering. He nearly melts me as he spreads his fingers around my waist and presses his body against mine, wanting as much of me as he can get. â€Å"I thought you didn't dance anymore,† he whispers in a feral voice, his warm breath touching every part of me. I lean back into him, comfortable, and breathe in his familiar scent. â€Å"I guess I'm a liar.† â€Å"You didn't use to be.† He sweeps my hair to the side and implores our bodies closer as he moves with me. Through the fabric of our clothes, I feel the heat radiating off him like the sun. â€Å"In fact, you used to be the most honest person I knew.† I slant my head back against his chest. â€Å"I know, and I'm working on getting it back.† â€Å"Good, I'm glad.† His hands slide down my hips and don't stop until they reach the hem of my skirt. â€Å"Weren't you and I supposed to finish what we started in the hall?† I start to pull away, but he intensifies his embrace and restrains me against him so we're bonded in every way possible. I feel the hardness of his chest and the heat emitting off every single God damn part of him. It makes me want to moan. â€Å"You're fucking driving me crazy. You know that?† He whispers through a groan as his fingers slip underneath the side of my skirt and up my thighs. â€Å"I want you, pretty girl. Badly.† He's not lying. His desire is pressed up against the back of my waist. I should stop him†¦ He's practically got his hand up my dress and we're surrounded by a ton of people, but I give in to him, subsiding in his arms, and let his fingers inch higher up my skirt. Slowly, he kisses my skin, before parting his lips and nipping my neck, sucking, tasting, driving my body mad. His other hand wanders upward on the outside of my shirt and over the curve of my breast. I practically come undone in his arms. Without warning, I turn around, slipping out of his grip. I secure my arms around his neck. His eyes darken as he welds our bodies back together. My head falls back, allowing him access as I put my weight into his lean arms. He holds me tightly, tracking kisses down the hollow of my neck, licking my collar bone, delving lower and lower as his hand sneaks for the bottom of my skirt again and the palm of his hand caresses the back of my thigh. He groans, cupping the back of my head with his other hand, then suddenly he pulls away. â€Å"How drunk are you?† I glance from left to right like there's an answer hidden in the crowd. â€Å"I don't know.† He sighs and drags his fingers through his hair. â€Å"You're killing me, you know that?† â€Å"I'm sorry.† I pout. He laughs and directs me back over to the table. â€Å"Go meet up with Lila and I'll be there in a bit, okay.† â€Å"Why? Where are you going?† I ask. He rubs his hand across his face and lets out a breathy laugh. â€Å"I have to go take care of some business.† We part ways and I go back to the kitchen like he told me. Lila's eyes are accusing as I sit down at the table. I try not to smile, but I'm too intoxicated to care. â€Å"Look at you,† Lila says. â€Å"All smiley.† I start to say something, but spot Micha talking to Naomi in the middle of the crowd. She laughs at something he says and then the two of them head toward the hall where his bedroom is. I guess that was the business he had to take care of. I get up from the table and without another word I run outside into the rain. Micha Ella is killing me tonight. I've got a hard on so bad, it's probably going to take an hour in an ice-cold shower to calm me down and she's drunk, so I can't take it any further. I head back to my room, to take care of the problem myself, when Naomi meets up with me. She waves her finger at me and then laughs. â€Å"You and I need to talk.† â€Å"I still haven't decided!† I shout over the music. She takes me by the arm and tugs me down the hall, bumping people out of the way until we reach my room. She shuts the door and flips on the light. â€Å"Alright, please explain to me why it's so hard to make the decision about something you've always wanted to do?† â€Å"I'd rather not.† She throws her hands in the air, exasperatedly. â€Å"I don't get you. All you used to talk about in high school was playing in a band on the road.† â€Å"I still do,† I say. â€Å"But I'm not sure if I can leave people behind. Her face relaxes and her hands fall to her side. â€Å"I actually get that. I was worried to leave my dad alone, but I talked to him and explained why and you know what? He understood.† â€Å"Mine's more complicated, Naomi.† I sit down on the bed, wishing she'd leave. â€Å"It's not just my mom I'm worried about.† She sits down on the bed beside me and crosses her legs. â€Å"It's because of Ella.† â€Å"Fuck, am I that obvious,† I say. â€Å"Because I always thought I was subtle.† She snorts a laugh. â€Å"You've never been subtle. And it's not just you. It's both of you. But you know what, you can't center you're life around one girl. You gotta move on and live life the way you want to.† She doesn't get it. â€Å"Yeah, let's not talk about this.† â€Å"Alright.† She holds her hands up. â€Å"Sorry, I'll let you be. I just wanted to give you something to think about.† She pats me on the knee before heading out into the hall. Once the door shuts, I fall back onto my bed. Maybe she's right. Maybe it is time to let go of her. â€Å"Fuck.† I need resolution. My eyes wander toward Ella's house. It is dark, except for one light. The bathroom where her mother died. That light hasn't been on for eight months. Why is it on now?

Gatsby and the Complexity of the American Dream - 4080 Words

Gatsby and the Complexity of the American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is an exploration of the American dream in modern society, in which money and prosperity are significant factors and it may not be as simple as you think; and the movie Citizen Kane is another example of the complex issues relating to the American dream. First, we will explore the American dream, in which it is to make a great deal of money because it provides for a comfortable living, and characters in the novel reflect upon this very ideal. Second, achieving the American dream of wealth is perceived to bring happiness, but that is not always the case as will examine the dream relating to the characters in the novel. Third, we will explore the†¦show more content†¦If Gatsby did not have the wealth, Daisy would have never given him the time of the day that she has. By having money, it changes your entire life, social status, and the ability to have almost anything you want. Gatsby throws weekly parties at his house with spec tacular decorations, entertainments, and world class cuisines. People don’t even know who Gatsby is, but they attend his parties because of the apparent wealth this man has to show. Everybody wants to be apart of the popular and wealthy crowd. He wanted to be accepted into the high society and these parties are a way to build his status. As shallow as it sounds, the novel seems to talk about people judging a book by its cover. In other words, the American dream to the characters in the novel is how wealthy and how much money one has. The characters in the novel reflect the very ideal of what most people perceives as the American dream, and that is the amount of money that one has. Jay Gatsby is a man who grew up with no money, but gained an enormous amount of wealth. He accomplished what most people dream of having, a life of luxury, but his only draw back is that he thought money can buy happiness. Tom Buchanan grew up with money and is a pretentious rich boy. He i s living the American dream of wealth and fortune. It is his money that attracts women to his side, such as his wife Daisy and his mistress Myrtle. Tom can get almost anything he wants simplyShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1170 Words   |  5 Pages The Great Gatsby â€Å"The Great Gatsby† By F. Scott Fitzgerald is the tale of the glamorous lifestyle of the 1920s. Following World War I, America entered the roaring economic boom called the â€Å"roaring twenties.† The novel follows the life of Jay Gatsby through the eyes of his friend, and narrator, Nick Carraway. The American dream is based on living well, and earning money. Michael Schudson from Oxford University American Literary History describes the American dream as the idea â€Å"anyone, with hardRead MoreHow Does Wealth Or Societal Class Impact Our Personal Relationships?1360 Words   |  6 Pagespersonal relationships? Humans Beings are complex creatures. There are many complexities within human beings that make them unique. These complexities may include beauty, wealth, societal class etc. The way human beings cope with situations and problems in a society sets them apart from other beings. In many of these cases, the system fails and no longer provides equality and justice. A central theme in the Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald is the importance of wealth and its portrayal of social classRead More Green Light in The Great Gatsby Essay1039 Words   |  5 PagesThe Green Light in The Great Gatsby       The image of the green light in the novel Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a significant symbol which reflects Gatsbys dream and other aspects beyond Gatsbys longing.   Throughout the novel Fitzgerald uses many other images or symbols.   At first, it may seem very basic, but when the symbol is closely studied, one may see the deeper meaning found within it. Fitzgerald uses these symbols to make a point across to the readerRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1411 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Follow your dreams. I am not saying it’s going to be easy, but I am saying it’s going to be worth it.† His message, â€Å"follow your dreams,† describes a common theme found in the American society. Countless movies and books entertain the possibilities presented by striving for one’s aspirations and display the rewards granted through the achievement of it. Most of these tales portray dreams as glorious, which they definitely can be, but few stories wrestle with the unpleasant reality that dreams may misleadRead MoreEssay on A Freudian Reading of The Great Gatsby1037 Words   |  5 PagesA Freudian Reading of The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚   F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby is generally regarded as an excellent novel which expresses much more than the superficial plot. The Great Gatsby could be, however, more complex than the average reader might imagine. The Great Gatsby is often interpreted as the corruption of the American Dream. In this framework, the Buchanans are viewed as the example of irresponsibility and degradation, and Gatsby the embodiment of idealism and sentimentalityRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1518 Words   |  7 PagesGreat Gatsby, (1925) depicts the story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, who has moved to West Egg, New York to reunite with his former love, Daisy Buchanan. Through the novel, the representation of class and gender embody the social views on either subject during the 1920’s. Fitzgerald has used the characters within the novel to exemplify the social stratas and also the decades view on men and women. Fitzgerald has thereby u tilized the characters within the novel to depict the complexity of theRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1523 Words   |  7 Pages6: As the chapter starts out Gatsby learns that with fame and fortune comes the people who will try to knock you out. We also learn that Gatsby was not born Jay Gatsby but James Gatz from North Dakota, or as the press says. This source says the Gatsby isn t who he says he is and that it was Dan Cody brought Gatsby under his wing and taught him all he knows about flying through life from the seat of his pants. Nick has spent much time with Jordan and hasn t seen Gatsby in a new weeks and decides toRead MoreAnalysis Of Lolita s Tehran Is A Memoir By Azar Nafisi1484 Words   |  6 Pagespurpose of life, which was somewhere lost during revolution. This memoir discusses life of women under the repressive regime and how literature helps them connect to reality.   Nafisi and her students read  western literary works like Lolita, The Great Gatsby, James and Austen. They use literature as a medium to socialize and communicate their views about current Iranian government. They compare women s position in western culture to culture in Iran. Literature helps these students to have their own lifeRead MorePassage Analysis the Great Gatsby2060 Words   |  9 PagesOral Commentary on the â€Å"The Great Gatsby† Chapter 9, pg 189 â€Å"On the last night, with my trunk packed and my car sold to the grocer, I went over and looked at that huge incoherent failure of a house once more. On the white steps an obscene word, scrawled by some boy with a piece of brick, stood out clearly in the moonlight, and I erased it, drawing my shoe raspingly along the stone. Then I wandered down to the beach and sprawled out on the sand. Most of the big shore places were closed now and thereRead MoreResearch Paper F Scott Fitzgerald2343 Words   |  10 PagesThe Unsatisfied American Dream As Florence King once said, â€Å"People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that theyre all asleep at the switch. This quote symbolizes the simple fact that the American Dream is impossible for someone to ever attain because people are to busy dreaming about what others have, that they fail to recognize what they themselves already have attained. The American author F. Scott Fitzgerald has had an unprecedented

The Global Impacts of the Black Death

The Black Death was one of the worst pandemics in human history. In the 14th century, at least 75 million people on three continents perished due to the painful, highly contagious disease. Originating from fleas on rodents in China, the â€Å"Great Pestilence† spread westward and spared few regions. In Europe’s cities, hundreds died daily and their bodies were usually thrown into mass graves. The plague devastated towns, rural communities, families, and religious institutions. Following centuries of a rise in population, the world’s population experienced a catastrophic reduction and would not be replenished for more than one hundred years. Origins and Path of the Black Death Science of the Black Death Types and Symptoms of the Plague Death Toll Estimates of the Black Death Unexpected Economic Benefit of the Black Death Cultural and Social Beliefs and Changes of the Black Death Scourge Spread Across the World The Black Death of the 14th century was a tremendous interrupter of worldwide population growth. The bubonic plague still exists, although it can now be treated with antibiotics. Fleas and their unknowing human carriers traveled across a hemisphere and infected one person after another. Survivors of this swift menace seized the opportunities that arose from altered social and economic structures. Although humanity will never know the exact death toll, researchers will continue to study the epidemiology and history of the plague to ensure that this horror never happens again.

She Left Me Blind And Starving - 1098 Words

She left me blind and starving. It was 2001, and unlike most infants, I was left waiting, hoping to find a family. Not only was I malnourished, I was also starving for answers. I couldn’t see what happiness was, or if love existed. My life has changed so much since I won the lottery. Since I won my family. My mom got me a book when I was about four called Adoption Is for Always. This was the first step in teaching me about my past. We used to read this book together before I went to sleep. I sure did love that book. Back then, I didn’t really understand what adoption meant, I just looked at my mom smiling, and smiled with her. It wasn’t always like that. My parents told me that when I was a baby, I never smiled. When my parents used to smile and wave toys in front of me, I’d give them a blank stare. I later learned how to smile. As I grew up I started having more and more questions. I wanted to know what my life would’ve been like if I’d never left Russia, or if I hadn’t been put up for adoption. I like to imagine Russia as a great place when it really isn’t. I know this because my mom told me stories of when she used to live in Russia. She told me that Russia is a cold and dangerous place and that I would be living in poverty if I had stayed there with my birthparents. She helped me realize that my birth mother doesn’t need me. That there was a reason she’s never seen my face. By not knowing what I looked like, it was easier for her to leave me. She obviously knew thatShow MoreRelatedThe Drought Of Ancient Israel1538 Words   |  7 Pagesprey which is considered unclean in the Torah. As the New Interpreter’s Bible notes, â€Å"The Lord provides miraculously and in ways that people might not expect†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Due to the drought, the stream Elijah relied on for water in the desert soon went dry and left the prophet with nothing to drink. This is the only provision which could be seen as coming from baal, the god of rain. While the rain and water disappear, God’s miraculous ways of sustaining the prophet continue. Rather than allow him to die ofRead More Illusions of Reality Essay1341 Words   |  6 Pagesare laid at a very young age. Reality for the deaf and blind is that nothing exists outside of their perception. They do not yet understand object permanence, that even though an object goes out of sight, it still exists. Many children develop this knowledge around the ages of four to eight months old. I was a late bloomer; I did not acquire this until later. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When I was five years old, I was terrified of being left alone. I was afraid to ever be by myself. I had to beRead MoreWhat Is A Rescue Mission?992 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Okay, team, this is first and foremost a rescue mission. We go in, save y/n, and get out. If one of us runs into that bastard from the video you drag his ass right back to this ship and lock him up. Are we clear?† Sara didn’t wait for a response, she was already suiting up and checking all the weapons her suit carried were in perfect shape. The team still had their doubts, they knew this was a trap that they were walking straight into, they also knew that you couldn’t hold on for much longer soRead MoreThe Russian Revolution Of 19171294 Words   |  6 Pageslocking me in a room for 45 minutes and my classmates were very angry at this injustice. To clarify this statement, I will explain furthermore. I was having conflict with another girl in my grade, let s call her Em. I had already went to my teacher and the principal of the school about the issue because she would make fun of me and spread rumors. Em told the guidance counselor her side of the story and when I was sent to resolve this issue, the counselor wouldn’t allow me to speak. In fact, she toldRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Ethan Frome 1453 Words   |  6 Pagesstarting with the death of his father, the downward spiral of his mother’s mental health, and his irrational decision to marry his cousin, Zenobia Pierce, and her subsequent spira l into sickliness. From the outset, Ethan Frome doomed himself the second he left his technical college and returned home to Starkfield, never to leave again. Everything about Starkfield seems to mock him, especially the cemetery that inters Ethan’s family, the headstones seemingly mocking him with their existence: â€Å"‘we never gotRead MoreThe Twelve Leaders Of The Hierarchy1964 Words   |  8 PagesLeaders of the Hierarchy on their views concerning planetary rule. However, for the past few months, the Twelve Leaders of the Hierarchy request the attention of all the Planet’s Viceroys to speak with them face to face. 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Alvin Ailey and Sociology Free Essays

Jerry Tarn Professor Douglas Kierdorf Social Science 102 April 18th, 2013 Alvin Ailey’s â€Å"Revelations† and Sociology As the world begins to modernize, society develops into what sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies calls a â€Å"Gesellschaft† society. In a Gesellschaft society, people concentrate only on themselves and build relationships mostly based on the possible monetary gains. Because people are so focused on money, matters that do not possess any monetary value tend to be discarded as insignificant or unworthy. We will write a custom essay sample on Alvin Ailey and Sociology or any similar topic only for you Order Now Subjects such as the arts are often seen as unnecessary, excess, and impractical. However, what people fail to realize, is that art is in fact an integral part of humanity. Art can provide deep insights into our society, revealing both its positive and negative aspects in the most genuine form. Dance? a physical expression of art? is one of the many methods people uses to portray the various characteristics of society. Alvin Ailey’s signature work: â€Å"Revelations†, produced in 1960, is a prime example that reflected and exposed the social changes that were occurring during that era. The 1960s was marked as a time of great change as it was the era when America began to transform into an increasingly modern society. There were significant improvements in science (and technology exemplified by the start of the space exploration), which greatly changed how people lived and viewed the world. However, the most important changes were probably societal ones, namely the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement was categorized by African Americans expressing their dissatisfactions with the injustices that they had to endure in past century. Although African Americans were liberated from slavery after the Civil War, they still had to deal with the inequality of racial segregation. Under those laws, African Americans had to face disadvantages such as (but not limited to): lack of voting rights, inferior quality of facilities, and unequal treatment under law. In sociological terms, there was little social mobility, institutionalized discrimination, and communities were racially stratified. It was not until the 1960s that the nonviolent protests and public civil disobediences of African Americans began to gain prominence and produce effect. In 1960, one of the many famous acts of civil disobedience, the â€Å"Greensboro Sit-Ins† occurred. The sit-ins consisted of multiple instances of nonviolent protests at the Woolworth Store in Greensboro, North Carolina by local African American students. After repeated protests and growing tensions, the store finally desegregated its services. Coincidently, Ailey’s â€Å"Revelations† was produced in the same year that the protests occurred. Although there wasn’t a direct correlation between the Greensboro protests and the creation of Ailey’s dance, the production of Ailey’s dance was nevertheless a sign of social change. When Ailey’s dance company first performed, they changed the entire dynamic of American Dance Theater as African American way of life was finally represented by African Americans instead of by proxies of Caucasian dancers. The ability of African American dancers to represent their own culture shows the social change of the transfer of authority (of the dance theater industry) from the dominant group to the minority group. Another way that Ailey’s dance company signified social change was its integration of different ethnic groups. Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Lester Horton, Ailey decided to include dancers of different races into his dance company in 1962. Ailey’s practice of what sociologists termed â€Å"ethnic pluralism† was another sign of social change. Besides evidencing social change, â€Å"Revelations† also reflected the various elements of American society. The dance itself was able to show these elements through the contents of the plot, which was divided into three sections: â€Å"Pilgrim of Sorrow†, â€Å"Take Me to the Water†, and â€Å"Move Members, Move†. The first section, â€Å"Pilgrims of Sorrow† is about the sufferings of African Americans during the slavery era. The story depicts African Americans toiling through hard labor as slaves and trying to use song as an outlet for relief. Ailey also incorporates the song â€Å"I’ve been ‘Buked†, by Hall Johnson, to accentuate the agony and frustrations of African Americans. The reason why Ailey brought back stories of extreme hardship is perhaps he wanted to remind Americans how much pain African Americans had to go through. He wanted to emphasize how important it was for people to realize the need for the abolishment of segregation. Ailey also probably felt that because America’s history of racial inequality has existed for such a long time, African Americans have become what William Wilson calls the â€Å"permanent underclass†. Even after the Civil Rights Act passed, like W. E. B du Bois described in â€Å"The Philadelphia Negro†, African Americans still face financial disadvantages due to the situations they were put in before the passing of the bill. With the coexistence of people’s constant â€Å"just-world hypothesis† and stubbornness of their cognitive schema, the disadvantages of African Americans will never receive the deserved attention as people will just assume that their misfortunes were brought upon by themselves. This is probably why Ailey recognized the bitter truth that racism will always exist. Slightly different from â€Å"Pilgrims of Sorrow†, â€Å"Take me to the Water† and â€Å"Move Members, Move† conveys a more positive atmosphere as it portrays scenes of baptism and church service. Take me to the Water† depicts a woman by the riverside, ready to get baptized while â€Å"Move Members, Move† depicts a celebratory church scene. These dances are also reflections of American society as it shows the roles of religion. One role of religion was providing comfort to those undergoing hardship. When African Americans went through slavery, they sought comfort in God and prac ticing Christianity. Another role of religion in American society was providing solidarity. Emile Durkheim believed that religion brought unity amongst people and connection between individuals. This is reflected in American society as Christianity, America’s largest religion, underlies the many values in American culture. Another important aspect of Ailey’s dance that is worth mentioning is Ailey’s own life. When he was working on â€Å"Revelations†, a lot of the content was the result of his upbringings. Ailey grew up in rural Texas in the segregation era. At that time, especially in Texas, African Americans lived under constant danger as they not only faced discrimination, but also violence and risks of random lynching. All of these atrocities combined are probably what allowed Ailey to have such strong feelings towards the suffering of the slaves in the first part of his dance. Another influential moment in Alvin Ailey’s life was his exposure to literature. When he studied at universities in California, he learned of the writings of famous African American writers such as Langston Hughes and James Baldwin. In addition to his meeting with Maya Angelou, he perhaps became influenced and meant his performance to be an act to promote civil rights. Another influence of Ailey’s life was his exposure to religion. When he was young, he attended a Southern Baptist church. The songs and hymns that he heard when he went to church was probably influential to his other two dances â€Å"Take me to the Water† and â€Å"Move Members, Move†. This goes to show that what people experience in their childhood greatly influences their social identity as an adult. From Ailey’s background and dance piece, it could be seen that America during the 1960s was dominated by the Caucasian race, had a strong sense of religion (specifically Christianity), and had an unequal society. It was also beginning to advance into a developed society, which explains the rapid social change. To a certain extent, America today still possesses some discrimination towards certain ethnic groups, and equality isn’t exactly fully established in every aspect of the country. Nevertheless, as society progresses, so will its values. There will come a point in the future when all of the negative aspects that society used to possess will change for the better. However, it is important to be aware of the need of social change. One way that social change can be exercised is through art. Art is a highly human expression, and is one of the many methods that can facilitate social change. Works Cited Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre: Origins to 1979†,  International Encyclopedia of Dance, vol. 1. Oxford University Press, New York: 1979. 54-57. Dunning, Jennifer (1996). Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, INC. ISBN  0-201-62607-1. Foulkes, Julia L. Modern bodies: Dance and American modernism from Martha Graham to  Alvin  Ailey (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002), 179-184 Kowal, Rebekah J. How to Do Things with Dance : Performing Change in Postwar America (Middletown, CT; Wesleyan University Press, 2010), 1-6 Mitchell, Jack. Alvin  Ailey  American Dance Theater (Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews and McMeel, 1993), 1-25 â€Å"Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-Ins†,  Library of Congress. Retrieved April 15, 2013. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. â€Å"Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-Ins†,  Library of Congress. Retrieved April 15, 2013. [ 2 ]. Kowal, Rebekah J. How to Do Things with Dance : Performing Change in Postwar America (Middletown, CT; Wesleyan University Press, 2010), 1-6 [ 3 ]. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre: Origins to 1979†,  International Encyclopedia of Dance, vol. 1. Oxford University Press, New York: 1979. 54-57. [ 4 ]. Mitchell, Jack. Alvin  Ailey  American Dance Theater (Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews and McMeel, 1993), 1-25 [ 5 ]. Ibid. [ 6 ]. Foulkes, Julia L. Modern bodies: Dance and American modernism from Martha Graham to  Alvin  Ailey (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002), 179-184 [ 7 ]. Dunning, Jennifer (1996). Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, INC. ISBN  0-201-62607-1. How to cite Alvin Ailey and Sociology, Papers

Implement Physical Activity Programmes in Clinical Practice

Question: Discuss about the Implement Physical Activity Programmes in Clinical Practice. Answer: Introduction: Physical therapy or physiotherapy is a noble profession in the healthcare sector. It can be defined as the domain of physical medicine as well as rehabilitation specialty. This kind of treatment mainly uses the mechanical force and movements to remediate impairments so that there is promotion in the patients mobility, function and in quality of life (OMahony Blake, 2017). The physical therapist as a profession thereby mainly involves the expert to provide a quality life to his client mainly by the processes of examination, proper diagnosis, prognosis and in various physical interventions. A physical therapist does not only engage himself to clinical practices but can also include activities of various domains like research, consultation, education and even in administration as well( Lefman Sheppard, 2014). These treatments are usually carried out in association of other medical services. Due to its varying scope of practice, many healthcare enthusiasts have liked this as their prof ession for livelihood. The essay will mainly portray a reflection of my experiences that I have gathered as a physiotherapist in the various domains that I have worked. This will in turn help me to look at the various positive as well as the negative aspects of the profession in have faced. This will help me to strengthen the positive aspects and work hard to minimise the weakness that I have faced while practicing my profession. I will mainly use the ORID model of reflection which will help me to reflect myself in a sequential manner and thereby develop my expertise in the field. The First step of the ORID model usually includes the Objective section that usually helps a person to explore his various learning experiences like the different domains and objects that he has covered in his learning, reading and observing procedures in his preparation phase. Within the scope of practice of the physiotherapists, I have been successful enough to develop a detailed knowledge about the assessment of the neuromuscular system along with that of the musco-skeletal system and cardio-respiratory systems. My course work has helped me to prepare myself in properly diagnosing different kinds of diseases along with that of other disorders that remain intricately associated with that of different physical dysfunction, pain and also injury. It has helped to regain different types of experiences that have taught me the different treatments that I can undertake to help my patient get relief from the pain. My responsibility in my professional years will mainly include various inter vention strategies which will help to develop, maintain, rehabilitate and thereby augment function sin the individual clients which will improve their mobility. These scopes are included in the Bill 179 under the Regulatory Health Professions Act Statue Law Amendment Act, Ontario Government 2010. If followed properly, this will not only ensure proper service to humankind but will also help to prevent any sort of legal obligations, which may hamper my reputation as a professional physiotherapist when I would pursue the job (Badia et al., 2014). I have also been able to develop the essential competencies which had helped me to groom myself in such a way which will help me to provide the best service as a professional with very few chances of making any mistakes. It has taught me that as an expert it would be my duty to at first consult with patients so that I can obtain the correct health information from the patient. Once the assessment data is collected by me, I need to assess the d ata and critically analyse the findings so that I can prepare the best intervention plan for my clients. After properly applying my intervention, my responsibility would include the evaluation of the intervention in order to ensure that the intervention had been fruitful for the patient in gaining relief from the pain that he is experiencing. This would help to assess whether any modification of service is essential or not for proper service delivery (Walkeden Walker, 2015). While performing the mentioned steps, I have to make sure also that I become a successful communicator so that I can pay importance to patient satisfaction. I need to properly develop and maintain a rapport with the patient by building a relationship based on trust and ethical and moral virtues. I need to make sure that the patient share information properly so that I can provide the best service. In order to achieve this it is important for me to establish a verbal and also a non verbal communication medium where the patient would not only be comfortable but would also be able to cooperate in the best way. The more the patient engagement in the therapies, the more the physiotherapist would be sure that his interventions will bring out the best results. I would also have to play the role of an efficient collaborator in the healthcare sector where I will be placed. Since physiotherapy often takes place in association with many other interventions in a healthcare setting, I would also have to establish and maintain proper professional relationships. This would be done by proper prevention; managements and resolution of conflicts if the ari se in the healthcare sector (Johnston Beales, 2016). I was also prepared in the best way by my mentors so that I can also perform the responsibility of a manager if I get placed in the administration section of a physiotherapy department. My main responsibility would be to manage individual practices at the same time of supervising the different involved personnel. I would also ensure that every individuals practice safe a as well as effective physiotherapy to their clients. As responsible physiotherapists, my duty would also be a proper advocate in promoting healthcare among individuals, populations and also communities. My mentors have advised us that I must never stagnant myself in learning procedures. I should constantly reflect my practices so that I can gain insights into my strengths and weakness and accordingly modify myself for ensuring my expertise in the field. I would prefer gathering of knowledge throughout my tenure of practice as I believe that no one can ever become so learned to stop gaining new knowledge. I should pre fer evidence based approach in my practices so that in can ensure that the most modern techniques are adapted by me. Moreover as a professional, I should maintain the standards that my profession demands both in legal and ethical domains at the same time of respecting individuals and by contributing the best for the development of physiotherapy in my profession (Synnot et al., 2015). All the important procedures and the scopes that I have studied in my course years will help me to be a successful physiotherapist. This profession is indeed very important in the present society. This is because the modern era has a number of disorders like cystic fibrosis, arthritis and others, which can only be treated by proper methods of physiotherapy only. By successfully studying the subject of physiotherapy, both the society as well as I would reap benefits as both of our aims mainly lie in the welfare of the nation. The next step of the reflective piece would mainly involve the different types of experiences that I have gone through during my course years. This had helped me to gain confidence, as my professor had been extremely happy with my work. In this regard, I would like to portray two important experiences that had made me feel consistent about my knowledge. Our professor, in order to test our critical thinking skill had provided us with case studies in order to see how we would fare in our future if we take up the profession. He gave us a case like that of a patient named Sally who came to a clinic with complaints of pain in the right forearm. She also complained of problems in performing her duties. By saying so the professor asked us our duty that would be as a physiotherapist. Although she had complained in her forearm, I tried to analyse each details of her so that I can find the main source. After critical analysis, something interesting came to be light. I tried to relate my knowle dge with the patients symptoms and understood that she was suffering from neural tension. My professor was very impressed of my critically analysing capability, which in turn helped me to gain confidence. While I was advised by the professor to provide correct treatment methods for her, I tried to apply my both theoretical as well as practical skills and knowledge. I planned intervention, which included muscle strengthening, muscle stretching, upper back strengthening, and neural gliding as well. Such good words from the professor boosted my confidence and made me more enthusiastic for taking up the profession of physiotherapy. My professor also stated that I had followed each step that I need to follow while attending a patient. This response from my professor helped me to be similarly dedicating to every patient and never take any of their problems for granted. I had applied all scopes of practice in my hypothetical treatment plan. All of these criteria were monitored by my profes sor and appreciated my dedication in my profession. I was excited by such kind of challenges that I faced in the case where I had to develop a critical thinking ability. I want to provide my love for the profession for the benefit of humankind and when this accompanies interesting challenges, there would be no scope for boredom. I always prefer such challenging profession. Moreover this profession is also well respected in the society for the relief that it provides to distressed people in pain. Therefore taking such reputable profession as my career would be a dream fulfilment. The next step of the reflection would mainly cover the various cognitive learning experiences that I have gathered in my university years. This step mainly involves the interpretive learning parts in my reflection. I handled an exceptional case that my professor provided to me and to a classmate of mine. He suggested the case, which contained a patient who comes to the clinic. She came with issue of slight incontinence characterised by leakage of urine and urgency (Leaking when a person thinks she need to visit the toilet). It was found that the patient always had to go to the bathroom and even failed to make it in time. My professor asked us to follow the case and come up with interventions. While both of us were even not considering the case to be attended by physiotherapist, my mentor advised that each symptoms shown by the patients can be modified by physiotherapist. However, that would require perseverance to critically analyse each of the symptoms and relating them with the kno wledge acquired by us in our course years. This advice of the professor helped us to evaluate many factors that the patient was suffering from. We learnt to apply our problem solving skills and memory retention capability to each case that come to us without giving up on the first go. Development of thinking skills and our perception of learned material ultimately helped both of us to crack the best treatment that would have healed the patient. We suggested pelvic floor muscle exercise along with deferring techniques and pad types. We also provided her a lot of education about the fluid and dietary requirements. Therefore, this experience helped me to develop my cognitive learning behaviours and taught me to develop my perseverance skill, critically analysing skill, memory retention skill, relating my practise with my knowledge and many others. It also gave me confidence that no interventions are beyond the capability of my profession. I have to be confident, calm, composed and foll ow my inner capabilities to provide the best treatment to my patients. Therefore, from this experience, I have understood that the profession of physiotherapy is highly practical and if it is practiced in an honest manner with best knowledge in the subject, it is able to treat any form of disorder that the human physiology can get affectedby. Due to these reasons, this profession is much respected in my country of Canada. Canada has therefore came up with huge number of sectors having physiotherapy departments as they have came to understand the importance that the profession hold in the present era in healthcare. They have also introduced huge number of placements in these departments, which will help me to get a proper respectable job of a physiotherapist in my own nation. A good physiotherapist with expected skills will always be in high demand and therefore my taking of this profession would help me earn my livelihood well. The last step would mainly include the decisional segment of my reflective piece. This part will mainly help in incorporating the different things that I have learnt in my university years, which would help me to be a professional physiotherapist with the best reputation that would earn me respect. In order to achieve my goal, I have to practise important personality trails and skill that will help me provide the best care to my patients. I need to be initiative, patient, sensitive and tactful while communicating and analysing a patients condition. I need to develop exceptional communicational skills with a proper ability and mentality to work in a team. I need to possess excellent problem solving skills as well as organisational skills. I have to develop my ability to be empathetic, encouraging and be firm. I need to establish good relationship with my patients and their families. I should develop the capability to work under pressure and manage time efficiently. All these would hel p me make a big difference in the life of human beings who are in severe pain with their movements. This profession will give me a scope to act as a rehabilitation specialist, which will help to foster a patients return to maximal function in her life. The profession has the main aim of increasing the patient ability to move, reduce pain, prevent disability and even restore function. This profession is highly contributing to promote health of an individual and promises to give him best life. As a result, such highly dedicating profession would be an honour for me as I have always loved humankind and wanted to dedicate my life for their betterment. Moreover, Canadian population at the present era has a huge percentage of aging individuals who are in dire need of physiotherapy and therefore by taking this profession, I could not only help them but also enjoy job security as well. My love for anatomy and physiology had always pushed me to accept the profession of physiotherapist. I have thereby tried my best to provide the best interventions to the patients who come for my service. The reflective piece has helped me to gain confidence from the experiences that I have gone through and has helped me to develop my perseverance while analysing a case study. It had also helped to revive my memory of the various scopes that my courses provided me with clear clarification of the competencies that I need to achieve in my profession. This reflection had thereby helped me to identify the personality traits that I need to develop in order to be a proper physiotherapist and I believe that my genuine interest in health and well-being of patients will take me a long way. References: Alexanders, J., Anderson, A., Henderson, S. (2015). Musculoskeletal physiotherapists use of psychological interventions: a systematic review of therapists perceptions and practice.Physiotherapy,101(2), 95-102. Badia, M., Riquelme, I., Orgaz, B., Acevedo, R., Longo, E., Montoya, P. (2014). Pain, motor function and health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy as reported by their physiotherapists.BMC pediatrics,14(1), 192. Johnston, V., Beales, D. (2016). Enhancing direct access and authority for work capacity certificates to physiotherapists.Manual therapy,25, 100-103. Lefmann, S. A., Sheppard, L. A. (2014). Perceptions of emergency department staff of the role of physiotherapists in the system: a qualitative investigation.Physiotherapy,100(1), 86-91. Morris, J. H., Oliver, T., Kroll, T., Joice, S., Williams, B. (2015). From physical and functional to continuity with pre-stroke self and participation in valued activities: A qualitative exploration of stroke survivors, carers and physiotherapists perceptions of physical activity after stroke.Disability and rehabilitation,37(1), 64-77. OMahony, N., Blake, C. (2017). Musculoskeletal triage: The experiences of advanced practice physiotherapists in Ireland.Physiotherapy Practice and Research,38(1), 7-16. Stubbs, B., Probst, M., Soundy, A., Parker, A., De Herdt, A., De Hert, M., ... Vancampfort, D. (2014). Physiotherapists can help implement physical activity programmes in clinical practice.The British Journal of Psychiatry,204(2), 164-164. Stubbs, B., Soundy, A., Probst, M., De Hert, M., De Herdt, A., Vancampfort, D. (2014). Understanding the role of physiotherapists in schizophrenia: an international perspective from members of the International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Mental Health (IOPTMH).Journal of Mental Health,23(3), 125-129. Synnott, A., OKeeffe, M., Bunzli, S., Dankaerts, W., O'Sullivan, P., O'Sullivan, K. (2015). Physiotherapists may stigmatise or feel unprepared to treat people with low back pain and psychosocial factors that influence recovery: a systematic review.Journal of physiotherapy,61(2), 68-76. Walkeden, S., Walker, K. M. (2015). Perceptions of physiotherapists about their role in health promotion at an acute hospital: a qualitative study.Physiotherapy,101(2), 226-231.