Prompt 10

sdfasd

In the section Indonesia, Gilbert expresses a sense of self- awareness that she lacked in India. The guru's advice that was given to her in India was used throughout her trip in Bali. For example, after a bus hits her, she realizes she needs to pray everyday not just when she feels like she is in need. "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort." This quote really stuck with me because of the truth I feel it holds. Continuing to pray after your distress is like a sealing process. By the end of Indonesia she has the dream of her and Filipe which I thought was beautiful and peaceful. She saw herself sitting in a restaurant with him in New York looking across the room at Swamiji. It seems she can finally see herself in this dream and stop searching for who she is and who god is because she has finally found him. Bali seems like the seal of her distress that had peaked in India.

Prompt 1

Prompt #1

What are your expectations for this course?

Feel free to add anything about your samskaras -- positive or negative -- that you might like to address throughout this term.

I expect to learn a lot more about yogic meditations and relaxation and use what I learn in my everyday life. I also expect to improve on my writing and create a more "gilbert" style. She speaks her mind and doesn't really sugar coat what she is trying to say- honesty and sincerity is embedded in her words. Sometimes simple writing is the best to read because it makes a story more relatable and page turning. That is one of my goals this year.

Prompt 4

Prompt #4

Think of a struggle you’ve had within yourself. Then, write a conversation between you and your own mind like Gilbert does on pages 134-136. Have fun with it while sharing your struggle -- try to add in literary techniques like Gilbert does (personification, metaphor, simile, anaphora); take some risks and have some fun.

Mind: Ok Lani it is time to practice for the ACT's because you know you're going to put it off another half hour if you don't get up now..

Me: If I don't get up now I can just do an extra section later

Mind: You know once you get it out of the way you wont need to do an extra section just get up, turn off the TV. Thats a start...if you time yourself you will be done even sooner.

Me: I don't have tutoring for another two days!

Mind: You know you save it until last minute every time. You will feel a sense of accomplishment once it is finished and you'll also make extra time to improve on anything before tutoring. Stop making excuses for yourself it hasn't gotten you anywhere

Me: Ok I'll do one section now, if I score well I will not retake it but if I don't I'll use the extra day to retake.

prompt 2

Prompt #2

For pages 1-34

What are your reactions to Eat, Pray, Love so far? If you've already heard of it or seen the movie, how does it compare to what you've heard/seen? If this is your first encounter, what do you think of it so far? What do you think of Elizabeth Gilbert's writing style? Do certain parts resonate with you? Titillate you? Make you laugh? If so, what parts? Include quotations and page numbers like so:

I loved the line where Gilbert writes, "My misery had been completely vacuumed out of me," (15). I know that feeling but had never thought of that metaphor before. It's one of my favorite aspects of her writing: deeply creative figurative language interspersed within a casual and honest account of her personal journey.

I have heard that the movie Eat Pray Love is a complete flop, but so far reading the book I am hooked. I don't intend on seeing the movie until I finish the book because I do not want to picture the movie scenes as I read. The opening chapter starts with "I wish Giovanni would kiss me...." pg. 1. She goes on to talk about the funny story of how they met. Elizabeth's writing is page turning and humorous. I love the fact that the book is about self discovery with hints of romance throughout the novel. This book is ideal for my reading style.

prompt 3

Prompt #3

Please reflect on today's meditation in class.

was not in class

prompt 5

Prompt #5

Blog about your yoga experience today. How did it go for you? How did you feel afterward? You might talk about a specific pose or about Savasana (the relaxation pose at the end).

was not in class

Prompt 7

Prompt # 7

Reread the beginning of Chapter 56, bottom of p 171, starting with "Here's what I caught myself..." to the end of the second paragraph on page 172, ending with "right where you actually are". Think of a place or a moment in your life when you struggle being where you are. Then, go into it. What happens? Why do you struggle? How can you try to "be present" the next time this happens?

This year I am constantly thinking about college. At times it gets to the point where it consumes my day to day life and all I can think about is my future. It is hard for me to hold myself back and just realize I am in my senior year of high school, but at the same time I know it's an important detail of my life. When I get into conversations with my parents about moving out I start thinking about it for hours instead of focusing on my senior year. Sometimes it takes a few deep breaths for me to remember that I am still in my last year of high school and should be having a good time. A lot of times I get scared thinking about what will happen after college because thinking about my college process leads me into thinking about my future. This thought is just extra pressure on myself, but it is a thought that is hard to control until my college process is over.

Prompt 6

Prompt #6

Reread the section on soul mates in the last paragraph on page 149. Then respond to the following three questions: what do you think of this definition? Have you had any soul mates that have entered (and possibly left) your life? How have they served as a mirror for you, as we discussed in class?

Prompt 8

Reread Richard from Texas' comment to Elizabeth Gilbert on the top of page 178 to the end of that chapter. Then, explain what he means in your own words and, just as Gilbert does, go into detail explaining a way that you can start to take control of your thoughts.

Taking control of you're thoughts is one of the most powerful things a human can do because as the book states, "your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts and you are the slave to your emotions." My day to day decisions rely heavily on my current emotions. Having control of your thoughts means you can control yourself resulting in better decision making and a happier life in general. This quote in particular stuck with me this weekend. When I had a negative thought I tried dismissing it, but it's hard to trash a thought without understanding where its generated from. The main way I am able to shrug of negative voices in my head is understanding where they are rooted from-as the book states "understanding where it came from and why they arrived and then with great forgiveness and fortitude dismissing them." Sometimes the thoughts will come back to my head, but knowing the situation front and back helps me erase it from my mind when I don't want to think about it. When I- or anyone else- does not understand a bad situation that sticks with them, we keep asking ourselves the same question, "what if?" When the "what if" is understood, their is nothing left to question and the thought is easily replaced.