A Defining Moment Essay - 755 Words

Many people influenced and events my reading and writing development throughout my childhood from my mother, my elementary librarian, and Sesame Street, to getting my first pair of glasses. We all have defining moments in our lives where we can look back and say, â€Å"That moment changed my life.† This is the story of the defining moment that changed the way I read and write, and I learned it from a whale! It was the beginning of my seventh grade year. I was about twelve years old and, I guess you could say a nerd. I did well in school so I was placed in the Gifted and Talented program with other nerds in my class. As part of this program we were required to read at a certain level or read a certain number of books each semester. You†¦show more content†¦I thought to myself, hey, I like whales. I’ve read stories about ships and pirates and stuff before. This looks like something I might like. I can still smell the old paper and threaded binding resonating in my mind as I opened the book and scrolled through the pages, soaking in the vibrant illustrations of what would soon become my obsession for the next six months. Happy with my selection and feeling fairly proud of myself, I take the book to the check-out desk. The desk is occupied by the stereotypical librarian. She is an older lady probably in her sixties with gray wiry hair and half square bi-focal glasses that sit on the end of her nose. As I place the book on the counter, she looks down her nose and through her glasses at me with a look of skepticism. Frowning as she speaks, she tells me that maybe I should choose something else. Undaunted, I refuse and ask to check out the book. She gives a few other suggestions but again, I refuse. She wishes me luck as she slides it back to me and I stuff the hefty book into my backpack. I start reading the book and right away it is intimidating from the very first paragraph. I am faced with language and sentence structure I do not understand, what is a bedfellow and why does he carry a purse? Is he gay? Immediately I am second guessing my decision but I am determined to get through this book. It takes me the better part of a week to get through the first chapter. IShow MoreRelatedThe Position Of Ceo Of An Established Organization959 Words   |  4 Pagesessential components and play a significant role towards success (Reeves, 2003), the most important thing is the personal decision to pursue success. According to Omar s presentation (n.d), that moment that you decide to take the â€Å"red pill† and follow the path of your desires remains the defining moment in the path to success. Taking the red pill means acknowledging your ability to achieve your desires and do everything possible to accomplish the set goals. It is equivalent to taking up a new identi tyRead MoreFun Home by Alison Bechdel Essay1386 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscovered her father was homosexual. 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It never occurred to me that graduation would be the end of my youth and the start of adulthood. Graduating from high school was an influential event that gave me an altered outlook on my existence. Life before graduation, preparing for graduation day, and commencement day overwhelmedRead More Defining Moments in American History Essay1900 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican history has had many defining moments over the last five decades which has helped America to develop to the way it is today. Each decade holding many life changing events and discoveries in them it would take a long time to cover each and every one of these so I have chosen a major event that I find to be of great worth to Americans today. We can all learn from the past events and work together to make American a safer and better place to live, and one way to do so is by learning from theRead MoreThe Great Depression Was A Climactic Defining Moment In723 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Depression was a climactic defining moment in the 20 century that crushed the lives of numerous americans in the United States. Its kickoff was Black Thursday, October 24, 1929. That is when merchants sold 12.9 million of dollars of stock in one day. It was triple the standard sum. Throughout the following four days, stock costs fell 23 percent. That is known as money markets crash of 1929. For all the more, optically observe When Did the Depression Begin? In spite of the fact thatRead MoreTerrorism: A Defining Moment in Our Recent History1576 Words   |  6 Pages As an American living in the 21st century, terrorism has been a defining moment in our recent history. It has shaped the foreign policies of many nations, changed the way society has viewed violence and created debates about national security. Yet, it is only recently that terrorism has gone global. The history of terrorism is rooted in its use by revolutionaries and governments, its influence on domestic affairs and the various methods used to instill fear and control. But since the end ofRead More A Defining Moment In High School Athletics Essay1746 Words   |  7 PagesA Defining Moment In High School Athletics I was a part of something my senior year that not many High School students will ever experience. It is one of those things that I will tell my grand kids about in years to come. The 2002 Fort Defiance Wrestling Team had a winning season with a perfect record. Our accomplishments as a team and as individuals will be in the records books at Fort Defiance High School, Virginia. 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Art and How It Effects the Geographical Free Essays

In today’s world the question of what is art is one that most people would have mixed responses and views on. This may be due to the rise of technology, specifically the dependence of the internet on people’s everyday lives. The idea of Art seems to get lost in today’s world and newer generations have distanced themselves from art. We will write a custom essay sample on Art and How It Effects the Geographical or any similar topic only for you Order Now There once was such a heavily reliance and dependence on art in people’s everyday lives but with time this has slowly started to fade. In the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary there are sixty eight definitions for ‘Art’. The definition that many people associate with or people with some knowledge about art tend to use from the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary is that it is something produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes. Another definition for art from the same dictionary is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects. Many people interpret art in many different ways. This is very evident in today’s society with regards to people and relating what they are practicing, believing or doing to a form of art. This may be controversial in some cases which, over time have led to there being many conflicts and wars over such issues relating back to art. Famous pieces of art have been created over time, by famous artists who have shaped the world of art of today. Lobbyist groups, culture groups and other parties have formed over time and have used different forms of art to come together to promote awareness to their group or cause. Political involvement in the Art’s sector is something that over time has become an issue for some people who do not agree with how money is being allocated for the arts. In some cases how the government handles situations in relation to the Arts and funding is questioned sometimes because some people feel like they are not being cared for or assisted. As discussed in the article Lobbying for Arts and Culture by Jason Hall, during the 1970s, arts and culture lobbying became a bigger issue at the federal level. It was during this time that the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities (NEA and NEH) and The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) were created. This creation allowed for lobbying to become intensely focused at a federal level. Along with these creations came annual appropriations, which meant that money was now being set aside for funding of the Arts. This was something that at first many people were not aware of was happening, but once people realized the issue became a bigger one for everyone involved. At one point funding was as high as 175 million a year for the Arts in the United States, specifically Washington D. C. The culture wars of the 1980’s and 1990 have brought tension between cultures for reasons relating in back to art. With the creation of these boards, services and relations the wars were able to fade in the late 1990’s as culture and art became more intertwined with people’s everyday lives. Around this time is when the electronic boom happened and advancements in technology exploded around the world. With new creations and inventions increasing the way people interact with each other people were now able to collect information in ways they have never been able to do before. This was something that benefitted most parties involved but also left a window for people to be exposed. With this new technology at many institutions and people’s disposal more political issues were able to be handled in a quicker manor. What many people fail to realize with Art is since many people see it as such a broad topic people can relate to art in many different ways through beliefs, views, practises and talents. This idea has raised questions for future generations because the decline in people participating in some form of art is raising thanks in part to a variety of reasons. The main argument deals with technology and how people today are more interested in electronics as opposed to the Arts. There are still many people today who rely and believe heavily in the Arts. The sad reality is that number is not what it once was bringing up many questions people do not have answers for. An example would be since funding today is so great for the Arts in many cases across Canada and the United States and other parts of the world will the investments now be used and appreciated in the future. The market for art depends on the people involved wither it is paintings, religions, music or any other form of art. Depending on the audience some forms of art are enjoyed by more people with more funding going in the direction of the places or practises that are less popular to the general public but still attract guests and people associated with that form of art. This is what makes art so interesting the fact that the market depends on the people one speaks to and what he or she believes or has strong feelings for. With being so broad more people can relate in one way or another, but it is something that is not happening due to people’s interests elsewhere. This has led to organizations today being created that are either legitimate or scams which is why in some cases people have a hard time trusting certain situations. The idea of tax advantages for certain organizations was mentioned in Halls article leading to these organizations being created over night in some cases to get in on these tax advantages. With these tax advantages that were starting to be given out to certain charity groups, local museums and theatres to name a few advocacy and lobbyist groups began to appear in larger numbers. These groups are created to try and preserve Art and the many great things that it has to offer in such a variety of different ways. Through music, dance or visual displays art allows people to express themselves in ways that they would normally not be able to do. A lot of credit for art being able to survive in today’s world goes to the generous donors and government tax grants and other incentives received due to a lack of interest in some cases. The operating costs for being involved with Art can get pretty high so having generous donations for people, businesses or governments allows these places to continue to operate. The impact of new technologies has changed how the word of art is interpreted for many people. This is done in many ways, with relation to artists and artwork people can now see their work online in most cases and do not need to fly across the world to see a famous painting. Listening to famous orchestras or musicals can now be done online as well taking away from experiences people can only get when they see the art performance first hand. Although in these cases new technologies seem to have hindered certain ideas that art tries to promote it has given people a chance to hear or see things they would not normally see because they are located in other parts of the world. With these new technologies at people’s disposal it gives more people a chance to explore and find out different forms of art. This is because people can take art for what they think it is, explore it with the technologies available and find other people who feel the same way. Regardless of how people feel politics in the end have a big say in how things are run and operated within certain jurisdictions with regards to the Arts. A big issue for politicians and the topic of art is now the security of the general public due to attacks stemming from certain beliefs or practices. Again another problem with politics is actually receiving the funding from the House or the Senate. In most cases a congressmen or senators have to be connected in some way or another to a certain museum or cause to receive a generous donation. Much has changed from the early times that date back to the Greeks with regards to how people saw and interpreted art. The roles it had on everyday life and culture have changed dramatically depending on where one decides to locate. Over time there have been many difficult days, months and years involving art and culture wars with many lives being taken in the end. The federal levels involvement in art is what is keeping it alive, mainly due to money investments and donations from the government, charities or private groups. A great example that was given in Halls article was how Museums generally get about 95–97 percent of their public sector funding from local and state government. Art is still important to many people’s livelihood because they depend on art to express how they feel or provide a living. The most come perception people get when they just hear the word art is associate it with paintings, drawings or something else one would see in a museum. While many people would agree with this the media in today’s world along with the technology at people’s fingertips has managed to almost hide art and make it not as powerful and meaningful as it once was on everyday life around the world. One can see that over time people’s views and desires have begun to steer away from being so involved with art directly. This is something that will ultimately take away from the meaning of great things that have had to deal with art in the past because people will not be informed or aware due to the lack of coverage and dependency on art. How to cite Art and How It Effects the Geographical, Essay examples

Health Care Provider And Faith Diversity Christianity And Buddhism

Question: Comparative analysis focusing on the seven basic worldview questions will be completed from the perspective of Christianity and Buddhism. Answer: Abstract We currently live in a society full of people with differing culture, religion and belief. As healthcare providers, to practice efficiently in a pluralist society, we need to be aware that religion and faith have a significant influence on an individuals worldview towards health. It may be very difficult to learn all the religion that is available but this paper will offer readers two very different religion. This paper will provide a thorough view of the following faith: Christianity and Buddhism. For the purpose of this paper, a comparative analysis focusing on the seven basic worldview questions will be completed from the perspective of Christianity and Buddhism. Along with the seven basic worldview questions, a discussion on the healing aspect of these two religions will be touched upon as well as an exploration of the philosophies of both faiths towards health care. The findings in this paper can offer important information to health care workers when working with patient of dif fering religion. Health Care Providers and Faith diversity: First Draft It is known that religion and spirituality has a huge impact on an individuals worldview. As a result, healthcare providers should be aware of our patients religious practices and be mindful of #own values and beliefs so that it will not interfere with our patients care. Among the religions that are practiced by the individuals in America, about seventy percent identified themselves as Christians, while almost six percent practiced a non-Christian faith. Of those six percent, roughly one percent of the populations practice the Buddhist faith (Pew Research Center, 2015). In order to provide the best care to the entire patient, it is important for the health care providers to understand the worldview of each of these faiths. This paper will provide a comprehensive comparison between two faiths. On utilizing the seven basic worldview questionnaires in exploring # the philosophy of Christianity and Buddhism. Critical components from the perspective of Christianity and Buddhism will also be addressed. By understanding the worldview of these two faiths, it is hoped that healthcare providers are able to provide a more individualized care. A Comparison of Christianity and Buddhism Worldview Worldview as defined by Shelly and Miller (2006) is a framework of ideas and assumptions about the world and life. The seven basic worldview questions will provide a perspective about the world through the eyes Christianity and Buddhism. The first question pertains to prime reality. In the Christian faith, prime reality is God. For Christians, God is first in everything. A verse from Colossian 1 states He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead (Colossian 1, New Standard Version). In contrast, the Buddhist faith believes in the concept of samsara, an endless existence or a continuous cycle of life, death and reincarnation (Berkley Center, n.d.). For Buddhist, the goal is to be liberated from samsara to attain nirvana by practicing the teachings of Buddha. The second question inquires about the nature of the external reality, the world around us. For Christians, God created the universe and we rely on him for our existence. It is said that God created humans as his image. On the other hand, Buddhists believes that the material world around us is unreal, in order to achieve liberation from suffering (nirvana), we must free ourselves #from the physical andthe mental attachments to the material world (Berkley Center, n.d.). The third question relates to the meaning of a human being. In Christianity, humans are made in the image of God or imago dei. According to Gods plan, humans have the responsibility and authority over the rest of creation (Shelly and Miller, 2006). For this reason, it is felt that humans are created with wisdom and knowledge in order to care for the sick and the poor. In contrast, Buddhists believe that there is no permanent body or soul, human existence is just a combination of five components or khandas: physical form, feelings/sensations, ideations, mental formations and consciousness. These components combine at birth to create a person (Religion Facts, 2015). What occurs to a person after death is the fourth question. For Christians, depending on the decisions and actions one makes, our existence will either be with or without God. We exist beyond the death of our body (Tripp, n.d.). On the other hand, the concept of reincarnation holds true for the Buddhist faith. Reincarnation is the belief that the soul or spirit will be reborn after the death of the physical body. In addition, karma strongly influences ones future or next life, for these reasons Buddhist are encouraged to make morally right decisions. The fifth question asks us if it is possible to know anything at all. Through the eyes of Christianity, the all-knowing God has knowledge of everything and he conveys this information through the Bible (Creation Education Center, 2014). In contrast, the Buddhist faith does not ponder on the idea of knowledge about creation because for Buddhism, there is no beginning, life is a cycle that repeats itself. Buddhism focuses on the current human conditions, the human suffering in life. The essence of his teaching is to end this suffering by studying and practicing the four noble truths (Berkley Center, n.d.). The next question is in regards to knowing what is right from wrong. For Christians, we are made in the image of God; we are created as moral beings, knowing the differences between right and wrong. Shelly and Miller (2006) stated that our decisions are based on good thinking, Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, God knows our intentions and it is our desire is to please therefore by doing what is morally right we are pleasing Him. In contrast, Buddhism has the concept of Precepts. It is similar to Christians Ten Commandments. Precepts consist of many sets that guide us to make morally right decisions. The main five sets or pancasila, states not to kill, steal, lie, misuse sex and abuse intoxicants. Since there is no God to please, by following these Precepts, Buddhists can achieve enlightenment (OBrien, 2015). The last worldview question brings up the meaning of human history. For Christians, humanity is linear; it means there is a beginning and an end. The end for us is in Gods hand. The belief that God will create a new humanity in a new kingdom is true for Christians (Shelly and Miller, 2006). On the other hand, Buddhist believes that humanity is not linear but goes through repeating cycle until one achieves nirvana. Critical Components in Healing Spirituality has a huge role in the healing process. It provides hope and positive thinking during the most difficult time (Pulchalski, 2001). Spirituality varies for everyone and an individuals faith can influence ones spirituality. In the Christians faith, spirituality is rooted on the belief and trust in God. For Christians, turning to the spirit realm for healing is prohibited by God because it is viewed as getting involved with demonic, even more a lack of faith in God (Shelly and Miller, 2006). The power of prayer, bible study and church attendance is shown to aid in the healing process. Twenty studies over the course of thirty years have shown that regular church attendance can significantly lower blood pressure (Shelly and Miller, 2006). A critical component in healing for Buddhist is the mind and body. The minds are limitless and pure but have the power to control the bodys performance. As a result, meditation is proven to be a powerful tool in case healing. The concept of karma, meaning anything we do now will affect us in the future has a role in illness. To heal ones current illnesses, one must engage in positive behaviors and actions then in order to prevent illnesses in the future. Following the noble eightfold path allows Buddhist to achieve good karma, therefore limits the suffering caused by illnesses. Important Factors to Consider for Health Care Provider When caring for patients whose spiritual beliefs are different from their own, nurses may find it difficult at times to understand certain practices. According to Shelly and Miller (2006) nursing developed from the Christian worldview as a response to the teaching of Jesus Christ and his example while caring for the sick. Some important factors to be considered when caring for the Christian patients are their strong belief in God. According to the Bible, it is in Gods nature to heal and physicians are an extension of Gods general blessings to a fallen human race (Tangelders, 2007). Offering a Bible can be very valuable to the Christians during hospitalization as it allow time for prayers. It should be kept in mind that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it belongs to the Lord, therefore we must treat it, not mistreat it or use it for medical experiments (Tangelders, 2007). In contrast, when caring for the Buddhists, we must be mindful of our working environment, making sure that it is quiet for the purpose of meditation. Mediation allows Buddhist to transform their mind, to develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity and calm in order to see the true nature of things. Limiting noise can be beneficial towards mediations. Modesty is a big concern as most Buddhist prefers to be cared by the same sex. If possible, when performing procedures where the body is exposed, make sure the nurse is of the same sex. Conclusion We practice in a pluralist society and should be tolerant of the differences and accept our patient for who they are. Respecting our patients belief and allowing them to practice their faith free out any restraints can be so beneficial during hospitalization. The author of this paper feels that spirituality in any form allows individuals to cope with whatever illness one faces. Spirituality gives patient the power of hope and positive thinking (Pulchalski, 2001). As seen with any religion or faith, the power of the mind is just as strong as the body. As a result, when caring for patients take into consideration everything, view our patient as a whole. References OBrien, B. (2015). The Buddhist Precepts. Retrieved from Buddhism.about.com/od/theprecepts/a/preceptsintro.htm Pew Research Center. (2015). Americas Changing Religious Landscape. Retrieved from https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/ Pulchalski, C. (2001). The role of spirituality in health care. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 14(4): 352-357 Religion Facts. (2015). Buddhist Beliefs about Human Nature. Retrieved from https://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/human-nature Shelly, J. Miller, A. (2006). Called to Care (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, Il: IVP Academic. Tangelder, J. (2007). A Christian Perspective on Healthcare. Retrieved from www.reformedreflections.ca/faith-and-life/chr-perspective-healthcare.html Tripp, D. (n.d.). Exploring Christianity. Retrieved from https://www.christianity.co.nz/truth6.htm