Search for Beauty 2024

 The myth of Narcissus invites us to contemplate the deeper connection between external beauty and the inner self. In our society, where physical appearance often takes center stage, the story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of balance and self-awareness. Beauty, when appreciated in moderation, can be a source of confidence and positive self-esteem. However, when taken to extremes, it can lead to a distorted sense of self-worth and a detachment from reality. The myth prompts us to reconsider the definition of beauty itself. Bueaty is multifacited, with countless variables. The story of Narcissus encourages us to delve beyond the surface and appreciate the profound beauty that originates from the depth of our character.

I've read a number of Muir's works recently, and Muir seems rather whimiscal, in a sense. He captures a certain childlike glee, almost like a kid in a candy shop. You can really see and feel the overall appreciation he has for nature as a whole, in a true intrinsic sense, and how beautiful it is to him. His approach definitely seems the most "real" out of the ones we've seen so far. He loves nature for what it is and wants to protect it because of that. I believe that Muir's experiences in nature are his way of being united with his own person beauty. He viewed nature as a holy, beautiful place, and saw the true intrinsic value of nature. 

2/8/24 7:22am As I watch the sunrise, it feels so personal to me like the sun is rising, putting on a show for all to see. It feels as though the sun is being birthed into the sky as if for the first time to brighten our eyes. It feels like a gift from God that every morning the sun shall rise again; no matter how dark the night may be the sun shall and will always be- again. We tend to take it for granted the beauty of it all. That without the light, there would be no life at all. But here we are... The way things are perfect allows for us to be; if it were any different , we would not be-lieve . God's beauty's all around us if we so choose to open ourselves up. His beauty, creation, life, and love is always here, now, if we so choose to see. At times I feel as though I don’t know what I believe, but then God always calls back to me. For His love is too great to ignore or forget. At times, I feel as though I get so caught up in things that do not matter I lose sight of what is...

 Emerson’s Nature , specifically the way he found beauty in everything nature offered, was almost touching to me. The line “even the corpse has its own beauty” shows that Emerson believes that one can find beauty in everything, especially in nature. Nature’s true value and what makes it special go deeper than aesthetic notions. There are many dimensions to the beauty of nature, like art. There is nothing that is so foul that the intense light of nature cannot make it beautiful. He also discusses the correlation between art and nature and how art imitates nature. Like works of art, nature can be seen as abstract, with different combinations of the same environmental benefactors. Both nature and art can convey raw emotions and feelings. Emerson also argues that nature, as opposed to the opinions of others, is beautiful at every moment and in every season, and the reader can learn that beauty exists in calm or quiet moments as much as it exists in the grand and extravagant as well. Th...