Simplicity Packet Response

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.” -- Albert Einstein. I think that it is important to make things simple but not too simple. For example if you wanted to start eating simpler, you could eat fruits and vegetables. If you over thought your meal you could think that most foods are too fancy and not want to eat anything. I think simplicity is so complex because it is so hard to be simple yet so easy to be too simple.

“Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed to be simple is to be great.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson. This quote is saying that to be simple is something of greatness. Many people live their lives with simplicity both famous and non-famous. For Example Sunny Mitchell lives her life simply and is always thinking about the quaker spices. She is a great role model of someone who lives their life simply.

I picked these two quotes from “A definition and some quotes because they talked about simplicity in a way I never thought of before. I never would have thought there was something bad about being simple. Once I thought about it more it is important to be simple but not too simple. I also never realized that being simple was great. I know realize how hard it is to be simple and to be simple is to be great.

Homework 9-22-11

Read the simplicity packet.

Choose and idea from the packet and write about it.

Be sure to quote the article or passage you are reffering to and make sure to cite your sources.

3 paragraph minimum.

Grammar and mechanics must be correct

This I Believe

I believe in perseverance.  Perseverance is a continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties.  I am a swimmer and I test this belief and limits in my own perseverance each time I go to swim practice. I know if I don’t put 110% into every practice I won’t get better.  Each swim practice challenges me both physically and mentally. I have to encourage myself  when my arms and legs hurt.  I have to challenge my desire to stop with determination to not give less than my best.

I believe that if you give up on something it was never worth trying at all. I didn’t always feel this way.  When I was younger, whenever I thought I wasn’t good at something I wanted to quit.  It was so much easier to take the easy way out because I wouldn’t have to push myself. As I got older I learned that you cannot be amazing at something you just started doing. I understand that you have to practice hard to be good at something.  I know now that if I never went to swim practice I would not be the swimmer I am today.  

There have been many people in my life that instilled this belief in me. The people that make me believe in myself every day are my swim coaches and parents. My swim coaches always encourage me to swim my best and never give up. I know that if I push myself I will be the best that I can be. They remind me often of perseverance. My parents always tell me to push myself and try my best in everything I do. Their positive attitude and belief in me also helped me to become a better swimmer. Without the encouragement of these people I probably would not be as good at swimming that I am today. I believe that if we all try really hard at something we can be good at it. It doesn't matter who you are you just have to try.

There have been times my belief in myself was tested.  It is at these times that I struggle with my former feelings and want to give up.  For example when I compare myself to swimmers that are very fast I want to give up because I feel that I am not good enough. These are the times I really have to put all my remaining energy into what I am doing and try my hardest.

 I’m not done yet, I have aspirations of improving and continuing with my swimming career.  I know one day after a lot of hard work and perseverance I will succeed in reaching my swimming goals. 

Simplicity

This picture represents Simplicity because it shows just a the ground and sky. There is nothing in this picture that is distracting you from your true self. There are no buildings, houses, or other people. I think that simplicity means living your life to the fullest and using what you need not what you want. In this picture the grass just needs water which the clouds give them. If we all lived out lives with true simplicity there would be no pollution or global warming. Simplicity is a better way of living life.