Personal Philosophy

“The journey is what brings us happiness not the destination.”  - Dan Millman. This simple concept is something that most people forget. The fact that in the end, our experiences and the things we go through make us who we are. They shape our attitude and our emotions. If you focus too much on your goals, you are not living in the present, which is the most important thing you can do. Life goes by fast, and if you do not enjoy the present moment, you might just miss it. We are blinded by our goals and dreams, and forget the process that we go through to make them happen. Often times, people try to find paths or ways to get to their goals. For example, happiness, an abstract concept that almost every human in this world struggles with. They try to find a “path to happiness,” but the truth is that, happiness is the path. The way in which we live everyday is what makes us happy. What we obtain should not be the main source of our happiness, because we will eventually end up losing it. Life changes constantly and one cannot stop it. One can only flow with it, and accept that nothing ever stays the same.

            When I started doing swimming I would always think of what place I wanted to get. “Third place? Maybe second if I get lucky”. I would worry about how smooth I wanted my stroke to look, and the crowd… “What would they think?  Would they like my race?” Right before my races my mind would fill with all kinds of thoughts. Leaving no space for what was important. The present. That one moment in time, in which I had the opportunity to do what I enjoyed. Since then, I have learned that when I am swimming, I do not have to worry about anything or anyone. My mind stays where it belongs, the moment I am living. I do not worry about what the people think of me, or even about the flip-turn I will have to do in less than 10 seconds. My mind transforms into an empty box, with only one thing in it, that one precious moment in time. That moment when I do not worry about anything but what I am doing. Now every time before I race, I take a few minutes to empty up my mind of all of the “trash” that fills it, anything that is not that one moment. Math homework? How about lit? Maybe junior Prom? No. All of it out, it does not belong to that moment. I cannot do anything about it then, so why worry? Hard to accomplish. Yes it is. I am not able to completely empty my mind all of the time, but it is something that I remind myself of every single day. It is the philosophy that I try to live my life by. No higher powers or god-like entities, no “pre-written” destinies. Only me and the decisions I make, the people I interact with, the moments I enjoy, the happiness I feel, and the life I live.

The Frustration of Immigration (b) chapters 17-19*

My poem addresses the fear and frustration that the farmers go through (from bystander's POV) when they are immigrating into California. This includes the discrimination that they experience and their melancholic feelings regarding their past and what they were forced to leave behind.

Masses of cars 

Lacking vitality just like cigars 

Leaving their farms behind

They were forced to resign 

And now they are being received by the unkind

Okies they are called

and they are appalled

see, California was just a dream

and now they scream

with pain

but there is no gain...

breaking philosophies (E) chapters 17-19

For many philosophies or principles are the most important thing in their lives. to a certain point they are what drives our desires and goal in life, but when is it O.K. to break our principles? Is it under extreme situations? or just when change is needed? for the Joads, the answer is, under extreme situations. Not only them but many other farmers or "Okies" had to break their philosophies in order to survive. Separation, is one of the most remarkable ones in this sections. It appears several times throughout it as well. Either because of death, sickness, or just basic needs or desires; separation happens in chapter 17.The death of Granma followed by Noah leaving the group and having to leave the Wilsons behind fills the atmosphere with a sense of despair and loneliness. thoughts such as "our family is falling apart" fill the joads' minds. Although, proud of their independence, farmers accept their need for each other, and this need is denied by the separation of their group. 

Mae's diary (c) chapters 11-15

I saw the truck drivers coming in. I had been waiting days for a few of them to come in. I could not sop thinking about tips, but the same day some farmers came in. Rumors were that farmers were heartless thieves. They asked me for a loaf of bread for a dime, they thought that they could trick me, but failed. However, I ended up giving in to Al's desires & sold it to them. After all, I guess they didn't seem like thieves, and at least the had some money. The farmers' kids were craving for some candy that was behind the counter. I had a feeling about these folks so I also sold the some candy for a penny. I guess not all of the farmers were real thieves. After having dealt with those folks I could shift my thoughts again, and start thinking about the tips. The two truck drivers were just leaving. I saw a handful of coins coming out of the drivers pocket and all kinds of emotions started filling my body. I guess all in all it was a good day. 

Hardships... (D) chapters 11-15*

When they started their trip to California, The Joads knew that it would be full of hardships and they felt uncertain about what the outcome would be. However, the day they got in the highway, they could have never imagined that Grampa, The person whom was the most excited and hopeful about their trip to "the promised land," would die so suddenly. His death came like the drought came to the plains, it caught them with their guard off.
 "Pa asked softly, 'what was it?' 'stroke,' said Casey. ' a good quick stroke.' Life began to move again [...] And along the highway there came a long line of huge freight trucks with red sides." (138)
After Grampa's death the Joads are immediately forced to focus on their rough trip. This demonstrates the true and cruel nature of the their trip and the time that they were going trough, because even though Grampa, the most cheerful person in the trip had died; They were thinking once again,about the highway. About what could come next,  and what their next challenge would be. The Joads did not have the time or resources to give Grampa a well deserved funeral. one of the things that impacted me the most about this quote was that Jim Casey, who was not part of the Joad family was the one of the few who saw Grampa died, and he also delivered the news to Pa. Furthermore, Casey who claimed he was not a preacher anymore, starts preaching. This and a few other things that happen right after the death of Grampa such as the Wilsons offering their help, show the unity that Grampa's death brought. I am certain that along with Grampa a big part of their hope died, but his death also brought them closer together. Steinbeck did this to demonstrate that even on the roughest times, humans can still have compassion for each other and unite.

Conflict: Man vs. Machines (s) chapters 1-10

In the Grapes of Wrath, one of the main conflicts is in between traditional methods of farming and more modern ones which include heavy machinery such as tractors. In the text, the conflict mostly consists in that the new ways of farming destroy the connection between the farmers and the land. In chapter V, Steinbeck describes a farmer operation a tractor "The man sitting in the iron seat did not loo like a man; gloved, goggled, rubber dust mask over nose and mouth, he was a part of the monster, a robot in the seat."(35) This description from a traditional farmer point of view demonstrates the new material and machinery were foreign for the tenant farmers. the description is very industrial, and the is a lot of metal involved in it to represent how the man made materials are destroying their relationship with the land. Furthermore Steinbeck Describes the tractor operator as a man filled with illusions. "...Proud of the tractor he did not own or love, proud of the power he could not control" (36) which highlights the farmers lack of self reliance which is really important for farmers. This explains the hate that the farmers have for the machines because it makes them dependent which is something that they are not used to.

Theme: Community (f) chapters 1-10

The theme of community in The Grapes of Wrath is imperative, because the Joad family, Jim Casey, and Muley are all in desperate  situations. The sense of community, and helping each other shows the still human nature that lies under the tough skin that is needed to survive in their conditions.In several instances throughout the novel, the characters share valuable goods such as food and drinks, which could be the most important thing they have, because in that environment they fight to survive and even the tiniest bit of food counts. In chapter 4 after while sitting with Casey, Tom deliberately offers him some of his whiskey "He unscrewed the cap and held out the bottle 'Have a little snort?'" This shows how after not seeing someone for such a long time tom is still able to simply share his resources with someone else. Furthermore it highlights Tom's the big sense of community that farmers have. Another example of this is when in chapter 6, Muley shares his food with Tom and Casey. As he does so he states: "'What I mean, if a fella's got somepin to eat an' another fella's hungry-why the first fella ain't got no choice.'" This demonstrates that the people are not only somewhat willing to share, but there is also some kind of obligation that comes with it. Which demonstrates how the sense of community and sharing is implanted in most people and seen as a social moral as well