Inspired?
"All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: That I am nobody but myself.”
--Ralph Ellison, From Invisible Man
How do the Inspired Bicycles presentation and the Ralph Ellison quote relate to your world? How should we examine our lives? Who are we? How shall we live? Should we follow our dreams? What are our realizations? Can the presentation and quotation connect with your academic endeavors? Did they make you look twice? Did they inspire and motivate you? If you have seen one of these before, what is your new reaction? Other reactions? Please connect and comment using complete sentences. This blog post should be completed by Friday, August 20, 2010 at 2:30p.m.
--Ralph Ellison, From Invisible Man
How do the Inspired Bicycles presentation and the Ralph Ellison quote relate to your world? How should we examine our lives? Who are we? How shall we live? Should we follow our dreams? What are our realizations? Can the presentation and quotation connect with your academic endeavors? Did they make you look twice? Did they inspire and motivate you? If you have seen one of these before, what is your new reaction? Other reactions? Please connect and comment using complete sentences. This blog post should be completed by Friday, August 20, 2010 at 2:30p.m.
posted by Greg T at Monday, August 16, 2010
27 Comments:
I think that these quotes could relate to anyone, although we all like to think that we make our own decisions are social and personal always play a roll. If it would be a very complex decision such as where to go to college or a simple decision like where to go to lunch that day. For all the other question i think that you should decide how you want to live your life and who we are. As for your academic adventures i could use the same example as above, you have to choose your college or anything about your academics not your friends. This hasn't really motivated me but it has made me think twice about my decisions in life and academics.
I feel that at some point in life, we all go through a phase like the one Ralph Ellison is talking about. This phase in which people go through where others are telling them how to live and what to do is really just a time where we all find ourselves. People telling us how to live allow us all to find what truly works and does not work for us. We are all individuals looking for the right path in life. Eventually, we all find it. Again, once a person finds that right way to live, everything will just fall into place. To address all of the other questions asked: after finding the "path" people will be able to answer those questions in their own unique way. Yes, follow dreams and think twice about everything. Each decision that we make could change our lives forever, and we may not even know.
In my world, if you cannot do something the first time you must try again, just like the Inspired Bicycles. We should look at our lives as though they are a gift. Life could be taken away from us just as easily today as it could be in 50 years. Knowing that, we should all live like today will be the last day you have to achieve your dreams, to make amends, and to better the world. Academically, sometimes one may feel that it doesn't matter what we do today, because we still have tomorrow. We should look at education the same way we look at other things that are important to us, by doing the best we can with them today instead of waiting. Now that I have read the quote and seen the video, I feel more motivated.
Just like the Inspired Bicycles, in my world if you do not achieve your goal on the first try, you keep trying until you suceed. We should examine our lives and realize that they are a gift, and every day is a new day to do something insirational. We need to help others, as well as ourselves to achieve our dreams. We never know when our lives will end, so we should live each day to the fullest, and realize how lucky we are to be living the life we are given. Academically, we all need to realize that today is the day to get things finished, and to stay ahead of the game instead of waiting until there is no time left. Reading the quote and seeing the video presentation have insired and motivated me to stay ahead and live life to the fullest.
This quote relates to my life and probably many other people’s life’s as well. We all try to find out who we are as a person and figure out what group of friends to hang out with and what to do with our life’s but it becomes very difficult. We should examine our lives the way we think is right and be who you really are, be your true self and not pretending to be someone else. I believe we should live life to its fullest and not waste one moment on it. We all make mistakes in our life however, but it helps us learn the right way to live. We should definitely follow are dreams because we are all here on Earth for a purpose and we need to fulfill it. We also need to look academically because our schooling is very important and we need to do the very best we can because it helps and determines your future. This quote inspired me to keep going and to do my very best but having fun and enjoying life at the same time!
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There are many ways that this could relate to anyones life. Even though that parents and relatives try and tell u what you shouold do and what you shouldent do the ultimate decison will come down to you. But dont get me wrong a little bit of helpful advice is always good to keep in mind!this quote dosent teach me a whole lot of things but it does remind me of how i am the individual that will make my own decisions.
The strangest thing that all people experiance is the need and desire to be themselves. And inorder to find out what people need to fill this desire is to try everything and anything; regardless of the consoquenses. It is through this experiance that a person finds themselves and what they need to do to find a reason to get up in the morning. In a way it is very inspiring because it shows that when people find that thing they are looking for, they can be very succesful (what I meen by succesful is that they are happy with what they do). But the sad thing is that very few people find what they need. I connects with me because it helps me try different things in life.
This quote reminded me by a standard I like to live by. "Be a leader not a follower." I consider myself to be a Shepard among sheep. I have my own style and way of doing things and I don't copy anyone else. If people want to be my sheep and follow me then that's great but I won't ever become someones lamb. The video also resonated with me in a way that speaks to never giving up. I really like to skateboard so seeing him mess up in the beginning reminded me of when I can't get a trick and it's frustrating but I keep trying until I get it. Never giving up doesn't just fit in with sports it fits in with life as well. When stuff is going bad or you feel like you can't do anything right keep pushing yourself and trying as hard as you can because eventually things will get better.
After reviewing Inspired Bicycles and Ralph Ellison's quote it is apparent to me, and after reviewing the responses of my classmates on the blog, to them as well, that life is what you make it. No one can change the person that you are, including yourself, but it is not who you are, it is what you do in life that defines your character at the end of the day. You can either be a follower or a leader in life. In the Inspired Bicycles video, the Bicyclist projects leadership through his unique, and self created sport, because he is setting his own trends not following someone elses. To me, being a leader is the most important thing in life and if one goes through life as a follower, the question can be asked, "Did this individual really live his/her own life? Or were they merely living in the shadow of another?
It truly does take a lot of learning for an individual to find who they really are, it takes a lifetime. People tend to want what others have but what others have might not work for yourself. If you go around asking people questions you will get a plethora of answers because everyone has their own view on life. Ellison was having troubles because he was asking people how HE should live, and that was his biggest problem. Everyone lives their own way and that certain way is customed to how their life rolls on. Ellison needed to live his way not the cliche of others. Individuality is what seperates you from all others. Personally I dont like being told what to do, but if it is something that needs to be done my mind will recognize that it is a necessity and I will do it however I want to do it because my way will work best for my fitting.
Ralph Ellison portrays in this quote the challenges people go through to find themselves. In my life I have sometimes just followed the crowd and haven’t voiced my own opinion. I feel like everyone has been through that situation and sometimes have had a hard time eventually going their own way. Though once someone has followed their own path they realize how important it is to be their own person. By following their dreams, they as a person are happier, even though others may not approve. Inspired Bicycles has made me realize that everyone is different, and even though people can be similar you should always branch out and be nobody but yourself.
Following your heart is easier said then done. It's one thing to know what u want and a compltely different thing to go ahead and do these things. Trying to figure out who u are is part of growing up I think everyone goes through this stage sometime in there life. I don't think that everybody else was born with the knowledge that we are nobody but ourselfs. Grown ups try and teach us this lesson throughout our childhood and no one gets it until they struggle with it in there own lifes. I think this quote is false, everyone has to do a little soul searching before they find out who they really are.
The Inspired Bicycles presentation and the quote by Ralph Ellison relate to not only my world, but I would assume many people feel that they can relate to both the video, and the quote. When I look at who I am in relation to what Mr. Ellison’s quote was saying, we all let the people around us influence our lives in good ways, and in bad. I believe without this influence of others people would feel better about being themselves, and taking control of their own lives. But in turn we lose the drive to impress and we would lose our sense of competition, almost becoming lazy. I wish I was the kind of person who didn’t mind getting judged because it would make life easier, but I also believe that some judgment is good, because it pushes you to be the best you. I think both of these references relate to academics because in the video it almost shows him overcoming great obstacles, like we have in school weather it be CSAP, or the ACT’s or SAT’s, It was very encouraging to watch and relate it to everyday school. As for the quote, everyday in our academic environments we are being influenced by administrators, teachers, and our piers, I think this is for the most part positive, where as the quote has a more negative tone, because the influence we get in school is to do our best, and work our hardest. To wrap this up I feel both the quote and the video can be tied into everyone’s life somehow weather it be in school, during sports, or at home. We will always have those influences, good, and bad carving the paths to the rest of our lives.
The Ralph Ellison quote relates to my world very much because I look around at other people, and from my perspective they have already figured themselves out. There are endless possibilities of the direction I want to go in and I don’t understand how the choice comes so easily to others. I know I want to follow my dreams and achieve goals that I set for myself. However, determining what these dreams and goals are is a difficult task that only I can accomplish by myself. I think part of the journey to discovering who you are is very important. The “much painful boomeranging” will later define who you become after you complete the journey. Through the struggling experiences a person develops morals. The man in the Inspired Bicycles presentation has learned perseverance and determination skills. I can’t tell you what his life is, if he has a mother and a father or if he did good in school, but I can tell you that he has taken his journey and has set his goals and followed his dreams. I think it is important to take a step back every once in a while because we get so easily caught up in this fast-paced society. We need to realize that this journey is not a race. We’re all going in a different direction so our finish lines are going to be in all different places. I’m not sure which direction I’m going in yet, but that’s just all part of the journey.
This quote by Ralph Ellison explains a lot of what humans go through in their everyday life; letting judging eyes shape who they become as a person. It seems everyone is so occupied with being the best at things that will end up taking us nowhere, things that eventually are going to fade with our age. It’s hard to believe that in a world with so many people begging for jobs, our youth only fears the social competition within a high school. Clearly, the man from the Bicycle video worked very hard to be top of the line in what he does. Whether it was for career reasons, personal reasons, or both, I can confidently say that he realized if he was going to be successful with doing something he loved, he was going to need to stand out from others.
I feel as though I do the same thing as Ralph Ellison did, I would ask others questions, but I would never listen to myself. Other people’s views may be important on some things, but my thoughts and views are the most important. I will sometimes take someone else’s answer to my question when really I am the only one who can answer it. I need to take what I am, and what I have been blessed with and expand that and work hard at it like the person in Inspired Bicycles. He was so dedicated and constantly worked on his skills that he became one of the best in the world. Everyone including me has that possibility, we just have to put the work in and dedicate ourselves to something, whether it is in sports, academics or instruments. The quote and presentation both inspired me and motivated me, to be the best that I can be at being myself, and putting in the work to make that happen.
This quote makes me think about all of the times that I have done what somebody else wanted me to do instead of thinking for myself. I think most people have done that at some point, but most hate to admit it. It is something that can be hard to face, but often times it can be hard to think for yourself in certain situations and it might be a lot easier just to follow. It really goes to show that there is nothing that will make a person happier than following their dreams and doing what they think will make them happiest. Although it seems at first that other people might know what is best for you, the second that you stop thinking that and start thinking for yourself is the second that you will find yourself and realize who you really want to be. This quote really inspires me to think for myself more and stop caring about what other people say, because I'm the only person who knows what is best for me. It also related back to the video that we watched because it takes practice to become great at something,even if its getting to know yourself. The video showed a very determined man who wanted to become great at biking, and with a lot of practice he did. Some people might have said that he should give up, but he never did because he thinks for himself like the quote said to.
Inspired Bicycles and the Ralph Ellison Quote could relate to many people's life. It relates to mine because i like to ski, like how the guy liked riding bikes. I feel like people should follow their dreams. If you like to ride bikes,then ride bikes or do what you do. The quote inspired me to go ski more.
I think that the quote by Ralph Ellison as well as Inspired Bicycles can really relate to anyone. I sometimes get caught up in asking other people questions and basing my decisions on what other people tell me, instead of making my own decisions based on my beliefs and thoughts. Now don't get me wrong, advice is always helpful but we also need to focus on our dreams instead of the dreams of others. I think that Inspired Bicycles was such a good example of someone who had a dream and followed through with it no matter what anyone else said. Not even that, but when he failed, he would just get back up and try again. We need to have our own dreams and stay true to who we are instead of what the world tells us we are. I think that it is very important to use the gifts that we have and make something out of them rather than stand back and watch what others decide to do because we are all so different and unique that we should be nobody but ourselves.
My world relates to the Ralph Ellison quote because in my life I seem to want people to tell me what to do and it made me think that I should search more through me then other people. The Inspired Bicycles presentation does not really relate to my world at the moment but it definantly inspired me to not be afraid to try new things. From this prestentation and quote we should learn that our lives need to be examined by fufillment in life and we should live that way through adventure and effort. If we live this way we will all able to follow our dreams but following your dreams is all a choice. Our relizations should be that you are always going to make mistakes but that never means you are going to fail. The presentation and quotation can connect with academic endeavors because they both illustated that through hard work and learning you can not fail.
Ralph Ellison's quote is very relatable to my life because I find that i struggle with decision making, so I reach out to my friends to get their advice. Sometimes it is very useful, but I find myself relying on their advice too much like a crutch. Sometimes listening to others gets in the way of what I really want and holds me back. Inspired Bicycle was very inspirational and shows that with enough work and perseverance you can reach your dreams. Many keep their dreams locked up and think that it is not realistic but this video shows us that anything is possible. It also shows that it is never too late to fallow a dream. The worst someone can do is not reach it, which at least gives you and experience, but sitting there throughout your life knowing that you never had the guts to try is way worse. Inspired Bicycle relates to all aspects of life and encourages us to strive to be better.
I think that the quote and video both relate to my life perfectly and are trying to teach me how to live my life. You can't pretend to be something that your not because life won't accept it and you can't find happiness until you realize that. It shows you that once you do find out who you are and become that person then you should go after what you love with everything that you have and hold nothing back of what you have to offer. I believe life is about following your dreams and that life can't be enjoyed unless you pursue what you are passionate about. The video also helped reiterate to me that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough for it.
I think that inspiration can come in many forms, to be able to have one thing that you feel compassionate about for example his Bicycle, but to have enough strength and will to be the best at it takes a lot of commitment. I think that a lot of the time we are too caught up in the shuffle of life to realize that the small things that make us all so unique. I think that if we were to take the time and find one thing we are passionate about and just push ourselves as hard as we can to achieve it, the sky is the limit!
I think we can all get that these both have the same message. Try and try again. This can relate to everyone at one point in our lives. Life doesn’t always go perfect there will always be people who try to tell you no or that you cant do it. If everyone lets those people or themselves get them down, then nothing would ever happen in this world. In my life I am a cheerleader people and coaches always tell you not to go for something, or that is dangerous, but eventually you just have to go for it. When learning my roundoff back-handspring tuck my coach told me to wait for a spot. I wanted to go so I just went for it and threw the pass. I ended up crashing my first few times but I got up and tried again. Now i have a solid tuck. Just like the guy on the bike I had to fall before I could get it right. Always do what you want to do because it is your life and it can be gone before we know it.
when you stumble and eat dirt, always have the will to pick yourself back up.
I thought that the Inspire Bicycle video was very amazing and inspiring. He kept trying to do tricks even though he took many falls. He just kept going no matter what and he kept going to greater lengths to reach his goals. I thought that it showed true determination and a certain power within all of us. When watching the video it seemed to get better and better. He set his goals higher for each new achievement he made. I thought it was very bold of him to do such risky tricks. I know that I would have a struggle doing something so extreme. This video was very inspiring and expressed the power of personal reinforcement and achievement. It showed things that seemed almost impossible and dangerous if done, but his perfection showed his true skills. This video showed me that to achieve the most, individuals must put forth as much effort as they can to achieve their goals.
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