Rachel TheClarinetist
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On the value of beauty.
Today, as is common in my life, I was on the bus on my way home, looking out the window at the world rushing past. As we stopped outside a school, I happened to notice one of those noticeboards that all the schools have these days. Upon it was written "The most important things in life are not things." One may think that this is a rather trite saying, a little piece of homespun kitchen wisdom. Indeed, that was my original, reflexive reaction.
One might ask, "Important to whom?" In this jaded, cynical age, what is important? Money, power, prestige. Objects. The constant struggle to get ahead, to have more. In short, things.
The bus moved on, and I caught sight of a tree with a twisted branch sticking out from its side. As you probably know, the conventional view of things is that beauty results from symmetry. However, this tree had a wild, untamed sort of beauty- an almost primeval loveliness. This tree by the side of the road in a quiet suburb brought home to me the beauty of asymmetry.
This realisation inspired in me a cataloguing of the things that are truly important. Beauty, knowledge, curiosity, compassion. All those intangible qualities, those things that cannot be measured.
But what good are those things, asks our cynic? How do they help us to get ahead?
What good are they? What use are they?
They are indispensable, for they are the things that make us human; that separate us from mere ants. They are the things that make life more than a mere struggle for survival. They are essential to the soul of humanity.
This is why we have our artists, our writers. This is why our poets and composers have been revered as geniuses. They are the guardians of our souls. This is why a painting will evoke such strong feelings in us, because it speaks directly to the core of our being.
This is why I am so devoted to my music, to my art; it is why I tear my heart open and pour it onto the page, why my life's blood spills forth in a rush of notes.
This is what is important.
--- Breathing is important! If you don't breathe, your sound will deteriorate, your phrasing will suffer, and you will die.
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12/24/2005, 1:16 pm
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dec10th2005
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Re: On the value of beauty.
It is indeed. I really feel that living a fulfilled life is far greater than success. They seem to be the same things but are very diffrent. A poor, dying person in a third world country could possib;y life a more fulfilled life than say Donald Trump. What can we do for the world? Not ourselfs. If I die I hope I have nothing against me and hopefully I have done something worthwhile for the world, not myself. To care for others, forgive, learn life, understand. People die without ever understanding. Do we live to go to school, grow up, get a job, get old, retire, die. That is pathetic. All around me, the majority (basically everone, with exception of few) just don't have a clue. Now I aim to live my life, wishing to gain and help the world rather than myself. Always convert enemies to friends. Love everyone, love life. It's here to enjoy. And, it's not always good. You need to experience the bad just for the sake of experience. It can never be great always but those moments that are great, as long as they are cherished, the memory will never die. Happiness never leaves you. There's always something.
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1/26/2006, 4:03 pm
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Rachel TheClarinetist
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Re: On the value of beauty.
quote:
Do we live to go to school, grow up, get a job, get old, retire, die.
No, that is not what life is about. That is not even life- it is mere existence. To merely exist, without living, is a fate worse than death. Is it a fate that most of the world deserves? In my opinion, yes. If they are too lazy to live a fulfilled life; if they mistake possessions for virtue, they deserve all they get.
If all the possessions in the world were destroyed, most people would be shattered, lost, not knowing what to do. I would also be very lost, but not completely, for my head is filled with knowledge, music and thoughts. That is what has been lost in the world of today- the ability to spend hours doing nothing, lost in reverie and contemplation.
quote:
And, it's not always good. You need to experience the bad just for the sake of experience.
What is happiness when not contrasted with suffering? An empty experience, an unearned experience. Without suffering, there is no joy, only empty cheer.
--- Can you see me slowly dying? Can you see me fading away? Do you see the corpses that walk the streets? Will you even notice when I disappear?
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1/29/2006, 8:23 pm
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Rachel TheClarinetist
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Re: On the value of beauty.
quote:
All around me, the majority (basically everone, with exception of few) just don't have a clue.
Well, duh. You're in high school.
It doesn't really get any better when you leave, either.
The Con is not too bad, though. The people there have a passion, which means that they are living, not just existing.
--- Can you see me slowly dying? Can you see me fading away? Do you see the corpses that walk the streets? Will you even notice when I disappear?
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1/29/2006, 8:26 pm
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Rachel TheClarinetist
I'm NOT a penguin!
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Re: On the value of beauty.
quote:
Love everyone,
Oh, come ON, I have refrained from killing people thus far... isn't that enough?
--- Can you see me slowly dying? Can you see me fading away? Do you see the corpses that walk the streets? Will you even notice when I disappear?
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1/29/2006, 8:28 pm
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dec10th2005
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Re: On the value of beauty.
Well, learn to love everyone. Just learn how to see the good in them all cause there is.
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2/23/2006, 8:13 pm
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musical lottie
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Re: On the value of beauty.
I believe there is, definitely. Even the most evil people in history probably had some good qualities, like good family people ...
---
The difference between an amateur and a professional: the amateur practises until it's right; the professional practises until it never goes wrong.
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2/24/2006, 8:42 am
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MSN
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Rachel TheClarinetist
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Re: On the value of beauty.
quote:
Well, learn to love everyone. Just learn how to see the good in them all cause there is.
You're right, of course.
But... I look around, and all I see is blind stupidity. People hurting each other for the sake of it. People who called me a freak just because I'm not your standard-issue boring dead person. People who will go through an 80-year life doing nothing but filling in time.
Does a species like that, which is capable of so much more, really deserve to live?
--- Can you see me slowly dying? Can you see me fading away? Do you see the corpses that walk the streets? Will you even notice when I disappear?
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2/25/2006, 5:24 pm
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dec10th2005
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Re: On the value of beauty.
Yes it does. From those people you learn. One day they'll all realise. Love all who you come across doesn't mean you have to be friends. I even have grudges against people but I do seek out the good in them and forget the bad. Adapt. Stay the same, be you but just adapt. You go places, don't worry about how they are, you go places. Just something that must be dealt with unfortunately.
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2/26/2006, 6:52 pm
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Rachel TheClarinetist
I'm NOT a penguin!
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Re: On the value of beauty.
Nice... good answer. 
Karma for being able to come up with an intelligent argument against my reasoning.
--- Can you see me slowly dying? Can you see me fading away? Do you see the corpses that walk the streets? Will you even notice when I disappear?
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2/26/2006, 9:27 pm
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