5-6pm….
Let’s talk about everything…. Foreman, the last paper, how you’re doing with everything.
Let’s exchange ideas, and empower, not just cite and overvalue what supposedly opposes us.
ASSIGNMENT: Keep reading Foreman, and start developing your idea for the final paper. I will email you more specifics on it soon. Just note, you will be asked to display strength in your ideas and a thorough explanation. If you know your own idea, the page requirement won’t matter.

For tonight’s page….. If you find yourself thinking to a point it’s interrupting your work, STOP. Just moving, create. The thinking can come later.
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Find QUIET. Wherever and however you can.
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Hopeful it will stay quiet, probably not
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My house is never quiet, unless it’s empty
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Foreman to me has been super interesting, he’s made me want to run which I never would have done before, more of a pick up bball game type of guy myself. His quirky writing style reminds me a lot of Irbys and Sedaris’s but also stakes his own style but it has the same laid back tone almost like talking to a friend.
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Why is it quirky?
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its odd the way they all write I’ve never read any book like these 3 before this class
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How would you define their style of writing?
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Hey everybody! Hope you’re all doing well. I hope you’re feeling better to professor Mikey
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I’m a little better. Thanks!!
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Good Evening everyone!!!
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Hey Shantel!!
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The essay… stop thinking about how many pages it will be. That shouldn’t matter. If you have an idea that you love and what to write, you should be able to write 100+ pages.
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Hey everyone, happy to be here tonight!
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Hey Debora!! How was your day? Any ideas for the final paper?
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Hey Mike! My day was great! I started working with the family I can as an au pair almost for years ago and it was amazing! I am really happy! How are you feeling?
actually yes, I know what I am going to write about, I am just trying to figure out if I am going to talk as a passion or love. I can see clearly what all the authors we have studied this semester have in common, I just don’t know if I should put as their love or passion. I have reading the etymology of both words to decide.
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Good that you’re reading up on both words…. Me, I would elect LOVE. So much you can do with that.
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after reading both words meaning I think I’m gonna go with love. But I also can see so much passion in all of them. The desire that passion brings us, you know? That keep us motivated. I mean, I know that love also brings us a similar feeling but love for me sounds calm and pacific, if I am making myself clear
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If you find your mind changing a lot with direction for this or any paper, don’t get frustrated…. examine why. Think in SINGLE words and/or ideas.
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Hey y’all how is everyone doing tonight
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Hey Jake!! Doing better, how about you man?
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Ugh i have a fat headache, hope you are feeling better
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Sorry brutha…. thanks for being here.
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IN my personal life my cousin has been confirmed to have covid I was also exposed to him so im waiting for my test to come back to se if i have it. Besides that i bought the book and i plan on reading it tonight and tomorrow and working on my paper while i read it.
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Sending positive thoughts your way… My daughter just had one and I have my test on Monday.
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That process is no fun. Hopefully you test negative. fingers crossed. What did you think of the test, I expected it to be way worse than it was.
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Sorry to know that Daniel, hope your test come negative and your cousin feel better soon!
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Hope everyone stays safe sorry to hear that
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Hey guys, how is everyone tonight?
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Hey Aiden!! How are things?
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Little bit stressful at the moment since I’m trying to finish my business final but otherwise things are going as well as they can be.
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Stress is elected. I understand, but YOU decide the atmosphere.
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How are you Aiden? I’m good thanks for asking.
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I’m excited for class tonight!
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Today has been boring, but it has also passed so quickly unfortunately. Each time I look at the clock too much time has passed in between
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Battle time with notes, writings in the moment.
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Time flies!
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Yes it does.
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damn right
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Hey guys
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A friend of a friend died today. I’m always reflective with death, but this one has me more eager for forward movement. Life is so short, and it’s frustrating. We battle time with writing, our journals, our capturing moments and trapping them on page.
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May they rest in piece
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I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you’re okay. It is always difficult to lose a friend. Such a heart wrenching feeling knowing you won’t speak to them again.
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True, but it also teaches us to love our own life more and those around us.
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Very true. I also never thought I would have to deal with losing friends at such a young age
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Oh I am sorry to hear that Professor Mikey. I agree life is short. I try to enjoy life one day at a time and treat everyday like it could be my last. I love journaling my life, I feel it makes me relive to moment again as I am writing it down.
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Sorry about your friend’s lost Mike! I think death always makes us realize how fragile we are and shows us that nothing is forever and what really matter is here and now. Have our here and now being worth it?
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Yes… death makes you value the Now, for sure. Thanks Deb..
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Hi everyone!! hope everyone’s doing good!! Foreman’s book is really inspiring to me because he doesn’t give up. He loves running and no matter how hard it gets, he tries to see it as an opportunity to enjoy something he loves. His family supports him and pushes him when he doubts himself which is what a family should also do. He has a lot of encouraging words that I find supper helpful in my own life.
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I agree, I love this book. His writing encourages me to continue to push myself to complete what I have started.
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Let’s talk about some of those words I mentioned the other night. Or, one you thought of your own!!
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I liked relatability a lot. I feel in life we are constantly looking for relatability and interests we have in common with one another. I mean without it, conversations with people would have been real awkward. Would we even have friends? It’s comforting to find relatability in someone or something so reading all three books help readers feel comfortable to be able to relate to something.
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Hi sorry for being a little late to the party. I hope all your evenings are going well. With all the homework I am not doing I think this is going to e a good way to get back into my motivation for school. Anyways about foreman, the first thought that comes to mind is obsession. I can see a lot from his stories that if it was running, having a wife, or being a journalist, he was consciously obsessed with all of his work. He was obsessed with sports when he was a kid, obsessed with his work as a journalist, and now that work started to bore him he found running and became obsessed with it. Foreman is someone that for me is someone that is pushed by the fear of failure not to himself but to others that really pushes him to keep going…. let me know if you have felt anything different about what motivates him?
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P.S. maybe I should get obsessed with my homework… lol
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YES. Not a bad choice.
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One word for me….. WRITING. My paper would be about why even do it… what does it do to tell your own story. How it’s an act of kindness. Writing about writing is probably the most inviting and obvious, and provocative topic you could choose. Think about this…. you write, and then what? You hope it’s read. For what? Why? What do you want to happen after your book/pages are read?
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To ask people questions that they haven’t asked themself yet.
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Explain…
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for me as a writer i think the only way to really get every reader to interact with my content. In order to get the best interaction with the readers I find that when an author is able to pose a question to me that I haven’t asked myself it not only creates a greater value for what I am reading but also allows for me to enlighten my ignorance… which is why I think that it can be positive to structure your writing to do that, though of course it isn’t exactly a breeze either.
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Hey everyone! Excited to be here and bounce some ideas around!
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Start bouncing.
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One idea I was thinking is how unique these writers are. Most books I have read tell a story of someone or something where as all three writers talk about themselves and their experiences.
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Courageous- Tom is willing to push himself to his extreme to make sure he does this marathon with his daughter because he knows how much it will mean to her. He is willing to work very hard everyday to train to make sure he will be ready to run in this marathon.
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I agree, It was courageous to start this endeavor with his daughter when he knew the risks involved
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YES!!! Develop this!!
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Something I think connects the 3 authors is passion. They all have something that they are very passionate about. Their passion is captivating and compels me to find my own. Passion for people, writing, running, and the self.
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I really like that idea
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yessss I totally agree!! I didn’t know if I should say it as passion and love so when I looked up I found that passion has attachment on it and it can be briefly in your life. Different from love. With love you resist and persist on doing something and it doesn’t matter what it takes. But to be really honest.. idk lol
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I’d like you all to think about something….. INTRO paragraph and first body paragraph get you to page 2. Explaining your first example or statement would get you to page 4. That leaves you only two more pages in a 6-page paper. I would know exactly what you want to write in this paper, and where you plan to put your examples from the books as well as your outside sources. Six pages sounds like a lot, but it is NOTHING, for a final paper. The challenge is to keep it to 6 pages.
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Hello everyone , sorry I am late . Just got off and we were putting the Christmas tree up at the hospital for reopening day …. hopefully it gets done by tomorrow .
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Hi Evelyn!!
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Another pervasive theme with these three books is PEOPLE. How we need the people around us to help shape our character and how we see the world. And if you write, you have NO choice but to love the people around you, even if you hate them. Or, think you hate them.
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That’s was another I was thinking. RELATING. I feel like I connected with every writer.
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I really like that idea. People have such a huge impact on us everyday. They help us with our personal character development. The people and relationships in the books we read were so important to the content and development of the authors
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I really like this idea!!! All three of them have had people in their lives that have impacted them so much, and this can lead me to another idea, Love, which was idea I really enjoyed about all of them
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People around you will provide you stories and answers. Another reason I get so pissed at students when they say, “I couldn’t think of anything to write, that’s why I didn’t do the essay…” My response is always, “Do you have eyes and ears? Do you know there are humans around you?”
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I think I decided. My word is going to be love. Sedaris loves people. He have chose to spend his life time watching people and writing about them. He does that as a way to connect. Connect with himself, with other and principally with his readers. Samantha loves to write. FULL STOP. From my point of view, that was a way she found as her therapy and she just loves it. Last but not least Tom Foreman loves his family, that is for absolutely sure, but he also loves running. It is a passion that he has since he was young. it feels that for a long time he had to put this passion aside for other priorities and now that he is able to do it again, he keeps doing and going for more
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Hope I didn’t talk you into that, my friend. If that is your direction, then start writing. Remember your word, and reasoning, and what LOVE is aside from these books… what is means to you. DEFINE IT.
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I am thinking on writing about memories , and happiness. I am still unsure , due that things at this moment are kinda upside down . But it always gives me a new perspective on how to see things from different angles .
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Stay in your ideas. Forget the world.
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I will stick with forget the world. Thank you for the advice
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so just a question about the essay you want us to explain all three books that we read over this year and be able to connect one idea that all three books are trying to claim, or is it that we are just explaining Foremans book?
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One argument for all three books. Don’t overthink it. Not that you are, I’m just trying to assure you…
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no prob I wasn’t perticularly confused though i thought it was a question others might have as well..
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Thank you!!
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When I think of a word for Foremans book I think selfless. He started running and training to help his daughter and support her. He does it all for her from giving her beans to get through the pain to calling her and trading running stories.
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YES!! Family.
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a good family member is selfless and sometimes you have to be selfless for others to do so. lead by example so to speak
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I think determined is a good word for all three of these authors. Tom is determined to run in the marathon for his family. Samantha is determined in being a comedian and doing what she loves. David is determined to be the individual he is today.
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Thats a great word
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Honestly, this should be the easiest essay of the semester….
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I agree!!!
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learned a lot this year from this class and life’s struggles, excited for what’s coming
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Learning is a great dominant idea for these three books!! Learning from people, your experiences, YOURSELF!!
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Love for their own stories connects three books.
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yes.
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Who’s been writing for themselves? What have you written?? Feel free to share and post here!!! WHO’S DOWN FOR SOME OPEN MIC??
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I’ve been writing about my life, struggles and happiness alike, Doing so has helped me to look into myself and better myself.
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In what ways? Feel free to share some writing here if you like…
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I feel like reflecting on how I handled certain situations and how others around me handled stuff helps keep myself in check almost like therapy or meditation
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This semester more than ever I have been enjoying writing openings to stories not necessarily full stories but maybe a chapter or two. I’ll have an idea and write to see if it sticks the way I intended or just seems weird and out of place.
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After last class I got inspired to write about one of thing I love the most and why. Actually is a person and not a thing. Lela is her name. She was my host kid when I first got in the USA as an au pair and I was suppose to take care of her. I always knew I love kids but what I didn’t know was that I could love someone the same way as I love her. Sometimes I feel I have so much love for her that I will explode. It burns my chest and every single thing she achieves, I feel so freaking proud. Lela helps me everyday to keep my inner child happy, she helps me see the world with better eyes. She inspires me to be a better person and to fight to have a better world for our next generations
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Sketch her in writing, and get back to us! That’s so cool!!
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Nice, I am very happy that you have someone there to always bring the inner child awake
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One of my journal entry I did last week was about closing at work for the first time. I work at a cupcake place if yall didn’t know. I’ve had this job for about four months now and I’ve been training to close by myself for the past month or so. I was actually really confident in myself anf felt like I could do this (which is really weird for me because I forever doubt myself and I usually am really nervous for things like this, but I wasn’t this time). Always, everything was going great and I had a set schedule for myself so everything would go smoothly. Well, it didn’t. While putting the cupcake trays in the wake-in, the wheels got stuck and all the trays fell, some on me. It was a nightmare, my worst fear happened. There was cupcakes EVERYWHERE!! I felt horrible. My manager was reallly nice though because it has happened to her as well so she understand. I was just so disappointed in myself.
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Thanks for sharing this!!! Don’t doubt yourself. Ever.
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Easier said than done, but I try not too. Thanks
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Foreman presents himself as an individual I would like to meet one day just to ask him what keeps him going besides family but to really go the extra mile and take on challenges that other normally wouldn’t. I admire his work ethic of balance that gives enough time to relax and also enough time to put in the hours as to not fall behind. Some of his flashbacks help piece together what upbringing he had and where his sense of responsibility is from
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I agree with you. I really admire his work ethic. He is very inspiring. It just goes to show that there are enough hours in the day if you know how to use them right
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what do you think about fear. For me if I think of what fear is i think of something that we all feel, something that can control our thoughts, and steer someone to hesitate or stop progression because it is dangerous. Though I don’t think danger is what drives fear I mean it works in the sense of the definition, though fear to me is so much more than that, and I think that all three authors are sharing stories about how they overcame their fears. Just not sure how to progress that idea into a more complete chunk… let me know what you think about your opinion on what fear is or if you think the any of the authors touched on it…
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Love this!! Colleagues, what do you think?
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I really like this. I think it would work so well. They all definitely have that underlying fear. It drove their development. Things don’t necessarily have to be scary or dangerous for someone to be in fear.
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do you think that that fear helped the authors to get up or beat them down. I am trying to see if other people see fear as something that is positive or negative? I agree with you too on the dangerous part I think I did a poor job of articulating that definition, definitely find a better word to describe how someone get afraid.
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Fear is empowering. Fear is a GIFT.
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I think it kept them up. Fear serves as a reminder that something is not quite right. Obviously fear in a conventional sense is bad but I think as a motivator it drove them to succeed
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i appreciate your opinion, do you think a side effect could be a good word for it.
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What do you mean?
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I love it, Finn. Now that you mentioned fear I can see that all the three authors is sharing their fears and how they overcome them. With Foreman specially. He knows that it is risky but he sees it as a challenge.
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Very true!!!
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Exactly, I didn’t realize until he said it and now I see that it fits so well
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yeah thats great debora, so you think of fear as a challenge that some overcome or don’t? Often times I find myself running away from fear, do you think that the authors try to make the fact that if you never take that so called “leap of faith” you won’t know if the challenge was worth overcoming or not?
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Something I scribbled earlier, for open mic…
Pass Light
For some tracks train trapped
Seeing only breaks in ground
a void sound – snow winged
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Honestly I haven’t had too much time to write for myself until later in the evening. The homework load has been increased and I have been writing research reports on top of working many hours. I know after this class I will continue to journal because this class is what encouraged me to write and enjoy my writing.
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Enjoy, when that time comes Ms. Shantel!!
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I will!!
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🙂
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Honestly I think with this paper I’m going to be talking about how passionate he was about running and how you need to be passionate about something if you want to make it or be great at something.
The writing process is really hard for this book but the outside source have been really helpful and more importantly going to be a big part in my writing
Hopefully I can finish off the semester strong
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Final paper has to address all three authors..
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Sounds good!!
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3 outside sources as well? correct or was it 4
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3
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you can finish the semester off strong. I know it. I love your idea on passion, do you have any ideas about how someone might get passionate about something, or what makes someone passionate?
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Come on y’all!! OPEN MIC!!!!!
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And if you don’t want to.. I want to know right now…. WHO IS GOING TO GET AN A ON THIS LAST ESSAY, AND WHY???
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I will get an A on this essay because I know and I love what I am going to write about and I already have in mind how to get there. Btw I almost sent a DM on mrs Irby instagram asking her some questions lol maybe I should do it even though there is a small chance of her replying me. But I will be hopeful haha
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Do it!!
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You definitely should. Never know until you try. That’s what all of the authors implore on us too. Professor Mikey got a response from Foreman, maybe Irby will respond too.
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i will get an A on this essay because I know what I want to talk about it and how to make it interesting to talk about.
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More than making it “interesting”, make sure it is whole, lively, and supported!!
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For tonight’s page….. Find your writing TIME, space, mood…
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trying my best it’s hard man!
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all good things are
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I know.. that’s what makes it so rewarding when you do!!
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try not to over think it! Trust me, it’ll only make you more stressed
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Very true!!!
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OPEN MIC- As it approaches the holiday season, it makes me sad to think that we most likely will not be able to have a traditional christmas. My grandma will be 85 on Christmas day, to think we might not be able to celebrate with her due to COVID makes me sad, but I know it is for everyones health. I haven’t realized how difficult it is to shop online for the holidays. I am better at shopping for things I like online rather than for other people….lol
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Many can relate to this. Colleagues?
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Is that what you were talking about with “open mic”? or is it way off topic…
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Yes I agree it sucks, but we gotta make the best of it and enjoy it the best we can. Though it may not be your traditional Christmas ; doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it.
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Wise words, Mr. Jake. RESPECT.
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I totally agree.
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I can relate to you Shantel, it has been so hard to not be close to people we love. Principally on this time of the year. We as humans being need interaction and share with people we love. But hang in there and hopefully all of this will be over soon and you are gonna be able to celebrate life with your grandma, which is the real meaning of birthdays anyways, and it should be something we should celebrate everyday
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I agree. My mom and I were just taking before class about how its difficult to get gifts this year
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I had a family member pass away recently, and I can totally relate. It seems like we are so disconnected from eachother at this time, and I hate that I won’t be able to share the holidays with any family outside my house. I think that once we finally get out of this lockdown that the thing I wish for the most is just to be able to see all the family. If one thing from covid has taught me is to value the people that support you in anything you do a lot more.
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one has to obviously do more than convince the reader that your argument about the authors was true. Maybe if I am able to help the readers see something in the readings that I caught but they missed would be a good stance for getting an A. Though even at that point that still seems cheap for a final paper, I am overthinking am I not.
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Just start writing, my friend. Thinking about overthinking is death.
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oh man that’s a good quote… I am going to use that actually thank you for the advice, maybe I need to get a post it note that says ‘stop overthinking’ in my room or soemthing
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Let’s close it up.. I want to get you all off to reading and writing. What’s on tonight’ page?
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Don’t stress! Write about what you want and it won’t seem like an assignment, but rather fun writing
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Life is too short to not go for the gold. There is no point in leaving yourself wondering what could’ve been. And a lack of thinking may bring forth the best ideas
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don’t stress let it flow
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On tonight’s page I have to definitely agree that making an effort to keep stress at bay helps my writing. To just write and not be overconcerned with length but to make a coherent point it will always benefit you.
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On my page tonight I am planing on making an outline for my final in this class. I am excited to write about these three authors.
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Remember… YOUR OPINION, YOUR IDEA.
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YES!!!! Of Course
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on my page tonight: DO NOT OVERTHINK! LIFE IS TOO SHORT
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Remember, there is happiness and humor in all scenes. You just have to want to see it. (possible essay topic?)
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stealing that
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To make the things that present themselves as poison, you must treat them like they are candy.
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I like that.
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my page tonight…
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Have a great weekend, everyone. Please stay healthy and safe. I appreciate you!!!!
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I appreciate you!
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🙂
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you as well
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Have a great evening you all! Thank you SO much for everything!
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