the art of "transcendenting"

"A life in harmony with nature, the love of the truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understand her text. By degrees we may come to know the primitive sense of the permanent objects of nature, so that the world shall be to us an open book, and every form significant of its hidden life and final cause."
-Nathaniel Kaplan and Thomas Katsaros

Transcendentalism focuses on heeding and acting on the promptings of ones individual soul. As an English major at BYU this is one of my very most favorite movements within America's history. The photo above has the ability to speak to so many people, each looking at it and feeling different things. I love this idea of emotion affecting ones viewpoint upon the world around them. Our world is a beautiful place and we all have so much to be thankful for. Today in one of my English classes this picture was shown and it affected me greatly. I love and have a great passion for art, writing and poetry. When I look around me I see all of these things everywhere, not only at school, but also at work- as I watch sick people strive to be better again, in our home- as Justin and I learn each day what love means and with each second as the definition changes and our love grows we become closer and life becomes more and more beautiful. Also each week when Justin and I go to church and teach our primary class full of the cutest little five and six year olds with imaginations that transcend above and beyond what I could ever hope for for myself.

During this holiday season everyone thinks about all that they are thankful for. Being inspired by this picture and its ability to show me the beauty of art and creativity, and also by loving reading Emily Adams blog each day as she tells what she is thankful for has made me feel that I should also share some of the many things I am thankful for...

First and always, for my wonderful husband...and our families...for Justin's family for welcoming me and letting me become a "Norman," for my family and their love in allowing Justin so easily to become a part of ours...for our home- our apartment is small but it truly is our home and I am grateful for the spirit here that we have been blessed with...for school, I love learning- I always have and I feel that this love is truly a blessing in my life...for work, both Justin and I have been so very thankful for our jobs and the ability that we have because of them to pay for all the many important essentials for life and a few extras every now and again...for the gospel, for the blessings from paying our tithing...for temples, Justin and I went to the Provo temple today and it was wonderful- there are so many things that we learn and promise and are promised there- it is always in the temple that I find the most peace and comfort in my life...for my Savior and his sacrifice for me...for children- all children- and the joy and happiness they bring to our world, they are such wonderful examples to me...for our ward, and our neighbors, for my visiting teachers and for our sweet primary class...for our friends and the love and strength we find in them and their examples...oh and for so so so many more things...I feel so very blessed.