Feedback Thoughts

In the article, Why Rejection Hurts So Much – and What to DoAbout it, rejection is one of the most common emotional things we handle as human beings. It can happen through text messages, applying for scholarships, or even dating websites. Rejections seems to be a great damage because our self-esteem is hurting the most. Being in emotional pain is probably the worse than being in physical pain. Sometimes, rejection can literally emotionally and mentally destroy you and worsen your physical health. No one in life wants to be rejected and to always get what they want, but that is not how life works. Usually after rejection, we should try to revive our self-worth. Remind ourselves to know how much worth and valuable we are. Do not let rejection from stopping ourselves to be better.

It sucks to say, but doubt does play a big role in my head. I always doubt myself in school or in my relationship because I never feel like I am sufficient. In the article, Seven Ways to Crush Self-Doubt in Creative Work is very interesting. It talked about how I should not compare myself or strive to be perfect. Honestly, I set myself really low for school. I always doubt myself when I try to apply for graduate school because I feel like I am not half qualified as other students and I am scared to get rejected. I drown myself in self-doubt on how I feel mediocre, but I am not. I now have this mindset that no one is better than me and I am not better than them. I came to realize we have our own qualities and specialty where I should not drown myself in doubt. There is no such thing as perfect. If I set myself to strive high in school, I should keep striving for it. There is no such thing as perfectionism, but it can only be perfect in my eyes.

I am ready for a challenge (image source from cheezburger)

Week 2 Story: Ant and the Bird

At this village called Soju Hut where ants filled up the village. They were cohabitant with worms, butterflies, spiders, and caterpillars. In this village of ants, they were absolutely terrified of birds and snakes. They have this sacred tradition that they have to go in hiding in their hole every time they encounter a bird or a snake. Every time they saw some type of bird in the sky, they would go straight into their hole and hide.

In this village, there was this special ant named Luna who loved being friends with everyone, regardless if you were a snake or bird. Her parents were the King and Queen of their special village, so she was always forbidden to leave the village for safety reasons. Eventually, Luna came to realize she wanted to be free from the village and encountered a bird. She found them friendly, but her village and parents did not. Later on, she snuck out a lot and became close friends with this bird named Bloom. Every morning, he brought her a strawberry when she visits him at the cliffs. It was located right outside her village where crows, snakes, and tigers lived around.

One day, Bloom wanted to take her to a place field full of strawberries, but Luna knew it would not have worked out because she cannot fly and her strict parents. Bloom asked, “why don’t you just stay in my mouth while I fly there? We’ll be back before sundown”. Luna knew how dangerous it would have been, but she hated being stuck in that village. People in the village always assumed everything was dangerous and everyone was out to eat them.

Luna caved in and said “okay, as long as we’re back before sundown”.

Bloom flew a couple miles to reach the strawberry field and reached to their destination. Luna was amazed how beautiful and big the field was. They gathered lots of strawberries, so she could carry back to her village, but she realized she did not want to go back. She became friends with other ants, birds, and caterpillars at the field and seeing how much joy they have. Luna ended up staying there and said, “why would I ever go back home when there’s food here”. Bloom could not stop her but he had to leave to help out his family.

A week went by, Luna got eaten by a crow.

It is similar to how the turtle was flying with the Geese to their home. The only way the turtle could travel was by biting onto a stick the whole way and not talk. Someone made fun of him for looking ridiculous when the geese flew over a village and got very defensive. In the end, he talked and died. 

"The Turtle and the Geese" from Jataka Anthology by Ellen C. Babbitt. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

1. Ellen C. Babbitt, The Turtle and the King, Link
- The King has power to do anything and what he wants

• He wanted fishes into the lake
• demanded to throw turtle in the lake to be killed

- The boys assumed the turtle was a demon when they first saw it

• one boy wanted to kill the turtle by "pound it to powder"
• one boy wanted to kill the turtle by "bake it in hot coals"
• one man wanted to kill the turtle by "throwing the thing into the lake where it flows out over the rocks into the river"

- Turtle thrusted his head out and defended itself asking, "friend, what have I done that you should do such a dreadful thing as that to me? The other plans were bad enough, but to throw me into the lake!"
- The king ordered to throw it in the lake, but in the end, the turtle played dumb because he knew he would be save in the water.
- In the end, do not assume so quickly if something is dangerous or not. I really liked this one the best because the turtle outsmarted the king and boys. They were too quick to judge and assume badly of the turtle, instead, he benefitted the most.

The Turtle and the King (image source from Jataka Tale)

2. Ellen C. Babbitt, The Turtle and the Geese, Link
- The turtle became great friends with two young wild geese.
- Geese invited the turtle to join their long journey home because it was a "beautiful home" but the turtle could not fly
- The Geese offered to give him a stick to bite on but not say a word to anybody.
- As they were flying by a village, people were amazed how the turtle was in the air and thought ti was ridiculous
- The turtle decided to defend himself and fell off the stick and died. He died by opening his mouth trying to talk which made him let go of the stick.
- In the end, do not get too cocky. When you are given a task and to not say a word for your safety, then don't say a word.

Week 2 Reading Overview

Parashurama and Kartivirya (image source from Wikipedia)

Looking over the two versions of Ramayana, I am probably going to choose the public online Ramayana. I am curious to see the different styles of authors and illustrations that people have perceived them as. Sometimes reading the different versions of Ramayana, I can create an image for myself on how I see it.

The video I chose were The Greatest Twins were interesting. What caught my eye was the two twin horses, Ashvins or Ashwini Kumars. I did some research on them and came along this blog that they are known for being doctor and curious how that is possible. But I am also interested in knowing all the different twins in this mythology. The second video I chose was Samudra Manthan because it had unique divine animals like the 7 headed horse or the white elephant. It really caught my eye because I have never thought of a white elephant, but the image reminded me a lot of Thailand. This class will be a great learning experience for me because everything I am reading right now is gibberish! 

The first comic I chose was Vasantasena, A Dancer and HerMost Precious Jewel. I chose this comic because it sounded like it had a lot of interesting twists and turns plot that became a scandal. It took me a couple tries to read it because the names throw me off. The second comic I chose was Parashurama about Bhrigu giving his daughter-in-law sacred rice to produce sons. I am curious how this story will turn out because he apparently mixes up the pots which leads to mix-up in their lineage.