Thursday, June 6, 2013

Aphorism- connection to Joseph Campbell's

The aphorism that I chose is "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". This saying to me represents that life gives you different opportunities, and you choose what to make of them. This relates to Joseph Campbell's story because he took an opportunity in life, and decided to backpack across america. He had a great life, great education, and very good friends, but when he got fired from his job life presented him with a chance to travel. He was presented this opportunity also known as the "lemons", and he decided to travel and get to discover himself more deeply "the lemonade". If Joseph hadn't traveled the United States he probably would have stayed at home unemployed dealing with a depression which is not lemonade. A lemonade is made with effort, lemons and sugar which can represent your attitude, so if it is negative then your lemonade is going to be bitter. 

I believe that in life you choose your future, not that everything happens for a reason. You are presented with choices, and those choices can open many doors and close others. Those doors represent different opportunities, so your decisions and your actions make who you become. A personal example which I believe is a good example of how this works is my fathers decisions in life, and how I have also been affected by them. When my father accepted a job with HSBC he was presented with a decision to make, weather he wanted to be promoted therefore being transferred to Asia or remain in his current position. He chose Asia. In Asia he was given the choice to stay there or move again, so we moved again. He was also faced with other decisions, for example which school we should be placed in, or our house. The point is that decisions have made me what I am today, some where made by me and some by others. They have all affected me as a person, and I am thankfull for who and where i am today.