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"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune." 

-James Read

Found Poem

He pulled the trigger

The crash of the shot rolled up the hills-

And rolled down again…

But he sat stiffly on the bank and looked at his right hand

The hand that had thrown the gun away

I just done it

Yeah tha’s how

His voice almost a whisper

He looked steadily at his right hand that had held the gun

Hollow with what had been fear

But what was now just an emptiness

Deep inside his brain was something like a pinpoint of light

That kept going and going that would never let him relax

Let it go

If it ends, it ends

We can move towards hope-

That’s what’s beautiful about this place…

We cannot run from heartache

Is seems not sufficiently eradicated-

Since the operations of the body

As well as those of the mind

Are subject to coercion

But I’m ready for action

Not for dying

It’s a risk I accept

One I can only hope to face

Saying I will not deal in lies!

His breast heaving, eyes staring he tears the confession

He crumples it-

He throws it to the ground weeping in fury

But erect

You have conquered and I yield

Yet henceforward thou art also dead

Dead to the world

Dead to heaven

Dead to hope

In his death, in me I do see

How utter I have murdered myself

I will try not to breathe

This decision is mine

I have lived a full life

These are the eyes that I want you to remember

And in my hour of darkness

Mother Mary comes to me

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom

Let it be

Let it be

Accept the place the divine providence has found you

Great men have always done so

Dear Reader

Dear Reader,

Foremost, I am a student and athlete. I consider myself a middle of the road student as far as grades and success go. I have little time outside of school but I run cross-country in the fall and track in the spring. Additionally, I run in the off seasons of winter and spring. A large majority of my personal philosophy stems from academics and running. Whether I receive a bad grade or perform poorly athletically, there are consequences. I run in a slower race at my next meet or work harder to make up for that grade. My mistakes require a coping method to recover. I believe, therefore, that acceptance is the first step to overcoming any and every obstacle that can hinder achievement.

Because I face misfortunes or downfalls, I am forced to accept consequences and move on.  I am self-conscious about failure and have to find ways to cope with such insecurity. I commonly find someone or something else to blame in order to deal with my disappointments. But no matter who or what I blame, I convince myself it is out of my control. Honestly, I never totally believe the facades I make in my own t to blame and simply too cowardly to admit it. I realize I must own my mistake. There is always a nagging of my conscience. It whispers that I am a failure. Yet, I make the mistake of indefinitely punishing my mind for something small. Often the consequences of a small shortcoming or uncontrollable fate are self-inflicted. I ask myself “What could have happened if I had redone that differently?” and never let myself forget about it.

Other times, however, there are consequences placed upon me by an outside force. In the moment it is very hard to accept the punishment but fighting the inevitable leaves me tired.

Humans are opposed to consequences, yet they continue to punish themselves mentally for the mistakes they make. There is a certain unfairness recognized when at a disadvantage. Accepting misfortune poses a larger challenge than can be overcome without a conscious effort. To move on and leave the blemishes of my life behind is a daunting task but a simple one, once I summon the presence of mind to put life’s errors behind me. Just moving on is the first step.

I find myself often flinging myself into a vicious cycle of denial and blaming when at the very origin of my problems is me. Accepting my mistake and being able to let go allows that cycle break. By escaping the weight of blame, everyone can create a future instead of dwelling in the past. 

                                                    Sincerely,

                                                    Ian S

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph W. Self Reliance. Short Story.

Foer, Jonathan Safran. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Boston: Mariner, 2005. Print.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Ministers Black Veil." Twice-told Tales. Print.

McCartney, Paul. "Let It Be." Let It Be. The Beatles. 1970. MP3.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible: a Play in Four Acts. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1976. Print.

Oates, Joyce C. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Poe, Edgar A. William Wilson.

Ralston, Aron. Between a Rock and a Hard Place. New York: Atria, 2005. Print.

REM. "Try Not to Breathe." Automatic for the People. 1992. CD.

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. Bantam, 1937. Print.

The Village. Dir. Night M. Shyamalan. 2004. DVD.