Life Is Like A River - 945 Words

If there is one consistency in life, then it is the one of change. As the ancient philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus articulated with a brilliant and memorable statement on the river of flux that life is like a river: â€Å"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not† (Heraclitus). What Heraclitus points out for those who are unfamiliar with this school of thought is, that the natural state of life is change where everything including ourselves is consistently changing, transforming, and morphing into something different than it was before. This theory that life is like a river is helpful for me to understand happiness. I like to see happiness as the river of flux where it comes, goes, and where it never appears the same. To me happiness has various forms and I try not to make it depended upon temporary conditions and rather go with the flow. For instance, having a good or bad experience is really more up to me. Yet some people may disagree with my view; however, out of my own experience happiness is not found in the outside world, more so I believe it is something what comes from within. The inside of that is that I am responsible for creating, living, and making conscious decisions on choosing to be happy in my life. For example, as a young adult, I knew I wanted to stretch my boundaries and pursue everything the world had to offer. I left my home country of Germany to move to the United States. I wanted to increase my fluency with the English languageShow MoreRelatedSiddhartha by Herman Hesse875 Words   |  4 Pagesferryman Vasudeva helping Siddhartha,the river helps Siddhartha with his path t oward enlightenment. The river serves as the instructor in Siddhartha’s journey when he abandons his wealth and leaves the Samanas. The river is like life, it flows in a certain direction, depending on the journey you want to take. The function of the river is that it will give one answers depending on the direction it takes. Because of the philosophical meaning of the river, if one understands it, they will achieveRead MoreSymbolism in The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes1074 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers† by Langston Hughes Symbolism embodies Hughes’ literary poem through his use of the river as a timeless symbol. A river can be portrayed by many as an everlasting symbol of perpetual and continual change and of the constancy of time and of life itself. People have equated rivers to the aspects of life - time, love, death, and every other indescribable quality which evokes human life. This analogy is because a river exemplifies characteristics that can beRead More Siddhartha Essay: The Symbols of the Smile and the River in Siddhartha1291 Words   |  6 PagesThe Symbols of the Smile and the River in Siddhartha      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An important symbol in Siddhartha is the smile. Each of the three characters in the story who attain a final state of complete serenity is characterized by a beautiful smile which reflects their peaceful, harmonious state. In each case this smile is a completely natural phenomenon; it cannot be created at will by people who have not attained the prerequisite state of harmony with life.    The first character who is describedRead MoreThe Importance of the Mississippi River1143 Words   |  5 PagesMississippi River in Huck Finn In Huck Finn, what leads the whole story flow and reveal the whole adventure? It is of course the Mississippi River. In real life, river is always the kind of symbol that represents life, changes, growth, and hope, as they are constantly moving. There are always a lot of stories happened on the river. Water is in it and we cannot survive without it. River always plays an important role of human society, so does the Mississippi River in Huck Finn. The Mississippi River is aRead MoreAnalysis Of Hermann Hesse s Siddhartha1520 Words   |  7 Pagesachievements in our lives like marrying your significant other. But what happens when we decide to leave our parents nest with the mindset of no return, where do we find comfort in times of change, who will be there? That is the transition the protagonist in the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse decides to make when he leaves the comfort of his home and finds comfort in the flow of the river. Just as our parents are with us since birth the river was with Siddhartha. The river was with him since a youngRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes Poem The Negro Speaks Of Rivers 1242 Words   |  5 PagesDaniel Lemaire Professor Merton Lee EN-101-12 28 October 2014 Essay 2 While reading Langston Hughes’ poem, â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers† the theme of roots is predominant throughout the reading, this theme raises question to the whole meaning of the poem. Although the word â€Å"roots† itself is never in the actual text, it contains strong details of the poem promoting deep imagery and depiction of veins, tributaries, and the roots of the plants and trees. Hughes wanted to give the reader the illusionRead MoreReform to The Trinity River1095 Words   |  5 Pagescivilizations have all been found along large river valleys, such as, the Indus River in India and the Yellow River in China. Water is an essential part of life; it does not just sustain the life of all human beings around the globe, but also sustains the life of every living thing known to this Earth. All of the major cities that we know today are surrounded by large river systems that supply its people with the means to survive in that region. These rivers also link o ur different communities togetherRead MoreFreedom And Inhumanity In Twains The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn893 Words   |  4 Pagescharacter in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck, life on land and the way of civilization that goes with it represent constrictive rules and inhumanity. Life on the river on the other hand and the wildness that goes with it represent freedom and humanity. The life and realizations of Huckleberry Finn in the novel show that the life that we thought is clean and organized on the outside is actually very pretentious and inhumane inside and the life that we thought as dangerous and wild is the one thatRead MoreA River Runs Through It - The Importance of Fishing Essay638 Words   |  3 Pagesread A River Runs through It some time in their life, is a gift. Whether fishermen use bait, worms, or Georges flies it is that much sweeter to catch some trout with a brother under one arm and a father on the other. The river and fishing made such a big impact on the Maclean family that it is the root of this book. The Macleans compared the river to life, went fishing to answer questions, and created a river that has a past full of memories. The river and fishing become metaphors for life by havingRead MoreEssay on Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger1167 Words   |  5 Pagessomeone makes to drink and drive while under the influence. If that person kills someone, then his decision impacts the lives of everyone involved and not just himself. A theme in Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger, is that people must accept the consequences of their actions because it influences the direction they go in life. This theme is developed through the character of Jeremiah, the conflict between Davy and the law, and the symbolism in the title of the novel. The character of Jeremiah reflects