A Theme of Reality

    In Literary Ireland, we have covered many pieces of work. Work from James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and Heaney. All of these authors have written spectacular poems/ short stories. A notable theme I have noticed is the period of growing up. These pieces detail how different we view life from a kid perspective to adult life. Much of what we go through as a kid is carelessness. We only needed to care about food, toys, friends, etc. Whereas now, we have to worry about our future, politics, world peace, etc. As I have been traveling, I see so many kids and I envy the freedom they get to endure.

    Today in class we looked at the poem "Death of a Naturalist" by Heaney. This poem had to do with growing up and looking at the world through a different lens. I guess, over time in this class, it opened my eyes even bigger to issues that are going on. Not to say that I was blinded by them before, but I just did not like to associate with the real world because of all the issues going on. However, being in Ireland, I have learned that issues within the world are everywhere and each country deals with them. Being in Belfast also made me think that way because of all of the struggles they have and continue to go through. 

    I guess I just feel that actually acknowledging that these issues are not going to go away is a harsh wake up call. Because, as we grow up we have to start worrying about what college we have to go to, what job we want, family life, and successfulness. In a way, we start to see life through a more black and white perspective about what we need to get done. Plus, we start to feel all of these emotions that we never had to experience before. To add on, we have the confusion of wondering if we are on the right path of life and if we made the right decisions. 

    Overall I think the whole semester in the class has shown me that I just have to take these issues as they come because I am not a damn time traveler and I can only worry about the present and what I can control in the moment. (The picture is just a pretty view because I did not have one that I could associate with this.)