Query: June 4th

Hi, I’m Michael Silver.

Wow. The end of the year is here already. This year has been difficult for some, challenging for most and fun for all. Many of you are probably very excited for summer. The summer is a time for everyone to have extra fun. Before summer starts, let’s reflect on our school year, one last time.

If you think about it, there are probably a lot of wonderful things you’ve done this school year. Maybe you helped an old lady cross the street, or maybe you held the door for a friend. Maybe you volunteered at your local food bank. I’m sure you’ve also tried very hard to practice your simplicity. Maybe you’ve tried to save the Earth, or chose to read instead of playing video games. Either way, you’ve shown effort in practicing simplicity.

Simplicity is a challenge. Henry David Thoreau once said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” He is saying that simplicity is a challenge. He’s also saying that, with hard work, comes achievement. If you challenge yourself to live simply, life will become simpler, and less complicated.

I found a video about hard work and challenging yourself on Values.com. I hope you enjoy it. This video takes place in Philadelphia. It is about a young boy who is pushed to work hard and achieve his goal of making a “Great Wall of Philadelphia”.

http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/85-The-Wall

This video is all about hard work. You’ve probably realized this year that in order to achieve true simplicity, you have to work very hard. I’m sure you’ve been challenged by simplicity this year. I’m also sure that you persevered.

This week’s Query is: How have I practiced simplicity during the school year? How will I continue to practice simplicity throughout the summer?

Homework

Read the simplicity packet.

Choose an idea from the packet and write about it.

Be sure to quote the article or passage you are referring to and make sure you cite your source.

3 paragraph minimum.

Grammar and mechanics must be correct

Have you ever felt fragmented? Or preoccupied? I know I feel this way all the time. There is a great answer to feeling fragmented! Simplicity. Simplicity is "believed to be the ability for one to express what is on his/her mind in a plain and orderly manner" according to a simplicity essay on Wisdom Commons.

Duane Elgin wrote a book named Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. In his book, he includes a passage about "Sophisticated Simplicity." In this passage, he discussed the term "Uncluttered Simplicity".

But just what is "Uncluttered Simplicity"? The website "Example Essays" states that the term clutter is referred to as thoughts on ones mind at that moment in time that doesn't have to do with what we are intending to write or talk about." Have you ever been particularly worried about something, and you've realized that you can't focus on other things? That is clutter.

So, according to Elgin, Uncluttered Simplicity means "taking charge of lives that are too busy, too stressed, and too fragmented." He goes further into his term, stating "Simplicity means cutting back on clutter, complications, and trivial distractions, both material and nonmaterial, and focusing on the essentials - whatever those may be for each of our unique lives." He is clearly saying that we need to stop worrying about everything, and start appreciating essential things in our lives. With this in mind, we can all live with a positive outlook on life.

An optimistic approach to life is infinitely valuable. You can think of problems as new ways to challenge yourself. You don't have to be materialistic; you can live a life full of appreciation. To have "Uncluttered Simplicity" is to not let life stress you out. In the busy, modern-day life of the 21st century, we are all prone to complications. Simplicity is the answer to ridding yourself of stress.

This I Believe

I believe that G_d created all humans to be kind and caring for each other. I don’t think we were brought into this world to be separated by pointless differences. I think G_d sends out many tests to us to judge just how well we can form a community. Everything happens for a reason. No matter how tragic an event may be, something good has to come out of it. For example, I think 9/11 occurred because G_d was testing our community. It’s very hard to come around to this idea, but somehow, we all have to benefit from sad things happening to us. After all, no one would want all of our lost souls to die in vain. There is a reason why some Americans just barely survived. There has to be. US citizens didn’t make the ultimate sacrifice for nothing to come out of it.


In the spring, I went to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Many of my relatives died in the Holocaust. I went in to the museum completely naïve about the world around me. I truly couldn’t comprehend why one human would want to do those things to another human. I couldn’t take seeing all of those innocent faces. That day, I wanted to go to my room and cry. But, then I realized; there’s a reason why all of this happened. There’s a reason why some of my ancestors survived. G_d wanted me to see this. G_d wanted me to grow stronger. G_d wanted me to make sure, “never again” means what it’s supposed to mean. G_d didn’t create this world a perfect place. G_d didn’t create humans perfect. G_d created a world that imperfect humans could shape for themselves, and through experience, make this imperfect world a better place.

With the last two paragraphs being stated, I must admit, my faith hasn’t always been strong. My faith has been tested, bent, and almost broken before. When I went to the USHMM, I couldn’t believe my G_d would allow things like that to happen to these people, my people. I hadn’t thought of the Holocaust and G_d’s control over mankind the way I do now. All I could think about were the poor and hungry children. All I could see was a young boy’s face.

However, after seeing these terrible, hideous things, I realized that, as human beings, we are a community. For better or for worse. The Jews dying in the Holocaust weren’t just my people, they were our people. If we don’t strive to be a community, we’ll never stand up united. We’ll never survive.