Man's true nature is neither good nor evil, as man cannot truly define their meaning. Thus, the understanding of man's nature is fewer in itself. However, in the depths of man's nature lies a profound act changing the course of our world. The act of kindness, as committing this kind of act changed views on political figures, private information being revealed, and the overall course of development in our society. As a result, kindness has been idolized in our society as one of the virtues every man should seek to obtain.
In light of this, I would like to pose an interesting question: what is kindness? Is it man's ability to share their riches through the act of only unselfishness, pouring from their hearts? These points I brought up are the main conceptions of kindness in our society. But man has got it all wrong, as acts such as those are only seen in good faith because of the benefit provided to the other party. Consequently, humanity's flaws are shown, as only our perception of another man is good if, in the process, we gain something as well, revealing how man can only see from the benefit of himself.
Nevertheless, societal perceptions play roles in the nature of man, often shaping his way of living. As man is a social creature, which means man will do everything in his power to not get excluded from the social sphere of humanity. Thus, acts of goodwill become more common, as acts seen in good faith contribute to the positive perception of man and his image. As humans are foolish creatures, wishfully thinking of the good present in man and this world, man often walks through life with one eye open to one eye closed, viewing man's character through external eyes rather than internal eyes. This prompts acts of good faith to be done in hopeless attempts to be perceived positively.
In light of this, man's soul stands voided of true fulfillment. Through his own selfish desires, he lost the true meaning of kindness. It is not an act but a choice, as man's own free will has given him that choice. Through his free will, a choice to be kind is seen as it is in his own hands to give back, not for himself or the people around him but for the person he's giving back to. Kindness is not a multifaceted process but a simple choice that comes from the heart.
“Words are carefully woven into the web of beauty, purpose, and meaning, delicately crafted by the spider of eloquence. They evoke the colors of emotions, shifting the grey, stormy night of hopelessness into the yellow sunlight of hope.
However, within the intricate weaving of words lies the tongue of wrath, conjuring phrases filled with evil intent, cutting deeper than any blade, piercing the hearts of his victims. Thus, through his own sin, isolation is embedded into every aspect of his life as he reaps the consequences of wrath’s destruction. However, his self is only an enemy, based on his environment, filled with words of arguments and curses, igniting the flames of wrath upon his tongue, fueling his desire to enact nature’s calling.
In contrast, amidst the destructive force of the tongue of wrath, lies the gentle yet potent tongue of the poet. Like finely woven strings, the poet’s words delicately connect, holding great meaning inside the fiber of it, which captivates and enchants. Through nurturing and development, the poet possesses the ability to transform minds into hopeful bliss or hopeless illusion. Through the poet’s words, the threading of narrative hypnotizes hearts and minds alike.
Ultimately, words are beautifully crafted masterpieces, given the ability to construct, destroy, or rebuild. Like a painter, the art solely relies on the use of the palette. As words are embedded with meaning, thus the phrases chosen delicately or indelicately brush across the canvas, painting the pathways diverged from each choice of word.”
Man's true nature is neither good nor evil, as man cannot truly define their meaning. Thus, the understanding of man's nature is fewer in itself. However, in the depths of man's nature lies a profound act changing the course of our world. The act of kindness, as committing this kind of act changed views on political figures, private information being revealed, and the overall course of development in our society. As a result, kindness has been idolized in our society as one of the virtues every man should seek to obtain.
In light of this, I would like to pose an interesting question: what is kindness? Is it man's ability to share their riches through the act of only unselfishness, pouring from their hearts? These points I brought up are the main conceptions of kindness in our society. But man has got it all wrong, as acts such as those are only seen in good faith because of the benefit provided to the other party. Consequently, humanity's flaws are shown, as only our perception of another man is good if, in the process, we gain something as well, revealing how man can only see from the benefit of himself.
Nevertheless, societal perceptions play roles in the nature of man, often shaping his way of living. As man is a social creature, which means man will do everything in his power to not get excluded from the social sphere of humanity. Thus, acts of goodwill become more common, as acts seen in good faith contribute to the positive perception of man and his image. As humans are foolish creatures, wishfully thinking of the good present in man and this world, man often walks through life with one eye open to one eye closed, viewing man's character through external eyes rather than internal eyes. This prompts acts of good faith to be done in hopeless attempts to be perceived positively.
In light of this, man's soul stands voided of true fulfillment. Through his own selfish desires, he lost the true meaning of kindness. It is not an act but a choice, as man's own free will has given him that choice. Through his free will, a choice to be kind is seen as it is in his own hands to give back, not for himself or the people around him but for the person he's giving back to. Kindness is not a multifaceted process but a simple choice that comes from the heart.
Crowds of cheers echo through the lands. One man, accessible to all the riches life can give, can command whatever his heart desires. As he is the ruler of his kingdom, built upon his glory seen all across the lands, this is the story of no ordinary man; rather, a king amongst ordinary men.
Once, he was just a young boy with no honor, glory, or respect to his name. Members of his own community trashed him, allowing him to view the dark side of the world and teaching him a lesson of the cruelty present in all mankind. As a result of this he vowed to take on the cruelties of man by his own hands—seeing children starve on the streets, women getting abused, and those in power treating the lower classes like scum. He decided to take on the responsibilities of the world by changing it all himself, making an oath to never allow others to go through the pain he experienced.
Subsequently, identifying ways for change, he decided the only way to see change was to lead by example. So, little by little, he found ways to build up his status—creating alliances, gaining political power, and using carefully crafted words to lure others into his ideas. Latching onto those who were in his position when he was younger, the common men and women grew to stand by this new charismatic figure as he became the voice for the voiceless. As days passed, his power grew along with his influence.
Eventually, he made it to the level of a king, surpassing all those who sought the throne. On the day of his announcement, a new constitution was given to the people in favor of unity and equality. Banning all rules that went against the rights of others, which he deemed the natural human rights all men possessed, such as respect, freedom of speech, dignity, freedom, and the right to an education. In shock, screams and tears of joy filled the streets as a new revolution was set upon those who were once in a low class, through the power of the newly pronounced king—no more would abuse run rampant as a new era was born.
However , though glory, honor, and praise came to him, he never fell out of his original goal, as he stuck to the oath he swore to himself all those years ago. Never giving in to the temptation of indulgence in his riches, he put his focus on serving his kingdom. To create a land of the free, where every little boy and girl, no matter their race, gender, or social class, could run freely across the streets where their laughter would fill the town with joy, as unity in its fullest form would be seen.
amidst these visions of triumph, the king’s strategic prowess shines brightly. Whenever enemies try to overthrow his rule and threaten with war, fear does not set in the hearts of himself or his people, as he has built a shield in the hearts of himself and his people to defend against the enemy of fear. This shield was built up through affirmations to his people, building them up as gentle warriors—able to kill but also able to show mercy. As a result of this, he and his kingdom are feared across many nations, as he and his people are warriors who will sacrifice their lives for their kingdom and each other.
In essence, the king's legacy stands as a testament to not only his glory but also his willingness to serve others, which has led him to build something more stronger than a kingdom, a family.
The almighty one, who was once standing as the compass for mankind, now stands aside as his creation finds meaning in their own life—forcefully pushing away any attempt to go back into relations. As a result of this, a void between God and mankind is present, separating man from their past values which once stood as their foundation.
Consequently, mankind is now at a loss with no guidance through the windy storms life has to offer. As man was unwilling to serve, because he believes through birth the right to be served is his alone. As he is the creator of the mirror, pleasurably viewing his own reflection, prompting man to become self-indulgent creatures. Thus, widening the distance between God, as man's own self has become the one he serves. As with each prideful smirk, deceitful glare, contemptful expression, and selfish action, God becomes more and more as a distant memory than a friend.
In light of this, a complex exploration of mankind comes into fruition. Can mankind survive without God, as in man's life a need for purpose and wisdom of the meaning of life becomes a hunger man seeks to feed? So, man uses aspects of work and art to fill this void. However, even though these aspects fill the void of purpose, allowing man to create beauty amidst the ugliness present in this world, the looming shadow to understand this world is forever present. Leading man in pursuit of ways to fill it. Subsequently, God arrives like a knight in shining armor, coming to save us in our distress. Moreover, providing man comfort through his faith in God. As through man's faith, fear is non-existent, because faith is what prompts strength in man, as he has the undying belief God will guide him to a joyful end.
However, as decades pass, man's need for faith becomes more ambiguous, as he loses sight of God through his own self-indulgence. Leaving behind the values he used to navigate the complexities of this world, resulting in every action rebelling against the almighty one, as his own creation laughs in his face while continuously stabbing the idea of him in our society. As God is dead and man hath pulled the trigger.
As my dad and I ambled towards the training center, our hands firmly grasping the equipment, he inquired, "Are you excited?"
"For what?" I replied. "Don't tell me you forgot today is Okina tradition day," said my dad.
"Oh, right, my bad. I forgot," I admitted.
"Of course you did. How do you forget about a tradition in your own village?" my dad teased, his tone playfully chastising me for my forgetfulness.
"I'm sorry, Dad. It's just been a long day."
"Wow, using that excuse already? You gonna use it when I beat you?"
"Sure, old man. Don't pull your hip now. Wouldn't want you to go crippled," I playfully remarked.
"Very funny. You should be an entertainer rather than a swordsman. You're better at telling jokes than fighting," my dad responded, sharing lighthearted banter.
"Yeah, we will see about that."
Finally making it to the training center, my dad and I donned our training gear, preparing for the upcoming duel.
"Alright, old man, come on," I taunted as we both dashed towards each other. Our wooden swords clashed, and our footwork mimicked that of a dance.
As my dad advanced with an excessive flurry of strikes, I expertly dodged, nimbly pivoting off my foot to break the center line.
"You're too slow for me, old man," I remarked, a confident grin on my face.
"Really slow. Maybe I'm just moving too fast for your eye to perceive it," replied my dad, his response wrapped in the thrill of the spar.
Swiftly, my dad erupted with speed, rushing towards me with a slash that, if this weren't a sparing match, could have been lethal. In that moment, I acted quickly, slightly dodging it with only a hint of it grazing me. Losing my balance, I fell, and my dad, seizing an opportunity, rushed towards me.
Acting promptly, I hopped up, blocking his swift but precise strike. As our swords clashed, a glimmer of opportunity flashed in my brain. Looking down, I saw a chance to kick my father off balance.
Reacting swiftly, I dodged his next strike and swept his legs. "Yes, this is finally the moment," I thought to myself, adrenaline bursting into flames as I glimpsed my victory.
Suddenly, I was snapped back into reality as I fell on my back, the impact echoing through the village like a thunderous crash.
"Welp, at least now we know the almighty Achlys is good at falling down," my father said, laughing at my defeat.
"Very funny," I muttered, wiping the dirt off my back.
Just then, my mom appeared. "What are you two doing?" she exclaimed.
"Oh no, it was my mom," I thought as she rushed towards me and my dad.
"Are you stupid? Why are you sparring? He just got back."
"What? The boy's fine; you're doing too much. He barely had any blood on him."
"You're not even listening to me! Did you see his scars?"
"Yes, I did. You know, maybe if you actually thought more and stopped jumping to conclusions, you would—" stopping my dad from saying any more, I ran to my mom and began reassuring her that I was okay.
"Well, you better be. You shouldn't be doing this when you just came back."
"I know, Mom. I'm sorry, okay? But don't blame this on Dad. I wanted to spar; he didn't force me."
"Well, that's still not enough. You need to go back and lay down now. If I see you walking around this village, no more sparring, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said.
Walking back to the nursery, defeated, I looked back to see my mom arguing with my dad.
"They always do this. It's so annoying," I thought to myself.
In my moment of pity, a thought rushed in. My mind lingered on the creature. I need to go see if it's alright; it's already close to dark. Rushing towards the nursery, navigating through the crowded streets of Okina, with people asking if I'm okay.
Finally li made it to the nursery I thought to myself, I ran inside my room.
Looking into my bag, I saw that the creature wasn't there.
What lies beyond? As a young boy, that daunting question lingered in my mind. Okina, the village of my upbringing, stood secluded from any nearby forests, shielding us from any sight of life. In this haven, my mother, Elizabeth, ran a shop for sauces, spices, and herbs. While My father, Alex, ran a blacksmith shop. He, a stern, strong, and natural-born leader, often recounted to me the story of how he became the village chief, rambling on and on about the duels he had to undergo. Already at the ripe age of 15, I could easily recite the whole story. My mother, caring yet overprotective, hindered my desire to explore beyond the village. She would always say I could never go too far off the village, always babbling stories of the outside world and how dangerous it is. Shaping my perception of the world, I believed I resonated with until I had to face those stories head-on. Only as I grew older did my mother trust me with exploration beyond the village, particularly to gather ingredients for spice trades. School and work usually occupied my days — crafting spices with my mom when I got out of school, and fashioning fake swords for children to play with at night. Yet my favorite moments were working with my mom, mainly because of a girl named Abbie. She had nice brown hair with streaks of white, like a moonlight waterfall running down her hair, with soft clear brown skin, and calming brown eyes. She captivated me at every sight. Early mornings in my mother’s shop brought her and her mom seeking spices for their famous soup. As her mother looked for spices, Emily would often approach me to say hi, sparking up a conversation about silly things, such as what happened in class yesterday and innocent joys. One day, my mother sent me to the forest for ingredients, a task I relished as much as my time with Emily. It was the sole opportunity of my days to witness what laid beyond and immerse myself in the world I never got to experience. The Emerald green grass swaying in the wind like an ocean, the sun casting its glow upon the sturdy trees that stood steadfast and tall, and the flowers adding color that illuminated the forest. In that setting, I could only feel a sense of home.
Suddenly, a loud thud came, shattering the tranquility around me . As I cautiously walked towards the sound, an agonizing squirm of pain grew more pronounced with every step. Peering beside a tree, my eyes met a creature with bulging golden eyes, it's white fur disheveled and dirty and those sharp, intimidating eyes sending a shiver down my spine. Examining it more closely , I noticed the creature was hurt. In that critical moment , two decisions confronted me — run away and let the creature fend for itself or take it with me and nurse it back to health. Amidst this tense situation, the forest atmosphere came alive with approaching footsteps. I grabbed the injured creature and Sought refuge behind a tree, trying to conceal myself from the two men emerging from the nearby bushes, their voices loudly murmured , "I hit the damn thing; it must be somewhere over here. Spread out and look for it." As I heard the voices A flurry of Thoughts came racing in my mind my mind I began to ask myself Were these men coming for the small creature I cradled in my hand. In my state of worry My heart dropped as one of the men said , "Who’s there?" In a state of fight or flight, I rushed away. As I ran, the men's urgent called echoed throughout the forest , "Stop right there!" Glancing back, I saw three pursers with brandished swords, and in that moment of fear the question lingered to me, was this the moment death find me in the heart of a looming forest. As my pounding footsteps echoed through the dense forest, my breaths came in hurried gasps, matching the rhythm of my sprint. The urgency of the men's pursuit fueled my adrenaline. Amidst the chase a chance for escape emerged. A concealing bush in my moment of desperation I quickly hurried hide behind it. In my moment of panic The weight of the injured creature in my arms intensified.
As the men's voices declared the child has the creature, spread out, and don't leave until you find it, a shiver ran down my spine. The lingering question haunted me Will I ever get out of here?
Thoughts raced through my mind, contemplating ways to escape. A miracle dawned upon my sight. Spotting a nearby rock, a light bulb lit up in my mind. Seizing the rock, I could divert their attention by throwing it in the opposite direction. With their footsteps growing closer, I knew I had to act fast. Acting swiftly, I grabbed the rock, threw it in the opposite direction, fooling the pursuers. Cautiously, I moved away from the bush and made a break for it.
Finally returning to my village, the sight of thatched roofs and cobblestone streets brought immense relief. Concealing the creature in my backpack, I rushed into the village.
The villagers, noticing my presence, approached me in a hurry, asking if I was alright due to how long I was gone and the scars on my face. Concerned, my mother ran to me, moving over everyone that stood in her way. Finally making it to me, she hugged me. Worried about the scars, my mother rushed me to the clinic. In the clinic, my mother, overwhelmed with worry, bombarded me with questions about the incident. Trying to ease her nervousness, I simply stated I had tripped; the questions subsided, allowing me a moment to breathe. My dad entered the clinic, hugged me, and inquired about my well-being. Reassuring them with lies, they finally let me be to get some sleep. In my tired state, I drifted away into sleep, until I suddenly remembered what was in my bag. Getting up out of bed, I walked towards my bag to check inside, only to see the creature in a state of delirium. Scared for the creature, I searched around the nursery to find anything to help. Finding some water, I rushed towards my bag and gave some water to the unknown creature. Out of nowhere, a familiar voice appeared. "Achlys, what are you doing?" It was Elizabeth. I thought, "Nothing, I'm just searching my bag for something." From a distance, I could see Elizabeth had a worried look on her face. Walking up to me, she asked, "Are you okay?" Worried about her noticing my bag, I said yes, "I was worried for you; everyone in the village is talking about what happened to you." "Really?" I said, "I didn't know I was that important," as I gave Emily a smile. Suddenly, her face began to blush as she gave me a hug, saying, "I'm glad you're okay. I was really worried about you." This moment was my savior from my constant anxiety about the situation at hand. "Emily, come down here; we ain't got that much time. We have to go to the local shop for spices," I said as she moved away from me, said bye, and walked through the door. My heart began pounding with excitement as she gave me the relief I so desperately needed. Still, it didn't last as I snapped back into reality and looked at my bag; it was the creature. As I picked up its body, I placed it on my bed, trying to find some tools to pull out the tiny but sharp pieces of bark in the creature's skin. I scavenged around the room until I found some until I dropped them right in the sight of the creature healing itself.
"This is one of those divergent creatures. If I keep it here, it might end up hurting others. Why did I even decide to save it?" I thought as I began to plan ways to put the creature back out into the wild. "I got it. I can go out at night and put the creature back. It is healed, so it won't be that bad in a situation out there. I mean, those guys did capture it, but why? These are one of the weaker ones. I would imagine they would capture the stronger ones to obtain their power or something like that. It doesn't matter now; I should just find a way to get this thing out of here." After this, I got dressed and picked up the creature, putting it into my bag until a sound came from it. It was like that of a bird but quieter. Suddenly, my examination of the creature came to a halt as I heard knocking on my door. "Hey Achlys, it's me," it was my dad. As I opened my door, I saw my dad in his training gear. "Wow, you're already dressed," he said. "Yeah, I was just getting up for a walk. Why do you have on your training gear?" "Well, I was going out for a training session and came to check on you and ask if you're willing to train with your pops. If you're not too weak," he said with the intent to tease me. "No, of course not," I said, "not even trees can take down me, the mighty Achlys. Well, let's put that to the test, old man." Smirking, Achlys added, "Besides, it's more exciting to spar with you, old man. Who knows, you might need those warrior skills to face the fearsome creatures of the night." It worked, I thought, as we began walking out the door. I left behind my bag, unaware of the troubles it would cause.
Death, the fate all man fears, unknown of its meaning; we are afraid of it because we do not know its purpose. Death wakes us up to our fantasy, allowing us to realize our time here is short. Thus, we suffer due to this haunting realization, for the longer we live on this earth, the more we grow to cherish the positive aspects it provides us. So, in light of this, the need to avoid death grows more profound in our being, and even though we may try to avoid it, forget about it, or even escape it, we are nothing more than a blind man trying to outrun the dark.
However, in the depths of our suffering, we desperately search for a savior to relieve us of the burden set upon us. This is where many theistic religions are built on, man's innate fear of death, and as a way to remove this fear, the idea of life after death gives us something to look forward to. No longer would we have to fear the unknown nature of death, as it gives us comfort knowing we won't have to face what's out there alone. We would have someone guiding us through it to an overall more loving and joyful life than the one we grew so accustomed towards. As a result of this, the essence of thinking logically is broken because in the tapestry of death there is no logic needed as our fears overwhelm our thinking, making us more susceptible to ideas which minimize our fears. Even if man did try to understand the full extent of death, he couldn't simply because death surpasses the bounds of normality, not operating in the physical realm, going beyond man's reality, which he is too futile and unknowing to understand.
Nevertheless, death meets us all, and nothing we do can allow us to escape it. Day by day, the hourglass of our existence is running out, and all we can do is accept it as our fate. However, death is not this broad in the sense of cause and effect; it is more complex than that. Death is one of many beauties life gives to us as a gift to use in its fullest form, only if man can transform his mind to think critically and open his eyes to see the gifts which were given. This realization allows us to recognize death's benefits provided to all men. For instance, death's cultivation of meaning in life. When born, the overwhelming fear of death is a burden set upon him like Sisyphus carrying the weight of death on his shoulders up and down the hills of life until he meets his demise. Thus, man lives with this burden as a realization of how short life is, providing a ripple effect on his own life, allowing him the opportunity to live out his days as if it were his last.
Death the complex multifaceted concept. Which brings terror, and sadness, to all those who hear its name. Death has brought tragedy to many of us, whether that's through a family member or friend, the death of those around us has led us to question its true meaning. In our questioning, we have derived at many different whats and why's. Why is it here, what does it mean, and why are we even born if we're all just gonna die one day. These are the questions which have haunted us all our lives, in search for understanding. However I am not here to give you a clear guide to understanding the meaning of death rather, my perspective on death and and why I personally view it as a gift rather than a curse.
Man can't appreciate life if he does not believe or accept death as possible in any moment. Once man has fully accepted death as a possibility he can truly live. Therefore Death is a standing in which man takes from to appreciate life in its fullest form. As the man who realizes death, is like that of a snake who can strike at any moment. Appreciates life in its fullest form For he knows that at any moment it might just be his last. Thus he is able to cherish every moment life has to offer, until he meets his final fate of death.
Furthermore humility is the ultimate factor death has to offer. Man meets the same fate, thus we are equals for the man who is superior is greater on every level metaphysically and physically. As a result of this no man is superior, for he who cannot transcend morality is nothing more than a man. Those who see themselves as superior are in a state of delusion for they are like that of Narcissus, in love with their own reflection. For the man who is superior is that who can transcend human limitations such as mortality and death. Thus we should not fear man nor put ourselves or other on a pedestal as no man is exempt from death. From this perspective man can gain humility, for the wisdom of death comes to us all but only those who seek to understand can gain it.
