The Swimmer

In the story, the swimmer, the main character Neddy is swimming across the country. As he is swimming we find out that he pissed off some people along the way but he does not remember. What a convenient memory Neddy has? We see him start to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. We come to find out that even his family is gone and he cannot remember why. The pools become empty, and Neddy reaches the cold hard reality of his actions.

I see that Neddy is swimming away from his problems by diving into alcohol. I see this trait is common among alcoholics, the alcoholism is a mere symptom of the real problem. People are always running from something.

Some people become work workaholics and they neglect their families and friends.

Some people try to eat their problems away.

Or sometimes they blame other people for their problems and misfortunes.

Some people might think, "If I just moved far away than my problems would be gone. "

I have even met performers that believe, "If I just become famous then everyone will like me."
What difference does it make if the whole world likes you, but you don't like yourself, and have lost your self respect along the way. I am reminded of (Luke 9:25) What profit is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one's self?"

I've seen so many people like Neddy that just waste their lives. There is no greater shame, then seeing a life wasted and talent wasted. Every breath is such a gift. King David said, "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are. Help them to spend them as we should" (Psalms 90:12)

The Story Of An Hour

The Story Of An Hour, is a feminist piece of literature that predates any feminist movements. It reminds me of the ample amount of opportunities that women have today in this country as compared to the years before the 1920's. I remember my grandmother saying that women did not have the same opportunities that we have today. Sometimes people take for granted that freedom and equality is not free, and that most likely someone sacrificed for those freedom. For example, I am reminded of the hard labor and campaigning that women put into so that women could have the right to vote.

Before the 1940's women were not allowed to have careers other than a school teacher or a nurse. They were expected to be domestic slaves. They were expected to not have strong opinions and they were thought of as fragile beings. Today women can even fight in combat in this country.

The Story of an Hour was shocking in the 1890's and radical forward thinking. Just to think about life was like one hundred years ago seems like ages. Women would not dare to walk around like Britney Spears in the 1800's she would probably be stoned to death, or burned like the Salem Witches.