Death

Death to me is when the lights fully go out and your soul lifts up out of your body to decide its second fate. Heaven or hell. People have many different views on death but I think everyone can agree it is never a happy thing. "The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -"(Dickinson). In this line of her poem she means that everyone has cried and got all of their tears out and left. I think the hardest part of dying would have to be dying alone. In Klimt's painting he is representing death with many people in the painting. He is representing the people that are living with pure and light colors, and the death and dying with dark dull colors. I agree with his ideas that death is dark and dreary and life is light and happy. He also includes a baby in his painting to show the two totally opposite ends of life. This gives the viewer two very different standpoints. In his painting there is a commonality of the dead and dying, they all have there heads down. "they think we are looking back at them, which makes them lift their oars and fall silent and wait..."(Collins). They both are saying that the dead, while they are in their common state don't want the living to look at them. "how far beyond the pleasure of chicken salad he had gone already and would go"(Halliday). I agree with what he saying that while at the line of life and death the only thing the dying are thinking about is the death that is destined to come. The only thing they are contributing their effort to is dying.

Love & Marriage

Love to me is the weird feeling you get in your stomach when you see that special person. It is the nervous but secure feeling you get when you hold their hand. The joy you get from being with them. My definition of love can take place between anyone, family, friends or a companion. Love is blind. It doesn't focus on the physical, or mental attributes, it only focuses on the feelings people share (Klimt). When the differences are put to the side, the bond of love it just made stronger. To me, love is the most successful when you choose a person not only for their physical attraction but for their soul. Love is a bond stronger than most, it flows through everyone and anyone. The people who experience true love find themselves drowning in it. "I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold"(Bradstreet). I think that love is so valuable that It can change someone's thought process and even change their life. Eternal love is created when two people get married. The connection between two people is so strong it goes on even after death (Bradstreet). It is so important to surround yourself by ones you love. Love creates happiness and people who don't experience it can become bitter and even jealous( Szymborska). Having, cherishing, and donating love is so important. The power of love is endless.

Happiness

Happiness to me is taking the best out of every moment. Stopping and taking the time to appreciate the little things. Being happy is being thankful, being able see my friends and family and having the ability to do daily tasks. Happiness is taking the time out of your day to embrace every little thing that happens. It is finding the good even out of the worst times. There are many different ways to experience happiness. As Critchley states "one can sink into deep reverie...where one is somehow held by the sound of the surf". In other words he believes that to be happy you have to relax and go somewhere that you can clear your mind and focus on the good things in your life. Iyer believes that "happiness, like peace or passion, comes most freely when it isn't pursued". He is insisting that we should be thankful for what we have and we don't need material things to be prosperous and happy. In Steindalrast's view "It is not happiness that makes us grateful, it is gratefulness that makes us happy". He believes that we should appreciate every moment that we have. I agree with all of there views on happiness they have opened my eyes and made me feel more gratitude.