Ashley Karl Verbalizing the Visual Dr.

Palmer April 8, 2013 For the Time Seeing: A Documentary of My Thoughts

Life is full of new surprises, moments of serendipity and bliss, the unknown. Its our job to explore ourselves and this Earth in search of beauty, passion, and serenity. We must find what God has intended us to stumble upon. We must search for meaning, more specifically our own meaning in this world. We must come to know ourselves on a deeply intimate level and allow our minds, bodies, and souls to be engulfed in life in a very distinct and personal way. Search for the meaning, discover yourself, and set yourself free.

Beauty - The natural beauties of the world create an equilibrium of earth, air, and water; within each entity, beauty thrives. Through this, we can understand how all people are connected as we live and breathe together on this Earth and our souls intimately bond with other souls in the form of friendships, families, and life partners. All intricate relationships molded through time with unconditional love.

Camille Todd and her boyfriend Tommy Bohnert were walking along the lock bridge in Paris, France on March 27th, 2013. This infamous bridge is where couples love gets locked forever. As they glanced at the thousands of locks, one lock in particular stood out to them. There, on a Dofin lock in permanent marker among thousands of others, read Camille and Thomas. What could possibly be more beautiful than this unexpected discovery?

True beauty cannot be seen from the outside, it must be found within the soul of your love. -Jack Roskam-

Passion - My teammate and great friend Nicole Hulbert told me, although everyone is passionate about different things, everybody finds passion in something; and despite our differences, passion is inevitable. Is this true? Do you really believe that every being is a passionate being? Im not so sure that everyone finds passion, but those who do sure know what they are living for. Vincent van Gogh once wisely stated, I would rather die of passion than of boredom. Think about it. Could you live a passionless life? Would you choose to? What if you found passion in something that would leave you heartbroken one minute and filled with utter joy and contentment the next? Something that could bring tears to your eyes whether they be of happiness or pain? Something more commonly known as a sport.

Timothy Shriver, Ph.D, declared, "The glory of sport is born at the moment when the game and the person become one, when all the complexity of one's life finds a moment to emerge in the game. These wise words are more than ink on a sheet of paper to the athletically inclined population. To grasp the connection an athlete can acquire with the game more fully, Amanda Ring makes a remarkable statement. "An athlete is a normal person with the gift of an undying passion to be the best and achieve greatness." There are 227 student athletes currently attending Regis University, a prestigious Jesuit institution, all of which are profoundly dedicated to and passionate about sports. What makes them diverse is the sport in which their passion lies and whom they share this desire with. Is it golf? Basketball? Soccer, perhaps? Each individual Division II athlete at Regis can call themselves a Regis Ranger and coexist within this community of fellow student athletes, but there is also something much more special. Teammates. They share an unexplainable bond with one another and understand each other in a much more intricate way; and they achieve this tightknit relationship through the passion that consumes them the moment they step onto the court,

the field, or the course. Passion is something you cannot take away from someone else, they will have it forever.

On October 9th, 2012 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, my teammates and I became closer than we had ever imagined. We played our hearts out and left everything we had on the course that day, but this was not the passion I intend to share. The unexplainable bond I mentioned earlier struck my teammates and I like a bolt of lightning as we stepped out of the van and into heaven. Well, not exactly heaven, but rather a local carnival. The four of us hopped out of the van like a small group of six year olds at Chuck E Cheese and we were ecstatic to say the least. After two hours of loops, drops, twists and turns, we were exhausted. Not to mention, three bags of kettle corn later, we were ready to pull a Sandlot and yack everywhere.

Each and every one of my teammates and I share a love for the game of golf, but something much deeper for each other. In the mass amounts of time we spend together, we become inseparable and grow a need for support, laughter, and love. And although that evening at the carnival marked the end of our fall season, Rachel, Nicole, Sarah, and myself walked away with fond memories, queazy stomachs, and an indescribable friendship that will last a lifetime. Lucky for us, we chose one of the only sports you can play your whole life. No matter how horrible or how spectacular we play, we know that itll always be a treat when we walk off that 18th green; and, of course, an even better treat when we waltz over to the 19th hole together.

The pat on the back, the arm round the shoulder, the praise for what was done right and the sympathetic nod for what wasnt are as much a part of golf as life itself. Gerald Ford

Serenity - Most human beings find absolute requiescence in what they love. When their whole hearts go into something they cherish, they release endorphins and allow all stresses to disappear.

In 1989, a young woman by the name of Nicola Amadora visited Thich Nhat Hahns monastery in Plum Village in southern France in order to grasp an understanding of his spiritual teachings and mindful lifestyle. When I arrived at the village, at first I saw nothing but sunflowers, Nicola says. The first sign I saw said: Smile. Breathe. You have arrived. She continues to explain her experience in the monastery as a tranquil one centered around conscious breathing and Being Present. Being Peace. Through this meditation technique, Nicola allowed herself to become aware of her present surroundings and live in the moment. Smile. Breathe. Be.

Beauty - Beauty does not necessarily have to be only skin deep, especially when someone holds the power of self-confidence. We each contain a personal aura about ourselves that tells a story, gives off a vibe, and has the potential to light up a room. Many people are beautiful with their confident demeanor and pure belief in the decisions they make and the paths they take in life. In todays society, we are expected to conform. Change our hair, our clothes, lose weight, wear make up, fit the mold. But God created us in his likeness, not in the likeness of COSMO Magazine or the Victorias Secret standard.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wisely said, To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. We as people are vastly unique

physically, mentally, and spiritually, which prevents us from conforming to social norm and embracing our own personal norms with confidence.

You can lose all of your material items, but no one can ever seize the confidence you have in yourself. It is possibly one of the most valued attributes a person can acquire and possess for life.

At times, it may be inhibited by the various evils of society, but it is never fully destroyed and always under your control. If ever there is a moment of doubt, we should hold a constant reminder in our hearts and in our minds to just keep swimming -Dory, Finding Nemo-

Passion - John Bul Dau is an inspiring fellow from southern Sudan who endured more pain, hardship, and terror in his adolescent years than most people could ever dream of in a lifetime. In 1987, 13 year-old John fled his home in order to evade an attack by troops who were ordered to eliminate all black Christian males. His village was burned, women raped, children enslaved, and young men shot, all while John traveled more than 1,000 miles throughout 14 years of his life. He became a member amongst thousands of other boys known as the Lost Boys of Sudan and suffered through years of disease and starvation with not a single shred of clothing on his back.

And through all of this, John Bul Dau managed to not only survive, but exuberantly share his story to a handful of college students attending Regis University. A man who willingly spills the most shameful moments of his life with an overwhelmingly vivacious attitude as he recalls each moment and relives it for the sake of the narrative. Now John clearly did not have a cushioned lifestyle from ages 13-27 of his life, yet he was a man of passionate character. You have the capability to help other people, and when you become successful, give back to your community,

said a once beaten down, deprived, malnourished man. John has come so far in life only to pay it forward in hopes for a better environment and healthier lives for those residing in his homeland of southern Sudan.

When you are passionate about something, pursue it. No matter how difficult the task or how strenuous the labor becomes, just remember that perseverance never sleeps or ceases to go onward. Passion can go much further than anyone ever expects until they meet their goals, reach their destination and recognize the courage, strength, and willpower it took to get there.

Serenity - The average person takes over 23,000 breaths per day. The human body contains 640 muscles. There are 84 yoga asanas, more commonly known as poses, in existence.

Pocahontas, the beautiful Disney princess, is a spiritual young woman, despite the fact that she is the star character in an animated motion picture. She is awe-inspiring in her relaxed, comfortable, and reassuring way of life and gains some perspective when taking advice from Grandmother Willow. Pocahontas is one with herself and understands that peace comes from within. The day the ships arrived from Europe to the New World, Pocahontas was lost and curious. Grandmother Willow provided her seeking soul with the wise words, Listen. All around you are spirits child. They live in the Earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you. Listen with your heart, you will understand.

In life, we must understand that in order to find inner peace we must listen. We should strive to center ourselves, be mindful of our breathing, and allow the forces of Earth, air, and water to fill our souls with love, contentment, and stillness. Yoga asanas are a magnificent form of meditation that requires

external silence and internal communication with ones own being. It allows physical and spiritual growth, happiness, and connection from within that can blossom into patience, appreciation, and absorption. Its the zen inside you that can be molded as mindfulness becomes a part of everyday life. Once you gain this inner tranquility you may then respect and acknowledge the zen in others, which is verbalized in the word, Namaste. I bow to your soul.

This life is a journey of unexpected joy and pain accompanied by adventurous expeditions into the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are moments where we understand our path and others where we must search to find our purpose. It is in every one of these moments that we grasp a new concept or visualization in our minds while allowing eccentric, concrete ideas flow through the neurons of our brains. We soak in all of the beauty that our bodies can hold and become deeply passionate, which results in the ultimate goal of serenity. When we find ourselves, we find our place in this world while discovering how valuable we are and the impact we have on the world around us. It is in this very point in time that we achieve self-awareness and self-satisfaction. Through this, we are liberated, and in this liberation, we reach the state of nirvana. Namaste. Now go, find yourself.