1/23/09 Major Focuses of Folk Wisdom:

Struggle- if you focus on the positive you won't see the negative, work through it and in the end it will pay off. my mom is always telling me I will face many struggles/challenges through my life and I will have to tough it out and fight through it myself. although I may have some help to solve my problems. People all around the world are dealing with struggle, from war to economic differences. People tend to bury their struggles, trying to focus on the positive and hide the negative, but that sometimes makes the situation worse. Struggles are hard to deal with.
Family- it is important to love your family, if you ever need help your family will be there, they will support you. I have been taught that my family is a huge part of my life, even when you "hate" your family there is still some sort of unconditional love lingering. Even if I say I "hate" my family, I still end up talking to them five minutes later. I forgive them or my anger wears off.
Art- be creative, different, unique. when you make something that is art, art is what you make it, define it for yourself. I am told everyday to do what I want to do, think outside the box, be creative. But I find it more difficult to express myself through my art when people tell me how to do it. If whatever I see or am creating it should be unique and very "me." My art teacher is constantly telling me "Don't show them you are good, show them you are amazing." -ms. kaye
Balance- mom says be happy, do what you want to do in life (art, travel, etc.) but try to do well in school, pass classes so you can have fun, have balance in life. Balance is something parents say to their kids, what I feel is a "peace-treaty," ex: you can play soccer but I want to make sure you are doing well in school, in order to continue to play. Or in my case, art is one of my main focuses but my mom also pushes me to do well in school so that I am able to continue to study art in college.
Ethics- Do ethics help or keep you from having everything? Be "true," honest, to have good karma. Sometimes if you have ethics you miss out on a chance to break a rule, to do something very mischievous.
Death- peaceful, it comes in time, everyone dies, sad but not sad forever, a part of life, you will be gone one day too, who will remember you?
Love- painful, amazing, hopefully something you will experience in your life time, there is a difference between loving your mother/family, and loving another person, "significant person." Love is not forever, sometimes it wears off and sometimes it grows.
Friendship- difficult, you can have really strong & good friends (best friends/acquaintances) you make friends, lose friend. I feel I have learned more about friendship from folk culture than any other major focus of folk wisdom. People tend to talk/give advices about friendship, their books & online sites give/offer information telling us how friendship is a part of having a good and meaningful life.
Entertainment- t.v., ballets, plays, street performers, etc. Entertainment is fun, occupying, and engaging. ex: the "Simon Says" game (with the light pattern) a simple invention but entertaining, keeps people occupied for hours at a time (video games) sometimes it seems people use video games as an escape into their fantasies, their dreams as war heros, stunt men, etc. Like in movies, I would know I do it too, when I see a great film I sometimes wish I could live the way they do. (Slumdog Millionaire, for example, carefree, living in a beautiful city, amazing culture, so much to experience, adventure & danger, finding their destiny, true love, etc.) I think about that a lot. I wish my life was better, more meaningful, the day I stop wishing my life was like those in the movies, is the day I understand my life, it will be a good and meaningful life. Music is another form of entertainment.
Work- boring, try your best to find a job that you like, otherwise you may feel miserable.