Rebecca Dickson's Blog

I came across this today and I feel it is a good reminder for myself and many others who feel frustrated that their life ir achievements, do not reflect what they thought/hoped they could achieve.
"An outstandingly talented person is not necessarily outstandingly sucessful, talents have to be exercised. As Aristotle observes, in an athletic competition the prize is not awarded to the athlete in the best condition but to the one who actually comes first."
A clearer message couldn't be given, if you think you are capable of something, get out there and do it! No one will know what your worth, unless you run that race and come first :)

Sooo, i was listening to an Oxford University podcast this morning, on tragedy. I gradually realised that I would much prefer to sit and listen and learn in that manner then read it in a book, i think the constant association with books and reading and pleasure makes it difficult for me to actually study from a book! I just want to enjoy it! Sigh... But i digress, so i was listening and they were trying to define tragedy and what is does for people. I wondered if some of the ieas they flouted, might work for all stories, in whatever form. It was this, are stories created to help us understand why things are the way they are? This can be a very big and disorientating world, maybe we all need a helping hand in making it make sense, so we turn to stories that do make sense of the chaos. They bring narrative form and characterisation to the chaotic social world in which we live. So are people who read better able to make sense of the world? Or are they reading because they can't make sense of the world?
Well, i must get back to the podcasts, i still have two to fit in before lunch! If only my entire MA could be studied through Listening and discussion...sigh..