Author Archives: Krista Marson

Transcendentalism

A core belief of transcendentalism is in the inherent goodness of people and nature. Adherents believe that society and its institutions have corrupted the purity of the individual, and they have faith that people are at their best when truly “self-reliant” and independent. An ideal spiritual state transcends, or goes beyond, the physical and empirical, and thatContinue reading “Transcendentalism”

The Wisdom of Thoreau

After spending some quality time with the works of Thoreau, I arrived at some poignant conclusions: The inner life can be understood only as part of the larger life of nature. The language of stillness, acceptance, non-resistance rather than militant willfulness. I must receive my life as passively as the willow leaf that flutters over the brook. I will grow as natureContinue reading “The Wisdom of Thoreau”

Bill Clinton Slept Here

It’s almost impossible to reminisce about a trip to Arkansas without mentioning Bill Clinton somewhere along the way. Hot Springs, Arkansas, takes pride in the fact that Bill Clinton grew up there and no trip to that city feels complete unless you leave feeling like you were sufficiently reminded of that fact at least aContinue reading “Bill Clinton Slept Here”

Crater of Diamonds

When I told Ryan that I wanted to go to Arkansas and dig for diamonds after reading an article about some kid that recently scooped up a sizable diamond at The Crater of Diamonds State Park, I remember his response being something along the lines of, “You want to go where and do what now?”Continue reading “Crater of Diamonds”

That Time We Visited Naples

It’s a good thing Ryan doesn’t know any Italian because that way he had no idea what the guy holding a massive fish tank was yelling at him. I don’t know any Italian either, but I was pretty sure the angry guy holding an unwieldy fish tank was pissed that Ryan was standing in hisContinue reading “That Time We Visited Naples”

The Day I Would Eventually Regret

There were a few occasions when there was something on tour at The Art Institute of Chicago that was too good to miss which made driving to Chicago from Milwaukee worth it. I recall one exhibit in particular that saved both my mom and me a trip to Scotland when many of the works created byContinue reading “The Day I Would Eventually Regret”

A Milwaukee Story

…that of course includes a trip to Chicago. I actually never really minded having to go back to Milwaukee as often as I did, as there was a certain something about that city which has always intrigued me. Milwaukee is a city that no one seems to watch, and it never surprised me why a personContinue reading “A Milwaukee Story”

A samurai’s mind

It is known that samurais didn’t have a religion so much as they had a way of life. As practitioners of Zen Buddhism, samurais trained their minds just as rigorously as they trained their bodies and thoughts about religion were mostly restricted to lessons about how to not fear death. A samurai mind was trainedContinue reading “A samurai’s mind”