Friendship Experiment

What I did was focus on two main quotes from Emerson in his "Friendship" chapter:

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud."

Then, while reading through my annotations in my book, I saw that this quote fit perfectly:

"The other element of friendship is tenderness."

What I did was seek advice from people. I was going through a time of confusion and I needed some opinions on my problem. I was only able to to be an Emersonian friend with those who I've grown to know and trust fully. I told them what was going on in complete sincerity and detail, maybe a little too much because some details I could've kept to myself, but I was able to trust my friends well enough. I thought I was being a bit stupid for making such assumptions, but they seemed to be fine with it and they actually helped me out. Usually there would be a laugh for being pathetic but it was not like that. Once I saw how gracious and helpful my friends were being, not only did I notice Emerson's quote about how friendship requires tenderness, but I saw that my friends were being Emersonian friends without even realizing it. I can safely say that there's a tendency to become an Emersonian friend.

In addition to what I did as an Emersonian friend, I focused on this quote:

"My friend gives me entertainment without requiring any stipulation on my part."

I did not experience any time where I had entertained someone and had not received appreciation for my actions. It was hard because every time I would entertain someone, I expected a smile or a laugh back. So, you may say that I failed at this, but I believe that friendship is not mainly about receiving unconditional positive regard, it is a mutual deal where there's an exchange in approval and entertainment. Emerson is certainly right in his concept that friends shouldn't expect an act of appreciation back, but the friend would like one.

Nature Experiment

"The incommunicable trees begin to persuade us to live with them, and quit our life of solemn trifles." With that simple, brief, yet highly meaningful passage from Emerson, he explains the basis of what we should do to have a communal experience with nature. We must connect with nature and simply understand her. The "trees", though incommunicable, tell us to be one with them and forget all of society's stresses and society itself.

I must admit that I had a hard time detaching myself from all my worries I had from school, friends, etc. There were times where I managed to forget all that and just listen to nature. I ignored the airplane sounds and viewed all that was beautiful and majestic. I was in sound with nature and it was so comforting I might as well do it again because of that warm feeling it gives you. Since I'm not a real meditator (mainly because I get distracted easily), I wasn't able to understand nature fully but I was able to connect with it and enjoy the, "... plain treasures, kindly and native to us."