Review of Annie Dillards Healing Vision Essay - Life is a Continuous Cycle

Review of Annie Dillard's Healing Vision Essay - Life is a Continuous CycleThe first Annie Dillard's Healing Vision samples essay I read in the Morning Review, I thought it was all over the place. I loved the transitions from some pages to others, and the thought processes in the passages that started out fancy, ending in poignant reflections on life. But the transition between some of the points, a little too smooth for my taste, left me somewhat unsatisfied. That's not to say that some points were weak, but the smoothness of some of the transitions caused my attention to wander.The author explores many different ways to express gratitude and joy in your daily life. At times, she seems to assume a 'here's how I feel' attitude. I really like her approach, but I also wonder if she is writing it for you are writing it for her. I believe the latter, because in some places, the reader is encouraged to write in her own words, in the way she feels most comfortable. But, on the other hand, I also wonder if she is making you question how you feel every day because it's a private thing and no one else has the right to know it.In the end, I did come away feeling satisfied with her day to day life and spirituality. For example, she states that we have the power to influence our future in so many ways. She says we are able to choose how we present ourselves, how we treat others, how we treat ourselves, what we eat, and when we eat. All of these things, she says, can determine the life we live. She writes:'What do you want to make of your life? What makes you happy? What makes you sad? How did you learn to be happy, sad, or tired? What do you need?The essay, 'Life in a Nutshell' shows us that we are a continuous cycle of life. Each of us has something unique to offer the world, and it is through the actions of others that we learn and experience joy and sadness, anger and love. Her point is that we are all aware of the fact that we all have something special to offer each o ther and that our choices and reactions to that reality determine the quality of our lives.She is also concerned with the spirit, the essence of who we are, and how that can be reflected in our lives. For example, in one passage, she quotes her mother's inspiring words, which helped shape her beliefs about life and living. She writes:'We are all connected. We have to be here to help each other move forward in the great plan of God. That's why we're here.I hope you will give Annie Dillard's Healing Vision samples essay a try, but be prepared to leave your assumptions at the door. I really enjoyed the book, but there were parts I really enjoyed and parts I did not, including a discussion of being a Mormon and how it affected her daily life and thinking, but it did get boring after a while. But the quality of her writing and insights are truly worth the investment, and I can definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about their personal spirituality and what they can do to better themselves and the world around them.