Before and After Effects

Kyle Mengwasser

Lauren Rice

Composition 105

11/07/10

Before and After Effects

Out of the ordinary experiences are good ways to reflect upon life and change it for the better. Have you ever noticed that when you live life, day by day, just going through the motions, with no real challenge, it gets old and boring? Have you ever experienced something, “life changing?”  Over the past month or so, I have been participating in a quest with my fellow composition one peers. This adventure has definitely challenged me to take a different perspective on my life. When a person is challenged in life, it might seem difficult and annoying, but in reality, it is a wonderful opportunity to uplift and change your life. I would like to discuss myself, before and after this quest.

The goal of my quest was to figure out what attracts people to certain restaurants, more than others. I wanted to figure this out to see what cultures are healthier than others, and why. Each week, and sometimes more often, I would explore different food cultures. I did this by trying restaurants that served these various cultural foods. I made sure the cultures were different enough to get a good look at the broadest horizon of food as possible.

Going into my quest I was a bit skeptical. I didn’t really like the idea of a quest because it was something I thought of as, “I had to do it,” rather than something I get to do. When I was running different topic ideas through my head, I had a hard time finding a topic that would suit me. I concluded that a quest about food would be the best approach. Who doesn’t love food?

Like a lot of society, I don’t want to change anything that I don’t have to, in life. I enjoy the comfort of the, “known.” Going through each day is so easy when you know what is coming and how to do it. I believe I am a knowledgeable person, when it comes to a lot of things, but when there is an, “unknown,” it stresses me out. It’s hard to tell myself that I can do whatever comes up, when It’s unknown.

This, “adventure of a quest,” has helped me realize that I can do anything in life. Before this quest I told myself I could get through anything, but now that I have completed it, I can do more than just say it. I can believe it.

In an effort to change my life by challenging myself to try new and different food cultures, I have also changed the lives of those around me. In my quest, I have been trying different kinds of food. My family has also participated in this quest in ways, as well. My dad is mostly a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but he enjoys trying new places. My mom has to try a new place every time the family goes out. There have been plenty of places that haven’t been satisfactory, and sometimes it’s a wonder how their business survives. If my mom gets a grey hair to try a new place we often give her a hard time if we don’t have confidence in the place of choice, just because of past choices and experiences. My family has gotten some knowledge and well being out of this quest, as well as I have. I can say, with confidence, that as a family we have made healthier choices and learned what cultures out there are healthier than others.

Now, after having gone through this awesome experience of a quest, I look forward to each day and what it brings. I am excited for the unknown, and what I can get out of it. I know people say this all the time but, “life is truly better with a positive attitude.”

There are two major conclusions I got from this challenge. The first one would have to be that, no matter what culture you’re from; there are always ways to be healthy. No matter what kind of lifestyle you have, or the money you make, it’s up to you to get the most out of life. Live it to its fullest extent because we only get one.

The second conclusion I got ties into the first one a little. “A positive approach in life, will get a person so much further than any other approach.” I believed this before, but after having experienced it first hand, I can say, with all my being, that it actually works. Take every occurrence in life and use it to improve it.