It is very hard for me to separate these two. I kept going back and forth and realized that they both rang true for me. In the “life is a journey” metaphor how you travel, which is the journey, is more important than the destination. How we live is more important than where we end up (Kaiser, 2015). The “journey” directs our “attention inward and outward, highlighting the connection of self to community, nature, and God, while stressing the creative capacity to chart our own course” (The AWL Group, n.d.). The “life is a gift” metaphor establishes the meaning of life at creation. This metaphor is founded in the wisdom given by beliefs, history, traditions, and community and establishes the grounds for all that is of real value. It is essential to be in line with the God because that is the purpose of life (Kaiser, 2015). “Values are identified, preserved, embodied and passed on to guide…toward purpose” (The AWL Group, n.d.). These two metaphors tell me that I look at life as essentially a journey that has been given to us by God. The journey is more important than the destination and lignin up with the God’s will for my journey is the purpose and drive for my …show more content…
For me, this metaphor is the “life is ups vs. downs.” This metaphor essentially depicts life as a battle. The viewpoint is usually seen from the downs or the oppressed. The ups always have more, always want more, and will take it from the downs. The goal of life is, through resistance, overthrow and take the power away from the ups (Kaiser, 2015). According to Dr. Robert Terry, the metaphor that is most uncomfortable, or that you identify the least with, is the metaphor that is controlling your life or is the metaphor you are surrounded by (as cited by Kaiser, 2015). When Professor Keiser said that, I had to laugh because one of my main work environments is the epitome of this metaphor. I work for the Arizona House of Representatives and this politically driven organization is all about the struggle of ups vs. downs. The struggle of power between the minority and the majority and the constant scheming to keep or take power. Beyond the obvious environment of my work place, when looking at this metaphor deeper, I can see it controlling aspects of my own view. As Kaiser said, when I feel oppressed, I can become frustrated and selfishly feel sorry for myself leaving me stuck without hope (2015). When I am stuck I feel like I am missing out on the