Reconnecting with What’s Important

Posted on March 24, 2014 by theparallax

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by Nicholas Woodard

After reading The Parallax, I was able to really Identify with Frank in the hiking story. It’s really easy to lose yourself and your closeness to others that are important in your life because of the monotony of things. You may even start to lack emotion in things that normally made you happy. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy for you to realize what’s really important in your life and what really makes you happy.
Having recently lost someone who was my best friend and that I considered a little brother, I have experienced a wide range of emotion: sadness, sorrow, anger, and regret. But, in the wake of this tragedy, I have been able to experience peace again when playing tennis: a sport that I had lost touch with in the years since playing in high school.
While I have a reminder to never lose touch with the things I love, The Parallax has really helped me organize my thoughts around this tragedy and it will be permanently attached to my memory of my best friend. I believe it has helped me get to figuring out who I am again, and I hope this book is something that others can empathize with in finding themselves as well.

Discover The Parallax

Posted on March 21, 2014 by theparallax

A New Post submitted by Mason Stewart on March 11, 2014

Writing for the purpose of self reflection is a task that most of us never really get around to doing. Many might consider it a complete waste of time. However, in reading the Parallax, the real benefit of writing for self reflection is made clear through Frank’s story. It is interesting to think about how two people experiencing the same moment can have such drasticallly different viewpoints and perspectives on the experience. Writing allows us to transcend a personal experience and break it down in order to see the experience from another perspective. It also allows us to deconstruct our thoughts and perhaps discover a part of your subconscious self that you may not have known or understood. While writing for self reflection is something that most average people probably don’t do or even think about doing, the Parallax helps put into perspective the benefits of doing so on personal effectiveness both in our daily lives and in the workplace. It’s important to know how others perceive you because this may not match with how you wish to be perceived or it may not match with your intentions. The best example is how Kyle, the CEO in the story, is able to slow down and realize how much of an ass he’s being. He’s able to realize this for a moment in time. The experiences of the workshop attendees definitely allowed them to see themselves more clearly and increase their personal effectiveness

See Yourself With New Understanding

Posted on March 18, 2014 by theparallax

Submitted by Jayme King on 2014/03/10 at 7:38 pm

After reading The Parallax, I realized that I might be able to see my life and daily activities in a different perspective. This book had very good and detailed examples of how people changed viewpoints after reading about Frank and Sarah’s story. Some involved relationships, work, or the past that they cannot change. It seems like today that everyone doesn’t have time for anything. I find myself using that excuse too often, when in reality, I’m just not using my time wisely. This book makes you just want to stop time for bit so we can reflect on our lives, past or present. Here recently, our college has been facing 2 student deaths, one being my basketball teammate. It has really focused my attention on the “here and now” because life really is too short. Doing an analysis of yourself, like presented in this book, can help you re-focus and see what really is important in your life. Having that “a-ha” moment may just be what some people need to redirect their lives.

Writing– A Lost Art

Posted on November 9, 2012 by theparallax

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A Parallax Communitiy Post submitted by Adam Thalla on 2012/11/08 at 3:15 pm

It is quite amazing to see how much of an effect The Parallax has had on everyone that has read it, and how it helped people realize the “power of writing”. I have always enjoyed writing. Back in high school, my favorite classes were english/literature classes. The disappointing thing about college is that there aren’t very many classes that allow us to freely and creatively write. The disappointing thing about many people today, is that writing is a lost art. Many people don’t realize that writing is the basis for many other things such as music, lyrics, theater, and movies. It is people’s ability to write freely and creatively that allow these things to come together. It is discouraging that today people no longer enjoy writing, and reading as well. It is important for us to stress to future generations that writing is a great way to express oneself and control one’s emotions and worries. One great thing about free writing, is that it allow you to go back and re-read your thoughts and feelings and “re-live” them if you please. This is why I find writing to be such a powerful way of expressing yourself.

Truth & Reality

Posted on April 24, 2012 by theparallax

A Parallax Community Post Submitted by Chris Grant on 2012/04/03 at 11:09 pm

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I agree with other readers of the parallax in that the author has created a very intriguing story and one that can bring goose bumps to your arms because of the reality. We all can connect to the setting because everyone remembers what they were doing on 9/11. It is very easy to connect to the personal struggles of the Beck family and even those struggles of those who attended the writing seminar. I felt as though I was a part of the family watching the tv in the cabin and also there at the seminar relating my personal experiences with the members at my table. Seeing yourself with new understanding can take on many meanings but I believe that it is truly in regards to accepting truths and realties even if that decision is one of unpopular consequences. Emotion can get the best of you and truth can be your immediate enemy because of negative perceived consequences. On the other side it is also your long term solution to peace and harmony. Sometimes it takes deep insight to realize that the truth is the correct path and this deep insight can sometimes only be brought out in therapeutic writing sessions. Writing for therapeutic purposes is like singing in the shower, it allows you to express yourself without the doubts of immediate harsh criticisms.

Emotional Triggers

Posted on March 19, 2012 by theparallax

A Parallax Community Post submitted by Jonas Marschall on 2012/03/05 at 2:45 pm

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The Parallax, a story within a story within a story, tells many different things. Most importantly, it tells us how much people suffer unnecessarily, simply because they fail to grasp other perspectives than their own. Frank Beck misinterprets the situation surrounding his father’s death so that he will walk through life with the guilt of being responsible for it. Frank Beck also misinterprets the situation when his wife’s illness becomes apparent only to establish a marital disconnect that will last for decades. One could say that much sorrow comes from misinterpreting the expressions and reactions of others. Communication with others receives an additional meaning – it should serve as provider of multiple angles at the same setting. Someone else’s viewpoint can rectify much, just as can introspection (does it have to be written?). As a result we may leave old and obsolete positions. The story shows us that this is frequently prompted by events that overwhelm us with emotions. I’m convinced that events of much, much smaller scale than 9/11 can trigger us to discover the parallax!

The Power of Writing

Posted on March 1, 2012 by theparallax

A Parallax Community Post submitted by Katie Sudkamp on 2012/01/27 at 4:32 am

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The Parallax is an intriguing story that provokes the mind into a different way of thinking. A way of thinking that actually involves writing; writing about your feelings, thoughts, and actions. Each of the characters in the book discovered the healing power of writing. As an author, William Allen White used this “power” to grieve over the loss of his daughter and to come to the understanding that life in words has so much meaning. I found it very interesting that such a simple thing as writing down the thoughts from your mind could be so powerful. Many people keep journals but who really lets their mind take over and allows themself to write continuously? For me, this was a hard concept to grasp. Today, most people, including myself, have a million things on their mind every minute. Letting my mind just relax and to try and forget about my worries for the day provided much more of a challenge than I thought it would. A challenge that I am ready to take on so I can feel for myself the benefits of the written word. I have only partaken in this adventure a few times so far and already I am feeling the healing benefits of it. When I sit down to write, I let all the thoughts in my head flow onto paper and instantly I feel better. Somehow, seeing all my worries and thoughts on paper make them seem less daunting to me because my mind is no longer exaggerating them into concepts that are bigger than reality. I feel refreshed and like the characters in the book, a weight is being lifted off my shoulders. I strongly encourage those of you contemplating starting this adventure to go with your instincts and take on this initiative. Without a doubt, I believe you will feel more connected with yourself and with others around you.