From the time couples discover they're pregnant, they worry about whether or not their child will be normal. During the nine month period, a waiting-to-be mom constantly questions her doctor about the development of the unborn fetus. She gladly subjects herself to various tests designed to detect possible problems. If a serious defect is confirmed, couples oftentimes grapple with the horrible decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Many disabilities are obvious: the blind, the deaf and dumb, the amputees, the mentally-challenged, the wheelchair bound, the tremor-stricken. The outward appearances along with acompanying odd behaviors send out explicit signals that translate into abnormalities. These folks, no matter how hard they might try, cannot hide the fact that they're different. Whether born with one, or suffer some known or unknown factor that causes one isn't of importance. In our society, when you look or behave outside the norm, you're damaged goods.
Yet there are many people whose disabilities are hidden not only from others, but from themselves as well. I think I can best illustrate this fact through example.
A ten-year-old boy confined to a wheelchair takes his basketball to school everyday. At recess he practices shooting on the asphalt court marked off precisely for that purpose. When he misses the hoop, and the ball rolls away from him, he calls out to his classmates for a little help. At first everybody pretends not to hear him. Finally as his voice grows louder, one of the boys tells him to get it himself. Another one kicks it even farther away. Seeing that his efforts are in vain, the boy wheels passed the group and retrieves the ball. On his way back to the court, he asks several kids to join him, but all refuse his invitation. When the recess bell sounds, the fifth graders dash to be first in line, every one except the boy in the wheelchair. Obviously he can't compete with his able-bodied counterparts, so he must accept his inferiority without complaint.
Why would his classmates act in such an ignorant, heartless manner towards a boy who is only trying to fit in? Perhaps their disabilities are far more severe but hidden from view. Pretending not to hear a call for help is a form of denial, not acknowledging the request means the request wasn't made at all. Kicking the ball farther away suggests a fear of transference. If the kid picks up the ball, in his mind he is subjecting himself to possibly contracting the very disease that robbed the disabled boy of his mobility. And by not accepting an invitation to join in a shoot-around reflects the boy's fear of what the group would think and do, They might decide to label him as abnormal, and shun him for his interaction with the wheelchair-bound boy. Peer pressure is the strongest contributor to these hidden disabilities that plague our children today.
Yes, physical and mental disabilities are obvious, but they are lived with, overcome, and many times used to advance one's status in life. The boy in the wheelchair has accepted his fate, he's refused to let his shortcomings stop him from reaching for the stars, and I'm sure, as an adult he will become a remarkable man who will make a difference in the lives of many, even of those who labeled and shunned him in childhood.
But most of those who are afflicted with hidden disabilites, will never overcome them because what you don't acknowledge, you can't change. And unfortunately for them, their inability to understand their shortcomings will inhibit them from reaching for the stars, and limit their advancement as adults.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
So...You Want To Be A Writer?
What a noble ambition! You've decided you'd like to share your stories with the world and are definitely sure you have what it takes to write the next Pulitzer. I'm happy for you. Deciding what road to travel and setting specific goals to attain that brass ring is admirable.
However I'm just wondering if you are remotely aware of what it takes to be a writer. Do you have the necessary skill requirements? How about command of the English language? Have you brushed up on proper grammatical usage and sentence structure? Are you articulate, imaginative, daring, perhaps even provocative? Can you spell?
If you've be able to say 'yes' to at least a few of these questions, then you may have a shot. But now let's take a hard look at what it really takes to consider such a career. Are you prepared to spend hours upon hours alone with your tablet on your lap staring at an empty screen? Are you willing to turn off your cellphone for long periods of time so as not to be disturbed by family, friends, social responsibilities? Will you have the guts to turn down fun weekends because you have a ton of editing to do?
If you've managed to sidestep the torture and temptations I've mentioned thus far and you actually do complete a project, are you ready to tackle the next phase of authorship? A publisher is required who will actually give your work the time of day, or if you decide on self-publishing, you'll need to educate yourself on how to go about it. Self-publishing isn't for the faint of heart though. You'll either have to hire someone to do it for you which can be quite costly, or maneuver your way through the complicated maze of formatting and editing.
Okay, let's assume you've dodged those bullets and are ready to choose a cover for your emerging masterpiece.The old adage, 'you can't judge a book by its cover' is hogwash in today's visual society. The cover of a book is what determines how successful that book will be. Are you an illustrator, graphic designer? If not, it's now time to find a great artist because a good artist just won't cut it.
And unless you personally know of one, expect to spend hours involved in a very frustrating search. In my experience, I've hired a few illustrators that I believed would design the perfect cover, only to be disappointed and have to begin this tedium all over again.
The glorious day has finally arrived! Your book is finished, edited, formated, and is donning a fabulous cover. You present it to the world on Amazon, Apple, Book Nook, and more. You've told family and friends it's now available for purchase. All that's left is to sit back and watch your sales climb. Right?
Wrong! Now the hard work actually begins. There are millions and millions of books up for grabs, and effective marketing strategies are the key to having folks choose your book. What to do? You can hire a marketing company, take advantage of all the promotions going on daily, or try to sell on your own.
The first two suggestions can also be very expensive, and the third idea simply won't work. Finding groups comprised of authors whose works are in the same genre is a great way to spread the word about your book as well as to form professional bonds with like-minded people. In many instances, these men and women become lasting friends who are an excellent source of knowledge and experience. Seasoned authors are a remarkable bunch, eager and able to assist emerging writers in any way they can.
Finally and perhaps the hardest part of being a writer is dealing with rejection. Either your book won't sell, or worse, folks will buy it and then give it an atrocious review. Your beautifully-written, exquisitely-covered 'baby' is deemed ordinary, maybe even less than that, and horror of horrors, the disgruntled reader is demanding a refunded.
So...you want to be a writer? Are you sure?
However I'm just wondering if you are remotely aware of what it takes to be a writer. Do you have the necessary skill requirements? How about command of the English language? Have you brushed up on proper grammatical usage and sentence structure? Are you articulate, imaginative, daring, perhaps even provocative? Can you spell?
If you've be able to say 'yes' to at least a few of these questions, then you may have a shot. But now let's take a hard look at what it really takes to consider such a career. Are you prepared to spend hours upon hours alone with your tablet on your lap staring at an empty screen? Are you willing to turn off your cellphone for long periods of time so as not to be disturbed by family, friends, social responsibilities? Will you have the guts to turn down fun weekends because you have a ton of editing to do?
If you've managed to sidestep the torture and temptations I've mentioned thus far and you actually do complete a project, are you ready to tackle the next phase of authorship? A publisher is required who will actually give your work the time of day, or if you decide on self-publishing, you'll need to educate yourself on how to go about it. Self-publishing isn't for the faint of heart though. You'll either have to hire someone to do it for you which can be quite costly, or maneuver your way through the complicated maze of formatting and editing.
Okay, let's assume you've dodged those bullets and are ready to choose a cover for your emerging masterpiece.The old adage, 'you can't judge a book by its cover' is hogwash in today's visual society. The cover of a book is what determines how successful that book will be. Are you an illustrator, graphic designer? If not, it's now time to find a great artist because a good artist just won't cut it.
And unless you personally know of one, expect to spend hours involved in a very frustrating search. In my experience, I've hired a few illustrators that I believed would design the perfect cover, only to be disappointed and have to begin this tedium all over again.
The glorious day has finally arrived! Your book is finished, edited, formated, and is donning a fabulous cover. You present it to the world on Amazon, Apple, Book Nook, and more. You've told family and friends it's now available for purchase. All that's left is to sit back and watch your sales climb. Right?
Wrong! Now the hard work actually begins. There are millions and millions of books up for grabs, and effective marketing strategies are the key to having folks choose your book. What to do? You can hire a marketing company, take advantage of all the promotions going on daily, or try to sell on your own.
The first two suggestions can also be very expensive, and the third idea simply won't work. Finding groups comprised of authors whose works are in the same genre is a great way to spread the word about your book as well as to form professional bonds with like-minded people. In many instances, these men and women become lasting friends who are an excellent source of knowledge and experience. Seasoned authors are a remarkable bunch, eager and able to assist emerging writers in any way they can.
Finally and perhaps the hardest part of being a writer is dealing with rejection. Either your book won't sell, or worse, folks will buy it and then give it an atrocious review. Your beautifully-written, exquisitely-covered 'baby' is deemed ordinary, maybe even less than that, and horror of horrors, the disgruntled reader is demanding a refunded.
So...you want to be a writer? Are you sure?
Monday, February 2, 2015
THE JUDGE
If you haven't seen THE JUDGE, starring Robert Duval and Robert Downey,Jr. do it soon. I promise your time will be well-spent. The acting alone is superb, but what makes this such an incredible movie is its conveyance of universal truths of the human condition from birth until death. I know you may think covering so much ground in as little as two hours is impossible, but believe me when I say THE JUDGE does exactly that.
One of the opening scenes places Hank Palmer (Robert Downey, Jr.) in the men's room of a California court house. When vehemently confronted by the prosecutor for his artful defense of a sleazy, rich guy, Palmer 'accidentally' pisses on his legal adversary's pant leg. Hank Palmer doesn't make excuses for his ability to successfully defend guilty people, and actually takes great pride in it. Upon returning to courtroom action, Hank receives a call informing him of his mother's death. He asks and is granted a continuance in order to return home for her burial.
I don't intend to give you a play-by-play account of the movie. My descriptions wouldn't come close to doing it the justice it deserves. But what I'd like to shed some light on is the many issues tackled throughout this amazing film.
To whom and where we're born is critical to who and what we become in our lives. Hank Palmer, the middle child of Judge Joseph Palmer and his wife, Mary, began his life's journey in a small town in Indiana. By no means am I trying to imply that having an accomplished father and a devoted mother gives one a huge advantage over those less fortunate. What I am saying is that from an early age the choices we make can either propel us forwards or thrust us backwards. We alone are responsible for the outcomes that ensue.
If we marry and have a family, our personal investment in both is required. Without any effort to be present in the lives of our partner and our children, being righteously shocked when infidelity and talk of divorce occurrs is extremely naive, verging on stupidity.
If we walk away from our roots deciding that we are so much better than those we left behind, we shouldn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms when a return is necessitated. Telling a young daughter that the father who raised you is 'dead to you' doesn't exactly prepare her for a warm first meeting, now does it?
The subject of death is thoroughly explored throughout THE JUDGE. A devoted mother and beloved wife dies, a promising baseball career is ended because of a careless accident, a young teen is drowned at the hands of a controlling boy friend, a scum bag murderer loses his life under questionable circumstances, the freedom of a notable public servant is snuffed out, a successful lawyer's strongly-held beliefs about family and fate fall by the wayside. And finally when Joseph Palmer's life ends in the middle of the lake he loved so much, do we realize maybe moreso than ever before that death is as much a part of life as is the living of that life.
Awakenings happen to all of the characters at some point in this film. Their enlightenments serve to remind us of the mistakes we've made along the way, while others give us a second chance to resolve our inner conflicts, forgive any perceived wrongs, and open ourselves to a better, more fulfilling existence.
For perhaps the last thirty minutes, I was in tears. My personal realizations tore at my heart, and during that time I was able to come to terms with certain events I had buried deep down so long ago. I was forced to wonder why I hadn't been able to forgive others completely, and knew that the hardest thing was to finally forgive myself. Ironically a movie mired in so much pain and regret, in the end lightened my spirit and renewed my hopes for a brighter tomorrow.
After all I've said, if you aren't inclined to see THE JUDGE, well that's too bad, verging on stupidity!
One of the opening scenes places Hank Palmer (Robert Downey, Jr.) in the men's room of a California court house. When vehemently confronted by the prosecutor for his artful defense of a sleazy, rich guy, Palmer 'accidentally' pisses on his legal adversary's pant leg. Hank Palmer doesn't make excuses for his ability to successfully defend guilty people, and actually takes great pride in it. Upon returning to courtroom action, Hank receives a call informing him of his mother's death. He asks and is granted a continuance in order to return home for her burial.
I don't intend to give you a play-by-play account of the movie. My descriptions wouldn't come close to doing it the justice it deserves. But what I'd like to shed some light on is the many issues tackled throughout this amazing film.
To whom and where we're born is critical to who and what we become in our lives. Hank Palmer, the middle child of Judge Joseph Palmer and his wife, Mary, began his life's journey in a small town in Indiana. By no means am I trying to imply that having an accomplished father and a devoted mother gives one a huge advantage over those less fortunate. What I am saying is that from an early age the choices we make can either propel us forwards or thrust us backwards. We alone are responsible for the outcomes that ensue.
If we marry and have a family, our personal investment in both is required. Without any effort to be present in the lives of our partner and our children, being righteously shocked when infidelity and talk of divorce occurrs is extremely naive, verging on stupidity.
If we walk away from our roots deciding that we are so much better than those we left behind, we shouldn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms when a return is necessitated. Telling a young daughter that the father who raised you is 'dead to you' doesn't exactly prepare her for a warm first meeting, now does it?
The subject of death is thoroughly explored throughout THE JUDGE. A devoted mother and beloved wife dies, a promising baseball career is ended because of a careless accident, a young teen is drowned at the hands of a controlling boy friend, a scum bag murderer loses his life under questionable circumstances, the freedom of a notable public servant is snuffed out, a successful lawyer's strongly-held beliefs about family and fate fall by the wayside. And finally when Joseph Palmer's life ends in the middle of the lake he loved so much, do we realize maybe moreso than ever before that death is as much a part of life as is the living of that life.
Awakenings happen to all of the characters at some point in this film. Their enlightenments serve to remind us of the mistakes we've made along the way, while others give us a second chance to resolve our inner conflicts, forgive any perceived wrongs, and open ourselves to a better, more fulfilling existence.
For perhaps the last thirty minutes, I was in tears. My personal realizations tore at my heart, and during that time I was able to come to terms with certain events I had buried deep down so long ago. I was forced to wonder why I hadn't been able to forgive others completely, and knew that the hardest thing was to finally forgive myself. Ironically a movie mired in so much pain and regret, in the end lightened my spirit and renewed my hopes for a brighter tomorrow.
After all I've said, if you aren't inclined to see THE JUDGE, well that's too bad, verging on stupidity!
Monday, January 26, 2015
Oh, Lordy, WHAT HAVE I DONE!
Two weeks ago I discovered I'd run out of multivitamins, the gummy kind. Since I started taking two of these drops every morning for over a year, I've been cold and flu free. So naturally I didn't hesitate to make a trip to the local Wal-Mart for the sole purpose of replenishing my supply.
For ten days I faithfully unscrewed the top off the bottle, chose one red and one purple sugar-dusted vitamin, and dutifully chewed and swallowed them. For some unknown reason on the eleventh day, I decided to look at the front of the bottle.
Instantly my heart began racing uncontrollably and my eyes bugged out of their sockets! I hurled the bottle across the room like it was possessed! On the label in huge blue lettering were the words; Complete Multivitamin for MEN!
"Oh, Lordy, WHAT HAVE I DONE!" I yelled over and over again as I leapt up the stairs heading to the nearest bathroom. How could this be happening?
The fear I experienced was overwhelming, but as they say, the only thing stopping us from overcoming fear is fear itself. Horrible images exploded in my brain but I had to be brave.
Standing in front of the sink, I slowly raised my eyes to meet the gruesome image I was sure would be scowling back at me in the mirror. Assuredly those testosterone-packed, iron and zinc filled gum drops had reeked havoc on the amount of facial hair I was now cursed with. I was prepared to see a squirrelly-looking tail under my nose and a dirty mop of beard hanging from my chin. I had no doubt that my eyebrows resembled two furry caterpillars crawling across my forehead. Most likely I had assumed the visage of the hideous Werewolf of Old.
But except for the few stray, black hairs that had dotted my chin since going through the big C, much to my surprise, no other facial growth was evident. I'd certainly dodged the bullet on that one!
With trepidation, I raised both arms to inspect my pits. If gigantic nests of snarly hair were present, at least I could shave daily, even multiple times if necessary. However, once again, the Complete Multivitamin for MEN had failed in its mission. All I could see was a single, whitish strand lazily swaying in each pit. Who knows when they actually appeared and how long they'd intended on staying. I hadn't shaved under my arms in decades!
Whew, two points for me and zero for testosterone-packed gummies!
I was winning this battle yet still felt uneasy. I had to test my voice. If when singing 'You Are My Sunshine' I morphed from soprano to baritone, the vitamins I'd ingested for ten days had succeeded in grossly altering my femininity. Admittedly my female prowess has taken a huge hit over the past twenty years. After all, at 70, my curves have developed into mountainous, bumpy highways and my once baby-smooth skin has seen its fair share of roadwork.
My voice?
As I belted out the song I'd learned at my mother's knee, I was amazed to hear the high-pitched tone of ... a woman! Yes, it was shrill, even somewhat screechy, okay a lot screechy, but nevertheless, recognizably female.
Three points for me, I WIN!
Finally I was convinced that no harm had come to me by taking Complete Multivitamin for MEN for a ten day period. Yet upon returning to the livingroom, I was compelled to compare its contents with the Complete Multivitamin for WOMEN I'd purchased as a BOGO deal on that fateful trip to the local Wal-Mart.
Oh, Lordy, you won't believe this, but the only differences in both bottles were a little more Vitamin D for women, a little more Vitamin B-6 for men, no zinc or lycopene for women, and no calcium for men!
Oh, Lordy, what have I done! MADE A COMPLETE FOOL OF MYSELF, THAT'S WHAT!!!!!!!!!
Pattern baldness, I forgot to check for PATTERN BALDNESS!!!!!!!!
For ten days I faithfully unscrewed the top off the bottle, chose one red and one purple sugar-dusted vitamin, and dutifully chewed and swallowed them. For some unknown reason on the eleventh day, I decided to look at the front of the bottle.
Instantly my heart began racing uncontrollably and my eyes bugged out of their sockets! I hurled the bottle across the room like it was possessed! On the label in huge blue lettering were the words; Complete Multivitamin for MEN!
"Oh, Lordy, WHAT HAVE I DONE!" I yelled over and over again as I leapt up the stairs heading to the nearest bathroom. How could this be happening?
The fear I experienced was overwhelming, but as they say, the only thing stopping us from overcoming fear is fear itself. Horrible images exploded in my brain but I had to be brave.
Standing in front of the sink, I slowly raised my eyes to meet the gruesome image I was sure would be scowling back at me in the mirror. Assuredly those testosterone-packed, iron and zinc filled gum drops had reeked havoc on the amount of facial hair I was now cursed with. I was prepared to see a squirrelly-looking tail under my nose and a dirty mop of beard hanging from my chin. I had no doubt that my eyebrows resembled two furry caterpillars crawling across my forehead. Most likely I had assumed the visage of the hideous Werewolf of Old.
But except for the few stray, black hairs that had dotted my chin since going through the big C, much to my surprise, no other facial growth was evident. I'd certainly dodged the bullet on that one!
With trepidation, I raised both arms to inspect my pits. If gigantic nests of snarly hair were present, at least I could shave daily, even multiple times if necessary. However, once again, the Complete Multivitamin for MEN had failed in its mission. All I could see was a single, whitish strand lazily swaying in each pit. Who knows when they actually appeared and how long they'd intended on staying. I hadn't shaved under my arms in decades!
Whew, two points for me and zero for testosterone-packed gummies!
I was winning this battle yet still felt uneasy. I had to test my voice. If when singing 'You Are My Sunshine' I morphed from soprano to baritone, the vitamins I'd ingested for ten days had succeeded in grossly altering my femininity. Admittedly my female prowess has taken a huge hit over the past twenty years. After all, at 70, my curves have developed into mountainous, bumpy highways and my once baby-smooth skin has seen its fair share of roadwork.
My voice?
As I belted out the song I'd learned at my mother's knee, I was amazed to hear the high-pitched tone of ... a woman! Yes, it was shrill, even somewhat screechy, okay a lot screechy, but nevertheless, recognizably female.
Three points for me, I WIN!
Finally I was convinced that no harm had come to me by taking Complete Multivitamin for MEN for a ten day period. Yet upon returning to the livingroom, I was compelled to compare its contents with the Complete Multivitamin for WOMEN I'd purchased as a BOGO deal on that fateful trip to the local Wal-Mart.
Oh, Lordy, you won't believe this, but the only differences in both bottles were a little more Vitamin D for women, a little more Vitamin B-6 for men, no zinc or lycopene for women, and no calcium for men!
Oh, Lordy, what have I done! MADE A COMPLETE FOOL OF MYSELF, THAT'S WHAT!!!!!!!!!
Pattern baldness, I forgot to check for PATTERN BALDNESS!!!!!!!!
Monday, January 19, 2015
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Perhaps you've read about the tragic event that took place on Friday, January 16, in Phoenix, Arizona. Erica Morales, 36, gave birth to quadruplets and then died without ever seeing her babies. Three beautiful girls, Erica, Tracey, and Paisley, and one perfect boy, Carlos, would never experience one second of their mother's love firsthand. Carlos Morales is now faced with the enormous task of raising his children alone.
For three years the couple tried to get pregnant and could not. Erica suffered at least one miscarriage. Finally after having turned to in vitro fertilization, the couple conceived in June of 2014. Erica did everything to ensure that this pregnancy would be successful. She ate right, exercised frequently, and tried to remain stressfree.The mother-to-be's only concern was that her infants would be born healthy and strong. Erica didn't worry about having to care for four babies at once, her only objective was to be the best mom she could possibly be. She was estatic yet tried to say focused on having a safe delivery resulting in a positive outcome.
Erica's blood pressure presented issues early on and was a factor in an ordered bed rest weeks before a Caesarean section became necessary. What actually was responsible for her demise is under investigation.
For a mother to give her life for her children is the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. We all say we'd gladly surrender ourselves to save our sons and daughters, and I don't doubt for one minute that we wouldn't. But few of us have ever been asked to do precisely what Erica did. Certainly she had no way of knowing that her life would be taken so that her children might live, but her vigorous quest to become pregnant truly indicated she'd have done anything to be blessed with a family.
Erica Morales did anything and EVERYTHING!
As the years go by, her children will come to realize how special a mother they'd been given. The girls will derive a strength from her that Erica most likely didn't even know she had. Carlos will realize the courage and determination a woman must possess in order to bring a new life into this world. He will always carry a deep respect for motherhood as he matures. And after the numbness begins to fade, their father will realize Erica was not only his better half, but his fierce lioness, his consummate warrior in their personal fight to give birth to their future.
Every soldier who enters battle knows that he or she might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet losing their lives is not enough to prevent them from the task at hand. They are fighting for the safety and happiness of the citizens of their homeland. Nothing is going to stop them from their objectives, nothing!
Nothing stopped Erica Morales when it came to giving life to Erica, Tracey, Paisley, and Carlos. Nothing stopped Erica Morales from ensuring the safety of her babies, and nothing stopped Erica Morales from doing everything possible to give her four newborns a happy life,
NOT EVEN MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE! R.I.P. dear Erica, you are a mother now, something you'd wanted to be for a very long time. And there are three beautiful girls, one perfect boy, and one extremely proud father, that can and will attest to that always and forever!
For three years the couple tried to get pregnant and could not. Erica suffered at least one miscarriage. Finally after having turned to in vitro fertilization, the couple conceived in June of 2014. Erica did everything to ensure that this pregnancy would be successful. She ate right, exercised frequently, and tried to remain stressfree.The mother-to-be's only concern was that her infants would be born healthy and strong. Erica didn't worry about having to care for four babies at once, her only objective was to be the best mom she could possibly be. She was estatic yet tried to say focused on having a safe delivery resulting in a positive outcome.
Erica's blood pressure presented issues early on and was a factor in an ordered bed rest weeks before a Caesarean section became necessary. What actually was responsible for her demise is under investigation.
For a mother to give her life for her children is the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. We all say we'd gladly surrender ourselves to save our sons and daughters, and I don't doubt for one minute that we wouldn't. But few of us have ever been asked to do precisely what Erica did. Certainly she had no way of knowing that her life would be taken so that her children might live, but her vigorous quest to become pregnant truly indicated she'd have done anything to be blessed with a family.
Erica Morales did anything and EVERYTHING!
As the years go by, her children will come to realize how special a mother they'd been given. The girls will derive a strength from her that Erica most likely didn't even know she had. Carlos will realize the courage and determination a woman must possess in order to bring a new life into this world. He will always carry a deep respect for motherhood as he matures. And after the numbness begins to fade, their father will realize Erica was not only his better half, but his fierce lioness, his consummate warrior in their personal fight to give birth to their future.
Every soldier who enters battle knows that he or she might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet losing their lives is not enough to prevent them from the task at hand. They are fighting for the safety and happiness of the citizens of their homeland. Nothing is going to stop them from their objectives, nothing!
Nothing stopped Erica Morales when it came to giving life to Erica, Tracey, Paisley, and Carlos. Nothing stopped Erica Morales from ensuring the safety of her babies, and nothing stopped Erica Morales from doing everything possible to give her four newborns a happy life,
NOT EVEN MAKING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE! R.I.P. dear Erica, you are a mother now, something you'd wanted to be for a very long time. And there are three beautiful girls, one perfect boy, and one extremely proud father, that can and will attest to that always and forever!
Monday, January 12, 2015
DO NOT FEAR!
As youngsters, we learn to fear through the actions of others. Chances are if mom runs screaming at the top of her lungs every time she sees a spider, you'll be afraid of these miniscule creatures, too. If your older brother can't sleep unless his night light is on, you'll be uncomfortable in the dark as well. Fear is a learned response which means it can be discarded if we have the mindset to do so.
Before I go any further, let me say that some fears are necessary for our very survival. If your house is on fire and you're still in it, for God's sake get out! Being afraid of the raging flames and unbearable heat might be the only things that save your life. This kind of fear is essential to your well-being.
My blog today is about our baseless fears. These kinds of trepidation are inordinate reactions to the unknown without ever having actually allowed ourselves the chance to personally experience them and decide whether or not there is really anything to be afraid of.
The thought of eating sushi repulses me. All I can think of is putting raw fish in my mouth and feeling the cold, slimy pieces sliding down my throat. Yuk! Yet tons of folks have told me how delightful sushi is and go out of their way to find great spots where it is available. Ashamedly, I'm afraid to try it, afraid of gagging and throwing up right there at the table! But since I've never eaten sushi, in order to overcome this fear, I'd have to do it and see if by confronting it, I could possibly like sushi and add this delicacy to my menu choices in the future. I'm still working on this one.
I also have a great fear of heights. Recently I visited an amusement park while visiting my children in North Carolina. My daughter-in-law needed a partner to ride the Exterminator or whatever it was called, and on the spur of the moment I went with her. As the coaster climbed closer and closer to the clouds, I felt this sense of peace wash over me. It was a beautiful feeling. The ride was fast and bumpy, but it didn't bother me much. During the next trip down, I rode it twice more. What I learned was that my fear of height had been keeping me from experiencing the rush of reaching the skies and then suddenly dropping to the ground and living to want to do it again and again. Even at the age of 70, discarding ill-begotten fears is extremely freeing!
Something I've never feared was meeting people of different race and culture. As a small child, my Baba exposed me to many European nationalities and traditions. Since she embraced the people and their practices, I automatically did the same. I tried foods I'd never eaten before and broadened my limited appetites. I learned to appreciate the difference in the way these folks talked and dressed. I was comfortable in their homes and made many lasting friends. As an added benefit, I became a more well-rounded person able to interact positively with people different than myself.
Throughout my professional career, I came into contact with a vast number of cultural differences. I met people whose heritage was rooted in faraway places I'd only read about. Families from Japan, China, Spain, Russia, and Africa to mention only a few, attended our school. Each year we held Cultural Diversity Days in which moms and dads of many colors and cultures proudly shared their ancestry with our students. These youngsters, ages 2-6, eagerly absorbed everything presented to them like tiny thirsty sponges. Because of the safe and pleasant environment their interaction with the unknown was, these children avoided preconceived notions of race and diversity and had absolutely no fear of the differences they encountered. Instead they learned to celebrate difference, NOT FEAR IT!
My advice to the young parents reading this is to give your youngsters as many opportunities to learn about differences of all kinds so rather than learning to fear them, they will embrace differences with eagerness and acceptance. You will be helping them to expand their horizons in more ways than you can imagine.
Oh, and for heavens sake, don't scream when you see a spider even if you have to tape your mouth shut. These little buggers are very important to the entire food chain and the preservation of our world. It's true, I'm not pulling your chain!
Before I go any further, let me say that some fears are necessary for our very survival. If your house is on fire and you're still in it, for God's sake get out! Being afraid of the raging flames and unbearable heat might be the only things that save your life. This kind of fear is essential to your well-being.
My blog today is about our baseless fears. These kinds of trepidation are inordinate reactions to the unknown without ever having actually allowed ourselves the chance to personally experience them and decide whether or not there is really anything to be afraid of.
The thought of eating sushi repulses me. All I can think of is putting raw fish in my mouth and feeling the cold, slimy pieces sliding down my throat. Yuk! Yet tons of folks have told me how delightful sushi is and go out of their way to find great spots where it is available. Ashamedly, I'm afraid to try it, afraid of gagging and throwing up right there at the table! But since I've never eaten sushi, in order to overcome this fear, I'd have to do it and see if by confronting it, I could possibly like sushi and add this delicacy to my menu choices in the future. I'm still working on this one.
I also have a great fear of heights. Recently I visited an amusement park while visiting my children in North Carolina. My daughter-in-law needed a partner to ride the Exterminator or whatever it was called, and on the spur of the moment I went with her. As the coaster climbed closer and closer to the clouds, I felt this sense of peace wash over me. It was a beautiful feeling. The ride was fast and bumpy, but it didn't bother me much. During the next trip down, I rode it twice more. What I learned was that my fear of height had been keeping me from experiencing the rush of reaching the skies and then suddenly dropping to the ground and living to want to do it again and again. Even at the age of 70, discarding ill-begotten fears is extremely freeing!
Something I've never feared was meeting people of different race and culture. As a small child, my Baba exposed me to many European nationalities and traditions. Since she embraced the people and their practices, I automatically did the same. I tried foods I'd never eaten before and broadened my limited appetites. I learned to appreciate the difference in the way these folks talked and dressed. I was comfortable in their homes and made many lasting friends. As an added benefit, I became a more well-rounded person able to interact positively with people different than myself.
Throughout my professional career, I came into contact with a vast number of cultural differences. I met people whose heritage was rooted in faraway places I'd only read about. Families from Japan, China, Spain, Russia, and Africa to mention only a few, attended our school. Each year we held Cultural Diversity Days in which moms and dads of many colors and cultures proudly shared their ancestry with our students. These youngsters, ages 2-6, eagerly absorbed everything presented to them like tiny thirsty sponges. Because of the safe and pleasant environment their interaction with the unknown was, these children avoided preconceived notions of race and diversity and had absolutely no fear of the differences they encountered. Instead they learned to celebrate difference, NOT FEAR IT!
My advice to the young parents reading this is to give your youngsters as many opportunities to learn about differences of all kinds so rather than learning to fear them, they will embrace differences with eagerness and acceptance. You will be helping them to expand their horizons in more ways than you can imagine.
Oh, and for heavens sake, don't scream when you see a spider even if you have to tape your mouth shut. These little buggers are very important to the entire food chain and the preservation of our world. It's true, I'm not pulling your chain!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY, January 27, 2015
#ReadYourWorld http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/
Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.
Children’s reading and play advocates Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom have teamed up to create an ambitious (and much needed) national event. On January 27th, Jump into a Book and Pragmatic Mom will be presenting yet another Multicultural Children’s Book Day as a way of celebrating diversity in children’s books.Multicultural Children’s Book Day will include book reviews from noted bloggers all over the world, giveaways and book-related activities for young readers of all ages. The MCCBD team will also be partnering with First Book to create a Virtual Book Drive for the event, and with The Children’s Book Council to offer readers quality resources along with fun and informative author visits.
The following list is a select group of bloggers who will assist in extending the reach and spreading the word of Multicultural Children’s Book Day. These 9 blogs will also house the wildly-popular book review/blog post link-up the week of the event. We would appreciate if you could take a few minutes and visit each of these excellent blogs. These women were selected by the MCCBD team because of their true dedication to supporting diversity in children’s literature.
Africa to America, All Done, MonkeyEducators, Spin on it, Growing Book by Book, InCultural Parent, KidWorld Citizen, Mama Smiles, Multicultural Kid Blogs, Sprout’s Bookshelf
MCCBD 2015 Sponsors include:Platinum Sponsors: Wisdom Tales Press, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop
Gold Sponsors: Satya House, MulticulturalKids.com, Author Stephen Hodges and the Magic Poof
Silver Sponsors: Junior Library Guild, Capstone Publishing, Lee and Low Books, The Omnibus Publishing
Bronze Sponsors: Double Dutch Dolls, Bliss Group Books, Author Richa Jha, Rainbow Books, Author FeliciaCapers, Chronicle Books Muslim Writers Publishing ,East West Discovery Press.
 |
| Available on Amazon.com in both eBook and Hardcover versions |
I'm one of the bloggers priviledged to be part of the second MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY and was asked to read and review JAPANESE CLEBRATIONS Cherry blossoms, Lanterns and Stars!, written and illustrated by Betty Reynolds, and published by Tuttle. All I can say is 'lucky me' because this gorgeous book is a breath of fresh air both in content and art work. An entire year of Japanese traditions and celebrations float across its pages beginning with O-Shogatsu, Japanese New Year, January 1st, and end with Kekkon-shiki, weddings which combine Shinto customs and modern-day culture.
WINTER
 |
| Playing cards and badmition are just some of the New Year's Day activities. |
 |
| Flying kites is a favorite pasttime in Japan especially on New Year's Day. |
Having been a teacher for most of my professional career, I found this beautifully-designed and fact-filled book to provide a plethora of history, religion, rites, myth, song and dance that any educator of children, ages 7-12 would be excited to utilize when doing a concentrated study of Japan.Working together as a family would not only educate parents and children alike, but as an added bonus, develop a stronger familial bond, too. Perhaps it would inspire families to tour Japan to soak up the their culture firsthand. Every celebration comes replete with a sycinct overview of the specific holiday or event. Further included are the practices, symbols, special foods, and games particular to each day, identified first in the Japanese language, and then clarified very simply in English. Finally a colorful, whimsical illustration accompanies every explanation which rounds out our understanding perfectly. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words no matter the language in which facts as well as fiction are being told! I highly recommend JAPANESE CELEBRATIONS Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns, and Star! as a must read in 2015.
SPRING
 |
| Cherry Blossom Time, held in April, is truly a sight to behold! The landscape is colored pink and brings crowds of folks from everywhere to enjoy the spectacular scenery. |
 |
| On the 8th of April Japan celebrates the birthday of Buddha. The children studying Buddhist classes take turns pouring sweet tea over Buddha's head as a form of baptism. |
SUMMER
 |
Summer fun includes
lighting sparklers
and wearing sandals to keep cool.
|
 |
| Grilling foods outdoors is done in Japan during the summer much like what we do in the U.S. The only difference is the Japanese prefer eel instead of hot dogs! |
FALL
 |
| Athlete Meets, held in September through October, include tug of war and ball competitions. |
ANYTIME
 |
| A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony |
 |
| Baby's first food is a grain of rice. |
 |
| Birthdays are celebrated in Japan in much the same way as in the U.S. |
HOW TO MAKE A SAMURAI HELMET
from CHERRY BLOSSOMS, LANTERNS,AND STARS! page 29
.JPG)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)