Don't Let Social Media Control You!!!

Humans are truly insecure.  For example, why do we all choose to have so many friends on Facebook. Are we truly friends with the person we just clicked, "like" after reading their post?  Do we click like to satisfy our own insecurities?  We know many people clicked like and so, we want to fit in and click like as well.   Why do we feel the need to post our latest photo.  Does it really matter if Shelia, Ted, Bob, Bethany like our photo?  I saw a wonderful, but tragic advertisement for AT&T regarding texting while driving.  A woman put her baby girl in the back seat.  As she was driving her phone went off.  She looked down and made a comment to her daughter.  "Everyone likes the picture I posted of you."  At that moment, she collide with another car.  Her car spun out of control, lifted up in the air, and that was probably the end of them.  It is sad that we live in a world where social media controls us.  The next time you look at Facebook; ask yourself: How many people are my actual friends?  Why did I just tweet the world what I was up to?  Why did I post a photo on Instagram for the entire universe to see?

Things Change From One Minute To The Next

Did you ever notice how one minute you may feel elated over something and the next minute, you feel upset or confused? Sometimes, I turn myself back in time and think about what I was doing a week ago.  For example, a week ago I had an amazing"Girls nite out," with my friends.  This week; not so amazing.  I am stuck in the house due to personal reasons.  I am writing this blog, literally sitting in the dark.  The fact that I am writing in darkness symbolizes my current day as well as my mood.  It's ok to once in a while have moments like this as this moment encouraged me to blog.  Unfortunately, I have not blogged in a while.  When I do blog, I get a rush or feeling of excitement.
I apologize for writing quite a short blog, but I am glad I was able to get my thoughts out.  Think about where you were a week ago and then now.  Enjoy your precious moment to the fullest.

Yesterday, a strange thing happened to me or shall I say encounter.  I met an energy healer.  She was kind enough to give me a short session to see what it was like.  Our short session started with her burning sage under my chair.  Then she began to feel my energy and was able to tell that I am a teacher.  She was able to see a classroom.  I indicated my feelings lately for the profession.  She indicated to me that I had to become a teacher as that was part of my journey in life.  I explained to her that I am an author as well.  I informed her that I wrote my novella: Ignition: An Educator's Journey, based on my experience as an educator.  She said that this clearly explains part of my purpose as to why I had to explore this profession.  She informed me that just because I am in it now does not lock me in for life and I can explore other facets as well that deal with me as a writer.  Then she said it, "Believe in yourself and your inner ambitions and goals could be achieved."  I admitted to her that I don't always believe and get discouraged to continue my journey as an author.  I am somewhat disappointed in myself as I promised that I would use the summer to work on my writing.  However, since I am a teacher and our system has changed drastically for the worse, I used my summer more for recuperation than exploration as an author.  I feel bad that I have not worked on writing, but I truly needed a break from it all.  I am not sure if I believe in someone being able to read my energy, but I do believe in her healing effect.  I do feel a little healed as a writer and have more confidence to continue my journey.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover; or A Film!

I admit it.  I was wrong about the new film, Annie.  At first, I was upset when it came out.  I thought to myself why ruin a good thing? I vowed that I would not see it.  I kept that vow until I noticed that it was running on Stars cable network.  Reluctantly, I took a shot.  I also always believed that Little Orphan Annie should have red curly hair as the prototyped Annie.  However, they put a spin on things and added new songs.  They took the story and added a modern day spin that didn't hinder the movie from being good.  I only wish they would've titled it different. To keep the original Annie sacred, I feel that they should have titled it: Annette:  A new spin on Annie.  Otherwise, I felt it was a very good flick.  Cameron Diaz portrayed a good Miss. Hannigan.  I liked that they changed the name from Daddy Warbucks to Mr. Stacks.  I appreciated the character Annie to be spunky as the original movie portrayed Annie to be.  I was a true fan of the movie.  I remember going to see it and was mesmerized by the plot and music the first time.  Again, I felt mesmerized by this modern tale.  I can be quite a sap and by the very end of the movie, I was in tears.  They may have been happy tears, but they were tears.  So, I give the new Annie a thumbs up and would definitely watch it again.

        VERSUS          

Revenge to the End!

Recently, I had time to catch up on my television shows that unfortunately I don't always have time to watch during the school year.  I finally got to see the series finale of Revenge.  I wondered how they would end this four year journey. I actually found myself procrastinating to watch the finale as I knew it would be the last one.  I fell in love with most of the characters.  I especially found myself rooting for the protagonist, Amanda Clark played by Emily VanCamp and her side kick, Nolan Ross, played by Gabriel Mann.  Together these two characters were the dynamic duo.  I couldn't wait to see what in-genius  plot they cooked up next.  The beauty behind the writing for this show is that it takes you behind the story and into a concept that people often wonder about: Revenge.  Is the act of revenge worth it or not?  Could revenge backfire upon one's soul?  Protagonist, Amanda discovers the true meaning of revenge and as viewers, we do too.  Some finales are awfully ridiculous and don't really leave the viewer with closure.  I can think back to another show that I used to love because the writing was phenomenal.  Some characters within that show would intertwine with other characters as one of the characters would narrate.  From a show with impeccable writing, I would expect an amazing finale.  However, to my devastation and astonishment, I was not given an ending that made sense.  This show was called One Tree Hill.  On the contrary, Revenge ended wonderfully and I feel they did the story just, which to me shows excellent writing.  Kudos to ABC's Revenge.  I will miss you.

Summer Fun

I can see it now; lying on a beach while basking in the warm, endless sun.  Summer time is on her way and I can't wait.  Summer is a time for friends getting together.  During the winter, many people hibernate, but in the summer you see your neighbors again.  You have barbecues, parks, pools, fireworks to occupy your time.  During the year, I teach.  However, I look forward to the summer so that I can catch up on my writing as well as relax.  I can rejuvenate and replenish my stressed soul from the year.   I hope to catch up with many people that I don't really have a chance to see during the school year.  Summer stands for peace, projects, and relaxation.  I always look forward to the summer and plan on embracing her with a warm welcome. Unfortunately, she comes and goes really briskly. I never feel that there is enough time to really take a moment out and enjoy her presence for the time that she is here.  As soon as I become accustomed to her, she disappears while vanishing and leaving the Earth to be dull and tragic.  I wouldn't mind grabbing hold of her rays while coaxing her to stay among us longer.  I do believe she brings people together.  There is definitely a placid, free feeling in the air where I admit to feeling calm and safe.   We can dress lighter and comfortably.  We need not worry about jackets and hats that mess up our hair.  We do not need to worry about blizzards, ice storms, or frigid temperatures.  We can all take a deep breath as we breathe that summer, sweet air.  What does summer mean to you?  How do you plan on spending your summer?

Resource for Teachers on Slavery

Since I am an educator, I know that sometimes it can be challenging getting through to our students and helping them to understand material.  Students struggle with understanding historical concepts as they may not be able to believe the atrocities of long ago are real.  Therefore, I write pretending to be that person from that time period.  I try to base it on facts and put a spin on it so that students can understand concepts better.  I wanted to share with you a piece I recently wrote, pretending to be a slave.  This can be used as a read aloud.  You can develop questions for your students based on this reading.  If you would like to send me feedback, I would very much like to hear what you have to say.

The year is 1795.  I don’t have a name.  I don’t have an identity.  I belong to my master. I live in the South.  The cotton gin was invented a few years ago.  This invention is my nightmare.  Because it was invented, all I do is pick cotton all day and part of the night in the fields.  If I don’t pick them fast enough, I get a whipping.  I don’t want to get married because my life is not really having a life.  I know a man who has a wife and children.  He was just forced to separate from his wife and children.  It is very sad.  His children will not grow up with their father.  Chances are, his children won’t grow up with a mother.  They probably will separate the mom next from her children.  That’s what they usually do.  I have seen death all around me.  I saw a man get lashed and brutally whipped because he dropped his bushel of cotton.  I have heard the screams of a woman getting attacked by her master.  I have seen young children being murdered because of their color.  I have seen it all.  I have no name.  I don’t feel like a human being.  I have no identity.  I do my work and try to stay alive.  I am better off not having a name; walking through the shadows of the night, while melting in the heat during the day