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

What Influences You?

A friend of mine asked me to blog on the topic: influence.  I thought to myself that this can be done in so many ways, but yet accepted the challenge.  Sometimes, we can be influenced by other people.  We may come across positive influences as well as negative.  I used to have a friend in junior high.  Unfortunately, she was a bad influence on me.  I did get into trouble at that time whenever I hung out with her.  However, I believe that bad influences come and go out of our lives for a reason.  This causes us to identify with our inner self on a deeper plateau.   Our environment definitely has a strong affect upon us.  If we are residing in an urbanized environment, our goals and expectations are much different from someone living in a rural environment.  There are many other influences that impress upon our lives such as music.  If we love to listen to a certain type of music, we may take that lifestyle that coincides with that music and thus  become one.  Teachers may have an influence upon our lives.  Henry Adams once said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."  Sometimes, we look up to celebrities as well as the world around us. We analyze the latest trends that are in the world and get influenced to want to be part of that.  As human beings, we are like sponges.  We soak up so much information that the world has to offer us.  We becomes easily influenced to follow and submerse our self into what the norm has decided for us.  It is very difficult for most people to be a leader and not a follower.  I think one of the most difficult challenges in life is to try to influence others and not become influenced.  "True leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders."

What Is Beauty?

Do you ever question yourself as to what the word, "beauty" means?  Sometimes, we may walk along the beach, and become mesmerized  by the beautiful ocean.  We may look in our very own backyard and catch ourselves glaring at an exotic bird while admiring her beauty.  There are many things that can be seen as beautiful.  A person may be beautiful and nice to look at.  However, there are some people who may be superficial and want to only hang out with someone of beautiful appearance.  How do we decide who is beautiful?  What if a person is breathtakingly beautiful on the outside, but ghastly on the inside.  They may be filled with malicious intent.  As they say, "beauty is skin deep."  If someone appears unsightly on the outside, but filled with pure pulchritude on the inside, isn't that person considered to be beautiful?  One of my students was born deformed.  His face is disfigured and appears grotesque on the outside.  However, he would do anything for anyone.  His heart is gracious and is always amiable to anyone he comes into contact with.  However, unfortunately students tend to tease and belittle him.  They cause him to feel much trepidation that he is constantly reluctant to attend school.  The kids that try every day to demolish his inner soul, tend to be beautiful on the outside, but are truly unprepossessing on the inside.  So then I ask  you, "What does it mean to be beautiful?" "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!"

VOTE JAX TO THE MAX!!!

I used to be a fan of American Idol years ago when Simon Cowell was a judge on American Idol.  During the first season, Kelly Clarkson captured America's attention with her dominant voice and charismatic personality.  Ms. Clarkson set the tone for future contestants which was a tough act to follow.  Since then, in my opinion American Idol has lost part of its zing until now...  I recently started watching this season's American Idol (season 14).  Ms. Jax has captured my attention with her exhilarating rock performance.  She takes me back to a time period where rock 'n' roll music changed the face of the 80's. She reminds me of the infamous, Joan Jett known for her song, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."  Jax appears to be amiable and vivacious who is able to command the stage. When Jax performs, she transforms into a "rock icon" right before our very own eyes.  This season has been the most competitive yet.  However, Jax takes away the show into a mellifluous musical land.  Vote for Jax! I know I will. 

Exploration

The idea of exploration can mean many things.  Sometimes we attempt to explore something new.  I tend to think of famous explorers such as Marco Polo or Christopher Columbus.  They were interested in exploring new lands and learning new things, while educating themselves.  When we travel, we explore as well.  Have you ever come across a cave or a dark basement that you're scared to go into, but yet feel compelled to explore it further?  We all have that inner curiosity that makes us yearn to explore and discover something new.

Besides exploring land, we can further explore ourselves.  In order to achieve and attempt to accomplish goals,we need to explore our inner soul.  When we know what our strengths and weaknesses are, we can then accomplish what we need to do in order to follow the correct path to our future dreams.  "Discovery is the road to exploration and exploration is the road to discovery." When we journey on a road on our own quest to explore, we never know what we will discover.  Ask yourself, is the unknown a worthy cause for our own discovery and exploration of life?

Does Forgiveness Cleanse Our Soul?

Recently, a friend of mine asked me to write a blog on forgiveness.  At first, I thought how am I going to accomplish this when I could not really think of what to write exactly based on this topic.  I thought about this topic for a few days until I finally understood what the idea of "forgiveness" meant.

 If you were to look up in a dictionary the word forgive you would see,

"stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake."  It is an easy word to define.  However, is it an easy task to do?  A child as young as three years old may say, "I'm sorry."  A parent or a friend may say, "I forgive you."  However some crimes may be unforgivable.  Should a murderer be forgiven?  If someone took advantage of you and stole your money, should they be forgiven?  How much  do we allow ourselves to accept forgiveness?  "I forgive you," are three words that are not always so easy to say.  Sometimes, a friend might do something offensive to you, but time heals all wounds.  If you choose to live in a world of hatred and contempt, are you living the jovial life that you deserve?  If we don't forgive our friends, we may not have anyone to turn to and might live our life isolated from the outside world.  When you forgive someone, does it help you to relieve some tension and feel blithely again.  As a dear man once said,"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you decide to hold a grudge for the rest of your life will you truly feel at peace and be happy with your decision to hold on to your hate?   Mahatma Gandhi once said," The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

Personally, I believe forgiveness is a difficult task to accomplish.  It all depends on the person's misdemeanor.  If a person did something that is horrific and indefensible, then forgiveness may be unfeasible.  If you choose to, you can try to rise above it and attempt to forgive.  However, never forget what was done so that you can never feel staggered by that person's actions again.  A wise man once said, "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."  John F. Kennedy