Words from the Heart

Stand by Me

2012-01-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

Stand by Me (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

Not sure why it is, but I always seem to favor the underdog. Since I was a kid, I felt drawn to those who were marginalized in one way or another. Perhaps, that is why I like the song, Stand by Me, so much. I see it as the anthem for the underdog.

In the Paradoxical Commandments by Kent Keith, he says "People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway."

Who might the underdogs be? To me, they are those among us that are marginalized, who exist on the edges of our society. They come from all walks of life, all economic, social, religious and cultural backgrounds. Often, they have developed an abrasive personality because they have been mistreated by the world around them for too long. Sometimes they are so sweet and unassuming that they simply disappear even when they are only with us.

As a teacher, I fight for the underdogs, often. These are the students who don't have the privilege of parentage or finance to get them where they need to be. These are the people to whom life has dealt a crummy hand, yet they keep trying, keep believing something good will happen.

One of my students from long ago is now working in Israel. She is with an organization, Atzum, that struggles to help those who are victims of social injustice. I just signed a letter on their site to the Knesset supporting legislation to fight against sex trafficking. The motto of this organization is, "Addressing urgent need in Israel, one person at a time."

When we fight for the underdog, we do what the old man did who was throwing starfish back into the ocean. We make a difference. We may not be able to save the entire world, but we make a difference in the lives we touch were we are in this moment.

May we stand by each other, when we are in trouble and when we are simply in need of a friend.

Namasté

Living Without Clutter: No Place to Hide

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I am delighted to share the wit and wisdom of Pesi Dinnerstein (a.k.a. Paulette Plonchak), who has written selections for the best-selling series, Small Miracles, by Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal, and has contributed to several textbooks and an anthology of short stories. Pesi is a retired faculty member of the City University of New York, where she taught language skills for close to thirty years.

Pesi's new book, A Cluttered Life: Searching for God, Serenity and My Missing Keys has just been released. In it she shares that she is a "self-acknowledged clutterer" who "has spent the better part of her life trying to get organized and out from under. Despite heroic efforts, she has not yet succeeded; but she continues to push onward, and hopes that her journey will inspire others to keep trying as well."

Here are Pesi's thoughts on living without clutter ~~

I’ve always had a complicated and ambivalent relationship with my clutter, but it’s reached a new level these days. I’ve known for many years that I can’t live with all the excess baggage I carry around, but I’m now beginning to see that I can’t really live without it either.

The kind of clutter I’m talking about here is not the physical sort that creeps through my house and takes over every available surface. To that, I could say a joyful farewell with no hesitation—as I’ve done many times before.

It’s the loss of the more subtle forms of clutter that concerns me—the chronic busyness; the information overload; the mental spinning that even sleep can’t still. Without those instant fillers in my life, I’m afraid my world might actually become what I’ve always claimed I want it to be . . . truly empty.

Empty, of course, seems desirable in contrast to cluttered; but it doesn’t hold up very well against full. A full space conceals and protects; an empty one leaves no place to hide. And, quite honestly, I’m not ready to give up my favorite hiding places just yet.

Life is often a bit more than I can handle. All those bright lights and sharp edges overwhelm me; and I find myself in need of a little distraction from time to time to soften the intensity. However, life doesn’t always provide what we need when we need it. That’s why people carry emergency supplies with them.

My emergency kit is filled with clutter. Whenever I need a little distance from my feelings, I simply pull it out. Mental clutter and activity clutter are the perfect places in which to bury those uncomfortable feelings. Physical clutter is not as effective for me; but, in a pinch, anything will do.

I wish that feeling vulnerable or frightened or insecure or hurt didn’t always send me off in search of an issue or an experience in which to lose myself, but that’s pretty much the way it is right now. Some of my friends reach for a glass of wine or a plate of brownies or a Gothic romance to get them through the night—I head straight for my clutter. I guess we’ve all found what works best for us.

I hope my journey will someday take me to a place where I no longer need to hide so often. But, in the meantime, it looks like my clutter and I will be traveling this road together a little bit longer.

For more information, visit: www.aclutteredlife.com or www.sealpress.com

In All Honesty

2012-01-19T15:52:00.000-05:00

The next Paradoxical Commandment on the list ~~ Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. ~~ is exemplified perfectly in what author, Elizabeth Ann West, shares today.

You Can't Shake Me

by: Elizabeth Ann West

I am a last wife. Not a second wife. Not a new wife. The last wife. There is only one way my husband and I are getting out of this marriage and it involves a funeral director. Cheating? I know my values and his, and even should he falter, I'd make him miserable before I'd give him to the hussy! Abuse? Therapy or jail time would be my first solution.

Anyway, it's not easy to be a last wife and, in my case, a stepmother to such a wonderful young man with a birth mother, who drives me crazy. Polar opposites still have too much in common to describe how I compare to my husband's ex-wife. Yet, I have compassion for her. All those years she tried her absolute worst to get rid of me made me want to stay that much more. Plus, she contributed to the success of my marriage and she probably doesn't even know it!

Without the failure of his first marriage, I wouldn't have the wonderful man I married. I'm not talking about, she's gone so now I can have him. I didn't know him when they split up. I'm talking about how my husband IS a better man from those wounds and mistakes. The ex-wife was the one to, figuratively, hang herself, but my husband was so inexperienced and spiteful, he provided her ample rope to do so.

Enter my character, Anna. There is a great deal of me in Anna, Johnathan's stepmother in CANCELLED. As a character, she can be the hardest to understand. She is 100% devoted to her stepson, but she never had children of her own. Not for lack of trying, just fertility options in the late 80s/early 90s weren't the greatest. My own two-year-old daughter is our fertility miracle. Taking on the role of substitute mother to her stepson, alienated her from her own family. In my case, for the first few years, the more I did as a stepmother for my stepson, the more my husband's family ostracized me.

In CANCELLED, there are very serious skeletons in Anna's closet. She isn't the pure force of good the reader thinks she is for most of the novel. And, while I don't want to ruin the surprise, all I can say is that to understand her motivation, remember this: sometimes when you feel like you're losing everything, the only option is to hold on tighter. That is where her decision came from. I was never faced with the exact scenario she faces in the book, thankfully. But there was a time when I wondered...I wondered if the stress and insane drama I endured to join the West family and take on the ex-wife were even worth it. Luckily, my gut reaction was to hold onto my man with even more resolve than the people trying to make me let go.

So, yes, I am that You-Can't-Shake-Me-Stepmom, last wife. It wasn't where I imagined myself when I dreamed of getting married and starting a family, but the benefits of my husband's and stepson's love far outweigh the negativity from outsiders. Writing CANCELLED was about capturing the modern romantic dilemmas people face in today's crazy world. There are no easy answers to our love lives and no one gets the fairy tale anymore, if they ever really did. But, it's about real love in the face of adversity, especially the love of a parent for any of their children.

Thank you so much for letting me visit Words from the Heart. I am humbled by the generosity of so many book bloggers, like Linda, who volunteer their time and their talents to contribute to the world of reading. :)

As a special thank you to readers this month, I am giving away a free, signed ebook to everyone who signs up for my newsletter. (The newsletter comes out every 25th and covers my latest projects, books I've read, and technology tips for our crazy, digital lives. This is, logistically, the easiest way I can learn the ebook format you need and the email address to send it.)

Also, every Saturday there is a drawing for a signed, annotated paperback of CANCELLED from the readers who signed up for my newsletter that week. So far, I'm working through 100+ signed copies and 2 paperbacks have been won. I am tickled pink to write each reader their own personal note, so please be patient as it takes me a little time to make each ebook file. But when you get yours, I can honestly say, there isn't another CANCELLED ebook like it!

Elizabeth Ann West is a Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! After writing non-fiction professionally for three years, she made the jump to fiction in 2011 with her debut novel, CANCELLED. A chicklit/romance from the male POV, Elizabeth's novel challenges the conventions of modern romance. CANCELLED is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble as both an ebook and paperback. Elizabeth also writes regular posts about technology subjects on Mark Williams international, and her sites eawestwriting.com and eawestwriting.blogspot.com.

Lest We Forget

2012-01-14T19:15:00.000-05:00

The fourth Paradoxical Commandment states: The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

How true! There seems to be something in the human psyche that compels us to remember all the horrid, awful, sad, bad things in life, while forgetting the wonderful, amazing, inspirational and just plain, good!

Interestingly, I had this demonstrated to my in my class the other day. (I learn so much from my students!) I had asked them to think of events that occurred during 2011. They came up with a long list of every trauma, tragedy, earthquake, tornado and freak storm. Not until I called their attention to it, did they think of anything positive, which for all of them was personal. They admitted that they could not think of any good in the community or world. How sad!

The media gives 24/7 coverage to every horrific event, from volcanic eruptions to murders; they provide voyeuristic programming for those who want to watch the trials and tribulations of large families, dysfunctional adults and criminal minds. All that negative energy in the world, is it any wonder that none of my students could think of something good?

Fortunately, I could because I had just read a report on a fireman in Boston that saved a young boy from a fire. The boy's grandmother literally dropped him out a window into the arms of the fireman.

As I told my students, there are many stories like this. We just need to look for them. When we learn about them we need to share them with others. This is how we add to the positive energy in the world and around us. (We can also demand that our news broadcasting companies provide them, but that's a post for another time.)

~~~~~

As I contemplated on this particular principle, several stories come to mind that illustrate it perfectly. The best, I think, is the story of the Old Man and the Starfish.

One day a young man took a walk on the beach. Ahead of him he saw someone stooping down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean. As he got nearer, he saw that hundreds of starfish had been beached during the recent storm. An old man, wizened with arthritis, kept picking up starfish and throwing them into the water.

"Why are you doing this?" the young man asked. "It won't make a difference."

The old man, not missing a beat, picked up another starfish, replying as he threw it into the sea, "It matters to this one."

~~~~~

In many cultures, there is a belief that we are called to this life to do good. Many people believe that much of the world problems come from the fact that too many people have forgotten that good is done everyday around the world. Here are some sites that promote Good News!

As the days of our new year pass, let us make an effort to see, learn, and share good news with others. Let us be promoters of the positive, rather than doomsayers.

Namasté!

New Beginnings

2012-01-10T13:25:00.001-05:00

Today we have a wonderful guest, Christine Cunningham, who is sharing her thoughts on New Beginnings. Christine writes fictional stories to uplift and inspire. She is a life-long student of happiness and how to attract it. She compiles what she learns and weaves it into an understandable, enjoyable story.

She is the author of Eternal Beginning (non-fiction); Amazon bestseller, First Snow (romantic fiction); and 30 Day Guide to apply Eternal Beginning (non-fiction)- click on the picture above to view Christine's trailer.

Life has a distinctly funny way of changing me. I get what I call “itchy feet.” Now, bypassing the silly remarks about athlete’s foot and better hygiene, let me tell you what I mean.

I’m in the enviable and sometimes not so enviable position of wanting everything to change and everything to remain the same. I’m not quite sure when this dichotomy began, but it continues to plague and pleasure my life.

Nearly a year ago, I was working at a pharmacy and paid a very good wage. I bought a house and lived quite comfortably in the physical sense. After a few years, my health began to deteriorate as I contemplated living the rest of my life in the tiny environment of clock-in and clock-out. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from life, I just wanted change for the better.

I quit my job and lived off my savings, when the inspired thought came to me to write a book about my life experience. I had always wanted to write a book and the thought energized me, so I began. I learned the twists and turns of the self-publishing world. I enjoyed a measure of success and met some wonderful people along the way. Now, I feel the tingle again to begin something new. I’m not quite sure what it will be, but I know it will be an adventure.

Connect with Christine through Facebook: http://on.fb.me/tWwivq, Twitter: http://bit.ly/otU535, and read her blog posts here: http://bit.ly/o41IIO.

On Good Deeds and Success

2012-01-09T18:33:00.000-05:00

Image by Quasifly via Flickr

A situation happened recently that has made my heart break. Out of nowhere, it seems, I learned that someone bore false witness against me. After sitting with what was said about me for a few days, I have come to realize that the next two Paradoxical Commandments speak directly to this situation.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

How many times have you heard about someone who has done something good for others, only to have someone else say, "Ya, well, I heard that person did such and such awful thing," effectively killing the positive energy of the good deed? Or, have you ever heard of someone succeeding, for instance, getting a new position in work, only to hear coworkers, people that, to this person's face, are all smiles and congratulations, whispering about how the person who got the new position leaves early or takes extra long lunches or drinks too much?

What is someone to do? According to Dr. Kent Keith...keep on keeping on! Do good anyway...succeed anyway.

This is a challenge. I certainly could give up, throw my hands in the air and say, "Forget it! I don't need this aggravation."

However, who do I hurt? Not the person who has hurt me; rather, I hurt myself and those I would be helping.

Trust me, making the decision to continue moving forward has not changed how I feel. My heart is still broken. I feel sad that someone would lie about me for no apparent reason. But, like the aches and pains that come with old age, I know that if I keep moving, things will get better...the pain will lessen.

May we all strive to do good and succeed, knowing that what truly matters is not the accolades, but the service we have given to others.

Namasté!

Do It Anyway!

2012-01-06T21:52:00.000-05:00

Cover of Anyway: the Paradoxical Commandments

Several years ago, I came across a little book by Dr. Kent Keith called, Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments. For me, these ten short principles became my resolutions for the years ahead. If you don't know the story of Dr. Keith and Anyway, allow me to share it with you.

Back in the 60's, Kent Keith wrote the ten principles found in Anyway as a part of a booklet created for high school student leaders. The commandments were a challenge to students, who were finding excuses to dropout and give up when things got tough.

Time past, until one day, Dr. Keith learned that eight of the ten principles were hanging on the the wall of the children's home in Calcutta run be Mother Teresa. His words had found their way around the world!

So, what are these principles that have traveled the world? I plan to look at them singularly over the next month, renewing my commitment to them and, hopefully, inspiring others to join me on this journey.

Let us begin with Paradoxical Commandment #1:

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

Love them...anyway. This is such a challenge! How often in the past year, have I thrown my hands up in exasperation at the illogical, unreasonable and self-centered behavior of others? How so you love people like that?

What I have learned is that in order to love people, who are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered, we need to first see their Light, realizing that they too are Children of the Universe, "no less than the trees and the stars."

Once we are able to see this connection, then we are able to love them, in spite of their failings, because in finding this connection, we see our own failings. (After all, none of us are perfect, right?)

So, HOW do you love them, you ask? I pray for them. I pray that they will be opened to the logical, reasonable and altruistic. I pray that I will be open to the lessons they can teach. And, I pray that each will forgive the others failings.

Does it work? Sometimes...but sometimes not, which is where the "anyway" comes in. The "anyway" is a reminder to keep, keeping on; moving forward; continuing on the journey. The road is bumpy, at best, but the view can be amazing!

Imagine a world where we all resolved to "Love them anyway!"

Namasté!

We Are the Change

2012-01-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Every January 1st, millions of people around the world make resolutions to give up, do without, change, recreate, and/or begin something. They look back on the past year, see the areas in their lives that could have been better, could have been more, could have been happier and resolve to make it so in the year ahead.

One problem, almost always, most of these resolutions suddenly fizzle out around mid-February. Why?

I believe it is because they are made without the recognition that in order to bring about true change, one must remove the root of whatever it is that is causing the problem. For instance, we can try to lose weight, but, if we don't recognize and change our behavior - i.e., realize that we eat when stressed - then we will only resort back to that behavior.

After fifty some odd years of resolutions, I have decided to approach resolutions from a different angle this year. Instead of changing something about me - weight, attitude, etc. - I would begin by taking away a root of my issues. In other words, I am weeding my spiritual garden.

The best way to do this, I feel, is to begin adding to my time spent in reflection, meditation, communion and prayer. This year, I am mindfully and deliberately creating Sacred Space for the observance of Sabbath. As I have already stated in a past post, Sabbath does not have to be observed on Saturday or Sunday. Sabbath is any time you intentionally shut out the world of consumerism and materialism and connect with Spirit.

You see, I hypothesize that by observing an intentional Sabbath, the root of my problems, issues, and/or lack will disappear, or at least become something that I can cope with without becoming filled with fear and despair. The reason for this is that when we connect to Spirit, we are given Grace...this Grace brings Wisdom, Strength, Courage and the ability to do the things we are called to do.

President Obama said, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” If we spend time with Spirit, with the Divine, with our Creator, then, we will see and have the strength to do those things we must to make this world a better place.

May the year ahead be filled with Light, Love and Laughter. May there be enough rain to create rainbows and bring flowers to life. May storms pass over without lasting damage. And, may each of us see that we are enough, that we are loved and that we have all we need, now.

Namasté!

The Gift of Self

2011-12-27T11:32:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia As we round out the holiday look at gifts and giving, let's look at the one gift that is the best gift to give - the gift of self.

How do we give this gift? Well, giving the Gift of Self requires that one be mindful, compassionate, and willing to risk. Giving of Self can be dangerous. Your heart can be broken; you make be ridiculed and you may even feel like a fool. BUT! The reward - the mitzpah returned - is worth the risk.

There are many who give of themselves, daily. They are the women and men who put their entire lives on the line for their communities, countries and the world.

I offer prayers, daily, for military members, as well as the fire, police and rescue people. Often, unsung heroes, these members of our society risk their lives daily to keep us safe, free from harm and disaster.

Our media can sometimes concentrate too heavily on the bad behaviors of people, causing the rest of us to think that everyone is like the people portrayed on the news or in the papers/magazines. This is stereotyping, which is something the media should not be doing, but does, nonetheless. Truth is, the good far out-weighs the bad.

Among those who give of themselves to save the lives of others are the doctors, nurses and rescue workers, who are among those who appear at a disaster before others. Many times, they come before it is truly safe to do so, risking life and limb to pull someone from the rubble or administer emergency care in precarious places. They do not stop to ask what color the person is they are saving, or what religion, political beliefs or sexual persuasion they may have. All they see is a person in need of immediate and emergent care.

Recently, the dedication of a team of doctors was condemned by the government in which they live, because they administered care to protesters during a recent uprising. Now, these doctors are being treated like criminals. They have been pulled from their homes, put on trial and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison! All this, because they stopped the bleeding of someone shot by the military in a protest against the government or set the broken bones of someone beaten by the police.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Doctors in Bahrain Triaging an Injured Protester

These horrendous trials are happening now in Bahrain. You can read about it here on the Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)website.

PHR adheres to the Principles of Medical Neutrality. "Warring factions must protect civilians; allow sick and wounded civilians and soldiers both to receive care regardless of their political affiliations; and refrain from interfering with medical facilities, transport, and personnel. This is medical neutrality."

Giving of Self, as I said before, can be dangerous. We could be walking into a situation that endangers our own life, but, when we are truly connected to the world, what matters is trying to help others, not what will happen to us. These doctors didn't stop to ask the politics of the people being brought into the emergency room. They simply saw someone in pain and did what they needed to do to help them.

Like other rescue workers, in the moment they are asked to help, they automatically begin assessing the situation, utilizing all their training to key into what must be done immediately to save a life. Condemning their actions is a sad commentary and against all that medical science stands for in the world.

As we enter 2012, let us join in prayer to thank those who have given of themselves in the past, often forfeiting their lives in the process. Let us pray for those still in occupations where service to others places them in harm's way. Let us pray that governments will be enlightened to see that human rights must be adhered to if we are ever to find peace in the world.

May the New Year bring us all closer to the reality of Love, Peace and Joy for all.

Namasté!

Here are some more stories of the Unsung Heroes among us:

Soldier Saves 4 Lives

Girls Saved by Well-Trained Teachers

The Gift of the Sabbath

2011-12-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

God Resting on the Sabbath -

Engraving from First Russian Illustrated Bible

Of all the controversy this holiday season, the one that has rattled me more than anything else is the fact that churches are closing their doors on Sunday, because Christmas falls on that particular day of the week this year. Christian churches with congregations that have opted to "be at home" on Sunday rather than come to church for services.

When the subject came up at my congregation, we decided that the church would most definitely be open with Sunday service as usual. To me this seemed like a no-brainer. After all, we are Christians; it's Jesus birthday celebration AND it is Sunday, the one day a week given to worship and fellowship by many. Then, I wondered, what kind of a message are churches that choose to close giving to the world?

Interestingly, I am reading a book for my seminary courses that touched on the importance of Sabbath. Some of the facts shared by the author were profoundly inspiring. The book, The Ten Challenges by Leonard Felder, Ph.D., discusses how the Ten Commandments are still relevant in today's world.

Felder begins by explaining that the word, Sabbath, comes from the root letters of Shabbat, which have two meanings - first, cease from activity in progress and second, to put everything in its proper place. Felder goes on to quote, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, who said, "An artist cannot be continually wielding his or her brush. The painter must stop at times from the painting to freshen his or her vision of the object, the meaning of which the artist wishes to express on canvas. The Shabbat represents those moments when we pause in our brushwork to renew our vision of the general plan. Having done so, we take ourselves to our painting with clarified vision and renewed energy."

What I took from this is that we observe Sabbath in order to step away from the daily grind of our week, breathe, and gain new perspective on where we are headed and why. Looking at the state of our world, it seems that many of us have forgotten how important the Gift of Sabbath is.

As I continued reading this chapter of Felder's book, I realized that I needed to follow his suggestions more. He suggests that it is not enough to go to church, synagogue or temple once a week. We need to give ourselves permission to have a day free of stress, work and duties - one day, in which we connect with our loved ones and our own inner selves.

One of the amazing facts included in the book is that those who have Sabbath observances are healthier and happier individuals. Of course, this makes perfect sense. I know in my life, I am a much healthier and happier person when I have time to think and engage meaningfully with others.

So, here are some of the ideas for creating a more meaningful Sabbath:

Turn phones, electronic devices, TV's off. Participate in activities that bring people together facing each other, rather than together facing out at something
Light candles, say a prayer, sing a song together
Create a tradition - for instance, on your Sabbath day, have friends and family over for a special meal or begin reading a book together aloud
Take a nap - this is actually something that was done in the old days
Go for a walk - it is amazing how much more clarity we have after a good walk

It is not important how you choose to celebrate the Sabbath, just that you do so. Creating a Sabbath day can be something that anyone, from any belief system, anywhere can practice.

Do something special for yourself and your family. Give the Gift of a Sabbath day, observed intentionally.

Blessings to all! Namasté!

The Gift of Advocacy

2011-12-17T09:42:00.001-05:00

Over fifty years ago, people like Martin Luther King began speaking out about the civil rights of people in the United States, specifically the civil rights of African-Americans. In the face of violence towards themselves and those that supported them, Rev. King and others maintained their advocacy for equal rights, not just for a privileged few, but for all people. The combined strength of their voice, their actions brought our nation, indeed, our world closer to this ideal.

Fifty years is a long time; many have forgotten the struggles of the 50's and 60's because prejudice and bigotry has once again raised its head in our world. What is it about the human psyche that there is such a strong need to vilify and demonize those who are different than we are?

Recently, a large corporation pulled its support from a television program that showed Muslim-Americans at work and at home. The program was an attempt to teach people that Muslims are not all terrorists, just like Christians are not all fundamentalists and Republicans are not all rich. When we make sweeping generalization, when we stereotype, when we assume we know, we severely damage our relationships with others.

Lest we forget, let us look back on our history, those of us who come from the comfort and privilege of these United States. Let's begin with the finding of America.

Christopher Columbus, hailed for years as a great hero, lead a search for gold and riches into America that killed, mercilessly, the Native People, called "savages" by the good people who wrote our history books.
The Pilgrim Fathers of Thanksgiving fame are painted as peace loving settlers amongst the Native People, yet a year after that first gathering of thanks, the brutal and senseless massacre of the Native People began. Why? The desire for more land, more wealth, more, more, more.
As this country acquired more, the settlers began to enslave African people, dragging them from their homes, separating families, killing those who would not comply to the demands of their "masters." Let me remind you that these same people called them selves, Christians.
As the "West was won," settlers, eager to make it rich on gold and oil, continued to persecute the Native People, housing them on reservations under the benevolent guise of treaties and placing into forced labor Mexican-Americans as well as Chinese immigrants, who had escaped the horrors of their country only to face bigotry and enslavement here.
In Boston, where I was born and reared, Irish-Americans where considered lower in status than African-Americans. Treated as animals, my ancestors were sold into slavery and servitude, raped, abused and killed. Their persecutors filled the lovely white New England churches each Sunday, sure of their goodness.
When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Japanese-Americans where herded into detention camps, losing property, livelihood and pride. Interestingly, German-Americans were not put into detention camps, but then, they looked "American," didn't they.
Now, Muslim-Americans face the threats, the abuse, the cruelties of bigotry and oppression. Those who want to perpetrate hate, continue to niggle at the American conscious, calling into question the integrity of this particular group of Americans.

As a mother and teacher, I can state, first-hand, that no one is ever all right or all wrong. No human being is perfect, if we were, we would not be here. Promoting hate does nothing more than make the world a hell.

During this Season of Light, a time when all Abrahamic traditions, (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.) celebrate Love, Light, and Sacrifice, why do some feel the need to persecute others?

When Lowe's, the corporation mentioned above, pulled its support of the Learning Channel's new series, All-American Muslims, Lowe's unequivocally promoted and surreptitiously supported prejudice and bigotry towards Muslim-Americans. Supporters of Lowe's actions state that the company can pull their support for any program. They bring up the "rights" of corporations to put their money into whatever endeavors they see fit to support. After all, it is the "American Way."

Opponents to Lowe's actions argue, according to a CNN report, "that this situation is more than just being politically correct; it is about bigotry. Would a major American company remove its commercials...from a show highlighting the lives of Latinos, African-Americans, Jewish Americans or members of the LGBT community?"

The thing is, all this began when a "small, little-known group," the Florida Family Association, began a campaign against the show. This association is really one person, David Caton, the same person who attempted to demonize the work of the Gay and Straight Alliance, years ago. (Read more here - New York Times) Mr. Caton claimed that the series was "totally absent the true essence of Islam, which is the focus of a Muslim believer." He went on to state in the CNN interview that the series was propaganda, an attempt to make American-Muslims look like Americans.

Lowe's official statement as recorded in the Washington Post says, "The North Carolina-based Lowe’s issued a statement apologizing for having 'managed to make some people very unhappy.'

'Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lightning rod for many of those views,' the statement said. 'As a result we did pull our advertising on this program. We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance.'"

If we left issues of this caliber up to "communities, individuals and groups" we would be returning to the days of pre-civil rights, where lynchings where the result of such discussions; back to the time of the Inquisition, where people were tortured, and burned alive for not believing; back to an age before democracy, the Supreme Court and equal rights.

Thankfully, there are those who are standing strong against all this bigotry and prejudice. My Fellow American is one such group. My Fellow American promotes our country’s principles of liberty and justice for all. Here is a video from their site.

As we near the Holy Days, let us remember; let us open our hearts and minds to all our brothers and sisters; let us shine the Light of Love and Peace into the darkest corners of the world; thereby, upholding and continuing the work of Dr. King, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Sojourner Truth, and others like them all of whom believed in a world of equality, justice and peace. Let us all give the Gift of Advocacy.

Namasté!

Related articles

Gifts of Kindness

2011-12-14T19:36:00.001-05:00

Image by tajasel via Flickr

"Commit Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty," announced the bumper sticker on a car that passed me on the highway over 20 years ago. My first reactions was, "Cool!" My second reaction was, "Ya, easier said than done!"

Since that time, I have attempted to give the gift of kindness (randomly, of course) in ways that were not obvious or planned - thus random! For instance, back when I lived in Maine, I would often pay the toll of the person behind me.

There are many ways to give kindness randomly. Here are a few:

leave flowers at the front door of an elderly neighbor (or have the florist deliver them anonymously)
make cookies, brownies or some other simple food for the fire, police, or emergency workers in your town
try to shovel out a neighbor's walk before they notice
send a note (the kind you write by hand, the old fashioned way) to your favorite teacher, clergy or medical work letting them know how much they have helped you
Take food to a friend who is sick
Go visit an elderly friend or relative and spend time actively listening to them

Teaching children to do random acts of kindness can also be a gift. My Sunday school class, back when the girls were very young, made cookies for the toll takers at Christmas, delivering them to the office beside the toll booths. They also raked the leaves for an elderly member of the church one day. She was so surprised and pleased that she nearly was in tears to think that the kids would spend time cleaning her yard instead of playing.

The thing is, you don't have to be extravagant. You can simply give your time, your presence, which is the greatest gift to give.

Namasté!

The Gift of Memories through Words

2011-12-12T01:00:00.002-05:00

Mari L. McCarthy, journaling therapy specialist and author, owns Create Write Now, a website dedicated to all things journaling. The site includes hundreds of journaling prompts, personal journaling stories, interviews, a blog, and many other resources. Mari has published nine books to date; her most recent ebook is Help for the Holidays: 7 Days of Journaling to Ho! Ho! Ho!

Mari is our special guest writer today, sharing with us ideas on how to use the gift of memories through words to create special holiday journals.

Readers are invited to leave a message for an opportunity to win your choice of either an ebook of Dark Chocolate for a Journaler's Soul, a Dark Chocolate T-Shirt, or Mari's Most Musefull Journaling Tips (8 1/2 x 11 Spiral Bound).

Welcome, Mari! Thanks for sharing your thought with us today.

Special Holiday Journal Ideas

When we're looking forward to a ritual or special occasion that's upcoming soon, we may wish for a way to deepen our experience and understanding of the event. We want to record it, savor it, make it last.

We will take pictures and shoot movies; we'll create memorable moments and nooks of wordless enjoyment as the celebration unfolds. Nonetheless, we mostly depend on our fragile memories to keep the wonderful time fresh in our minds.

But there's another way to expand your perception of a special event or period in your life, and that is to journal it.

You might think journaling is a time-intensive commitment, but that's entirely untrue. A mere five minutes at a time or even less can build up a journal of significant meaning.

Here are a few simple ways to journal the holidays as they unfold.

1. Find a very small notebook and keep note of the weather through this month. Describe each day's meteorology in the most meticulous, appreciative words you can find. Alternatively, write out the details of the day's happenings, your world in general as it appears to you today.

2. Enter a daily holiday wish for the world, from today through a month from now.

3. Write out a generous description of something you are grateful for, every day for a month in your journal.

4. Pick a theme that scares or irritates you a little: like why you don't get along with your mom; or how you can possibly find solid, tolerable employment; or why you are overweight. Write a paragraph or more every day for a month relating to this issue.

5. Meditate in your journal on an aspect of the winter holiday season, whatever your religion or outlook. What does snow mean to you? How do you feel at this time of the year? What are stereotypical images of the season to you? etc.

6. Contemplate portions of scripture from your faith, whatever that may be. Write about the meaning of a verse or two each day.

7. Keep a stream-of-consciousness account by dedicating ten minutes every day to writing out your thoughts. Write without stopping, and without censoring.

Other ideas include journaling your holiday baking, your gift buying, your prayers, your sympathies with Scrooge. However far-flung, you can bring your experiences to the tip of your journaling pen and enter a new universe of revelations.

As always, be sure to look back on previous entries every now and then. Your journal will provide delectable holiday treats!

*~*~*~*

Wow, Mari, what great ideas! Speaking of treats, I highly recommend Mari's book, Dark Chocolate for a Journaler's Soul.

Dark Chocolate for a Journaler's Soul is a compilation of writings by 17 women on journaling. In addition, each woman answers four questions about why journaling is important to them, how often they write, what they do to combat writer's block and their favorite quote.

This is a great book for anyone who loves writing, but especially women journalers, who are looking for a bit of inspiration.

Dear Readers, don't forget to leave a comment, so that you can be entered into the drawing for your choice of either an ebook of Dark Chocolate for a Journaler's Soul, a Dark Chocolate T-Shirt, or Mari's Most Musefull Journaling Tips (8 1/2 x 11 Spiral Bound). This drawing is Mari's gift to you!

Namasté!

Related articles

The Gift of Friendship

2011-12-08T01:00:00.002-05:00

One of the wonderful things about the internet is the ability to connect with people around the world. Over the past three years, I have "met" many wonderful people, who share my love for writing, social justice, and peace. Melissa Foster is one of these people.

Melissa's new book, Come Back to Me, has just been released. Like the characters in her previous books, those in Come Back to Me draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Melissa is our guest writer, today. She is sharing her thoughts on friendship, a gift that is most definitely a mitzvah for both parties - double blessing! Friendship is a theme found in all Melissa's books.

Friendships That Stand The Test of Time, by Melissa Foster

What would life be like without friends? I, often, wonder about the loneliness that might take over, and how that loneliness might impact other aspects of our lives. Friendships are to be cherished; we’re taught that from a very young age, and for me, that theme is woven into every one of my novels. Whether the characters are mother and daughter, such as Megan and Olivia in Megan’s Way, or husband and wife, like Molly and Cole in Chasing Amanda, the strength a friendship lends itself to characters, as it does to people in real life, pulling them through the toughest of scenes.

There are other friendships, both in life and in books, that speak to us in many different ways. Friendships with those with whom we are not related, for example, carry different types of strength and tests of fortitude than those previously mentioned. With lovers or mothers, siblings, or other relatives, there is a natural bond that has grown over time, developed from birth, or built on love (or maybe lust for new relationships until the friend becomes a spouse?).

Friendships with those we are not romantically coupled, with people who simply touch our lives in such a way that makes us want to be around them, help them when they’re down, cheer them on, or rant and commiserate with them until they smile, those friendships are unique. There’s a special connection that doesn’t exist between all people, and that special something is not tangible, but is as real as the earth you stand on.

In my newest release, Come Back to Me, I was able to explore such a friendship. On the outside, Tess Johnson and Alice Workman appear to be complete opposites. Tess, a type A organizer, madly in love with her husband, happily engaged in couplehood, and Alice, a cold, control-driven woman afraid to commit. Their friendship worked, even blossomed, because what one lacked the other possessed. When you look past the façade that they both work so hard to portray, you find two women who are very similar—each vulnerable, afraid to expose their inner selves. Once unveiled, their similarities bond them together, and again, their ability to compliment each other’s weaknesses pulls them through.

The world is an interesting place, and as with fictitious characters, we sometimes find others, who sing to us in a way that we cannot ignore, and when we find those special few, there is no holding on. The friendship just “is”, without questions, without concern. It is ever-present.

Would you like to share a favorite friend story? We’d love to hear it.

About Melissa

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of two novels, Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and WoMen’s Literary Café, a literary community where there will be two books launched and a 99 cent event next week! (You won't want to miss it!)

Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Visit Melissa’s website, www.MelissaFoster.com

I would like to leave you, our readers, with this last thought on friendship, "Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies." -Aristotle

Namasté!

Gift Giving

2011-12-05T12:21:00.004-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

After a month-long look at Giving Thanks, I am taking a month-long look at Gift Giving. Tis' the season in many cultures around the world. That being so, I will look at some of the aspects of giving, pondering questions such as, who gives; why do we give; are there rules to giving; what are the traditions around giving; when do we give; are there specific ways to give, etc.

To begin, I will share a few lines from a little book (literally) by Dean Walley - Gifts of the Heart.

"Giving's receiving,

Receiving is giving!

That's really the secret

That lies behind living.

So give something each day

And you'll find that it's true...

All the gifts of the heart

Will be given to you."

Giving is receiving and receiving is giving...how does this work? Each time we do a kindness, we give the gift of our self to another through that kindness (Giving does not need to include the exchange of presents.) In accepting that kindness, the person receiving the gift give the giver the opportunity to do something for someone else.

In Yiddish, the word, Mitzvah, means "good deed." The belief is that when you do a good deed you bless both the giver and the receiver making the act a double mitzvah.

The thing about gifts from the heart is that, like Words from the Heart, there is tremendous power in them. Gifts from the heart have the power to unite, heal, bless and inspire.

During this month of Giving, let us be more mindful of the gifts from the heart that we give daily. Let us remember that these gifts come with no strings attached. In other words, they are freely given without any concern for repayment, praise or even gratitude.

May the blessings of giving be yours today and all the days to come.

Namasté!

World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T23:14:00.002-05:00

Image by sassy mom via Flickr

Today, we observe the 23rd World AIDS Day. Are we any closer to a cure? Is AIDS awareness more prevalent?

For the answers to these questions, let's look at the World Health Organizations statistics.

According to the WHO - "An estimated 2.7 million people worldwide were newly infected with HIV in 2010.

An estimated 390 000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2010; 30% fewer than the peak of 560,000 annual new infections in children in 2002 and 2003.

Since 2001, annual HIV incidence has fallen in 33 countries, 22 of them in sub-Saharan Africa. However, incidence is accelerating again in Eastern Europe and Central Asia after having slowed in the early 2000s, and new infections are on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa.

The number of AIDS-related deaths worldwide is steadily decreasing from a peak of 2.2 million in 2005 to an estimated 1.8 million in 2010. "

photo credit: Wikipedia

In addition, "More than 95 million HIV tests were performed in 2010 in 119 low- and middle-income countries, representing an increase from 67 million tests reported in 100 countries in 2009.

The reported number of health facilities providing HIV testing and counseling services reached 131 000 in 2010 (in 119 countries), up from 30 300 in 2007 (in 78 countries)."

So, while things have improved in some areas, they are still problematic in others. We cannot forget that this disease is still killing people.

ONE.org, along with other concerned organizations, is continuing to campaign, talk, discuss, lobby and advertise the need for funding to continue AIDS research and outreach.

A virtual AIDS quilt is now in the works to help in that process. Check it out at (2015) Quilt.

For more information and facts about AIDS, go to The World Health Organization.

May the day come that a cure be found for this horrific disease that has stolen so many from this world.

Namasté.

Giving Thanks for Those Who Sacrificed

2011-11-25T01:00:00.002-05:00

Today, I am blessed to share with you all a post by a fellow New Englander, grew up not too far from my hometown. Author, Melissa Ann Goodwin, ponders the meaning of gratitude. In thanks for her guest blog, I am promoting her new book, The Christmas Village AND, she is gifting one of my readers with a copy. All you have to do is leave a comment below.

The Christmas Village is a wonderful holiday tale about a troubled boy and his adventures in finding himself. All I can say is, you must read the book! I am hooked and can't wait to find out what comes next. For a sneak peak, check out the trailer.

~~~~~

I knew that I wanted this post to be about gratitude. It’s November, and it’s Thanksgiving, and remembering our blessings is at the forefront of our minds. I have so much to be thankful for, this year and always. But, how did I want to express that? Perhaps, I’d write a poem. Maybe, I’d find inspiration in some Thanksgiving quotes. My plan was to meditate on it a bit, open my eyes, and write.

As I drove home from teaching a yoga class this morning, dazzling sunlight reflected off the small white gravestones in the veteran’s cemetery across the highway. The cemetery covers an entire hill, row upon row of white markers cascading down its slopes. When I got home, I suggested to my husband that we drive over there, park the car and take a walk – something we’d been meaning to do.

Image via Wikipedia

As we headed up the hill, we noticed that the first section of stones all had the same year of death – 2001. The stones are simple and uniform in size. Engravings on them provided names, dates of birth and death, rank, branch of service and in what wars they served.

Looking out over row and after row was sobering. We walked quietly, occasionally commenting on a long life or a very short one. When it was a short one, we knew there was a good chance the person had died in service. Some of the veterans served during two or even three wars.

I was reminded of when I’d gone to Arlington National Cemetery, many years ago. It was a day like today, blue skies and sunny. We wandered through rows of similar white markers –though there are many more rows there. Suddenly, a red fox appeared – there – in the middle of these endless rows of white gravestones. Where on earth did he come from? I can still remember the juxtaposition of this beautiful fiery-red animal against the backdrop of a sea of white. He stared at us for a few seconds; then ran off. The moment seemed important, though I can’t say why.

When we returned home today, I knew that I just wanted to write some words about being grateful to everyone who has ever sacrificed to give me a better life. There are hundreds more veteran’s cemeteries like the one here in Santa Fe. So many people chose, or agreed, to serve to protect this country. To protect me. Thank you, all of you. Then, there are my parents, also gone now, who sacrificed for me in so many ways. Thank you, Mom and Dad. There are teachers who educated me, for far less income than their jobs deserved. Thank you, Miss Collins, Miss Noone, Miss Cronin, and all the rest.

The list goes on, endlessly, but you get the idea. Today, I just feel very grateful to all those who are gone now, who made my life better. And I am grateful for everyone, who is still here in physical body, who does that too. In my life, I have been loved and cared for. I have been granted much grace. So, this Thanksgiving, I’m keeping a special lookout for anyone in my life who might need that favor returned.

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to receive a copy of Melissa's book, The Christmas Village!

Melissa Ann Goodwin is a native New Englander, now living in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband, artist J. Richard Secor. She has written extensively for Fun for Kidz, Boys’ Quest and Hopscotch for Girls. She was a regular feature article contributor to the Caregiver's Home Companion for more than five years. Her work has appeared in Guideposts’ Angels on Earth, Caregivers’ Home Companion, Caring Today, The Lutheran Digest, The Peak Magazine, The Andover Townsman, and the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette. Her poetry took 10th prize in The Writer’s Digest 2010 annual competition. The Christmas Village is her first novel.

Author's Websites:

Melissa Ann Goodwin

http://writeryogini.blogspot.com/

The Christmas Village

http://thechristmasvillagebook.blogspot.com

FaceBook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Christmas-Village/243381569015162

Lest We Forget

2011-11-23T11:51:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

We are a land of immigrants. This is an important fact to remember. This is a land where our forefathers and foremothers came to escape political, religious and academic persecution. But, lest we forget, this is also the land were some of our ancestors were forced to come in chains. Ripped from their homes, their families, their lives. Many of our loved ones spent years of persecution here, in this land of the Free, at the hands of those who had just escaped the tyranny of their homelands.

Lest we forget, there are also those of us with ancestors who called this land home, long before the Europeans came. We knew the greatness of this land of Plenty. We talked to the Great Spirit and gave thanks daily for the blessings. We thanked our four-legged, winged and finned brothers and sisters for sharing them selves with us; we thanked Mother Earth for the blessings of the earth; and we protected and respected the silent Ones who grew around us.

Lest we forget, this land is not home to only those with enough money to buy whatever they want or whomever they want. This is a land were the dream of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" exists for all who will have it. This is a land were we, The People, pull together in crisis to help our brothers and sisters regardless of race, color, creed, sexual origin or nationality. This is a land, lest we forget, that was founded on the idea that freedom was the birth right of ALL, not a few.

As we sit round our tables on this Day of Thanks, let us be mindful of our roots, let us tell our children the stories of how and why we came to this land called, America. Lest we forget, let us remind all that this is a land in which Mother Liberty raises her touch high to light the way, offering respite to all.

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

May God bless us all and continue to gift us with "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Words of Gratitude from Around the World

2011-11-17T18:51:00.009-05:00

One of the things that has been affirmed for me over the past two months in seminary is that Sacred Writings exist everywhere. Often, we humans, have an egocentric view of the world, believing we, personally, are the only ones with the answers, and even, sometimes, the questions. Of course, for every question, there are multiple ways to answer, often saying the same thing, but simply using different words. (Ask any teacher or lawyer this and they will tell you it is true!)

The following are poems and prayers of gratitude from various cultures and religions. May the beauty of their words touch your heart, and lift your soul.

Oludumare, oh Divine One! I give thanks

to You, the one who is as near as my

heartbeat, and more anticipated than my

next breath. Let Your wisdom become one

with this vessel as I lift my voice in

thanks for Your love.

African - Yoruban

~~~~~

Great Spirit, Divine One, Creator

who is heaven earth rock wind insect tree fox

human of every size shape color

Holy are your infinite names chanted sung whispered

shouted in every language, tongue.

We will midwife the rebirth of Gaia

as best we can

restoring the Great Law of Peace.

Guide our hands to the soil and seed

honoring the alchemy of food.

Let us remember your abundance

and share the bread of life with any who hunger.

We are for giving

and giving and giving.

We trust in the give-away.

We give and receive.

Let us be humble before the darkness and the light

walking in harmony amidst them.

Give us courage to know them intimately

both within and without.

For you have breathed it all---

the behind, the above, the below, the beyond.

Your awesome power courses in our veins

and animates our hearts.

You are the Great Drum.

We thank you.

translation of the Lord's Prayer

from King James to Gaian - Claudia L'amoreaux

~~~~~

Welcome Morning - Anne Sexton

There is joy

in all:

in the hair I brush each morning,

in the Cannon towel, newly washed,

that I rub my body with each morning,

in the chapel of eggs I cook

each morning,

in the outcry from the kettle

that heats my coffee

each morning,

in the spoon and the chair

that cry "hello there, Anne,"

each morning,

in the godhead of the table

that I set my silver, plate, cup upon

each morning.

All this is God,

right here in my pea-green house

each morning

and I mean,

though often forget,

to give thanks,

to faint down by the kitchen table

in a prayer of rejoicing

as the holy birds at the kitchen window

peck into their marriage of seeds.

So while I think of it,

let me paint a thank-you on my palm

for this God, this laughter of the morning,

lest it go unspoken.

The joy that isn't shared, I've heard,

dies young.

~~~~~

We return thanks to our mother,

the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams

which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines

for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters,

the beans and squashes, which give us life.

We return thanks to the bushes and trees,

which provide us with fruit.

We return thanks to the wind,

which, moving the air, has banished diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and the stars,

which have given us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to our grandfather He-no,

that he has protected his grandchildren from witches and reptiles,

and has given us his rain.

We return thanks to the sun,

that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,

in whom is embodied all goodness,

and who directs all things for the good of his children.

Native People - Iroquois

~~~~~

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits thou hast won for me,

For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,

May I know thee more clearly,

Love thee more dearly,

And follow thee more nearly:

For ever and ever.

Prayer of St Richard of Chichester - 1197-1253

~~~~~

That she was taken out of her mother,

thanks be for that!

That she, the little one,

was taken out of her, we say,

thanks be for that!

Native People - West Greenland Eskimo

~~~~~

(Prayers above from World Prayers)

~~~~~

Buddhist Pray of Thanksgiving

(serving the food)

In this food I see clearly

the presence of the entire universe

supporting my existence.

(looking at the plate of food)

All living beings are struggling

for life.May they all have enough food

to eat today.

(just before eating)

The plate is filled with food.

I am aware that each morsel

is the fruit

of much hard work

by those who produced it.

(beginning to eat)

With the first taste, I promise

to practice loving kindness.

With the second, I promise

to relieve the suffering of others.

With the third,

I promise to see others' joy as my own.

With the fourth,

I promise to learn the way of nonattachment and equanimity.

(after the meal)

The plate is empty.

My hunger is satisfied.

I vow to live for the benefit

of all living beings.

~~~~~

What Was Told, That

by Jalal al-Din Rumi

translated by Coleman Barks

What was said to the rose that made it open was said

to me here in my chest.

What was told the cypress that made it strong

and straight, what was

whispered the jasmine so it is what it is, whatever made

sugarcane sweet, whatever

was said to the inhabitants of the town of Chigil in

Turkestan that makes them

so handsome, whatever lets the pomegranate flower blush

like a human face, that is

being said to me now. I blush. Whatever put eloquence in

language, that's happening here.

The great warehouse doors open; I fill with gratitude,

chewing a piece of sugarcane,

in love with the one to whom every that belongs!

Namasté

Giving Thanks for Writers - Blog Hop!

2011-11-16T01:00:00.090-05:00

Today, Words from the Heart is part of a huge blog hop. A blog hop is an event where readers have the opportunity to visit a group of blogs that are promoting or celebrating the same thing. This blog hop is brought to you by the WoMen's Literary Cafe Authors as part of their Gratitude celebration.

For our part of the hop, we are honored to post and grateful to host author, Wendy Young. Wendy's book, Come the Shadows, will be part of our Blog Hop give-away. You'll want to check out the other blogs that are also hosting give-aways! Find out more at the end of this post!

Gratitude by Wendy Young

This is the time of year where everyone begins to consider the question: What are you thankful for?

In my house, now that we’ve started having kids, we try to make it a daily question. Every night we ask our son: What are you thankful for? His answers are quite simple and surprising – even something like his blanket will rate on the list. We’re happy that, so far, both Mommy and Daddy rate every night, too.

Even with that daily focus, however, this time of year brings special attention to the question and the answers get more complicated every year. We move from thankfulness for a toy or a special treat as a child, to thankfulness for a nice car and spending money as a teenager, to thankfulness for our jobs, our relationships, our health, and our kids as we grow into and through adulthood.

This year was a giant leap for me. I can, for the first time, tack Author onto my list of life titles and that opens up a whole new area of gratitude. Some of the new additions to my list:

I am thankful for a husband who supports and encourages what I do and believes in what I want to do with my life.
I am thankful that I am an author at a time when self-publishing has been transformed by the e-reading revolution.
I am thankful for social media that allows me to connect so easily to those in my neighborhood or across the world.
I am thankful for the authors who came before me and opened these paths.
I am thankful for the successful and talented writers who share their knowledge and encouragement.
I am thankful for other authors at the beginning of their paths, just like me, who know what it’s like to walk in my shoes and who give of themselves in support of all of us.
I am thankful for book reviewers who take the time not only to read my work, but actually review it and post their thoughts on blogs, purchase sites, or reader sites like Goodreads.

Lastly, and in many ways most importantly, I am thankful for every person who has read what I’ve wrote. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the 30,000+ who have read my free short story or the smaller number who have purchased my book; I am thankful for YOU.

Most of the latest additions to the list apply to being an author and what makes the non-writing aspect of this job easier and more enjoyable. Readers, however, are the complement to writers and are much closer to my heart. I write very character-driven stuff and if I’m connecting with readers – making them smile, laugh, think, feel – then I’ve done what I set out to do.

As a writer, it can be tempting to hoard your work and never let others into that realm. It’s easier, it’s less stressful…but it’s also less fulfilling. As an author, it’s an incredible boon to have someone read what you wrote. Add to that the knowledge he/she enjoyed it and the author has been given a wonderful gift.

Writers are normal people. We struggle, we stress, and we even moan and groan (a bit). Readers have an unique power to reward writers and not just with the purchase of a book. We live in a time where readers can find any writer and connect. Reviews are welcome, but so are quick messages or emails explaining what the story meant to you, the reader.

I am thankful for those who read and enjoy in silence, those who take the time to tell a friend, those who take the time to tell the world, advocate for a writer with a review or other public means, and those who find me and say, “Thank you.”

Sometimes, I may simply say, “Thank you,” in return. It’s true gratitude, not platitude, every single time. I’m not being lazy or rude I’m simply incapable of quantifying all that I mean in a simple reply. The appreciation sometimes seems too big to fit in words, alone. Readers are appreciated and I am thankful for every single one.

Keep doing what you do best – reading – and if you have a spare moment, let the author (any author) know what you think about the work.

The Barn-star of Thankfulness - A Barn-load of Gratitude!

Image via Wikipedia

The WoMen's Literary Cafe is very thankful for all of the support from bloggers, reviewers, and readers during the Come Back To Me book launch and 99 cent event. As a thank you, we are giving away two copies of “Come the Shadows” by guest blogger and author, Wendy Young for free today only. Enter to win your copy by leaving a comment on this blog. Don't forget to check out our sister sites below!

And the winners are: Cecilia and Kathy R! Congratulations!! Wendy will contact you with how to access your free e-book copy of Come the Shadows! Thanks everyone for your participation!!

The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day in the Eleventh Month

2011-11-10T21:16:00.000-05:00

Today, we observe Veterans' Day, or what was formally called, Armistice Day, which commemorates the signing of the Peace Treaty in France between the Allies of World War I and the Germans at the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month." After World War II, the name was changed in the United States to Veteran's Day. In addition, it marks what would have been my parents 59 wedding anniversary.

Mom and Dad shortly after their marriage

During this month long look at gratitude, I want to thank my parents, posthumously, for finding each other. While theirs was not always the most harmonious of marriages, there was never any doubt of the love they shared for each other, even to the end of their days. Daddy was Momma's "sailor boy" and Momma was Daddy's "sweetheart."

I am grateful for the lessons these two people taught me. Momma opened my eyes to poetry, literature, art, music and dance. Daddy taught me how to fix things, how to re-purpose old stuff and how to make things from bits of this and that, long before it was a fashion statement to do so. They both, together, taught me to question authority, honor the dead, support those less fortunate and always make room at the table for others.

On their Golden Anniversary - 2002

My Mom and Dad were most definitely part of the 99%. If they were still here in this reality, they would be camped out in Boston with the other Occupy folks. They taught me much of what I know and believe about social justice and peace work.

They were educated in the School of Hard Knocks. The jobs they had served others. They never got further than high school in their training, although both read constantly. They could hold their own with the best of scholars. They lived in the projects of South Boston. They died poor in money, but rich in love of family and friends.

The gratitude I have for my parents is endless. I can never adequately express, nor show how much their crazy love touched my life. But, crazy as it was sometimes, their lives, their love touched so many other lives, not just mine, making the world richer for it.

I miss my parents. They were good people. As the world pauses to remember those that have died for their countries, I will, also, remember my Mom and Dad and give thanks.

Namasté!

Attitude of Gratitude

2011-11-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Image by eekim via Flickr

Out of the mouths of babes! In Sunday school, yesterday, I was talking to the kids about gratitude. I challenged them to find uncommon ways to give thanks. One of the older students (I have a multi-level class.) said, "So you want us to have "An Attitude of Gratitude," right?"

Now, she may have heard it some place else, but it just blew me away. "An Attitude of Gratitude!" The poet in me loves the alliteration - the rhyme. Her little comment inspired me to continue my postings on Gratitude. (I had planned to go on to other things this month.)

Living in gratitude is all about our attitude. In order to be thankful, we must be mindful of the fact that every second, every encounter, every trial and tribulation is a gift. Finding ways to show we are grateful becomes a natural part of our lives, when we mindfully live in gratitude.

In my seminary course, I read a passage of Buddhist text that stated that the ungrateful were a burden. At first, I didn't get it. Then, I sat with it for a bit, mulling it over in my mind.

Of course! I understood, finally...when someone lives without gratitude, they are never satisfied. They continually seek more for themselves and from others. What a burden to bear...and what a burden on others to live with someone like that, because they are never happy.

As you go through your days, see the gifts the Creator leaves for you. Give thanks; feel your burdens lift.

My gratitude list this week includes:

Thanks for my former students who write me still.
Thanks for the hundreds of people around the globe (from over 125 countries) who read my blog and share their lives with me.

Thanks for my beloved, Roger, who honors who I am and supports my journey.
Thanks for the quiet moments that allow me to hear the Creator's Breath.

Blessings of gratitude to all!

Namasté!

Gratitude in the Face of Difficulties

2011-11-05T10:07:00.000-04:00

Huge branch that hit the house cradled by the arborvitae

This past week, we were hit with a freak snow storm that dumped from 10 to 27 inches of snow on the area. With trees still in full foliage, there were many broken limbs, falling on power lines, roof tops and across roadways. Finding a way to be grateful, may seem an impossibility, but, here is my list of things I am grateful for because of the storm.

My step-daughter and I were able to have time traveling back from Maine together. We had to take detours, which, if she was traveling alone, she might not have known.
Because my dear Roger planted arborvitae around the perimeter of our property, the huge maple branch that fell on the house did not do damage. The arborvitae cushioned it, keeping it from hitting with full force.
We had time to read and talk because the distractions of Internet and phone were not available.
We have natural gas for cooking, which allowed us to make a huge pot of soup to share with others, who had electric stoves.
My mother-in-love only lives a few houses down the street, which made it easier to help her until the power came back on.
Not having work allowed me time to catch up on correcting papers and reading students' journals.
Our power was only off for three days. Some people are still without power, a week later.

So much to be grateful for, even in the face of difficulties! Sometimes it seems like a stretch, but eventually, as you practice gratitude in all things, it become easier to see the silver linings...they are everywhere!

May the days ahead bring us all ways to be show our gratitude, even in the face of difficulties. May those, who are still without power, find warmth and comfort in the compassion and care of others. Many blessings to all those working to fix the problems this storm has caused.

Namasté!

Living Gratitude

2011-11-02T12:06:00.000-04:00

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which makes November the perfect time to begin a Gratitude Journal.

Many years ago, I began a Gratitude Journal. Journaling had been my way of maintaining my balance though the ups and downs of life, but keeping a Gratitude Journal was new to me. The idea came from a friend, which was long before popular talk show hosts recommended it.

At the time, I was in a very difficult life-transition. The suggestion to keep a Gratitude Journal was given in the hopes that the journal would help me count my blessings, of which, at the time, I thought I had few.

Interestingly, the more I wrote in my journal, the more blessings I found in my life. The more blessings I found, the more 'whole' I became. I began to see how rich my life was, in spite of the issues I was dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Later, when my parents died less than a year apart, the ability to count my blessings helped me through my grieving process.

So, here is the challenge - keep a Gratitude Journal this month. Each day, write in your journal. List at least three things, for which you are grateful. These things do not have to be grandiose. Simple pleasures are fine.

You can even create a theme for each week:

• During the first week of November, journal your gratitude for family
• Second week - friends
• Third week - conveniences
• Fourth week - lessons learned

Don't get stuck trying to write profound statements. One or two words can suffice. For example: warmth of the shower, maple tree in the back yard, when Dad died (being grateful for his life)

The magic of a Gratitude Journal is that if we make an effort to write, each day or each week, we suddenly find ourselves finding more ways to be grateful, as this happens, our outlook on life changes. We see more beauty and happiness than before.

The upshot of keeping my Gratitude Journal was that I now "live" in Gratitude. Nothing happens during the course of a day that doesn't get seen as a gift...even the bad or difficult things. I learned by keeping the journal that my life is rich in the things that matter...family, friends, love, Life!

Truly, it has been this ability to see the gifts within each situation that has helped me through the past year of unemployment (or under-employment, since I have worked at many part-time positions) as well as the recent disappointment in not being able to refinance my mortgage. Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint! I get upset and angry just like anyone, but when I take time to be still, the Spirit reminds me that there are gifts to be had if I look. So, I do, and in seeing them, I feel better.

Putting words to paper, holding a light on the dark corners of our conscious, truly helps bring about healing, peace and balance. Giving thanks for both the Light and the Darkness, helps us to stay the course, follow the path and Live the Love.

For prompts on writing your own Gratitude Journal, click here.

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All the World Needs Now...

2011-10-23T20:45:00.001-04:00

Seven years ago, Roger and I declared our love in our garden surrounded by our five beautiful daughters (my four and his one). Over the past seven years, we have seen each other through near death, job loss, reinventing ourselves, adjusting to life in our fifties, children's marriages, grandchildren's births and the ups and downs of day to day life as a couple.

When all is said and done, these have been the happiest years since I raised by daughters. Roger, my beloved, is one of the kindest, sweetest, compassionate and wise humans I know. Each day it is a joy to wake with him; each night a joy to snuggle close as sleep slips into our beings.

How wonderful to say, I have laughed, more than I have cried; I have smiled, more than I have frowned; and I have enjoyed, more than I can say!

These are some poems that I have written for Roger. I share them with you in celebration of the Love Roger and I share.

"All the world needs now IS Love, sweet Love!"

When One Becomes Two

alone

quiet, peace-filled

thinking, working, meditating

one, singular, two, doubled

talking, playing, loving

resonant, soul-filled

together

Morning Prayer for Roger

I raise my eyes to the All.
Hear my humble prayer.
Wrap around my Beloved
At the times I am not there
Hold him softly to you
Wrap him in your love
Keep him safe from harm
Protect him from above.

INTIMACIES

He watches as she holds the coffee mug

Her small work-worn hands lifting it

She pauses

Then breathes in the scent

Like a master breathing in the bouquet

Of a rare wine

She smiles, sips and looks up into his face

Through a dark curtain of lashes

His eyes drop to the guitar

He pretends to have been concentrating on the music

She watches as his hands magically produce

Sounds that tug at her heart

She notices the ease in which he moves

How his eyes shut ever so slightly

When just the right sound comes from the wood and strings

Inequity Hits Close to Home

2011-10-21T19:09:00.000-04:00

Image by jollyUK via Flickr

I seldom complain, but after the last few weeks of watching the goings on in this country and the world, I feel a tirade coming on!

Last week, I went through all the rigamarole to apply for a loan consolidation. I, after all, am working! (Thank you, God!) I knew it would be a tight fit, but the combined income of my four jobs made a consolidation reasonable. Wrong!

You see, while the bank underwriters would accept my freelance writing, they would not accept the two adjunct positions I have because they weren't contractual. Adjunct professors teach semester to semester depending on funding. So, even though, I am pretty sure I will be teaching in the spring, the bank will not risk it, even though lowering my overall debt through the consolidation would make it easier for me to keep paying my bills IF, God forbid, I don't get hired by the college and university again.

So, I ask, how is this fair? Why can the banks, who were bailed out of collapse by the Federal government, refuse to help me when I WANT to pay them? How can they take our money (We don't think of it this way, but the Federal money is OUR money...our taxes are what is used to cover all the bills in Washington.) not pay it back and then deny my consolidation?

Is it any wonder that people are protesting? 1% have our money to play with and we the 99% are shafted, left and right. Arrggggghhhh!!!!!

~~~

OK, got that out of my system. On the other hand, I am blessed beyond measure with a wonderful life partner who honors me. We will be celebrating our 7th anniversary this coming week. These have been the seven happiest years of my life, with the exception of raising my daughters.

The government may take my money, but they will never take the riches I have in family and friends.

May we all find ways to count our blessings, even in the face of inequity.

Namasté!

The Occupy Movement

2011-10-15T13:48:00.000-04:00

Image by SEIU International via Flickr

Several years ago, when the economy began its spiral downward, I predicted that there would come a tipping point when the middle class would rise up and revolt. The past few weeks have fulfilled that prediction as a small group of protesters staged an occupation on Wall Street. Today, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has inspired protests across the country and around the world.

Why are these protests spreading like wildfire? Mainly, it is because 99% of the world is fed up with the 1% who are making huge sums of money, yet not paying their fair share. Here in the states, we have a Congress made up of a huge percentage of the 1%. In fact, there seems to be more millionaires in Congress now, than ever in history.

Unfortunately, the 1% has forgotten that history repeats itself. They really need to take a crash course in American and World history...especially focusing on the happenings during the 1700's. The United States had its birth when 99% of its population in the 1700's said, "Enough is enough. No taxation without representation!"

Today, the cry may well be the same, because there are few in Congress that have the slightest idea of how to budget each week to pay the bills AND buy groceries, put clothes on a growing families back and provide for emergencies. I doubt there are many who have ever had to make one can of soup feed five people or who knows how to find a complete outfit for a toddler or teen on just ten dollars.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are some in the 1% who realize that with privilege, comes responsibility. These folks give of their time and money to help others. From the beginning, they have supported the rest of us. But, there are still too many in the 1% that essentially believe we all should just "eat cake."

One of my blogging buddies posted on her blog about a local figure in Canada that mouthed off on a small business owner, who is giving profits to help build wells in Africa, then had the audacity to offer the owner an investment deal! Learn more at Karyn Climans.

While I am not attending any of the OWS protests, I am standing strong with the 99%. I know the struggle first hand. I work at four different jobs trying to keep my head above water. I have seen friends struggle to keep their homes, feed their children and live the dream. (You can join the Virtual March at http://civic.moveon.org/occupy/other99/)

Enough is Enough...We need jobs that pay good wages and provide benefits. We need leaders who understand that the 99% are not going away, who will support us, not their own wallets and bank accounts. We need to take care of the underprivileged, the elderly and the sick, not just push them off into a corner, but really care for them. We need to be the change we have been looking for, because we ARE that change.

The time has come...the time is now. God bless us all!

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Loved Ones

2011-10-10T06:12:00.002-04:00

Unconditional love is difficult to give. To do so, one must overlook all the imperfections, the bumps and warts, the eccentricities of their loved ones. This is not easy, but, some people come pretty close to loving unconditionally. If you are very lucky, they will share the path with you.

Roger is one of the dearest, kindest and most loving men in the world. He is one of the primary people on my list of Those I know and Love. Roger is my partner in life, a cheerleader when I need encouragement, and wise counsel when I need a bit of Sophic advice. Each morning begins with Roger greeting me with, "Good morning, beautiful!" Each evening ends with, "I am so blessed to have you in my life." You know, it doesn't get much better than this!

My daughters are at the top of the list, too, as are my grandchildren. Each is a gem like no other. Each brings me such joy!

I would be remiss if I didn't add my dear, dear friend Barbara to the top of the list. We have been friends since kindergarten. Together we have shared life's ups and downs with humor, grace and sometimes good old fashioned kitchen table wisdom. Barbara is my sister, my friend and my buddy. We are kindred spirits that found each other early on in life and never lost sight of how special it is to have a friend that, no matter what, loves us.

There are many family members (You know who you are!!) that love me unconditionally, as I do them. When we are together, we laugh so much our sides ache for days later. Sometimes, we cry, or get angry or talk on and on about something that frustrates us, but we always end up laughing. What a gift that is!

Finally, I have many friends who have blessed me with their love and support over the years. Some I have only known for a short period, others have been in my life since childhood. Some have lost touch with me over the years, but have found me through social networking! (I just love that.) Some I have met through cyberspace. We have not met physically, but we share our souls regularly, affirming each other and celebrating each others achievements.

Those we know and love make life precious. As they say back up in Maine, "It's wicked good to know ya!"

Today I’m participating in a mass blogging day! WOW! Women On Writing has gathered a group of blogging buddies to write about Special People We Know and Love. Why? We’re celebrating the release of Joanne Lewis’ and Amy Lewis Faircloth’s debut novel. Wicked Good (Telemachus Press, LLC, 2011) is about the unconditional love between a mother and her adopted, special needs son and the adventure that brings them closer together. Visit The Muffin at http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com to read what Joanne and Amy have to share about their special people and view the list of all my blogging buddies. Then be sure to visit http://www.amyandjoanne.com/ to learn more about the authors.

If you comment on today's post on this blog or any of the other blogs participating in Everybody's Talking About Wicked Good People, you will be entered to win a print copy of Wicked Good by Amy Lewis Faircloth and Joanne Lewis. To read about Amy and Joanne's Special People and view the list of participating blogs please visit The Muffin http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

About the Authors

One day two sisters decided to write a book together; what began as a blog became an award winning novel! Wicked Good is the first in the "Wicked" series.

Amy is the older sister and a full time family law attorney. She loves her 2 sons and nephew, dogs, volunteering at the Bangor Humane Society, being outdoors when it’s nice outside and indoors when it’s not.

Joanne is the younger and a full-time family mediator and Guardian Ad Litem. She loves her 3 nephews, her grey poodle Frisco, anything to do with the Italian Renaissance, and spending time with her friends and family.

Please visit them at http://www.amyandjoanne.com/.

Force of Nature

2011-09-30T08:46:00.001-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Dr. Wangari Maathai

The first time I heard the term, a force of nature, used to describe Nobel Peace Laureate, Wangari Maathai, I wondered if the writer was being derogatory. After all, I reasoned, a strong woman is often looked down on by those who fear her power. However, as I learned more about this amazing woman, I realized that this was a term of endearment, a term of great honor.

A force of nature...like a hurricane, tornado, or northeaster...Dr. Maathai swept into action creating a new world in her wake. For the women whose lives she touched, she left confidence, hope for a brighter future, and the knowledge that the world could be different. For the children whose lives she touched, she taught a love of the environment, a love of self and a love of each other. For the men her life touched, she was the personification of Grace under pressure, Peace in the storm and Calm Assurance in the midst of chaos.

Dr. Maathai's death has come too soon. She was a young woman by today's standards. Cancer stole her from the world. At least, that is one way to look at her death. Or, we can see that her work her among us was complete. She had done what she was sent to do, completing her work with Joy and Love. She has not died, merely moved into a new life in which her glorious spirit can be felt each time we touch a tree, watch children play in peace or witness a woman stand strong against the storm of degradation, prejudice and pain.

The following are some of the words left to us by the beautiful Soul known to us as, Dr. Wangari Maathai:

“It is evident that many wars are fought over resources which are now becoming increasingly scarce. If we conserved our resources better, fighting over them would not then occur…so, protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace…those of us who understand the complex concept of the environment have the burden to act. We must not tire, we must not give up, we must persist.”

“All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet.”

"African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence."

"It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees."

“The people are learning that you cannot leave decisions only to leaders. Local groups have to create the political will for change, rather than waiting for others to do things for them. That is where positive, and sustainable, change begins.”

"We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible."

"Women are responsible for their children, they cannot sit back, waste time and see them starve."

We can all be hummingbirds, forces of nature, in this world. We only need follow the example set by Dr. Maathai.

May the work begun by Dr. Maathai continue through those who have had ears to hear and eyes to see. May her legacy be a world that protects the rights of all living beings, witnessing the fragile connection we have to the environment and celebrating the beauty of Peace, Love and Compassion.

Namasté

Still Banned After All These Years!

2011-09-24T11:04:00.001-04:00

Words from the Heart was begun several years ago because of my deep belief that language is a powerful tool for creating change, healing and enlightening others. Writing, for me, has always been a way around being told that I couldn't do something. You see, confession time here, I hate being told that I can't do something.

Is it any wonder, then, that observing Banned Book Week is something I relish? If you want me to read a book, tell me that it is banned. I will be at the bookstore as soon as I can to get it.

Recently, I purchased the book, Quest for the Living God by Elizabeth Johnson. More than likely, I would never have read it if I hadn't found an article about how the Catholic Church banned the book.

After reading the article, I looked the author up. I found out that she is a nun, theologian, writer and professor. What, I wondered, is so awful, so sinful about her book that the church feels the need to ban it from their faithful?

I have yet to read the book, although it is next on my list, so I cannot say why her words would be so threatening. I found in a New York Times article by Laurie Goodstien, however, that "The bishops’ committee on doctrine said in a statement: 'The book does not take the faith of the Church as its starting point. Instead, the author employs standards from outside the faith to criticize and to revise in a radical fashion the conception of God revealed in Scripture and taught by the Magisterium,' the church’s teaching authority according to the popes and bishops."

Once I read the book, I will share my views. Until then, I will continue to support the right of anyone, anywhere to read the books of their choosing. Knowledge is only dangerous when it is limited and controlled. When humans have access to various texts, when they are allowed to read with a critical eye, questioning the validity of what they are reading for themselves in their reality, then knowledge is a tool for wisdom.

As far as Banned Book Week goes, I am proud to say that I have read many of the books listed. Did they change my life? Yes, absolutely. Was that a bad thing? No, because it allowed me the freedom to say, "Wow, that was wonderful!" or, "Yuck, that was the worst trash I have ever read."

Here is a list of some of the most famous Banned Books with an explanation from the American Library Association - 100 Banned Novels of the 20th Century

As an educator, I encourage you to read. I also encourage you to ask questions about any text you pick up -

Why was this written?
Who wrote it?
Why did they write it?
What was their purpose?
How can this help me or others?
Is this something I need/want to know?
When was this written?
What was the history around the text?
What was the history of the author?
Who published it?
Do they have an agenda?
Where is there proof of what is being said?
Can this text be confirmed? (Is it truthful?)

May the words you read touch your heart and soul, bring you healing, enlightenment and wisdom.

Namasté!

Support Others In Grand and Small Ways

2011-09-22T02:00:00.000-04:00

It is my pleasure today to welcome author, Kathy Handley to Words from the Heart. Kathy is the author of Birds of Paradise, an exciting novel about a trucker, a runaway teen and a homeless girl. The three characters support each other in grand and small ways. Kathy shares some ideas on how we, too, can support each other.

To show our appreciation for your stopping by today, leave a comment and your name will be placed in a drawing for a copy of Birds of Paradise.

Every day we have the opportunity to support others in grand and small ways. The unique gift of supporting others is that we often don’t know the effect our actions have on the recipients of our generosity. We are reminded to smile, care, and support others, and give generously.

Let’s think about how writers support each other
Teacher/student relationship, each adding to the mix of ideas
Writer/writing group communications
Family and Friends/ respect and protect writers’ time
Buy the book/ read it on Kindle or from the library/email, Facebook note to author
Set up readings in libraries and bookstores/attend/ask questions, thank the authors
Host a salon discussion
Give feedback and reviews/ Indie Bookstores, Amazon, Twitter
Network-friend to friend-pass on the word about authors, conferences
Pay it forward in time
Throw a book party
Read the book in book club and invite the author in person or Skype

I’ve recently attended readings by Jenna Blum, Ann Hood, Gin Young and Marianne Leone. These writers always thank their readers in person as well as on their sites and on Facebook. They give back. Grub Street, Boston’s creative writing center, gives by providing a myriad of opportunities for writers. Their authors/teachers are accessible and encouraging.

It’s a brand new day - every day. Will you consider how you can support others in your family, career, and friendship circle? It feels good. Have a lovely day.

About Kathy Handley

Her grandfather entertained his family with stories and dancing, her father quoted Shakespeare and her mother was known as “Mary the Poet,” so naturally, Kathryn would become a writer…eventually!

Now a published novelist at age 71, Kathy’s short fiction has appeared in many literary magazines. She recently won Word Hustler’s Page-to-Screen Contest (2011) and currently serves as Prose Poetry Judge for the National League of American Pen Women Soul-Making Contest. A collection of her work will soon be released under the title A World of Love and Envy (short fiction, flash-fiction, and poetry).

Reflections, Inspiration & Sharing

2011-09-18T00:25:00.000-04:00

Natal anniversaries are an excellent time for reflection. After 58 years of life in this amazing reality, I have so much on which to think. I am constantly and consistently inspired by my daughters, grandchildren, students, family and friends, some of whom I have yet to meet.

As a gift to my readers, I will share some bits of wisdom that have passed my way this year.

~~~~

Begin and end each day in grateful praise. When we take time to be thankful for all we have, as well as recognize our need for guidance as we proceed through the day, life's little challenges are never too difficult.

~~~~

We are all connected...sons and daughters of the Creator. We must open our hearts and minds to this reality. The people at My Fellow Americans are just one group that is working diligently to educate society to this fact.

~~~~

One person CAN make a difference in the lives of many. My friend, Maithri Goonetilleke, is one such person, along with a host of other individuals from around the globe connected with Possible Dreams International, who work to bring education, healing, comfort and love to the peoples of Swaziland and Africa.

~~~~

My "sisters" are my strength. They come from all walks of life, all races and creeds. Together, we are creating a world of Peace, Compassion and Justice. Women like, Ber-Henda Williams, who is using her gifts of poetry, song and Spirit to help women, young and old, find their voice. Women like, the members of Women on Writing, who come together to nurture and encourage writers of all ages. Women like, Eliza Fayle, who encourages the celebration of women wherever they may be on life's path, recognizing the intelligence, sexuality and humor we all possess.

~~~~

"Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, Love gives you a fairy tale." The greatest blessing any one can have is a partner/spouse that celebrates and honors them for who they are unconditionally. I am blessed to have Roger in my life. He is my biggest fan and wisest adviser. He lifts me up, holds my hand, rubs my feet and embraces me when I need a hug.

~~~~

Above all else, the Great Spirit, the Creator of All, the Great I Am, is with me, along with my ancestors, angels, saints, and guides. Learning that the Spirit fills every molecule of life has helped me find peace in the face of pain, courage in the face of fear and love in the face hate.

May we all find inspiration in the things that surround us, daily.

Namasté!

Wicked Good Guest Post!

2011-09-15T15:39:00.001-04:00

Today, I am pleased to share a lovingly written post by Amy Lewis Faircloth, a mom and co-author of Wicked Good. Amy and her sister, Joanne Lewis collaborated on the book - more on that later. First, let me share Amy's post...

My Sons, My Muses: How My Writing Got Us Through the Teen Years

In Greek mythology, the muses are the goddesses who inspire humans to create art and literature. They are the source of knowledge. Divine beings, they were believed to inspire mortals to do their best.

It is hard to imagine, as muses, people who laugh uproariously at The Three Stooges or at the sound of flatulence. However, my muses do just that. My teenage sons are the source of angst, joy and pride. They inspire this mortal mom to do her best.

My oldest son struggles with developmental and learning disabilities. He is the inspiration for Rory, the teen-age protagonist, in Wicked Good. My youngest son struggles with accepting the special needs of his older brother. My time is disproportionately divided between them.

Writing Wicked Good became cathartic for all of us. I talked to my sons. I asked my younger son to remember incidents of the past. He helped me write scenes and come up with dialogue. I asked my older son how he might react in certain fictional situations. The three of us laughed together remembering his sincere questioning of the color of zebra’s testicles. We are able to laugh at ourselves and at each other. The three of us recalled incidents when he was out of control. We all admitted to being afraid of it happening again. We have accepted that some things are funny and some things are scary. We have accepted that things are not perfect. We are not perfect. Without Wicked Good, we would not have spoken aloud these feelings we shared but kept to ourselves.

The teen years are difficult for parent and teen alike. In my family, we have blundered our way successfully through the teenage years with honesty, humor, and acceptance. I suspect that would not have been the case without Wicked Good.

The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, believed that to be content one must act in accordance with his or her own nature. It is impossible to feign perfection with my muses around. I must act in accordance with my own nature. And I am content.

About Amy and Joanne -

Having lived in Maine, I understand how the Muse speaks during those long, cold winter days and nights. So, it is no surprise that on a chilly day in Maine, Amy received a call from her sister, Joanne, asking, “Wanna write a book together?” Amy said yes and the journey began.

Amy is the older sister who loves her 2 sons and nephew, dogs, volunteering at the Bangor Humane Society, running, hiking, snowshoeing, surfing the web, her brown poodle Teddy, Lola, writing, reading, cycling, going to bed early, spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors when it’s nice outside and indoors when it’s not, and editing Joanne’s writing. She is a pescatarian (Amy eats fish but not meat.) and a lawyer in Maine.

Joanne is the younger sister who loves her 3 nephews, her grey poodle Frisco, writing, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, cooking, traveling, Florence, Italy, anything to do with the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo, spending time with her friends and family, and being edited by Amy. She is a vegetarian and a lawyer in Florida.

Two sisters, both attorneys; as sisters, Amy and Joanne have learned to play to each others strengths—an important lesson for any co-authors.

Author Websites:

Website: www.amyandjoanne.com

Blog: www.wickedgoodthebook.blogspot.com

WRITING CONTEST!!

Have you ever said something that totally stopped conversation? Maybe it was insightful. Maybe it was weird. Maybe it was the thing everyone was thinking but was afraid to say. Rory, the teenage character in Wicked Good, is the master of conversation stoppers—his family calls them “Roryisms”.

WOW! is hosting a “Roryism” contest; the winner will receive a $100 prepaid Visa card and their Roryism will be published in the next book in the Wicked series. Full details can be found on The Muffin. http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2011/09/wicked-good-by-amy-lewis-faircloth-and.html

In the Darkest Moment, Amazing Grace

2011-09-10T08:29:00.002-04:00

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Image by dave and rose via Flickr

Ten years ago, I worked as a wellness specialist in York Hospital in Maine. I had arrived at work a bit early, the sun just starting to peak into the basement window of the Wellness Clinic situated in the bottom of the doctor's building across the driveway from the main hospital building. I remember looking up at the tiny rectangle of a window, thinking what a lovely fall day it was going to be. The phone rang and life changed forever.

My oldest daughter was on the line hysterically crying. I couldn't understand what she was saying, so my first action was to calm her.

"Honey, breathe, I can't understand you. What is wrong?"

Finally, after a long sob, I was able to make out that a plane had crashed into a building in New York. As she was talking to me, the second plane crashed in front of her. She screamed, the hysteria getting worse. On the other end of the line, I was trying to make sense of it all. Again, I told her to try and calm herself before she got sick. Finally, I told her to turn off the TV, get a cold cloth to wipe her face down and then call me back.

At this point, I turned on the small radio we had that was usually used to listen to NPR. I dialed the local station just as the announcer made the statement that the United States was under attack.

Visions of Pearl Harbor came rushing into my mind. How could this be, I thought. My next thought was where were all my girls. How could I get in touch with them. Were they safe?

Seconds later, the other wellness workers arrived at work. Their shock at the situation obvious by the unusual seriousness of their demeanor.

Briefly, we discussed what actions to take. Should we close? Should we cancel appointments? Should we go home? No, we decided, we were needed here to help bring calm and peace where there was sure to be pain and chaos.

The fear that had begun to creep up from my gut threatened to overtake me. With all the power I had, I took in a deep full breath, closed my eyes to picture my girls, exhaling slowly. My heart stopped its insane race to terror, my hands stopped shaking and my mind instantly calmed. I gave thanks for the training I had had over the past few years, which helped me, at this time, to focus on the positive in the midst of such horror.

As I climbed the stairs to leave the building, I wondered how I was going to be able to meet the needs of the patients at the hospital, who would be expecting me to help them be calm before facing surgery. How was I to keep my self detached from the terror of what had just happened, not to mention the mounting fear and concern of what might lie ahead?

Stepping out into the glorious September morning, crisp salt air filled my lungs. The usual cast of noisy seagulls greeting me with their raucous caws. Crossing the parking lot to the entrance of the hospital, one of the bushes caught my eye. I was nearly all red, evidence, I thought, of how quickly autumn comes here along the Maine coast.

Looking closer, I realized that what I thought were leaves were actually monarch butterflies. They must have come to rest on this particular bush on their way south. While York is on the migratory route of monarchs, I had never seen so many in one place before. I stood entranced. (Monarchs are symbolic of rebirth - new life.)

Then, as if a protective arm had wrapped around me, a feel of deep peace enveloped my soul. I knew that I would continue to remain calm and peace-filled as I did my work today, and the next, and the next. I knew that all would be well, in spite of this mornings horror.

In the next second, the words to one of my favorite hymns began running through my mind. "Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I, once, was lost, but now I'm found. T'was blind, but now I see." I see...

Through Grace, I could see...see Hope that terror would not reign over us; see Love that would help us to heal; see Peace that would one day would put all our lives back together.

Ten years ago, I came to know myself, as a minister, writer, and poet of Love, Hope and Peace. Ten years ago, out of extreme terror, Grace gave me the strength to know that Love and Peace would prevail.

May we all let Grace into our hearts and minds, today and every day. May we never be captives of the terrorism of the mind and soul. May we each Shine our Light, illuminating the darkness.

Namasté!

What Am I Afraid Of?

2011-09-06T01:00:00.000-04:00

Mari McCarthy is on a blog tour, of which Words from the Hearts just so happens to be part.

Mari is talking about the fears that are universal to all of us at one time or another and how to help ourselves heal through journaling.

Journaling is, as many of you know from the many posts here on the subject, a marvelous means of finding balance in your life on many different levels. Mari's new book, Your Money Matters! Use Journal Writing Therapy to Get Financially Fit Now, is a great example of how journal writing can permeate all aspects of life.

Great news, Mari is offering an e-book to some lucky reader. Simply leave a comment, I will pull a name out of the hat on Thursday 9/8/11. The winner will be notified via email.

Thank you, Mari for sharing your thoughts and wisdom with us.

Some say that fear is the opposite of love. Certainly, feeling fear is usually unpleasant, unless you're getting a kick out of a horror movie or a roller coaster ride (would you call that a pleasant unpleasantness, or just masochism?).

Pause for a few seconds and think about a recent encounter you had with fear. Relive the experience in your mind's eye. You might have been suddenly terrified, or it might have been a more slowly creeping horror.

Because the fear occurred in the past, remembering it allows you to objectify it somewhat. You see yourself being afraid, as if from afar; you recall how you acted and exactly what happened. You re-trace your thought process with the perspective of time, from the safety of your present surroundings. Often, airing out the memory like this will reduce the fear's hold on you.

Sometimes fears are vague and unnamed. You feel anxiety, butterflies, maybe even a touch of panic, but you're hard pressed to explain why. The world's beyond crazy nowadays, so it's no wonder that a lot of people suffer from this foggy sort of ongoing fear.

In this case, you can't so easily remember a specific experience of fear, since it's with you much of the time.

Then, there's the kind of fear that is too horrendous to be remembered without great pain. Letting your thoughts dwell on such unhappy memories is a great way to make yourself sick.

Whatever your typical experience with fear, the best way to deal with it is in your journal. When your pen noodles all across and around and through your perceptions and permutations of fear, it's like getting a psychic massage.

• Does your fear involve something you can name and describe? Writing it all out is like unraveling a knot, dissecting it, recognizing its parts and using your intimacy with it to subdue its power.

• If your fear is more of the unnameable kind, your journal is where you shine a light on the mystery, exploring all the leads and tangents, prodding, probing, working your way around the amorphous blob.

• On the other hand, if your experience with fear is not something you want to spend time on, but you still want to become psychically free of it, you can approach from a different direction. In this case, use your journal as a muscle-builder, filling your consciousness with health and optimism as a strong defense against fear. Include everything encouraging and beautiful; let your journal be a celebration of light and lightness.

If your fear amounts to a phobia, you may need professional help. Our minds can become tyrannical, and they sometimes have to be tamed. But whatever else you do to get a grip on your fears, journaling is a given and may be enough in itself to bring back your confidence.

By Mari L. McCarthy - The Journaling Therapy Specialist, founder of Journaling for the Health of It™. Please visit Mari's blog at http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog/. In Who Are You? How to Use Journaling Therapy to Know and Grow Your Life, Mari presents a gentle process for self discovery through journaling. Mari's latest publication is titled, Your Money Matters! Use Journal Writing Therapy to Get Financially Fit Now. Click links for further details.

The Pearl of the Aha Moment!

2011-09-04T01:00:00.001-04:00

Today, I am blessed to be swapping blogs with, Ber-Henda Williams. Ber-Henda is a fellow poet, kindred-spirit, Sister of the soul. She is guesting here and I am guesting on her blog - www.ber-hendawilliams.com.

My pastor preached last Sunday about finding your “pearl,” that one ounce of truth that no one can define for you, that moment when you go, “Aha!”

I have been shifting through the wheat of my life trying to get to the one thing that mattered most to me, that one thing that I could truly put myself in and find not just happiness but purpose. I have been hosting my own poetry series for five years this coming August but it was not until the earlier part of this year that I found the peace and acceptance of who I am: I am an artist, I am a Poet!

We are always who we are, but it was not until I found myself in a poetic euphoria, while reading the lyrics of Lauyren Hill's “When It All Falls Down” to my poetry class - at the moment, reading her lyrics - that I found my voice and rhythm. I forgot where I was...and when I looked up all the eyes of the class, they were fixed on me. I was not a focal point because I was the teacher; I was the focal point because I was on fire!

My voice made the words on the page quick. I took the lyrics of a woman to whom I revere and shared them with my students, but I found the “why" of my love for poetry, and when I collapsed back into my chair, much the same way a body falls when possession is over, I knew that I not only was called to be a poet but I felt a joyful obligation to write and share my work. I felt more secure in trusting the process of urging my poetry series forward.

My conviction of sharing with youth the power of their own voices cemented for me that day. I know that if I accomplish nothing else in my life, my validation will come from a place that no one can invade. My calling is the word, known to most as poetry. I have held all sorts of jobs and been some very interesting situations but I always find my way back to poetry.

My first awakening to poetry was from a singer by the name of Caron Wheeler from the Afro-European musical group, Soul II Soul. Her works were deep and emotive and “Blue Is the Color of Pain” is what lead me to write in the first place. Later, Latino and Spanish poets that I studied in high school and undergraduate school gave me the freedom and permission to write poetry in Spanish, yet proving that the pearl I found would allow me to transcend audiences.

In life, we are blessed if we arrive at that “Aha Moment,” more so, if we come to it without the grief of losing a loved one or some catastrophic, life-altering experience. However, finding your “Aha Moment” is life-altering and sometimes frightening.

I cannot imagine my life without this art form, but more importantly, I know why I have this art form. Prior to poetry, my life trajectory was headed toward business, then education, retail, and then whatever paid the bills. I chased what mattered to my family, society, and even what I thought God wanted for me. When the pearl emerged, I organized priorities differently. I have a listed what matters most to me and the order in which I apply them. There is no wrong way to apply these principles, but this is how I honor the life God has given me and cherish my pearl.

God/Creativity: The minute I get an idea for a poem or event, I know that God is talking to me. I am training myself to listen versus petitioning. Giving God the honor for not only my present life before the one he is unveiling is so very important to me. I am one with my creator and as an artist this connection is how I praise and worship him.

My Family/Community: I have a lot to be grateful for and my family ranks high on my gratitude list. Even though we do not get to choose our families, I have close friends who I would give my blood for, and therefore, consider family. Telling someone what you do when you are a poet is met with a lot of confusion and curiosity and sometimes criticism, as to say your pearl may not be precious to everyone, but when you find your pearl it is easy to spot a gem. So, my rubies are my family!

Love of self: We have to remember to honor who we are. With all that we are called to do, it easy to forget who we are. If you find yourself in place to where you cannot remember who you and what your elixir of life is, then it may be it’s time to go on an inward journey of reflection and dive into the depths of your existence and find what you have been put here on the earth to do, developing a plan to get there. The pearls that we find come from the obstacles that are meant to refine us. Poetry is how the soul expresses itself and the soul is the essence of who we are.

Please feel to contact to me about all things creative and community action at infor@ber-hendawilliams.com

At this juncture of my life I am seeking to live a bold and beautiful experience. I don’t want to lose on minute on regret or pining for what I know I can create for myself. God has given us all gifts and talents to not only give him honor but to assist us in making this world better for all mankind. Greater gift is there than to know that you are a precious pearl and blessing to all mankind!

Ber-Henda Williams is a published author and host of Poetry, Pages and Scribes a monthly poetry series at the Southfield Public Library. She is Fluent in Spanish and facilitates workshops for authors and other cultural events all over the metro area. Log on to www.ber-hendawilliams.com for more information on her books and events.

Words to Heal Ourselves

2011-08-28T12:50:00.000-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

It never ceases to amaze me how a few kind words can heal even the most grievous wounds.

"I'm sorry."

"Forgive me."

"I'm here."

"I love you."

Simple phrases, easy to say, that sometimes, we say them without thinking. However, when we take the time to look into the eyes of another human, saying with all our heart these phrases, healing happens.

Take for example the healing that Nelson Mandela brought to his country through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which gave South Africans a tool to forgive; thereby, giving them the opportunity to create a new life in South Africa.

Interestingly, the words, "I'm sorry, forgive me," and "I love you" are seldom said to the one person who needs to hear them the most...ourselves!

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and said, "Forgive me," or, "I love you?"

It's not easy. We feel foolish. We don't see the need.

It's a shame, really, because when we are not able to love, forgive or care for ourselves, we cannot truly be there for anyone else.

It took me many years to forgive myself for not being the perfect daughter, the perfect wife, the perfect mother. Once I was able to understand that it was OK not to be perfect, that it was only necessary to try to be the best I could be, healing happened.

The moment I forgave myself, I was able to say without shame or hesitation that I love "me."

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a magical fifteen second revelation. It literally took me years. It was hard work, and sometimes, I slip back into the old habits of self-degradation.

One thing I have learned, though, I am most vulnerable to seeing myself as unlovable when I am tired, stressed, lonely and/or sick. Now that I understand this, I find I am less likely to fall into the old “I’m no good” mindset. Instead, I have learned to allow others to nurture me, to care for me, to remind me that I am lovable. This, too, is a blessing I denied myself back when I thought negatively of myself.

Surrounding ourselves with loving, caring people helps us maintain a loving, caring attitude about life, ourselves and others. The thing is, it starts with us. Until we see ourselves as enough, as good, as acceptable, then it is difficult for others to see it, also.

Forgiveness is difficult. Love is difficult. Caring is difficult. The difficulty lies in the fear that we may get hurt, again. I won't lie, you probably will get hurt again.

However, the good news is, that with forgiveness, comes new opportunities to love and care for yourself and others.

May you learn to always see the Sacred in yourself as well as others.

Namasté!

Words that Heal, Words that Hurt

2011-08-25T11:51:00.002-04:00

Today, I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post from author/artist, Melissa Foster. I just finished reading Melissa's book, Megan's Way, a mother/daughter journey through life, death and the paranormal, which held me captive all weekend. I had to squeak in time to read between helping my daughters care for their little ones, but I finally finished on the train ride home from New Hampshire. (At which point, I began her other book, Chasing Amanda...more on that book in a later blog.)

Megan's Way touched me on many levels. There is the intrigue of secrets shared, discovered and hidden. There are the bittersweet moments between best friends, parent and child and lovers. There is the heart-pounding tension of a parent's worst nightmares. All of which builds a story that captures the reader's attention, satisfies the senses and leaves an afterglow of satisfaction.

The following is a short video promotion of Megan's Way.

The Healing Power of Words, by Melissa Foster

You’ve hardly had any sleep, your hairdryer is on the fritz, and your favorite skirt won’t button. You’re having a rough morning, to say the least. You finally drag yourself into work (ten minutes late, because it’s one of those days), and you find a sticky note on your computer that reads, “See me” written in your micro-managing boss. You roll your eyes and think, Great, now what? As you walk to his office, you’re role playing in your mind—Your boss is going to fire you. What have you done wrong, besides being late and looking like a bag lady? Oh yeah, there was that report mishap, you remember, the one that was never written? That’s it, you’re fired. You’re sure of it.

You open the heavy wooden door, wishing it were glass so you could see his face before entering, gage his mood. Once inside the office, you stand up straight, hoping the pin you’ve secured your zipper with doesn’t suddenly pop off and fly across the room. Is it hot in here? Your boss doesn’t look up from his computer, just motions to the chair in front of the desk. Gulp! What seems like an hour later, yet is merely minutes, he looks up and crosses his arms across his chest. You’re sure he’s giving you the once-over, silently confirming the decision to fire you. He smiles and leans back, relaxing. Bastard. He’s enjoying this.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you for weeks,” he says. “Your reports have been superb—accurate reporting, detailed, and wicked funny.”

After you pick your jaw up from your lap, your heartbeat slows to a more normal pace, the tension in your cheeks, which had been scowling, dissipates. You can breathe once again.

The power of words is tremendous. Words can life you up or send you spiraling into depression or anger. Words can be whirled into viscous swords or softened into a warm embrace, all with a simple change in tone. The written word can be just as powerful as the verbal. Take the “See me” note from above. Had the note said something as simple as, “Can we chat around ten?” or “See me J,” it would have conveyed a much friendlier message.

Everyday we make choices in how we’ll convey ourselves to others. Sometimes we do this with facial expressions or body language, and other times we do this through spoken words. The next time that you are rushed or stressed, think before you speak. Is your tone conveying the message you want to relay to others, or are they taking the brunt of your bad moment? In writing, I suggest trying the same tact. Review each sentence for punctuation—a simple comma can change the tone of a line.

Words can heal and words can hurt. Choose your words carefully.

About Melissa

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of two novels, Megan’s Way and Chasing Amanda. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and WoMen’s Literary Café, a literary community. Melissa is currently collaborating in the film production of Megan’s Way. Melissa has written for Calgary’s Child Magazine, and Women Business Owners Magazine. She hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa is currently working on her next novel, and lives in Maryland with her family.

Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Visit Melissa’s website, www.MelissaFoster.com

Many thanks to Melissa for being a guest here, today, as well as sharing her book. Please visit Melissa's website for more information on her books.

Namasté!

Haiku Highlights

2011-08-16T11:56:00.014-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Recently, I had the pleasure of teaching a course on haiku for Women on Writing. In the course, we discussed the art of writing traditional haiku, using the 5-7-5 beats per line as well as American or English haiku that doesn't worry about beats or measures, just the use of as few words as possible to create a clear and interesting word picture. We took a look at the history from the origins in Zen Buddhism to the Beat Poets. Then, we wrote.

We used prompts to stimulate the writing. The prompts were both visual and textual. The results blew me away!

Some of the textual prompts were:

• Hanging laundry

• Train whistle blowing on a winter night

• Wind chimes in spring storm

• Crickets by the hearth

• Scattered pumpkins in a field

• Early morning sounds

• Sounds at midnight

• Smell of apple pie or cinnamon cookies

• Smell of hay

• Taste of hot soup on a cold day

• Baby asleep on your chest

• Feel of pet's fur

Visual prompts were taken from Wikimedia Commons and included a beach scene, children playing in the snow, a rose in the snow, moonlight over Boston skyline, workers standing in a circle at a plant and children running towards a building.

Here are the poems written by two of my students with their permission.

Haiku by Pat Crandall

that great blue sea

beach-goers loll on velvety sand

cliff rock sentinels

pink crocuses bloom

in a field of sunlight-

a gateway to spring

a crimson rose-

its snow-capped beauty delights

storm unexpected!

opening camp porch

gusts of swirling wind and snow-

the sound of new chimes

spiky red hair

full of vitality

new wave of mommy

full circle

for what objective

these tense men

wee rooftop garden

a lone bench comes into view

sweltering city

schoolchildren streaming

into barren enclosure-

fear pierces young hearts

Haiku by Renee Howard Cassese

yellow goslings

huddle around mother

speckled feather tent

autumn leaves

winding red path

tunnel of trees

white crop circles

hidden messages

in crystal snow

white tee shirts

ghosts of her husband

she won't throw away

What a pleasure it has been to watch the development of these poems. Some of the images have brought me to tears.

May the simplicity of haiku bring word pictures that delight, inform, enlighten and dance in your memory.

Namasté!

Letting Your Light Shine

2011-08-12T08:00:00.011-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

A little east of Jordan, the women of ancient times lived very different lives than we do today, yet there are many similarities. Like us, they had children, cared for families, helped others in the community, and searched for meaning in their lives.

Sacred stories, tell us that many women traveled difficult and lonely paths through life. The examples of their inner strength and wisdom can be a guiding light during times of difficulty, confusion, pain and suffering.

One of my favorite stories is that of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi is widowed and both her sons are dead. Ruth is one of her daughter-in-laws. When Naomi decides to return to her own country, Ruth goes with her. She says to her mother-in-law, “Your people will be my people; your God, my God.”

For me, this is such a beautiful display of selflessness. Ruth could easily have stayed were she was, perhaps even remarried, but instead, she goes with the woman to whom she was no legal obligation, treating Naomi as if she were her blood kin.

Isn’t this what we are all called to do...to treat each other as if we were blood kin? Aren’t we supposed to see all humans as our brothers and sisters?

Ruth saw this, living her truth without hesitation. Her life is a bright Light for us to follow.

Namasté!

Fellow Americans

2011-08-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

Growing up in South Boston, I always wondered why everyone considered it the enclave of the Irish. People would ask me what part of Ireland the Neas' came from, which caused me no end of confusion. My Dad told me we were "Black-Irish" and my mother told me we were linked to Irish royalty. My grandmother (Mom's mother) was an O'Riordan, which translates from Gaelic into The Kings Bard or Poet. It took me years to weed through the legends and tall tales.

Truth is I am an American mutt, just like many folks these days. While I am still proud of my South Boston, Irish heritage, I am also proud of the German, Slovenian, Northern Irish, Welsh and other ethnic groups linked to my family.

As a girl growing up, my mother always shared the cultures of our neighbors and friends with me so that I "understood who they were." No one was ever "bad," simply different. Different was never a problem. It was OK to be different in Momma's eyes.

We had an Italian landlady and Italian friends. Some of my girlfriends' Italian grandmothers taught us to cook like they do in Italy. We had a family from China who owned the laundry on L Street where Momma would take Daddy's shirts. She always greeted them with a big smile and a bow. The Armenian families in the neighborhood owned the dry cleaners and the corner stores. I learned about the Jewish traditions from Max the druggist, who owned the pharmacy across the street from our house and about the Greek Orthodox holy days when Momma and I would walk past the Orthodox church just down the street.

The purpose of this jaunt down memory lane is to segue into sharing a new group that I have become aware of recently - www.myfellowamerican.us

My Fellow American is a project of Unity Productions Foundation (www.upf.tv), a media and education non-profit organization. The mission of Unity Productions Foundation (UPF) is to create peace through the media. The My Fellow American project is collecting stories about Americans who know, are friends with, or work with Muslim Americans.

There is a pledge on the site that states, "Muslims are our fellow Americans. They are part of the national fabric that holds our country together. They contribute to America in many ways, and deserve the same respect as any of us. I pledge to spread this message, and affirm our country’s principles of liberty and justice for all. "

Momma would have liked this. She believed we are all equal in God's eyes and that God loves all of us, even those who don't believe the exact way we do. She was the first person I ever heard who said that humans limit the infinite power of God to love by making statement about who are God's children. We all are, every last one of us.

As an ESL teacher, I have had the opportunity to teach and become friends with several people who practice the Muslim religion. In fact, Roger and I were "adopted" by one of my students from Bahrain. I am honored to call him, son. Since his return to Bahrain, days before the troubles there, I have often prayed for him and his family.

America is a land of immigrants, a land of slaves, and a land of outcasts. Many who have come to call America home have fled persecution. We forget this.

It is easier to demonize others, which is a trait some Americans have perfected over the years. As a child, I heard the ugly words said about African Americans, I witnessed the tirades by good Americans against the Russians, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Vietnamese and, yes, even the Germans, my people, who have been part of this country since the 1700's.

Words have the power to cripple or to raise up. The words, My fellow American, are Words from the Heart, when spoken with respect, tolerance and compassion.

God bless us all as we learn to see ourselves in the eyes of others. God bless us all.

Namasté!

Teacher Student Connections

2011-08-07T09:06:00.000-04:00

Taylor Mali, a well-known slam poet and teacher, does a monologue that discusses, "What Teachers Make." In it, he shares a story of how someone asked him, rather condescendingly, what he makes as a teacher. The video is a must see for anyone who has been a teacher, is a teacher or is thinking about becoming a teacher.

Making a difference takes work, something teachers do not get credit for doing, because most people unacquainted with education think anyone can stand up before a group of people and teach. Truth is, teachers work well-over the time they are paid for teaching. Teachers research, they prepare lesson plans, we correct papers, they attend seminars, conferences, workshops and other gatherings of our peers to learn, inspire and share.

Realistically, not all teachers are perfect, but neither are all doctors, lawyers, mechanics, engineers, clerks, and so forth. However, most teachers give their students 99.9% of themselves or more. What does this mean? It means that when a student doesn't understand how to do something, the teacher explains it over and over again until they do understand. It means that rather than listen to what others say about their students, they enter a new year of school expecting the very best from everyone. Yes, teachers often are disappointed, but there in lies the gist of this blog post.

As a teacher, I also strive to give all my students my very best. I worry about the person who just doesn't get it. Why? Because I was that student many years ago, and but for the teachers who saw my potential, I could have been statistically one of those of kids that don't make it. Therefore, I am driven to give back what I received. This is my way of honoring my teachers, those who blessed my life by holding high the Light of Education so that I could see the path ahead, learning to believe in myself and my abilities.

You see, I took responsibility for my learning. This is the other half of the teacher/student equation.

Students must take responsibility for their learning. They must respect themselves and others. They must tolerate the imperfections of themselves and others. They must empathize, have compassion for themselves and others. Without these things, learning doesn't take place.

Copping an attitude, blaming parents, blaming teachers, zoning out are all signs of irresponsibility on the part of the student. Yes, teachers fail to teach, but students also fail to learn. It is a two-way street.

Teachers cannot teach when a mind is shut down. Teachers cannot teach when a person has given up on themselves and those around them.

Teachers make a difference in the lives of their students, just as students make a difference in the lives of their teachers.

What kind of difference do you make?

Namasté!

Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, too!

2011-07-30T13:42:00.000-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

When my girls were little, they loved to hear the adventures of that rolly-polly bear, named Pooh. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet were two of the favorite characters, while Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga, Roo and Eyeore followed close behind.

When Courtney, my second daughter, was born 31 years ago, today, she was given a small Pooh bear. Somewhere along the line, I began calling her, Courtney-Roo or Roo for short. It's one of those terms of endearment that parents create because something touches them about their child.

As I sit here writing, I can't believe 31 years have past since she came into our lives. This is more years than I was old at the time! From the first day, she was an enjoyer. Give her an old box and she was captain of her own ship, a fairy princess in a castle, Old Mother Hubbard with all her children or any number of other characters in her repertoire of make believe.

Courtney and Gwendolyn, her older sister, would play for hours together, creating stories, lip sinking to oldies, producing puppet shows and such. Their imagination always astounded me. When their two younger sisters came along, they were their own theater troupe! What fun it was to watch them act out characters in a book.

Now, Courtney is the mother of three. Her little ones are doing the acting. In fact, her oldest, my granddaughter, Addie, just starred in her first production as "Glitter" the fairy in Midsummer's Night Dream. Yes, she is doing Shakespeare at five years old - with "talking" part, to boot!

Addie in Her Acting Debut

Back when the girls were appearing in their school productions, dance recitals or concerts, they would take bets from their friends as to how long it would take me to begin to cry. (I learned about this by accident one day.) At the time that I found out about it, I told them they would understand when they were mothers. Of course, they laughed at me, not thinking they could ever be so sentimental.

As Addie performed her fairy dance, Courtney was grateful for her sunglasses. They hid the fact that she was all teary-eyed over seeing her little one on stage enjoying herself so much.

Generations of women in our family have found joy on stage, be it singing, acting, or dancing. As they say in Winnie the Pooh, "It's Tigger-ific!"

Namasté!

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Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, too!