"If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison
Monday, May 2, 2011
Blog Prompt- 5/2
Today, I'd like you to put yourself in the shoes of one of the other characters from "Raymond's Run". Writing in 1st person, tell their story. How do they feel about Squeaky and the action of the story? You may read someone's blog from Hour 1 to see an example.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Blog Prompt- 4/29
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!
Here's today's question:
Do you have a hero? Describe him or her. What is it that you admire about them? What have they done to make them a hero? What qualities do they have that set them apart? Are there ways in which you could be more like them? Are there ways in which you already are like them?
Here's today's question:
Do you have a hero? Describe him or her. What is it that you admire about them? What have they done to make them a hero? What qualities do they have that set them apart? Are there ways in which you could be more like them? Are there ways in which you already are like them?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Blog Prompt- 4/28
Here's today's question:
If you found out that you only had one year left to live, what would you do with your time?
Please write for 10 to 15 minutes:)
If you found out that you only had one year left to live, what would you do with your time?
Please write for 10 to 15 minutes:)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
If you really knew me...
You'd know that I never think I'm good enough. When people tell me I'm doing a good job, I assume that they're just humoring me. "How could they possibly be telling the truth? They're just trying to make me feel better?".
If you really knew me, you'd know that I apologize too much because, somewhere deep down, I feel the need to apologize for being me. I know that's not true, but I have a hard time believing it. There's a big difference between knowing and believing.
If you really knew me, you'd know that it is hard for me to believe that I deserve to be loved. Again, I usually think to myself, "How could they possibly love me?". I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Subconsciously, I think "When are they going to figure it out and leave me?".
If you really know me, you'd know that sometimes (a lot of the time) I hate the way I look. Sometimes, I feel like the ugliest person in every room.
If you really knew me, you'd know that I have treated people poorly and regretted it. I have let moments where I should have stood up for someone pass me by without saying a word. I have said "Yes" even though I wanted to say "No".
If you really knew me, you'd know how much I've changed over the years. All of the stuff I said above makes it seem like I really hate myself. There was a time in my life when I did, yes. However, a few years ago, I started to make a conscious effort to change the way I viewed myself. I discovered that the bad decisions I had made were making me dislike myself more. I realized that no one else has control over my actions. My words and actions are the only factors that I truly can control in life. I realized that there's no point in being sad or angry about a situation unless I've done all that I could to make the situation better. I'm always trying to be better than I was before. If I've made a decision in my life that didn't work, I try something new. I can honestly say that this is one of the things I like best about myself.
I would challenge you to talk to yourselves (not out loud:). Have a conversation in your head with yourself where you ask, "Did I do everything I could to make the situation better? Did I do the right thing?".
"Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda": What should I have done? What would I have done? What could I have done?
All great questions to ask yourselves in order to reflect.
What about asking "Should, Will, Can": What should I do now? What will I do next? What can I do to make things better?
You are the only person who controls the decisions you make, the actions you take, and the words you speak. You decide what kind of person you will become. I decided I wanted to be someone that I could be proud of and admire.
What kind of person do you want to be?
If you really knew me, you'd know that I apologize too much because, somewhere deep down, I feel the need to apologize for being me. I know that's not true, but I have a hard time believing it. There's a big difference between knowing and believing.
If you really knew me, you'd know that it is hard for me to believe that I deserve to be loved. Again, I usually think to myself, "How could they possibly love me?". I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Subconsciously, I think "When are they going to figure it out and leave me?".
If you really know me, you'd know that sometimes (a lot of the time) I hate the way I look. Sometimes, I feel like the ugliest person in every room.
If you really knew me, you'd know that I have treated people poorly and regretted it. I have let moments where I should have stood up for someone pass me by without saying a word. I have said "Yes" even though I wanted to say "No".
If you really knew me, you'd know how much I've changed over the years. All of the stuff I said above makes it seem like I really hate myself. There was a time in my life when I did, yes. However, a few years ago, I started to make a conscious effort to change the way I viewed myself. I discovered that the bad decisions I had made were making me dislike myself more. I realized that no one else has control over my actions. My words and actions are the only factors that I truly can control in life. I realized that there's no point in being sad or angry about a situation unless I've done all that I could to make the situation better. I'm always trying to be better than I was before. If I've made a decision in my life that didn't work, I try something new. I can honestly say that this is one of the things I like best about myself.
I would challenge you to talk to yourselves (not out loud:). Have a conversation in your head with yourself where you ask, "Did I do everything I could to make the situation better? Did I do the right thing?".
"Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda": What should I have done? What would I have done? What could I have done?
All great questions to ask yourselves in order to reflect.
What about asking "Should, Will, Can": What should I do now? What will I do next? What can I do to make things better?
You are the only person who controls the decisions you make, the actions you take, and the words you speak. You decide what kind of person you will become. I decided I wanted to be someone that I could be proud of and admire.
What kind of person do you want to be?
Blog Prompt- 4/27
I'd like you to reflect on the Anti-Bullying program we went to yesterday.
How would you end the sentence?
If you really knew me....
Feel free to write in One Note or somewhere that is private. Your writing may turn out to be more personal than what you are comfortable with sharing on your blog.
Of course, if you would like to, you may post your response on your blog.
Please try to write for 10 to 15 minutes without stopping. Then, we will have workshop and conferencing time.
How would you end the sentence?
If you really knew me....
Feel free to write in One Note or somewhere that is private. Your writing may turn out to be more personal than what you are comfortable with sharing on your blog.
Of course, if you would like to, you may post your response on your blog.
Please try to write for 10 to 15 minutes without stopping. Then, we will have workshop and conferencing time.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Solitude in San Francisco
While waiting for the ferry to Alcatraz, I think I saw someone die.
Totally last minute, I decided to travel to San Francisco. By myself. I had traveled alone before, so I thought that it would be no problem to wander the streets with my little guide book and fold out map. I had a great time, don't get me wrong. I just found that I don't crave that solitude as much as I used to in my younger days.
The day I arrived, I walked up one of San Francisco's quintessential hills to see the best view of the city. Not only was it completely overcast, it was raining, and, for the life of me, I couldn't manage to take a picture that was in focus. I thought maybe it was me that was out of focus.
You can get easily lost in your own thoughts when you don't have anyone to talk with. That makes it sound depressing, like I was longingly watching people, wishing I had someone to talk to. It wasn't like that. It was more contemplative and reflective with certain things that I wish I could have shared.
Waiting in line in the rain is never fun, but waiting in line in the rain alone might be worse. Now, I said that I think I saw someone die. It wasn't as dramatic as that might have sounded. No one was really aware, but a man collapsed as he was getting on the ferry. I didn't realize it until the paramedics came, but then, yes, I saw him laying on the ground with his shirt wide open while they tried to resuscitate him.
What shocked me the most was the gaping of the "audience". Truthfully, I couldn't believe so many people were standing around watching as if it were a play or something. I was guilty of it too. I started to just watch the onlookers. Most were concerned, some were indifferent. But practically everyone stood and watched. The man's wife or daughter or sister, I'm not sure which, was sitting on the side with an employee, crying. I couldn't stop myself from imagining this happening to me. What if I were traveling and my companion dropped dead? To go from being with somneone, being a part of a relationship, being safe and secure to being alone and in pain...
There's the rub. Being a part of someone else's life, being partners, being many instead of one is a fleeting thing. In one second you can be completely alone again. Are we ever not aloe? We are all just drifting through the universe on our own course which sometimes happens to orbit around the bright star of loved ones. But how permanent is it all?
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>
Totally last minute, I decided to travel to San Francisco. By myself. I had traveled alone before, so I thought that it would be no problem to wander the streets with my little guide book and fold out map. I had a great time, don't get me wrong. I just found that I don't crave that solitude as much as I used to in my younger days.
The day I arrived, I walked up one of San Francisco's quintessential hills to see the best view of the city. Not only was it completely overcast, it was raining, and, for the life of me, I couldn't manage to take a picture that was in focus. I thought maybe it was me that was out of focus.
You can get easily lost in your own thoughts when you don't have anyone to talk with. That makes it sound depressing, like I was longingly watching people, wishing I had someone to talk to. It wasn't like that. It was more contemplative and reflective with certain things that I wish I could have shared.
Waiting in line in the rain is never fun, but waiting in line in the rain alone might be worse. Now, I said that I think I saw someone die. It wasn't as dramatic as that might have sounded. No one was really aware, but a man collapsed as he was getting on the ferry. I didn't realize it until the paramedics came, but then, yes, I saw him laying on the ground with his shirt wide open while they tried to resuscitate him.
What shocked me the most was the gaping of the "audience". Truthfully, I couldn't believe so many people were standing around watching as if it were a play or something. I was guilty of it too. I started to just watch the onlookers. Most were concerned, some were indifferent. But practically everyone stood and watched. The man's wife or daughter or sister, I'm not sure which, was sitting on the side with an employee, crying. I couldn't stop myself from imagining this happening to me. What if I were traveling and my companion dropped dead? To go from being with somneone, being a part of a relationship, being safe and secure to being alone and in pain...
There's the rub. Being a part of someone else's life, being partners, being many instead of one is a fleeting thing. In one second you can be completely alone again. Are we ever not aloe? We are all just drifting through the universe on our own course which sometimes happens to orbit around the bright star of loved ones. But how permanent is it all?
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>
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