Yesterday was one of the best days of my life, for many reasons which aren't important to anyone else but me. But here's the thing, I find that my joy and happiness are radiating outwards. It's the so called simple things in life that keep us going. The kind words from someone we look up to... a friend getting her very first brand new car... the fact that someone is still with us today... that our parents are still here...

I don't have much in the way of literature today, prehaps the reading of a religious book. For many Christians it's the Bible, for the Jewish people it's the Torah, for Islamic people the Qur'an. Whatever you may be, whoever you are... believing is simply enough for you.

I read a quote the other day that said "My religion is kindness." It happened to be by the Dalai Lama, a member of yet another religion in this world. Does it really matter who's "right" or who's "wrong"? Isn't it just enough to believe ... in peace?

My wish for you today is that you have a wonderful day, such as the day I had yesterday. My prayer for you today is that you find peace... within... May love find you today, in whatever form or shape that it takes today... look for it... and love...

For an article regarding the Dalai Lama and Tibet: http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/jul/06spec.htm

For More on the jewish religion: http://www.jewfaq.org/

For more on Islam: http://www.islam.com/

For a technical explanation on love please see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love
For a three dimensional view of love, get up out of your chair, go outside and talk to someone... live life! Make eye contact and say hello!!!

Peace be with you...

As I complete my portfolio for this latest degree I've started to realize a few things. One- I've learned a lot and two- that I know nothing. "I am but a grain in the sand of time..." and that would be my very own quote, smile. I've been afforded opportunities only dreamt about in my past. What the future holds I do not know but I do know this, that everything that has come before are but stepping stones....

As I write this portfolio I am structuring my writing and educational artifacts around quotes... in my mind my protfolio has taken on shape if not the first stirrings of life, but isn't that what writing is? Life taking form in the written word?

Richard Peck is one of my all time favorite writers and he changed my life forever when I read his book "Past Perfect, Present Tense". He has a quote at the very end of the book in his hints chapter that reads "There was never a writer who wasn't a reader first."

This is very important because I am above all else a reader. I have been since I was a child and I've never looked back and wished to be illiterate since. It is the readers of this world who go on to write... and to make a difference...

The point is this, without reading we can not and will not advance in area of our lives. I have friend who says that he's normal... the man holds four degrees and deserves to get his doctorate but here's the thing... he doens't consider himself exceptional, just fortunate... and normal.

I think we should all be so normal.

As I complete my master's degree I realize that I have learned many things and sometimes not much of anythng at all! For example I learned that just because you know what you want to write doesn't mean you'll know how to write it and get your point across!

As a teacher I was taught about the different styles and ways to learn as well as communicate and to write. My favorite book on the mulitple intelligences is by Thomas Armstrong, entitled "The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing", published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in Alexandria, Virginia.

Originally proposed by Howard Gardner and published in 1983 the multiple intelligences play a large part in today's educational world.

"Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself rhetorically or poetically; and language as a means to remember information. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. In Howard Gardner's words, in entails the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.

Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms. According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence runs in an almost structural parallel to linguistic intelligence.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related.

Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas.

Interpersonal intelligence is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others. Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counselors all need a well-developed interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal intelligence entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations. In Howard Gardner's view it involves having an effective working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives."

From Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner.

Read about the intelligences and make up your own mind about them. Decide for yourself how you learn, don't let anyone tell you. Reread the intelligences and see if you can figure out how your children learn as well. Life will take on a new meaning for you.

I like Thomas Armstrong's book for many reasons but foremost for his ability to relate these multiple intelligneces to my field which is literacy. Without the ability to read and write all other courses of study are next to impossible. For those who are dyslexic school, studying and learning through the printed and written word is next to impossible. This intrigues me greatly for many reasons not least of which is that this field is greatly unexplored.

To find Thomas Armstrong's book it is ISBN 0-87120-718-4
For more on Howard Gardner see the links below:

http://www.howardgardner.com/
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Gardner

There's a new light among us this morning... a brand new life born last week to our good friends down in Pennsylvania.

As the first baby in a long time among my group of friends she was highly awaited; and although our friends are no longer close to us geographically they are still ever so close to our hearts.

The e-mail simply read: She's Here!!!! in large pink letters followed by what must be the prettiest baby pictures taken since my children were born, smile.

There's something about the light of a new life that draws everyone near to it. Since we're so far away and can't see the new baby in person I feel rather like a fairy godmother while I'm writing this. I want to wish our friends the best for their daughter. I want to have a magic wand that will make this baby's life perfect and send her to the ball should she ever need a pumpkin carriage. Of course I can't do that but what I can do is this... I pray that this baby has a long life full of happiness and joy, a life full of trial and error that she not only learns from but triumphs over. I wish her the success that comes only after hard work and I wish her love. I'm glad you're here!

Now let's see if I can find a wand on sale should I ever need one- just in case!

Life is a choice, so therefore CHOOSE LIFE!

Choose to live. Choose to fulfill your destiny~ and your dreams.

Choose to laugh, to love... to live. Take that new job, come out of your bat cave, walk out into the sun, turn your face to it and give thanks that you're still here.

I know many people have guilt. Some of us have survivor's guilt, some of us have guilt over how we were raised, or over how we are raising our children. I personally don't know anyone who doesn't carry some type of guilt. There's no reason to. Let it go, don't worry or as a friend of mine says "Don't be concerned". Easy to say isn't it? Even easier to do, I promise. Just let it go...

Survivor's guilt is the hardest one of all and I won't lie to you, it takes time to learn to live with it. For some it's worse than for others. You survived, they didn't. Whoever that they may be: your buddy, your cousin, your someone.


Sometimes it's guilt about someone we've walked away from or about someone who has walked away from us. It happens, at times people are only in your life for a reason or a season.

Forgive me for the technical difficulties I've been experiencing this week, I'm not sure what's been going on but then that's why I'm doing this blog- so I can learn! It's been an interesting experience to say the least, my favorite quote by Alexander Graham Bell says it all~

Live in the moment.

Don't let a moment go by without your enjoying it, don't think about tomorrow or even about the next minute, just be in the now, exist for the time that you're in.

Trust your moral compass, we all have one.

Really we all have one. You can choose to ignore it just like a man who refuses to look for directions... but the smart thing to do would be to listen to it and find your way home. Home is where the heart is you know.

Laugh as often as you can.

This is a big one, too many times adults (and even children, yes) will not take a chance and laugh. I don't mean at another's expense here either. I mean laugh at yourself, especially when you know what you've done is funny. For example this morning I went to close the curtain and the rod fell down, it was like something out of America's Funniest Home Videos. What did I do? I laughed... and I'll fix it later. Share the laughter.

Take chances.

No one ever got anywhere by being safe and staying in the house. Turn off the TV, here let me repeat that for you- TURN OFF THE TV. Go outside, life is for the living. We're producing a civilization of people who exist solely in their minds. GO OUTSIDE, live life, make friends, read a book with them, talk to someone. Connect.

Never say no to what may be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Again trust yourself, turn off that TV and meet people, you just never know do you? And ladies? Do your hair and make yourself pretty. Men like that. Actually they just like clean but we'll cover that another time. And men? We ladies like clean too!

Trust your intuition, angels, conscience, totem... whatever it may be for you.

They're real... they exist, live in the moment, see them for who and what they are.

Live in the moment and enjoy life, you only have this moment so why not live in it? Stop thinking about tomorrow or next year. Take a moment to sit still, to enjoy the quiet and to live...

Love is patient, love is kind.

~~Love your friends, and try to be quiet around your enemies. Today is the day where you can make a difference in the life of someone else. Whether it be a kind word, a CD suggestion or a phone call-- do it. Don't let time pass you by, love is a verb, show those whom you love how love in action looks.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

~~For the friend that you haven't heard from say a prayer, think of them, and keep them in your thoughts. The universe is a vast place they will come back to you again.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

~~Forget what Aunt Tilde said back in 1974, or what your mother-in-law said last year. Just don't give that person an opportunity to hurt you again. Life is about evolution, always moving forward, always changing. Move on...

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

~~Be glad for your friends when opportunities come their way, love them no matter what they choose do in their lives.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

~~Love is forever...

From 1st Corinthians 13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=13&version=31

Happy Anniversary!


To my very best friend on her second wedding anniversary...

If you're anything like me you like new things; music, books, friends... well you get the idea. I've only listened to a couple of tracks of this CD but they were phenomenal. The tracks were sent to me by a friend of mine and my CD isn't in yet. The tracks were that good that I needed to own a copy of this CD myself and I can't wait until the CD I bought comes.

I'm sorry to say I didn't really know who Tool were, I do know now, but I found their lyrics and their music very though provoking when I first was exposed to them, I still do. I recommend this CD as well as others by them and I leave you to make up your own mind.


To buy this CD-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005ORCW/103-6448061-8409416?ie=UTF8

For more about Tool- http://www.toolband.com/

There are a series of Native American CD's entitled Sacred Sprirt. The first one is subtitled "Chants and Dances of the Native Americans", and the second one is "More Chants and Dances of the Native Americans". The link for purchasing these CD's can be found below. I believe there are nine CD's in the series altogether even though not all of them are readily available at Amazon.com.

The CD listed above is very moving spiritually and should not be missed. I have never heard any other music like it, something about it transcends the physical plane and moves you to a higher realm. Again this is a CD not to be missed.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_2/103-6448061-8409416?ie=UTF8&keywords=sacred%20spirit%20native%20american&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asacred%20spirit%20native%20american%2Ci%3Apopular

By Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes. This is a book every woman (and possibly some men) should read. I'll warn you now, this book is several hundred pages long and not for the feint of heart; once you start reading it you won't want to put it down. I suggest reading the stories at different times and at your own pace, the book is structured in a way that makes it possible to read it in this manner.

From Publishers WeeklyFolklore- Fairy tales and dream symbols are called on to help restore women's neglected intuitive and instinctive abilities in this earthy first book by a Jungian analyst. According to Estes, wolves and women share a psychic bond in their fierceness, grace and devotion to mate and community. This comparison defines the archetype of the Wild Woman, a female in touch with her primitive side and able to rely on gut feelings to make choices. The tales here, from various cultures, are not necessarily about wolves; instead, they illuminate fresh perspectives on relationships, self-image, even addiction. An African tale of twins who baffle a man represents the dual nature of woman; from the Middle East, a story about a threadbare but secretly magic carpet shows society's failure to look beyond appearances. Three brief, ribald stories advocate a playful, open sexuality; other examples suggest ways to deal with anger and jealousy. At times, Estes's commentary--in which she urges readers to draw upon and enjoy their Wild Woman aspects--is hyperbolic, but overall her widely researched study offers usable advice for modern women. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Women-Wolves-Clarissa-Pinkola-Estes/dp/0345409876