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Bringing Back Literature
Good afternoon all. I hope your Monday has been full of triumph. I am looking forward to a beautiful week and hope that you all receive the same.
As an avid reader and lifelong writer, I find it heartbreaking when someone says they really do not like to read. Imagine my horror in hearing these words come from my own child. He is at that age where the only thing that interests him are video and computer games. As a mother and book lover, I have ardently tried to change his mind. This led me on a hunt for any type of book that would turn his eyes away from his game.
This search has saddened me a bit. As I asked him what he thought about the classics that I read in school and he simply stared at me dumbfounded, I realized that they do not teach the classics anymore. Only when you reach the college level do they truly introduce people like Aristotle, Sophocles, Dickens, and the like.
With this realization, I have decided I need to bring literature back. I would love to see its return all over, but I will settle for in my home. I have most of the classics. I have read and reread most of them. My new project is to read them with my children, so they will understand them. I do not expect them to pick up The Iliad or Romeo and Juliet and understand the meaning. I do feel though that if they understand it more, they would find them enjoyable.
My plan is to start them off with reading with me thirty minutes every night. Then we will spend thirty minutes discussing the meaning of what we read. I will let them discuss among themselves the meaning and then all of us together. It is my hope that they will learn to love these classics as I have my entire life. If not, at least they will be ready for college courses that include a small portion of them.
What do you all think? What are your favorite classics? Which book could you read over and over and never get tired of? Or which book do your learn something new from every time you reread it? Let me know in the comments and let’s bring literature back.
As always inspire to be inspired my friends. Your next great adventure is just a turn of the page away.
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The Devaluation of I Love You
Good afternoon all. I hope you are having a marvelous weekend so far. I am spending more quality time with my children. This quality time is what inspired today’s post.
While we were driving down the
road , my 13-year-old daughter asked me, why do so many people say “I love you” and then break up a few days later? I was definitely not ready for this question. I thought about it for a while and finally told her that “I love you” are just words for many people. It broke my heart to have to say this to my child.First because I have taught her the true meaning of love and second because it made me truly think about the value of those three little words.I am saddened that our world has so devalued these words that even my child can see their insignificance. Do not get me wrong, I believe in love. I also believe that these words have meaning. Unfortunately though, these words are very seldom backed up by actions anymore. I remember growing up how romanticized these three words were. I was told they were very special and should only be used for that special person in your life. Nowadays, these words have a completely different meaning.
Too often now “I love you” only signifies an interest in another person. It does not mean that they care or have deeper feelings for the other person. It is what people have come accustomed to say. It is like an obligatory response. Now to believe these words you have to look for the signs and cues that go with them.
How can we give value back to “I love you”? This can only be done through action. We have to show that we love the other person with the things we do, not just the words we say.
Buy your love flowers just because you thought of them, not because it is a special occasion. Write them a letter expressing your true feelings. Bring the romance back into the equation that is love. It is the small things that matter. The ones
done from the heart that prove your true intent. Only with this type offollow through can we give meaning back to the words “I love you”.
The simple gesture of a flower on a summer morning can promote such intense emotion, when given from the heart. What kind of message are you sending? How do you show you truly love some one? Leave me your ideas in the comments section. I look forward to reading them all.
Remember always to inspire to be inspired and never give up on what you believe in. Success is not measured with a dollar sign but with the satisfaction in the eyes of those you inspire.
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The Silver Lining
Good afternoon all. I hope you are having a wonderful Friday and ready for a fantastic weekend. I know I am.
Well, I wrote yesterday about the opportunities afforded to me when one door of my career closed and another one opened. I have to say, there is definitely a silver lining to the whole loss of something you wanted so badly. While I enjoyed the work I was doing, it took a lot of my time. My personal writing suffered and I realized today how much my children suffered. Though I am lucky enough to be doing what I love at home and still be with my children, I didn’t realize that the time I was spending with them was far from quality time.
Today, I got caught up on a few house cleaning projects that have been left for another day, while I was busy. Most importantly though, I spent quality time with my 3-year-old. I got to see his little face light up as mommy played peekaboo and hide and seek with him. The little things that I have missed so much the last month and can finally do again. I am thankful for the blessing of my fabulous children and do not let a day go by without telling them how much I love them. But I had been taking for granted the time we spent together. I was not making it quality time and am happy to have been shown the error I was making.
This is my silver lining. Had that door not closed in my life, I would still be working the hours I was and missing out on the best time in my children’s lives. That is why I started writing from home to begin with. So I could be there for all of these little moments that mean the most.
So, today I just want to remind you all, as you get busy living life,
remember to take time to enjoy the little moments that make for big treasures when they are gone. My children are my world and I am grateful for every moment I have with them. They are not ours forever and we need to cherish them while they are.
Our children are flowers that we must tend to and nurture so they can flourish and bloom. If we do not take the time now, before we know it they will be fully grown and gone. Then there will be no time to watch them grow or see that innocent smile. These are once in a lifetime moments, so make them count.
As always my friends, inspire to be inspired. Take life one precious moment at a time and take time to smell the peonies.
