Stereotypes

When people think of Americans, what do they think?

You may or may not find surprising how others think of us (Americans) in the clip below.  The question is asked "How do you distinguish Americans from others?"  Watch and see if how we see ourselves is how others see us.

Americans are plump, loud, eat hamburgers & drink a lot, don't care about how they look, and yet are positive and confident.  I think the best quote is that when you speak to an American you can smell freedom.

What kind of stereotypes might we hold on others?  (youth, religious, the poor,  Europeans, Africans, Asians, etc)

This brings me to two actions:

• We must take a look at ourselves.  Do others see the true us?  Does how we think of ourselves align with how others see us? 

• We must take a look at how we see others. Do we carry any stereotypes? Do our stereotypes color how we interact with others?  

https://youtu.be/Igk4XvzwOCw

What stereotype of Americans do you find most surprising?

Reflecting on the A-to-Z Challenge

I stumbled upon the A-to-Z Challenge blog in early 2014. I read about the challenge criteria and it looked like fun. I wanted to blog on a more consistent basis and felt this might be the catalyst for me.

Once before, a few years ago, I had joined a writing challenge that required daily posting of a blog. I made it about halfway through the month before giving it up due to competing time demands. I hoped as I registered my blog on the A-to-Z site that this time would be different.

Did you accomplish your goals? 
My main goal was to publish a blog post every day of the challenge. I also wanted to visit and comment on at least five participating blogs per day. These were some goals of the challenge itself.  I would say that I accomplished my goals. I published daily except for Sundays.  Some days I commented on more than five blogs and other days a little less. I wish I had more time to visit and comment on more blogs. I plan to visit some of the missed blogs now that the challenge is over.

Did you post every day? 
I posted every day, A through Z,  except for Sundays. {insert happy dance here}

Did you make new friends?
I visited and re-visited several blogs and left comments. A few people commented on my posts regularly.  I have some new followers and I have followed some new blogs. Yes, I have made some new friends.

Did you enjoy the challenge? 
I very much enjoyed the challenge.  Sometimes I suffer the "why should I write - there are more pressing things I need to do" mood. This challenge gave me the excuse I needed to write. I felt accountable.

I began right after signing up for the challenge to make a list of possible topics.  There was more than a month until the challenge began, so I thought I was being pro-active. What I didn't do, that I will do next time, is to go back and visit the A-Z Challenge blog. I didn't realize the blog was publishing tips and strategies for surviving the challenge.

A week or so before P-day (first publishing day-April 1) I got an email and also a comment that gave me great advice- which I wish I had heeded earlier in the game.  The gold-star advice was to pre-write and schedule blog posts.

At that point I went to the A-to-Z blog and discovered I should have been reading the pre-challenge posts!  I downloaded all the letter badges, fixed my comments so no one would have to verify, and learned how to put a link to my blog in my comments to others.  I also "liked" the A-to-Z  Facebook page.

I set up a draft post with the appropriate letter badge for each day of the challenge.  I tried to have three written posts scheduled at any given time.  I originally hoped to have a week written and scheduled, but that quickly proved to be too much to ask.  Having some posts written and scheduled before they are due was a great help and stress reliever. Who knows when something will happen in our offline life that will delay getting a post published on time?

I did not use a theme for my posts.  I didn't conceive of this possibility until I read about the Theme Reveal.  Using a theme for my posts would be too difficult was my thought.  In hindsight, I think using themes might make it a little easier.  I'll have to test that thought out next year.

I am glad the hosts asked us to comment on others' blog posts. When my posts are commented on it lets me know I have an audience and therefore I think it will help me become better at my writing craft.  I don't usually comment often on blogs that I read thinking I have nothing of much value to offer.  This challenge gave me the permission to step boldly into the comment box.

What are my plans from here? 

• I plan to write regularly on my blog. Not sure yet what this will look like - posting at least two-to-three days a week on regular days.  I may theme the days as I have seen some bloggers do. 
• I plan to re-visit the blogs I read during the challenge and follow some of them. 
• I plan to visit new blogs from the challenge that I did not get a chance to read in April.
• I plan to comment more frequently on blogs that I read. 
• I plan to start thinking about the A-to-Z Challenge 2015.  

I am energized and excited about the blogging adventures that lay ahead.

Won't you join me?
 

S is for Success

How do you define success?

The accomplishing of a goal?  The attaining of wealth?  Or perhaps fame?

I wish there were a clear formula for the road to success. Do a, b, and c and success is guaranteed!

I may not always accomplish my goals.  I may not become wealthy and I don't think fame is on my horizon.

But....

I can always give my best effort to whatever I am doing.
 
I can be present when I am with my family and friends.
 
I can guard my heart and mind from negative, unhealthy thoughts.
.
These are the ways that I can be successful.

Life is messy, and at least in my case the road to success always seems to be under construction. There are ditches to crawl out of,  detours to take, and delays to wait out.

For me, success might be defined as simply doing my best.

How do you define success? 

F is for Fallen Heroes and Firefighters

A tragic event happened in late February that makes me pause and reflect. 

Heroes - those men and women who daily wear the uniform and prepare to put their lives on the line to keep the community safe.  Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and on the national front our military – these men and women are heroes.

One cold early morning in February, the residents in an apartment complex were awakened by a loud noise.  Not knowing what it could be, someone called 9-1-1 and emergency personnel were dispatched.  First on the scene, firefighters discovered the outside balcony walkway to the second floor apartments was in the process of collapsing. The firefighters began evacuating the residents.  All residents made it to safety, however the walkway collapsed and a firefighter who had been rescuing others ended up losing his life.      

This fallen firefighter was a 23 year veteran firefighter. He gave his life to help others to safety.  Our firefighters and our police risk their lives daily to rescue strangers.  They are heroes in my eyes.

It is only the 2^nd time a firefighter has died in the line of duty in my community according to the local news source – the last time being over 20 years ago. The US Fire Administration National statistics state 101 firefighters died in 2013. Already in 2014 there have been thirty-three firefighter fatalities. These heroes often leave behind families with minor children.  To help donations are solicited and can be given generally or to a specific family.  Check out the National Fallen Firefighter Fund for more details.   

In my community, flags were lowered half mast for a month. A memorial was held for the fallen firefighter. Firefighters from all over the state came to pay honor – the brotherhood of firefighters was definitely evident. 

I have not had to use the services of the fire department unless you count the time I came home from work to find them at my home and my son looking sheepish (but that is another story for another day). The police have given me service a few times, sad to say (again, stories for other days). I am thankful for these community servants and appreciate their willingness to put their life on the line for my safety. 

So pause for a moment. Honor our heroes, especially our fallen ones.  Thank our community servants.  Say a little prayer for their safety when their firetrucks or police vehicles pass by or you hear a siren.  Every time they show up for work there is a possibility of their life in danger – for our sake.   

Have you thanked firefighters or the police lately? 

Firemen & Policemen, Oh my!

Last week there was a great fire in town that burned some apartment housing that was under construction.  The fire was so hot that it melted the traffic lights nearby.  The fire is still under investigation and that may turn out to be another story.

 But for today, I am thankful that we have men and women who make it their responsibility to fight fires when they occur.  That we have policemen and policewomen to help enforce our laws and keep us safe.  That although I do not like paying taxes, I am thankful to have safety equipment to help these safety people do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

The following pictures were some taken by a local radio station of that morning's fire.

 

Wise Words

Take 15 minutes of your time and listen to Steve Job's 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University.   Wise words.



What can you take away from this ?

What Do Teachers Make ?

Teachers Make a Difference

Knowing What to Do

I was in a quandry earlier this week. There was something I wanted to do, but felt a reservation about doing it. I fretted for more than a day waffling between doing this and not doing this. I thought about the possible consequences pro and con about it and I thought about what I might miss out on if I didn't do it. ( I tend to over think things *sigh*) "What shall I do? What shall I do?" I repeated several times over the course of a few hours.

"You know what to do" was the inaudible voice in my being.

"But that doesn't help me, " I argued. "I don't know what to do--I want to do this but I don't know if I should right now!"

"You know what to do." The feeling persisted.

I decided that the time was not right for what I wanted to do and that I would pass for now, regardless of any missed opportunity.

And a peace fell over me. The anxiousness rolled away. All is good.

I guess I reallly did know what to do.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philipians 4:7