Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez on Twiiter

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"Le tengo terror a mi mirar a mi hijo a la cara y que me pregunte ¿Y tú que hiciste Mami? y sólo poder responderle "Nada".


English Translation

I am afraid to look at my son in the face and have him ask me "And what did you do mother?" And then I respond to him, "Nothing".

The Human Spirit

The human spirit, that inner drive and enthusiasm to succeed, is alive and well. I am fortunate to see it in some of my students every semester and no matter how many years go by, I still feel overwhelmed by the amazing people I serve.

This semester several of my students found themselves in difficult situations, yet they refused to surrender their hope and they remained constant and determined. Their second language, joblessness, homelessness, disabilities or divorce failed to stand in their way and in the end they triumphed over their adversities.

Many of my students work 30-40 hours a week and attend college on a full-time basis. They are mothers or fathers, husbands or wives. They pay mortgages or they send money to their family back home. Their lives are riddled with obstacles, but "still they rise" and refuse to succumb to exhaustion. Many of them are brave and fearless, but perhaps no one has ever told them this. But I...I witnessed their courage everyday.

I am immensely proud of all of them not only for what they have accomplished, but because they were willing to sacrifice so much to achieve their goals.

Read Maya Angelou "Still I Rise"

Just Write

You registered for an English composition course, so what do you suppose you might do on the first or second day of class? You will write of course. So why then are so many students surprised when I announce that they will be writing a diagnostic paper. In fact, many students react by opening their eyes in amazement, or they huff and puff and a few even begin to shake, break out in a sweat or simply freeze in horror. Every now and then a student will literally begin to cry.

As an English teacher, I have developed an unconventional list of questions, I think all students should consider when they find themselves "caught off guard" and asked to write.

1. Will writing this paper literally kill you? More than likely the answer is NO, especially if you live in a free country.
   
2. Is it the end of your writing career? No
3. Will this be the only paper you write? No
4. Will this one paper determine your success or failure in the course? No
5. Does this one paper reflect everything you are and who you are? No

If you answered NO to the above questions, then you have nothing to lose by just writing.

What is the worst thing that can happen after you write this one paper? Perhaps you

1. receive a low score
2. team up with another student
3. seek additional help from family, friends or tutors
   
4. work harder on the next paper
5. or you quit

Too often, students choose #5 and they quit. They quit before the class has even started, before they allow themselves to learn, adapt and improve. Nothing pains me more than to see students give up a good fight before the fight has even started. In the end, students cannot attribute their successes or failures to "a teacher" but to themselves, their determination and hard work.

President Harry S. Truman said, "If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen." And I guess many agree with him, but I don't. In fact, if the kitchen gets too hot for you, I suggest you take some clothes off, bring in a fan or add a new ac unit, but don't get out of the kitchen if you want to learn how to cook or if you just want something to eat. The heat WILL NOT kill you; if anything it will just make you sweat.

If you want to improve your writing, then just write.

Fear Imprisons Us Forever: My First Post

My first blog post, September 8, 2007

Fear imprisons us forever while courage allows us to achieve our dreams.

Teaching developmental writing for over 18 years has been incredibly rewarding and satisfying for me. Not only have I helped students learn, but my students and colleagues have taught me as well. As I now walk the hallways of my college campus, I can't help but realize how quickly the years have passed. Where a once young, shy and fearful young student walked now walks a more fearless and experienced professor. When I graduated from high school, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend college. Hey, I am not bragging, but I graduated in the top 5 percent of my class. My parents were poor, and although they both stressed the need for a good education, I understood early on that I would need to work hard, save money and manage pretty much on my own. That was fine with me; in fact, I welcomed the challenge. Sure I envied some of my friends who were fortunate to have parents that were wealthy enough to send them to college, even to send them out of state, but I was happy just making my parents proud. I searched for independence and wanted very much to succeed on my own.

While in college, I worked a part time job and attended school full time. Before graduating, I married my long time sweetheart which added to my responsibilities. I will not deny that it was hard, very hard at times. I slept little, ate little, and smoked a lot. A dark cup of coffee was never too far from my side. I would love to brag and say I was a GREAT student. I was not. Those first few years in college were a struggle. I remember sometimes not having enough money to pay for lunch because I had to put gas in my car or buy books--expensive books. Many times it was so hard for me to focus because I was just so tired--tired of driving to school and work for hours in an old 1970's Toyota that had no air conditioning, no windshield wipers and no power steering. Imagine what it was like when it rained or when it was over 90 degrees and I was in bumper to bumper traffic. Also, I was tired of not sleeping for days because I had to study after work every evening. I was just tired. Sometimes I had so much homework, I felt like quitting. Quitting was not an option, so I just cried until I felt better. Smoking, I thought, would make me feel better, so I smoked and drank coffee. Unfortunately, I rarely ate because I just was not hungry. At 5'8" I weighed less than 110 pounds.

Read the rest of the post

Just Think About It: Do You Have the Courage to Ask?

Many years ago as a baby shower gift, someone gave me the book Kids Are Worth It Too! by Barabra Coloroso. I remember reading the book and questioning much of what I read. Growing up in a very strict household, my brother and I received clear instructions regarding just about everything. Basically, our parents told us what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Period. We obeyed and respected all "the rules" for much of our younger years. We did not ask questions knowing the answer would be "because I said so." We did not dare take opposing positions, speak our minds or question any authority figure. Any attempt to do so would result in severe groundings. No. There were no beatings or any physical punishment, for they were unnecessary, thank God! For the most part my brother and I passively adhered to "the rules." So, as I read Coloroso's book, I realized perhaps for the first time in my adult life that there was another way to raise children, and it might produce good or even better results. In the book, Coloroso basically encourages parents to see and treat their children as people. At times, parents, me included, forget that our children happen to be human beings with feelings, dreams, ideas and insecurities. And so when my oldest child who is very inquisitive, opinionated and bright began to ask "why?" and I began to say "because I said so" and that answer still did not suffice, it hit me. The "because I said so" method did not work. I wanted to raise two strong, courageous, confident and knowledgeable individuals who would not be afraid to ask questions, defy authority when they saw injustice or abuse and display honesty and integrity. Therefore, on one specific occasion my oldest son, who was 5 or 6 at the time, asked why he could not play in the street with the older kids or ride bike. Instead of saying "because" I chose to give him a reason. It went something like this...If you play or ride bike in the street, a car may not see you because you are too small. If the car does not see you, it will hit you, break your bones and kill you. If you die, your mommy will die, too.

My precious son looked at me with these big sad eyes and said, "OK Mom. I don't want to play in the street. I don't want to die and I don't want you to die." He never again asked me to play or ride bike in the street until he was much much older. I can give you countless examples of the many times I chose to answer my children's questions, the easy ones and the very hard ones. No. I don't involve them in "everything" but I do offer honest and direct answers, advice and suggestions. I always have and hope I always will. The oldest is a teenager and the youngest thinks he's in his 30's, but they understand responsibility and accountability. They know how hard their father and I work to provide them with the things we never had, and so they know where money comes from or how much milk, gasoline and shoes cost.

And so where am I going with this? Don't be afraid to ask questions, but most importantly don't be afraid to answer them either. Why are we afraid to answer questions? Why are we afraid to say "I do not know the answer?" Why are we afraid to acknowledge that there is so much we do not know but need to know? How many times have we paid dearly for our ignorance? At some point in our lives, perhaps as we get older, some of those insecurities begin to fade away or the fear of looking like or sounding like a fool is just not as important as it once was. I don't know; I could be wrong, but maybe just maybe we become more comfortable in our own skin or walking in our own shoes and we begin to accept that face we see in that mirror every morning. Wearing purple seems most appropriate and if others find us strange or different, brushing it all off comes easy and quick maybe because we know ourselves a little more now than we did when we were younger. Regardless, at the end of our life, no living human person will travel with us, carry our baggage or light our way. We will only have ourselves.

The Warriors

After reading a post on another blogger's site, Space of Reality , I began to analyze my own definition and interpretation of the words courageous and fearless. Instead of defining the terms for you, I would rather give you specific examples that better explain what those words do and do not mean to me.

Fearless and courageous people risk their lives to save others without regard for their own safety. They save others not for the glory or the fame, for if they are "truly" fearless and brave, they do it because they believe it is what they are meant to do. Several of my students and friends fall in this category. They are policemen, firefighters and soldiers, men and women, who protect my streets, my home and my country.

Brave and valiant people do not risk their lives or their livelihood by endangering themselves or the people around them needlessly. Reckless behavior that leads to a disregard for human life by no means represents strength. Quite the contrary, I believe it shows weakness, insensitivity and lack of understanding for the needs of others. Speeding down a highway on a motorcycle going 120 miles an hour does not represent bravery. It represents a total disregard for life without an ultimate goal in mind unless suicide is your mission.

When I write about courage, bravery and fearlessness, I don't refer to people who bungee jump off of bridges, drag race on the streets for fun, or say outrageously offensive things to hurt or demean others. I refer, instead, to the people who try to live with dignity, integrity and honor everyday, to people who want to raise healthy families or struggle to succeed and triumph against the odds, for instance, someone like my friend from Vietnam who I met about 6 or 7 years ago. Perhaps we have grown close because we share similar beliefs or because we feel something and see something in each other. I know I do. From the moment I met her, I observed her eyes, her kindness and care. What impressed me most was her patience. Year after year I noticed she worked 10 hour days, everyday except Sundays and for a long time took no vacation. Although her English was not bad, it was evident that she learned the language as an adult. I don't know her entire story, nor would I ask. I do know how much she has struggled to establish her business and provide a loving home for her children, and she has done this with great integrity and love. This petite middle-aged woman exemplifies true courage. I am honored to be her friend.

Brave was a former student of mine, named Edith, a single parent, who worked full time 12-16 hours during the evening cleaning bed pans in a hospital while she went to school during the day to become a nurse and never, and I mean never, missed a class. When I asked her how did she find time to sleep and rest, she said she slept very little because she had much to accomplish. I have met countless students like Edith who have sacrificed themselves for a greater good, for a future of success and glory. Their thirst for prosperity and for independence was greater than any immediate need for gratification. They skipped the parties, the movies or the malls while they focused on creating a solid foundation for themselves and the ones they loved.

So if you are fearless does that mean you have no fear of "anything?" No...I believe everyone is afraid of something or someone. What we cannot be is afraid of too much all the time, and we have to learn to harness the fear and use it as the fuel for our lives. I refuse to allow fear to possess me. Fear does not own me or rule me. It does not dictate my actions and this I affirm. To think, otherwise, would only mean surrendering to the enemy, and that I will not do. So, yes. This blog is about courageous and inspiring people I have known or recently met. For me, they are fearless because they are warriors in the best sense of the word.

Blogs with Adventurous or Fearless Spirits

By chance or by fortune I recently stumbled upon a few blogs that truly captivated me. Some of these blogs reveal the adventurous experiences of the writers who are living life without much disguise or fear. Others describe bloggers who live and write about their lives, lives which may appear plain and simple but are not by any means. Perhaps I am drawn to these because of my own dreams and desires, or because I relate to their stories, tales, and photos which bring me closer to a place where I want to be or have been. Most importantly, I admire their transparency, directness, sense of humor and above all wisdom. The "real world" does not always promote, understand or allow for such things. Ironically, it is in the "blogger world" where we can express our true thoughts and still maintain a sense of safety and anonymity.

• A Wolf Adventure at http://awolfadventure.blogspot.com/
• Life on a Southern Farm at http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/
• On the way to Critter Farm at http://critterfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
• Web of Whispers at http://wickles.blogspot.com/
• Spirituality Page at http://spirituality-page.blogspot.com/

Live and write fearlessly...so that we, the hungry spectators can feed and grow.

*If you know of other "fearless bloggers", please leave a comment and link. *

The Fearless Spirit of a Man and Woman

Imagine yourself alone in another country not your own, and then imagine not speaking that language. You have nothing but the clothes you are wearing and a willingness to begin again. There are no friends or family to lend a helping hand, and all you have ever owned, known and loved is far away never to be seen again. Now imagine no money, no form of transportation and no home. How would you feel? Despair? Anguish? Hopelessness? Or would you feel inspiration? Excitement? Joy? I can't even imagine what I would feel, but I know what one man and woman felt as they built their lives all over again. They felt pain and sadness and then they felt hope and joy, for their fearless spirit could not be silenced. To have such boldness, such pride, such willingness to succeed even when the world around them seemed so bleak and foreign can only be described as admirable. Their greatest accomplishment was not the wealth or the things they collected through the years. It was not the stuff that collected dust, mold or rust that mattered most to them; they had had these things before, so losing them again would be insignificant. What mattered most, what was cherished most was their freedom, accomplishing freedom not just for themselves but those they would one day leave behind. Freedom, their greatest accomplishment, would be their legacy, for once gone all that is left is what is left. Although they tiptoed in and out of my life in seconds, though they were years, this man and woman have forever left their mark in me. How can I, one that has been so blessed with so much, honor their courage and sacrifice? It is quite simple. I must remember, remember always when I did not have all that I have now. Freedom allows me to "be" fearless. It allows me to accomplish anything I want, to be anything I want and to have anything I want. Freedom makes me rich, rich in life. Without freedom I would have nothing. I would be nothing. The fearless spirit is quiet, calm and observant. It calculates, investigates and challenges. It does not bow down or fold; it does not run and it does not hide. The fearless spirit chooses to live...

Conquering Your Fears

Ever since I was a child, I have always been afraid of the water. I am not sure if it all started after I saw the movie Jaws in the theaters for the first time or if it is because of some past life memory. Whatever the reason, I know I am terrified of deep water, oceans, lakes and yes even pools.

Years ago, I decided to confront my fear, so I agreed to go sailing with some friends. When the sailboat began to tilt to one side, I of course began to scream, fearing for my life and wondering when I would fall into the ocean. Luckily, I did not fall and returned safely to shore after experiencing a delightful day in the middle of the ocean surrounded by absolutely nothing but my dearest friends, the sky and sea.

A few weeks later, I agreed to go snorkeling off the Florida Keys. I was enticed by the thought of seeing crystal clear waters, coral reefs and tropical fish. Oh, the deep water, the vegetation, the numerous fish of all sizes swimming around me and yes the comment by the ship's captain regarding the sharks sent chills up and down my spine. I remember the captain ordering me to sit or jump, so I decided to jump. He had given us all specific instructions regarding any sharks. He said, "close your eyes and when you open them again, the shark will be gone." I, of course, was relieved and reassured by his poignant words. Again, it was a terrifying first few minutes. However, those hours I spent in the water that day were amazing. There were no clouds in the sky that day, so all was blue and shiny around me. The bottom of the ocean was white like powder and the fish that swam around were red and yellow. The water was a perfect temperature and although it was deep maybe 20 feet, I could see everything so clearly. On that day, I forgot I was on Earth, for I had discovered another world few ever get to see. When I was pulled back on the boat, I was tired, very tired; in fact, I could barely walk, but I felt invigorated and alive. Ironically, I was the last one to jump off the charter boat and the last one to get back on the boat. I will never forget that day because for me it was a great accomplishment.

Now that my children are older, we enjoy spending a lot of our free time guess where? Yes, on the water. We visit the Florida Keys often, go boating and fishing in the Gulf and yes when we are in the Carolinas, we enjoy whitewater rafting or swimming in the cool but tranquil lakes. Although my fear of the deep water continues in me, I have not allowed it to keep me from the things I love to do. I love nature too much; I love my family too much not to spend every waking moment I can enjoying life with them. Sometimes people pretend to feel things, they do not really feel and they do this to protect themselves. I believe that when I lie to myself and ignore what I really feel or think, I am doing great harm to myself. So, if I am afraid, then I just accept that I am afraid. Feeling fear is not the problem. Allowing fear to control me is the problem.

So how do I conquer my fears? I do that thing which I fear most and when I do, I remember the words of Eleanor Roosevelt and Georgia O'Keeffe, two women who struggled, achieved and never allowed fear to keep them from the things they loved and wanted.