Our society would bully the greatest minds in history if they lived today…Maybe we would not have the works of William Shakespeare….Van Gogh would have destroyed his artwork before he killed himself….
Francesca’s Thoughts as She and Mia Are “Coping” in “Delightfully Different”
Dear Aspie,
I understand how you might feel that way. There are people in this world who think we should all be like them. They make others feel bad about themselves. They do not understand that you have many gifts to offer the world. I want to share with you a favorite quote I came across again recently while reading Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words by Kevin Hall:
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.
E.E. Cummings
This is the life of an Aspie, but I want you to know the fight is worthwhile.
Much of the book is Hall’s conversations with Professor Arthur Watkins, Master of Words. Hall is not learning the words for the first time, rather he is learning more about the origin of words and the power hidden within words. I am only beginning the book, but I want to share with you the definition of two words.
The Hindu word, namasté (pronounced nah-mah-STAY). According to Hall, Mahatma Gandhi once told Albert Einstein, “Namasté. It means I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace, and wisdom.” Hall notes, “It recognizes that no one, not one soul, in the human family is exempt from receiving gifts that are uniquely his or her own.” He goes on to describe every individual as authentic.
Arthur Watkins noted authentic comes from two words one means self and one means being. Therefore, authentic “means being yourself.”
Hall states, “Namasté salutes authenticity. Society often does not.”
I think it should.
Many are trying to change this and they are true inspirations. I believe your generation will be the one to truly change the world to a kinder and more accepting place. Please stay around to see it happen and please celebrate your uniqueness for it really is a good thing.
Footprints in the Sand
I am moving forward and taking positive steps to get back on track. I am taking time to continue rehabbing my back from an injury I sustained in May. I am supporting my daughter as she works towards overcoming the past hurts from those who wounded her soul and let her down. That is why I am sometimes MIA.
I realize my gratitude posts have been sparse lately, yet I am still focusing on gratitude and forgiveness. Today, I am most grateful for the blessings in my life. I received a wonderful review of Delightfully Different from Lorna at Special Needs Book Review. Just click on the blog name to check it out if you haven’t already. I am also grateful for my readers, my family and my friends.
Another thing I am grateful for is that I get to take care of my health by taking long walks three to four times a week. It is one of the good things about living in Hawaii. I started slowly using my walking poles and leaving my dogs at home. A month later, I got my son to take one dog while I took the other one with one walking pole. Another month has gone by, and I now walk both dogs using one walking pole for added balance. I take my camera in a small backpack and stop and photograph nature along the way. We even walk to the beach occasionally although it is not my corgi’s cup of tea.
©Delightfully Different Life
Yesterday was one of our walking days. We stopped at this beach because I knew I could take pictures from above without having to actually walk on beach. Thus, my corgi stayed happy.
I last visited this beach when my daughter was in preschool some years ago. They were learning about tide pools and this beach is ideal for that. The school bus was able to drive to the beach to drop us off and to come back to pick us up which is very important when you are taking four-year olds to the beach.
However, there is no parking at this beach as it is in a residual area, and it is not really the best beach for swimming. Still, it is beautiful and the surfers love it. It is the prefect place to quietly observe if you are not swimming. Yesterday Mother Nature gave me the best Valentine’s present by allowing me to see this.
Mother Nature’s Valentine ©DelightfullyDifferentLife
I know it is hard to see, but it is a humpback whale breaching. I never wished I had more than 200 zoom more than yesterday. Still, l am not complaining! Just getting to see this made my day. Until yesterday, the only whales I have seen on Oahu were from a boat.
Taken During Whale Watching Tour ©DelightfullyDifferentLife
Then, after I got home I got these from hubby.
Hope all of you had a happy Valentine’s Day! I would love to hear about how you spent your day.
It is still wordless Wednesday here, but I need to say a few words as I share the outline below for the first chapter of my next novel. Much of Cal’s story takes place among the trees and birds of Hawaii, so today I am grateful for capturing a Japanese White-eye or Mejiro hiding in the banyan tree that overlooks Cal’s school. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you might see a little green bird.
Cal is Mia’s little brother and his story begins when Mia is in fifth grade and he is third. He too has problems related to his sister’s anger after the bullying. Bullying not only affects the victim, it affects the whole family. This is what my son and I both want you to know. This is why there will be a second novel.
Chapter I: Angry Times
I. Anger
A. Mia’s not the only angry member of the family
B. My thoughts
II. Pleading my case
A. To Dad
B. To Mom
III. Venting and Acting Out
A. Getting in trouble at school
1. My friends don’t understand
2. I cannot explain
3. It sucks
B. Mom deals with it
1. Talks to teachers
2. Talks to Dad
3. Talks to me
4. Arranges for time just for me
IV. They get me and I get them
A. Support
1. From family
2. From friends
V. Light bulb Moment
A. Mia does not have this support even after Mom talks to people
B. I give Mia support
Delightfully Different Life 