I am fighting for the liberation of voices with something to say

This post is mostly written by someone else. The song, which makes up the majority of this post, is incredibly fitting to my current work - my drive, my motivation, my hopes, my fears, my hurts and my wishes. Mostly, I never want to forget the voices with something to say - and never, ever, be a part of a system stamping out those voices, ignoring them, or misleading them.  Always, I will fight such systems with the hope of changing things for the better. Remember Lennon's "Imagine" ? Yeah, I'm not the only one.

Fight to Win

Goodie Mob - featuring Cee Lo Green

Fight to win, stand up straight

No debate, pushed by hate

Concentrate, penetrate, generate

Motivate, live by faith

Keep believin, I know the reason

It’s the season, now’s the time

Keep on dreaming, keep on leading

And keep on fighting!

[Cee-lo Green]

I am fighting for the liberation

Of voices with something to say

Like many before me, for glory

You have to stand in harm’s way

I’m no savior, just a soldier

Soldier with an order

So I have no choice but to trust the God

Cause it must be done

My only fear is what might happen

If I didn’t fight to win

[Hook]

If I lose, then it was worth fighting for

If I win, I only live to fight again

If I lose, then it was worth dying for

If I win, I only live to fight again

Who are? We are, they are too

Can't turn the turn the, too far?

Fight, fight, fight

You should be proud for the courage

The courage to think out loud

You’ll find your way if you’re foolish enough to be faithful

Believe me, it wont be easy

But it’s surely not impossible

And if they won’t listen

Save your breath and save yourself

And as soon as you see sunlight again

Get up and fight to win!

[Hook]

Til your presence felt, fight

Til your last breath, fight

For your spirit, for your mind, fight

For your soul, fight

Never lose sight

Keep up the fight

When all fails and you done tried everything in life, fight

Keep ya head up

Read more: http://www.killerhiphop.com/goodie-mob-fight-to-win-lyrics/#ixzz1t71xgvZH

Who is Harris Burdick?

That awkward moment when you think something is real and all along it has been fiction. #howsilly

I had some time to kill between meetings today and happened to be in the neighborhood of Barnes and Noble. Not that I have money to spend there or anything, but alas - I went. After aimlessly wondering the shelves for 10-15 minutes and realizing I should leave soon, I started for the door. And then stopped at a table with a myriad of children's books - "The books all kids should read." Of course, Shel Silverstein was there, along with so many Caldecotts and Newberys that I couldn't process all of the shininess.

Then there stood a book called "The Chronicles of Harris Burdick." I only passively glanced at the cover and then went inside the book flap to see that this book was a collection of short stories by various authors, all of which are based on Harris Burdick's famous pictures. I went back to the cover to see the picture, but only haphazardly. In my 2nd passing glance, I confused Burdick with M.C. Escher because the cover art - remember, in passing - kind of looked like those paintings we used to talk about all the time in math class (looking at the cover now, I was really off).

But anyway, I then noticed some of my favorite authors on the cover's border and in the table of contents: Sherman Alexie, Lois Lowry, Stephen King, Walter Dean Myers, Gregory Maguire, Louis Sacher...among others! Ok, the intro by Lemony Snicket became even more enticing. Mind you, even when reading the introduction by an author with a questionable identity, I whole-heartedly believed that indeed, these authors were creatively writing about existing famous artwork.

And then I thought...this would have been amazing in my classroom!!!!

And now, sitting at home in full view of Wikipedia, Harris Burdick and his inability to write the stories he intended to go with his illustrations is all fiction. But, I found out the real author of the book published the "Burdick" art years ago in a children's book that has been used as a springboard for creative writing. The story of Burdick making all of these illustrations, giving them captions, and mysteriously disappearing before he could write any more,  has been around for years. Children have been honing their creative writing skills with Burdick's work for a long time.

Where was I?

Now, I'm debating whether I want to tear into the book - not because I'm disappointed it's fiction, but because I want to do creative writing with Burdick's art before my imagination is framed by Alexie's, King's, Myers', Lowry's, or Sachar's. I want to engage with Burdick without intervention.

But the prospect of fresh Alexie, King, Myers, Lowry, and Sachar all in one place may just be too much to pass up for an evening of relaxed reading. Or should I wait and just exercise my creative writing muscle?

That awkward moment when you have to pick a side. #suspense #anticipation

~MJ

"For as long as we have voices"

"In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices." - Elizabeth Gilbert

I usually find the greatest value in what I read why I feel it applies directly to real life. I remember picking up "Eat, Pray, Love" during naptime when I was babysitting, and had a hard time putting it down an hour later when my little friend woke up. When I left that night, I used a portion of my earnings to stop by Barnes and Noble and buy the book - and it is one of my favorites.

Mostly because of the quote above.
Mostly because on nights like these, after days like these, I am so thankful and hopeful all wrapped into one. I so clearly see the friends I have and the wonderful opportunities that surround me. I know that I want to be my best because of them, and I know that I never want to forget to be grateful. Because I wouldn't be anywhere I am today without the graciousness of others.

So, as I continue my journey, I have to continue saying thank you to those around me, and to the universe for putting them in my path. I whisper it every night as I go to sleep, and tonight, I'd rather shout it from the rooftops - I guess a blog will suffice.

I am thankful for my coworkers, who are supportive, hardworking, and who believe in me.
I am thankful for my friends --
the ones I don't talk to but once in a full moon, but it feels like we never said goodbye;
the ones who make me laugh and let me relieve stress;
the ones who call to check in just because they want to know how things are going;
the ones who call for advice because we've been through it all together, anyway;
the ones who call just to call and say hello, and to laugh;
the ones who want to eat dinner and catch up while supporting a good cause;
the ones I see in passing but they still have time for a hug...

I am also thankful for the existence of Skype, for little surprises that bring joy and giddiness.

And so with my voice, I say thank you. Thank you for stories I'll never forget and for friends I'll always have.

You sustain me.

~MJ