Speake Easy

Think Positive / Take Action

2012-07-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

Who among us hasn’t had a bad day? You know those days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. You hate your job, your apartment, your friends, and dread the day ahead because you just know it’s going to be just awful. It happens occasionally, but when this becomes a cycle there is a problem. When that bad feeling becomes normal we need to stop and examine things.

Maybe the problem is just attitude and we need to make an adjustment and count our blessings. It’s great if that’s the case. Then we just do a little soul searching and try harder to look on the bright side. Sometimes taking a little time to focus on the needs of others can put things in perspective.

However, sometimes we find that our past choices or perhaps circumstances have put us in place that is just not good for us. Maybe we’re in a relationship that isn’t healthy. Sometimes our workplaces can do us more harm than good. Maybe we’re surrounded by negative people or even dangerous people. If this is the situation there is always a way out. Any type of change can be frightening but moving toward a more positive and healthy life is worth facing our fears.

If you find yourself in this kind of situation and someone that cares about you offers you a way out, check your pride at the door and take it. Sometimes we can get so lost that we forget that there are people who love us and are praying for us to take a step in the right direction. Most of us will find that if we step outside ourselves and ask for help that it is there waiting for us.

Lastly, never underestimate the importance of being there for yourself. If you truly want love others and to be loved by others you must first love yourself. If you put bad things into your body you are going to start feeling physically un-well. When your body feels bad your attitude and your emotions will follow. Most of us know the basics. We eat hot dogs and cheese puffs when we know we should be eating real whole foods (grains, poultry /fish, vegetables, dairy). We drink alcohol when we know we’re dehydrated and should be drinking more water. I’m not a purist by any means but I know what a difference healthy living and spending a little time caring for yourself can make.

So if you’re not taking care of yourself start. If you’re thinking negatively do the hard thing and think positive. If you know you’re making unhealthy choices start making healthy ones, and if you’re in a bad place reach out and find a way out. I’m not saying any of this is easy or that you’ll get it right on the first try just that it’s worth trying and there is a light at the end of the tunnel, so get on that train.

Maria J. Speake

(Photo found at http://liz-green.com/ )

Bunny Inspiration - By Maria J Speake

2012-06-08T20:49:00.001-07:00

Well a little bunny has hopped into my back yard and into my life. Strangely I recently had a pet pass away. An old orange cat who I have had and I have loved for a long time. The other day my husband told me that we have three orange cats hanging out in the back yard and that Billy, our dog, has been having some fun chasing and pretending like he’s going to do them some damage. Needless to say my little Terrier Chihuahua mix dog wouldn’t hurt a fly. Having heard about the cats and their antics I expected to see some cats in the yard when I let out my dog to do his business this morning. Instead what I saw what a black and white rabbit that let me take his picture and pick him up. (Not the best picture. See above).

I was immediately charmed so I went into the house and found him some trail mix. Apparently trail mix is not a special treat for this rabbit. He turned up his nose at most of it. He did eat one dried date but that was about it.

When I got home later in the day I checked and he was still there. I got him some salad which he thoroughly enjoyed (especially the shaved carrots) and a bowl of water. For the rest of the day I visited him in shifts giving him some time to himself but each time I visited I brought another treat. He found a little spot that seems to feel secure and that he is shaded in behind our shed. The last time I visited him he was less skittish than he had been throughout the day.

I hope that he will stay and that I can figure out how to really make friends with him and to take care of him. It’s funny how something like this can get your mind spinning new ideas. What if I get another rabbit and decided to raise them? There are lots of good reasons to raise rabbits. I have been Googleing and found lots of articles some on how to make friends with a bunny, some on raising rabbits, I even read one article where a woman raises “free-range” rabbits in her back yard. That idea sounds the most appealing to me. The truth is I don’t know enough about raising rabbits or selling them for that matter. I think I will probably just enjoy the little one that that has hopped into my life for as long as he stays around. I’m actually wondering if I should do something to keep him around. I don’t like the idea of caging him but I can tell that he is blind in one eye and I think he may be a little deaf. I feel the need to protect him and care for him. I will just have to see if he will let me mother him a little bit and go from there. If anyone has any bunny stories feel free to share them here.

If you could talk to anyone - Dead or Alive

2012-06-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

suggested by A memoir of a beautiful life for a reflection seen though my eyes

"If you could speak to anyone alive or dead throughout history who would you chose and why?"

If I could speak to anyone alive or dead throughout history I think I might choose Shakespeare. He was the voice of his time. That’s something I don’t even dare to aspire to but I admire it very much. I would choose him because I would love to hear what he had to say on so many subjects. I would ask him about what inspired the stories he told. I would ask him if there was anything to that outrageous story in ANONOMOUS. I would ask him what he thinks about books like THE HUNGER GAMES. I would ask him what he thinks about movies in place of his beloved theatre. I would ask him if he were alive today what and who he would write about. I would ask him if he was happy in his life and what made him the most happy. I would ask him what he regretted in life. I would ask him if he had any advice for me. Oh yes. I would ask him if I could write about what he said and if he had anything new that he wanted to share with the world. Who would you choose?

Image found at ( http://www.teachingwill.com/2010_11_01_archive.html )

When you were young, what did you want most?

2012-05-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, in fact when I was very young, there was one thing that I wanted more than anything. I wanted to be with someone who wanted me as much as I wanted them. I remember going through years where I thought that the likelihood of that ever happening was slim at best. As I got older I did have a few boyfriends but I never got to the point where I felt like I had what I was looking for. I never got the feeling of security that I wanted. I was either looking for more or I just didn’t trust anyone enough to be the real me. When I met Mark though, everything changed. Within a week of knowing him he made me feel safer than I had ever felt in my life. He showed me with his actions and his words how much I meant to him and enabled me to fall in love with him fully. Now after 10 years of marriage I realize that what I have is what I spent most of my life looking for. I have a best friend who can be honest with me. When he’s proud of me he makes sure that I know it. When I’m being stupid or being a jerk he makes sure that I know it as well. It may take me a while to admit it, but deep down I always know that his intentions are good and he simply wants me to be the best that I can. He expects the best of me and I expect the best from him. Neither of us is perfect but because we’re together our lives are good, even when circumstances aren’t the best. I guess that’s what true love really is, knowing that no matter how bad it gets everything is going to be ok because you have someone and they have you.

(Picture found at: http://www.isobmba.com/images/hand-holding.jpg)

suggested by Chibi Doucet

"When you were younger, what was the one thing you wanted most in the world? Have you been able to achieve or get it?"

Who do you know that has it “all together”?

2012-05-05T11:21:00.002-07:00

Let me think about that for a moment. There’s probably no one I know that has it “all together”. I had this discussion with a group of writers once. I think I said well, nobody’s perfect. Then one of them said that she made that statement once at a seminar and was proved wrong. She said that she had a daughter and mother attending and the daughter raised her hand to say that was not correct. She said that her mother was in fact perfect. The writer told me that she of course was incredulous but she asked a few questions and it definitely seemed at least on the surface that the daughter was correct, her mother was perfect. The thought coming to me at the moment is that this writer’s definition of perfect, and perhaps the daughter’s definition were most likely completely different than mine. Who is to say what is perfect? Who is to say what it is to have it all together? If I had it all together that would mean that myself and my family would be healthy. Maybe it would mean a clean house and security. Mostly it would mean lots of love and laughter. I know people who seem to have it together like this but they would likely tell you, if they were honest, that there are things in their lives that are not all together. I think that’s ok though. If everything is just as it should be then what do we have to work toward? I think it’s ok to not have it all figured out. People who know everything are a bit irritating to me, I’m sure I’m not the only one. Failing and learning from our mistakes is part of the challenge and the fun of being alive. I can definitely tell you I don’t have it all figured out. I have some things figured out and for now that’s enough.

(Prompt found at: http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2012/05/todays-writing-prompt-together.html)

(Image found at: http://www.celsias.com/article/are-apartments-key-cutting-emissions/ )

Let Us Sing of Love

2012-04-27T19:33:00.002-07:00

Ann Patchett’s novel Bel Canto is all about the music of love. Music is the thread that ties all of the characters together, and that helps us to discover what each of them loves. Bel Canto teaches us that love is the primary thing. The one thing that withstands all of life’s horrible reality is love. Love can be a dangerous thing, and it guarantees no happy endings, but it is still worth the risk.

In Bel Canto Music serves as a sort of lubrication for thought and emotion. As we listen to beautiful music, the things that are most important to us become clear. Once Roxane begins to sing again the people’s minds turn to their passions. Ruben discovers a special love for his house and the work of caring for the household. He discovers that he enjoys the labor and that he has “a certain knack for it” (Patchett 178). Roxane begins to develop deep relationships with people who don’t speak the same language. She and Carmen spend their mornings together drinking tea and braiding each others’ hair (162). According to Patchett, “In this way, only for the little time they had together in the mornings, they were sisters, girlfriends, the same. They were happy together when it was just the two of them alone” (162). Love begins to grow between Mr. Hosokawa and Roxanne. Mr. Hosokawa’s thoughts show us how their relationship developed:

She sat beside him on the sofa reading. She asked him to sit beside her at the piano. On occasion she took his hand, a gesture so startling and wonderful that he could barely inhale. She asked him, do you like this piece? She asked him, what would you like me to sing? These were things he never could have imagined: the warmth of a person and the music together. (167)

Before the music everything was terrible and scary for the captives. The music allows the people to discover that they are still alive, and to remember the things that they have to live for, if only for that moment. It is as if the music pumps life into their hearts so that they are able to beat more passionately and love more fully. The music, the things and people that they love become their only concerns, and the things that they fear become less terrifying.

However, love in itself can be terrifying. There will almost always be risks involved if we are to love fully. Certainly, the dangers of loving and of caring are more clear in a hostage situation. There is always the risk of losing the one that you love, but for Gen, Roxanne, Mr. Hosokawa, and Carmen, the risk is much greater. All of them, in their own way, face those risks and their own fears, because somehow they knew that no matter what happened, it would be worth it to love. Roxane, faced with the reality of her own death, found the courage to love. According to Patchett:

Because if Messner was right, if it was still going to be a very long time that they were held hostage, then she deserved to have this. And if, at the end of that long time, they were killed anyway…then she deserved it all the more. (239)

Roxane was also aware that time was short, and that if they weren’t killed “that they would all go back to their regular lives… [and] she would not see Katsumi Hosokawa again” (239). So in the time that she had, no matter how it would end, she decided to express her love as fully as she could. Gen took on the risk of loving as well. Though he hoped unrealistically for a “happily ever after” with Carmen (who is a terrorist), there was a part of him that must have known that it was not possible (302-306). Still in his heart he made his plans: “He would marry Carmen. He would have Father Arguedas marry them and it would be legal and binding, so that when they came for them he could say she was his wife” (303). Carmen took risks not only for the man who she loved but for her friends, who were also hostages. The time that Carmen spent in the house was probably the best time of her life. At one point she asks Gen, “would it be so awful if we all stayed here in this beautiful house?” (206). When she talks about staying there, what she means is never leaving, because she has more here than she has ever had before in her life. However, she still risks an end to this beautiful time because of her love for Gen and her friends. She sneaks Mr. Hosokawa up the stairs to see Roxane in the middle of the night, and when they are discovered, she risks her life for him and for his happiness (257). According to the author, “These two things Mr. Hosokawa was sure of: Beatriz pointed the rifle at him and Carmen came in front of the gun” (257). In that moment Mr. Hosokawa must have understood Carmen’s love and loved her in return. Though Mr. Hosokawa took a very big risk because of love, it seemed that he had the least to lose. According to the author, “He had been asked to come to her room at two A.M. and there was nothing more in the world to want, ever” (254). Mr. Hosokawa’s relationship with Roxane fulfilled him completely. He finally had everything that there was for him to want out of life. This must have made it easy for him to give up his life for Carmen. Life had nothing more to offer him than it had already given, and so there was nothing for him to fear in death. According to Patchett, “He was in front of her the instant she was being thrown behind him, the instant the man who saw her standing in front, separate from Mr. Hosokawa, fired his gun” (313). In the end Carman and Mr. Hosokawa die. The worst fears of Gen and Roxane are realized, but somehow their love still survives. It is as if the love that was born in them had to be expressed somewhere, so Gen and Roxane held on to each other (315).

Love is the thing that matters most. In the novel the music helps each person discover the love within them. In the midst of a terrifying situation, brave souls take risks for the sake of love. They face their fears because the love that they experience is worth the risk. Shouldn’t we too be a little braver when we love? Shouldn’t we let our lives sing of love? If tomorrow never comes, we should be sure that we have loved passionately and fearlessly, and know that it is worth the risk.

Work Cited

Patchett, Ann. Bel Canto: A Novel. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Print.

Image found at: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2521290248_718c33bcb1.jpg

Happiness

2012-04-22T20:44:00.001-07:00

Denis Waitley once said that "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."

Novel

2012-04-22T16:38:00.003-07:00

If you could only own one novel, what would it be?

Let me start by saying that to only own or have access to one novel would be cruel and unusual punishment to me. My greatest vice is books. I don’t have much room for them but I make due and my kindle is a lifesaver. However, I think that if I could only own one novel it would have to be Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I love gothic romances. There is so much going on in this one. There is drama (more than on the Jerry Springer show) love, hysteria, strife, death and finally a happily ever after. Also I think a lot can be learned from this book. The characters show us how terrible love can be and then show us the good thing it should be. I won’t tell you much more because you will enjoy discovering it on your own much more. Tell me if this punishment was imposed on you what novel would you choose?

(Writing prompt found at: http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2012/04/todays-writing-prompt-novel.html )

(Image found at: http://favim.com/image/121425/ )

How do you decide what to blog about?

2012-04-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

Actually, people ask me what I blog about. I tell them come read, I blog about lots of things. A more to the point question might be how do you decide what to blog about? Sometimes something comes into my mind that I’m just so passionate about that I have to write about it. So I write and I share. However, more often I just feel the need to write so I do a quick Google search for writing prompts and see what comes up. I click around until something catches my eye. I hope one day soon that my readers will start commenting and blogging back. I’d love to know what you blog about, or what you would like to read on my blog. I also find that reading helps me blog. Reading something great never ceases to inspire me. Tell me how do you decide what to blog about? What inspires you?

(http://beonline.co.nz/business-solutions/blogging/)

(writing prompt found at: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/100-blog-topics-i-hope-you-write )

Whose Fate is it?

2012-04-09T18:12:00.001-07:00

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Shakespeare’s Hamlet both end in tragedy. Were these tragedies avoidable? If Hamlet and Oedipus would have taken control of their own destinies they could have gone on to live full and productive lives. Oedipus and Hamlet each let an outside influence control their fate. Hamlet let the ghost of his father (or something that seemed to be his father’s ghost) control his actions. Oedipus let the gods, the oracles, and their prophecies control his life. The outside bodies that influenced both protagonists had their own agendas, agendas which did not include the welfare of either Oedipus or Hamlet. Each protagonist made the mistake of giving up control of his own fate.

Oedipus’ journey began with his mother being manipulated by the gods. She was convinced by a prophecy to have her own son put to death. She listened to and believed the prophecy without stopping to question the reason it was revealed to her in the first place. Later, her son made the same mistake. When he first heard the prophecy, he immediately moved to act against it. This is one of the first signs of his dangerous reactive nature. He distrusted the prophecy enough to try to overcome it, but believed it enough that he thought he had to try to avoid it. Oedipus speaks of his response to the prophecy:

He said that I would be my mother’s lover,

show offspring to mankind they could not look at,

and be his murderer whose seed I am.

When I heard this, and ever since, I gauged

the way to Corinth by the stars alone,

running to a place where I would never see

the disgrace in the oracle’s words come true. (795-801)

If the gods are truly the ones in control of the prophecies, then they have their own agenda. Who knows what it is they were trying to accomplish, but it is clear that they don’t have Oedipus’ best interest in mind. Oedipus could have ignored the prophecy and decided to simply live his life rightly and justly no matter what. If the prophecy did come true, he would know it was not because of any evil in his own heart, and he would have a clear conscience. Instead he reacted in fear and gave up the power he had over his over his own fate. Oedipus also never took the time to evaluate the source of the prophecy or if he should trust it; he simply gave into that source never knowing what its true motives were. If Oedipus had determined not to let anyone but himself guide his future, perhaps he would have had a more promising one. Had Oedipus ignored the prophecy (and stayed at home) he may have in effect also saved the lives of his biological parents. If Oedipus had trusted in himself or even in those that loved him, perhaps he would have resolved never to listen to any prophecy, and much trouble would have been saved.

Like Oedipus, Hamlet also let negative influences control his life. Even before his father’s death Hamlet, is suspected to be one who was not in control of his own fate. In his warning to Ophelia, Laertes notes this, “Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will: but you must fear, His greatness weighed, his will is not his own” (1.3.14-17). Because Hamlet is a prince, “his will is not his own” (1.3.14-17). Should Hamlet have become king, his actions would have been determined by what was good for the kingdom, not what was best for himself only. However, like all of us, Hamlet had the choice to make his will his own. Unfortunately, he never made that choice. When Hamlet was faced by the ghost of his father, he freely gave his will and his fate over to it. It is clear to us that the ghost was only interested in his own agenda, revenge. He warned Hamlet not to lose his mind, but even that was aimed only at keeping him fit to accomplish the murder of his brother (1.5.85-86). Hamlet, at least at first, did not consider that. He simply reacted and went on his way to accomplish another’s agenda. As the play progresses, we see hints that Hamlet is wondering if he should give up his life for the sake of the ghost’s agenda. He is at least a little less impetuous than Oedipus in this regard. In his famous soliloquy Hamlet wonders:

To be, or not to be, that is the question,

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing, end them: to die to sleep. (3.1.57-61)

If Hamlet chose not to pursue the ordered revenge, (and his own death) he might have had to suffer while being ruled by Claudius. If he had simply confronted the man and stood up as the rightful king, he would have to bear burden of the crown, but at least he would still be alive. If he did that and took his fate back he might have to face his demons, or confront the ghost of his father. Hamlet not only allows his father’s ghost to control him, but he also allows his own emotions to control his behavior. Ophelia’s life may have been spared if he hadn’t given himself to emotional bouts of anger. In his grief he struck out verbally at Ophelia and physically at her father. Had Hamlet simply taken control of himself, a better life might have been had by both him and those that he loved. Had Hamlet been less emotional, he might not have ignored the good advice that his best friend Horatio gave him. When the ghost first summoned Hamlet, Horatio spoke up with wisdom: “What if it tempt you toward the flood my lord, Or … deprive your sovereignty of reason” (1.4.70-74). In the end Horatio was right; Hamlet’s reason was not the thing that guided him.

Both Oedipus and Hamlet allowed outside influences to control their lives. They both had character flaws which allowed them to be influenced easily. Hamlet had an emotional nature, and Oedipus had a reactive nature. Had either of them resolved to get control of himself and his own fate, their stories might have turned out very differently. None of us should allow others to send us down a destructive path. Only we can take responsibility for our own lives.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction

to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 1010-1107. Print.

Sophocles. “Oedipus the King” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar

V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 968-1004. Print.

Grief

2012-04-07T21:28:00.001-07:00

We lost our cat today. Raymond T, aka Ray, aka, Raymond Tom Cat, aka Ray Ray. I loved my cat. We got him out of a barn. There was a sign on the side of the road that read “FREE KITTENS.” We stopped and looked inside. It was the week before Easter. Mark and I had been together for a year and had decided it was time to have a pet together. The little barn had a card board box filled with tiny, nearly new born, kittens. Then there was one slightly larger kitten filled with rambunctious energy. An orange ball of fluff bouncing over and around his brothers and sisters. Only he wasn’t from this litter. As it turned out they had given away the last litter of kittens and someone brought this little one back. That was all I had to hear. This little orange tiger was mine. Mark tried to talk me out of it, but by the next morning he was in love with Ray as much as I was. He hopped wildly all over my bed that night, like some kind of half cat half rabbit hybrid. But when he got tired out I gathered him close to my heart. He fell asleep and rested his cold little heart shaped nose on my chest. From that moment I was Raymond’s mommy. I guess that’s why twelve years later it feels like I’ve lost a child. Tomorrow is Easter and I feel like a circle or a cycle has been completed. I wonder if I’ll always think about my sweet cat at this time of year. For now I imagine him in heaven running through fields chasing mice, but never harming them. I see my dad reaching down to scratch his ears and introducing him to his new friend Kitty, my childhood pet. I imagine that he remembers me and my love and that somehow he knows that he’ll see me again one day. I believe this, controversial or not, and it gives me peace in the midst of my grief.

(image found at: www.catclipart.net/cat_clipart_images/sleepy_orange_cartoon_kitty_with_a_drop_shadow_0515-1004-0101-1243_SMU.jpg )

Inhibited

2012-04-03T17:56:00.004-07:00

Are you more or less inhibited than you were 10 years ago? Why?

Ten years ago I was 22 years old. I would have to say that I was less inhibited. In the last 10 years I’ve gotten older. I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself and the life I’m living. I don’t feel the need to experiment with life so much. I’ve found the things that I love and I spend my time doing those things. Some people would say that I’m uninhibited because I have a blog, I scuba dive and spend some of my time in the outdoors, but for me that’s just life. I think I’m more inhibited now because I don’t smoke and I don’t go out to play pool by myself at night. I’ve also developed a strong personal relationship with God so that keeps me from getting into too much trouble. Being married keeps me a bit more inhibited as well. What are some of your inhibitions?

Writing prompt found at :

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2012/04/todays-writing-prompt-inhibited.html

The artists job...

2012-04-03T12:38:00.001-07:00

Midnight in Paris: "The artist's job is not to succumb to despair but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence." No pressure there.

RECOVER

2012-03-31T18:48:00.001-07:00

What are you recovering from right now? Right now I'm recovering from a long week at work. Probably more than that though. I'm recovering from losing my dad, taking care of my mom and neglecting myself for much too long. I'm rediscovering myself through writing and learning. I'm regaining my health through exercise, but not too much. I'm recovering from eating junk for most of my life. I'm learning about eating natural whole foods and really enjoying them. I'm learning to be balanced in my life and being rewarded with peace and health. What are you recovering from? What have you found that helps? Writing prompt found at http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2011/10/todays-writing-prompt-recover.html

What profession to you think should be eliminated in 2012?

2012-03-24T17:39:00.002-07:00

What if I go another way with this? What if all professions that didn’t add to either the survival or health (mental health included) of mankind were eliminated? What if life got a little simpler? Cars are killing the planet. So maybe we go back to horses and horse drawn carriages. Anyone who works in a profession related to horses they’re safe. Also anyone who works in a profession related to growing or raising healthy food that isn’t chocked full of nasty chemicals is safe. Water is another main concern so anyone who can contribute to the distribution and treatment of water is definitely safe. Of course I’m going to save artist and entertainers. And if we stop flying planes and driving cars maybe we’ll be able to appreciate our local artist more. What if all the electronics engineers stop engineering and start repairing? Don’t we have enough technology devoted to our phones yet? Can I buy one product and keep it working for say 10 or 20 years. If more energy was devoted to making a product last or making it repairable those engineers would be viewed as valued service workers as opposed to extortionists. Back to those whose professions are necessity. Doctors, nurses, teachers, farmers, builders, cooks, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins. I think we should keep them around. Will we ever get our priorities straight? (writing prompt found at http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/)

(photo source http://www.seedsofchangefoods.com/images/img_orglif_main.jpg)

The Trappings of Marriage - Maria J. Speake

2012-03-16T19:33:00.002-07:00

Marriage has its benefits. You get to be intimate with the one person you love more than any other. In marriage you can share yourself more than you can anywhere else in life. However, for women there is also a dark side to marriage. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” along with the poems “Marks” (by Linda Pastan) and “Conjoined” (by Judith Minty) demonstrate how marriage can become a tiresome obligation for some women.

Louise Mallard, the main character from Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” goes through a flurry of thoughts when she learns that her husband has died. Her inner dialog leads us to believe that she thinks of her marriage like it is a prison. She makes no direct comparisons between prison and marriage the author paints a picture of prison like oppression. According to Chopin, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (294). One might picture a prison guard or a slave owner keeping Louise from neglecting her duties as a wife. It is clear that she has felt oppressed or trapped as one might if imprisoned. Louise speaks the words “free,free,free!” under her breath as she imagines life without her husband. The story clearly illustrates its view of marriage as being an oppressive thing that women would be happy to be free from. The poems also draw from the more dreadful side of marriage.

Kate Chopin’s story uses allegory to demonstrate ideas about marriage. The poems have similar themes but the authors use more direct comparisons or metaphors.

In the poem “Marks” the author compares her marriage and home life to school. She writes that her “husband gives [her] an A/ for last night’s supper, /” (855). She writes that her daughter says that she passes (855). We know that you receive grades or “marks” in school. The author feels that she is always being judged by her husband and her family. She has to work hard in order to measure up. The last lines show us that she doesn’t want to be in this kind of marriage anymore. She writes, “Wait ‘till they learn/ I’m dropping out” (855) The author is showing us that marriage isn’t any fun for women if they feel like they are being constantly critiqued. The poem “Conjoined also makes some negative comparisons.

Jusith Minty’s poem “Conjoined" compares marriage with “freaks” and specifically with conjoined twins (604). She uses simile and compares her marriage to an “accident” like conjoined twins, “doomed/ to live, even make love, together for sixty years/” (604). Minty’s use of the word “doomed” and even the poems title show that she feels there is no way out of marriage. Her view is that one’s individuality is lost in marriage and that it can not be regained without serious harm being done. She writes, “To sever the muscle could free one, / but might kill the other” (604).

Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and the poems by Parstan and Minty illustrate that marriage can be oppressive, bothersome and harmful. Chopin’s story uses allegory to show her views on the oppression of marriage. Paston uses direct comparisons to the hard work and critiques that can be found both in school and marriage. Minty’s comparison to freaks that are unable to separate show her ideas on marriage. While the authors use different methods the idea is the same. If we’re not careful the trappings of marriage can become terrible for women.

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an hour.” Literature: An Introduction to reading and writing. Ed

Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 293-295. Print.

Minty, Judith. “The Story of an hour.” Literature: An Introduction to reading and writing. Ed

Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 604. Print.

Paston, Linda. “The Story of an hour.” Literature: An Introduction to reading and writing. Ed

Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 855. Print.

Change One Thing

2012-03-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

(http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/2012/03/todays-writing-prompt-normal.html

Monday, March 12, 2012Today's Writing Prompt: Normal If you were required to change one thing that would make you "more normal," what might that change be?)

First, I’m not actually sure being more normal is on the list of my immediate or long term goals. However, there is one thing that I would probably change about myself that would make me more like most women. It’s my feet. I have fallen arches. This is something I consider to be a severe disability, mostly because it makes standing for any length of time extremely painful. Then there’s the part that really bothers me. I can’t wear high heels. High heels do magical things for women. They make us taller. They make our legs prettier and our butts more pert. They add a polish to almost any outfit. A woman in a pencil skirt a jacket and a great pair of heels can rule the world. I on the other hand have to make due with supportive shoes and boots. My feet with their fallen arches roll right out of high heels and there’s nothing I can do about it. So if I could miraculously change one thing about myself to be “more normal” it would have to be my feet. Then again, maybe it’s a good thing. I really don’t have the budget for the shoe wardrobe that I imagine.

http://thetrendyheels.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sexy-heels-fashion-shoes-high-heels-2010.jpg

Sunshine Motivation Period

2012-03-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

Daylight Savings Time Or Sunshine Motivation Period This is honest. What the government wants is for us to be productive citizens for more hours each day. They know that sunlight is a great motivator. So they manipulate our sleep cycle by adjusting our perception of time. They expose us to more hours of sunshine, the one silver lining, and most of us are motivated during this period of time to be more productive. Therefore this time should be called, more honestly and descriptively, Sunshine Motivation Period.

Live Maui- Maria J. Speake

2012-03-09T22:11:00.001-08:00

Some people believe that their lives are all about what they accomplish. Their goals consist of what they will acquire and the status they will attain. I believe that there is much more to life. There are experiences and knowledge in the world just waiting for the opportunity to bless us. In order to claim those blessings we must make the time and take the time to go find them. If we make experiencing life a priority our course of action becomes clear. It’s time to escape, to tarry to relish something new. Maui is a great place to slow down and learn to appreciate life.

There is so much beauty to be enjoyed both on the island and underwater. Scuba diving Maui has opened my eyes up to the vast beauty and variety of its waters. A great dive site can be found near the Westin Kaanapali. There are abundant coral formations which provide a home to many beautiful colorful fish. There are small fish with striking fins in bright yellow. The Hawaiian Triggerfish appears to be painted with bold lines in black blue and gold. There are anemones of every variety. My favorite is black and has hard spines that can be tapped with a divers Pokey Stick. There are some small curious fish in grey and purple. I remember them staring at my goggled face as I explored and one seemed to follow me for the entire dive. As anyone can see I could go on and on about everything I saw and this was only the tiniest fraction of what is available to be explored in the ocean surrounding Maui. The splendor continues as you explore the island. A relaxing drive around the island is something not to be missed. If you’re going to do any significant amount of driving be sure to rent a Jeep, they conquer the terrain without effort. I have driven all the way around the island but the road to Hana and back was the best. The lush rain forest is striking. I have never in my life seen anything so green. Along the road you are tempted with many offers of the best banana bread on the island. A white horse peeks over a fence and offers its head to be scratched. Waterfalls can be sighted often and if you’re in want of refreshing waters the Seven Sacred Pools are not too hard to find. The drive will take you all of the day but it is invigorating and well worth the time. Another mesmerizing experience is seeing a sun rise atop Haleakala. According to the author “Haleakala, "House of the Sun," [is the] world's largest dormant volcano whose summit rises to more than 10,000 feet” (Mim Swartz sec. 8). This is relevant because I did visit Haleakala. I had to coax my husband out of bed the morning that we drove to that summit and we weren’t the only ones up early. Hundreds of people gathered at a fence strategically placed so that visitors could view the sun rising over the peaks of the mountain. As first light breaks voices complaining of the cold cease and a mutual sigh is all that can be heard. A bronze desert is revealed and you feel as if you’re looking into another alien world. I could have stood there for hours if it weren’t for fear of freezing to death. I hadn’t accounted for the altitude change and had only shorts and a sweatshirt. I made my way into the bookshop complete with heater and wide windows for your viewing pleasure. I lingered with many others who squeezed in unable to tear their eyes away. As the sun rose higher and higher in the sky a blanket of puffy white clouds crept closer to the peaks.

In addition, much can be learned from the spirit of both the people and the turtles of the island. If you’re not familiar with the majestic Green Sea turtle a great way to be introduced is by booking a snorkeling trip. On my first trip to Maui my husband and I were given tickets on the “Mahana Nai’a” a huge sail boat which frequents Turtle Town and Molokini Crater. Visiting the crater was great but I will never forget our visit to Turtle Town. We were told before we entered the water to try to keep our distance from the turtles because any physical contact with humans could be dangerous to them. I cynically shrugged my shoulders why would I have to worry about them being close; we probably wouldn’t see any anyway, right? Wrong. We jumped into the water and I was immediately faced with a beautiful turtle which was rising to the surface to take a breath of air. I instantly felt a connection with this reptile. A moment later I realized how close the turtle was to me and that I had to paddle away to keep from accidentally touching it. The turtle did not seem to mind me. It did gaze in my direction and its expression suggested to me a great wisdom. As the turtle floated back down to the sea bed, I couldn’t help but be amazed by its elegance and grace. While on this excursion I learned more about both the attitude’s of the humans and the turtles of Maui. Most people here are visitors like me and everywhere you turn all you see are smiling faces. What I find most striking is what you don’t see. There are no suits and ties and as far as I can see no signs of stress. The captain a one time resident of Stockton, California now steers this sailboat with his bare feet to earn his way. His hair is light; his face is tan and lightly touched by smile lines. His wife a beautiful Hawaiian girl has the easiest expression I’ve ever encountered. Her job is to follow around blissful tourists with her underwater movie camera. I think to myself she collects memories and smiles for a living. The turtles spend their long lives relaxing in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In fact Hester states, “It has been speculated that turtles have lived [to] over 100 years of age” (Hester 43). I feel a simple acceptance here among the people and as I swim with the turtles I feel the same. Spending time with people in Maui can teach you to take life in stride and to live the Aloha spirit. “Maui is so unique because of its people. Carrying the spirit of Hawaii through Aloha, you will find this islands residents to be some of the most friendly and welcoming people you have ever met.” (“The people of Maui” sec. 1) To me Aloha means getting out and enjoying nature, treating others with respect and not taking life to seriously. What I appreciate most about Maui is the serenity that you find everywhere you go.

Finally, on my last visit to Maui I had an intense experience that taught me how special life is and how fragile at the same time. I learned several things; one was that turtles contrary to lore can be quite fast. My husband and I were determined to track down some sea turtles and enjoy a dive with them. We asked around the island and found our best bet for a beach dive would be Mala Point. The morning we arrived at the dive site we geared up and surveyed the area. There were no breakers and the water was calm but we were the only diver’s there which was peculiar. Never the less we ventured into the water and soon found we had a hike to make over a mile of slippery rocks. When we finally made our decent the water was murky and green. We stayed close to the legs of the pier and explored some coral formations which had anemones resting on them. Suddenly I saw a monster of a Green Sea Turtle. I screamed with all my might to get my husband’s attention but under water all that could be heard was a little gurgling. Amazingly I reached my husband in time to tap him and bring his eyes to the turtle. I watched the giant amazed at its size and its speed. We tried to follow but soon realized there would be no keeping up with it. Suddenly I got an eerie feeling. This was not normal turtle behavior. “Turtles are actually very agile and fast and if frightened they will flee quickly into the ocean’s depths” (Hester 43). I saw my husband stare in the direction that the turtle had come from. We looked at each other meaningfully and began our surface. Once we surfaced my husband confirmed what I suspected. There was a tiger shark in the area and it was heading in our direction, not to mention the turtle’s. We decided it was time to end the dive. So as you can see, when its necessary turtles can be faster than one would think. Another thing I learned was that encountering a shark up close can make you very nervous but it can also give you greater appreciation for life. I’ve never experienced a dive like this one before. Simultaneously my stomach got queasy and I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck and the tops of my shoulders. I tried to stay calm but it was nerve racking. Tiger’s are confirmed man eaters. After our swim in and the mile hike back I reached sandy beach happy to be alive. I reflected for a moment on how well, all things considered, the dive had gone and how easily it could have been a different story. I determined that since I had been given this second chance of sorts that I would live my life with gratitude and that I would make the very most of every day. After such a close call I was in need of a more relaxing way to enjoy myself which I determined would be sunbathing at Kaanapali beach and short snorkel close to shore. I lied in the sun and felt my skin warm and luxurious, beads of sweat formed and then were cooled by the light breeze. I exhaled as I hadn’t in months it was pure relaxation. When the heat got to be too much I donned my hot pink fins, mask and snorkel and enjoyed the beautiful colors of the tropical fish. The water cooled me and prepared me for more blissful sun worship. I defy anyone to find something more relaxing than lying on a Maui beach and swimming through its clear waters.

I highly recommend visiting Maui and enjoying all the island has to offer. There is so much to benefit from. Remember, life is more than just what we accomplish it is meant to be lived and a great way to live is Aloha.

WORKS CITED LIST

Hester, Captain Amber. “A few intriguing facts about Green Sea Turtles.” Maui dive and

surf Magazine 2009: 43. Print

“Live Aloha, The People of Maui”, University of Hawai`i Maui College, N.p., 2006, Web. 17 Nov.

2010

Swartz, Mim. “Even Hawaiians say Maui is the best”, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SPI,

1997. Web. 17 Nov. 2010

The Desire of Women-Maria J. Speake

2012-03-09T21:35:00.001-08:00

What do women really want? Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem “If Thou Must Love Me” illustrates that what women need and want is to have true and lasting love in their lives. The writer describes how she should and should not be loved. What she seems to be saying is that a love that depends on anything that changes, and that does not depend upon love itself, is not really love. Love is the one true and unchanging thing, the one thing that can be depended on. Any man would do well to take the advice that this poem gives, when it comes to loving a woman.

The writer knows what she wants, and she describes it in detail. She wants a love that is not dependant on anything that can be altered. Browning writes, “Do not say/ ‘I love her for her smile—her look—her way…/ For these things in themselves, Beloved, may/Be changed…” (lines 2-8). What she is really saying is that she herself may change. If he loves her for only some part of herself that might go away, or be somehow diminished over time, then his love will not last. If she loses her looks, and his love was based only upon them, then she will lose his love as well. This is not the kind of love that a woman wants. She desires the security of a love that will be constant through the circumstances and changes of life. She does not want a love that is based upon her merits. She is aware of her faults. So if love should not depend on the person being loved, what then should it depend on?

It certainly can’t depend on people. People are simply not rock solid. People are ever changing, ever aging, and ever making mistakes. All we can hope is that we learn from the mistakes that we make. So as imperfect as we are, love can not depend on us. Browning pleads, “But love me for love’s sake, that evermore/ Though mayst love on, through love’s eternity” (13-14). She’s saying, “Don’t let your love depend on me, I’m undependable. Instead let your love depend upon love itself.” The only thing that can be depended on is love. True love relies on itself and says, “I love her because it is what I was made to do”. Real love does not list conditions for its own existence. Real love simply is and will always be. This constancy is what a woman desires. She does want to be loved and admired for who she is today, but if she should change and admiration fades, she should still be loved with all her faults. It is this constancy that makes love an object of desire for women.

Losing love is a frightening possibility for a woman. All that she is can become hopelessly tangled in the life of the one that she loves. If she loses that love, she can lose her very self. The hesitation that comes from this fear can be heard in the opening lines of the poem: “If thou must love me” (1). She’s saying, “If you have to love me, if there is no way around it, then love me forever. Do not love me for a moment, and then leave me with a broken heart.” She does not want to be loved because she once gave him “A sense of pleasant ease on such a day” (6). A day will only last for a day. This line speaks of a moment in time that passes. Women do not want pleasure for just a moment. They want something of value that will last. They want something they can treasure forever and that they can be certain will always be theirs. They want something that they can trust, something that will say, “Don’t be afraid; at no time will you be alone.”

Women know without a doubt what it is that they want. They want a rare love that is more dependable than they are. They want a love with an endurance that would outlast their lives. They want constancy and faithfulness that is unconditional. Women want love that depends on nothing but love. If those who would love will love as this poem instructs, they will do well, and finally women will have what they desire.

Work Cited

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. “Sonnets from the Portuguese, Number 14: If Thou Must Love Me”

Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 556. Print.

A Powerful Woman Restrained-Maria J. Speake

2012-03-09T21:24:00.002-08:00

(Image found at http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gujDGil975s/Sa5Ewsh24DI/AAAAAAAAAQU/48BrwVItu2U/j0401527.jpg)

Women are passionate, creative and powerful creatures. John Steinbeck’s “The Chrysanthemums” takes a look at one woman’s struggle to be who she is within the confines of the world in which she lives. Elisa Allen is a strong and gifted woman, but she finds herself restrained by society. She is confident in her gifts and speaks with excitement about what she calls her “planters’ hands” (353). She has an amazing ability to work with plants which seems to be an innate part of her. We learn that Elisa yearns for something beyond her life on the ranch, and that she may have even contemplated taking action to attain that something. However, by the end of the story she seems to have sadly resigned herself to the idea that she will not ever experience life outside of the ranch. Steinbeck’s story demonstrates how women’s spirits can be damaged when they are restrained by the expectations and confines of society.

Elisa is physically and mentally strong. According to Steinbeck, “her work with the scissors was over-eager, over-powerful. The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy” (350). This passage tells us that Elisa is strong enough to do much more than just grow flowers. She is capable of more than society expects of her. When her husband speaks to her about the strength of her coming crop she replies with smugness on her face and in her tone (351). She knows her crop, is going to be strong. She is sure of herself and her abilities. When she first speaks to the traveling man, she directs him with confidence about his route and about his team’s abilities (352). She is not intimidated by the man and she is sure of her own wisdom. Although Elisa is powerful in mind and body, she does find herself limited by the ideas of others.

Elisa expresses her discontent about the limitations placed on women by society when she speaks to the traveling man. She talks about his kind of life and says, “It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things” (354). She doesn’t say, “Woman should do these things”, or “Women could do these things”. She says that she “wishes”. This shows her understanding that women are limited in the things they are allowed to do. But what is keeping them from doing those things is not lack of ability, but the expectations of society as a whole. The traveler seems to represent the society of Elisa’s time. He immediately dismisses her feelings and responds, “It ain’t the right kind of life for a woman” (354) He is making a judgment that he must believe he is qualified to make, or perhaps he is simply echoing the attitudes of the people of his time. This response seems to make Elisa angry, and there is a moment in the story where one might believe that her anger has empowered her to take action, and to go live this kind of life, perhaps on her own. Elisa alludes to this idea when she says, “You might be surprised to have a rival some time. I can sharpen scissors, too. And I can beat the dents out of little pots. I could show you what a woman might do” (354). Elisa seems to be thinking seriously about hitting the road for a different kind of life. One wonders if she’s given any thought as to how a change like this might affect her marriage. Certainly in the 1930’s, or any other time for that matter, a man would be unlikely to leave his livelihood to join his wife on such an adventure. Elisa’s idea seems to have been brought on by her indignation at what the traveler said to her; however, the author implies that the idea doesn’t fade and it seems to stick with her throughout most of the day. When the stranger leaves, she watches him go and notes, “That’s a bright direction. There’s a glowing there” (354). This is in stark contrast with the description of Elisa’s surroundings. Steinbeck describes the fog, “On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot” (350). This “closed pot” (350) must symbolize Elisa’s feeling of being closed off from the rest of the world, and the brightness alludes to her way out. Elisa seems at her strongest at this moment and could be entertaining dreams of escape and adventure. She seems to be struggling internally with her own desires and with the expectations that others place on her. While Elisa does have moments of great empowerment, in the end she seems defeated.

By the time Elisa leaves for her date she is transformed, strong and radiant, but on the road she sees something that changes her demeanor. The traveling man has tossed away her beautiful chrysanthemum sprouts and left them on the road. The author seems to be telling us that the chrysanthemums, like Elisa’s desires and dreams, will never grow to be what they could have been because they have been discarded and trampled. When Elisa sees this she seems defeated. She goes limp, and she cries weakly (356). Her strong spirit has been injured, and so she decides to make do. She tells her husband, “It will be enough if we can have wine. It will be plenty” (356). This implies that though she wanted much more for herself, she has settled for what she has. She has given up.

Like the traveler, society has presumed to know what kind of life is right for a woman. However, as Elisa demanded of the man “How do you know? How can you tell?” (354) The truth is that no one can know what is right for a woman, except herself. Women are full of gifts and passions that must be expressed freely. Women should not be restrained by society or by anyone. If they are restrained the powerful and beautiful spirits that they possess may be damaged or destroyed. That loss would be too heavy a price for the world to pay.

Work Cited

Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums.” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing.

Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig. 5^th Compact ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 350-356. Print.