Now, before I get carried away with the ins and outs of the last seven days, I hope you will indulge me for a bit.
This week, a young girl, here in Canada, committed suicide because of bullying. She was a beautiful 15yr old, with all of life's good things waiting to embrace her. Yet, somehow, deep down in her very young, teenage soul, she could see no other way to escape the torture of the incessant, relentless bullying.
Sadly, she is not the first, nor will she be the last, if something isn't done.
In my experience, and that is the only place from which I can speak, bullying is a behavior which is taught. That, in and of itself seems like a no brainer, right? After all, children aren't born with the ability, the desire, nor the instinct to bully. By nature, as humans, we care.
This is a behavior taught by us. We, the adults of this society, need to take responsibility for teaching our children that it is ok to hurt others, on purpose.
They absorb it every day, as they watch us judge each other, as they hear snide remarks about co-workers, choice words for the person who just cut us off in traffic, belittling the someone who may seem a little different, and doesn't necessarily fit into our tidy little boxes in which we sooo love to put people.
Teaching our children empathy is so incredibly important. Just as, if not more important than teaching them their colours and letters. We seem to be so tied up in making sure our kids learn piano, karate, hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, soccer, dance, and on top of that, excel academically. Maybe we should take a step back, and set aside a little time to make sure they are learning how to care.
I know we can change this obscene trend. We just need to start, and start now. With our toddlers, with our preschool kids, with our pre-teens, with our 15yr olds. We just need to start teaching our kids how fundamentally important it is to care about others. We need to be the adults we'd like our children to be when they grow up.
We need to do better, we owe it to our kids, our grandkids, nieces, nephews, friends' kids, students...........we need to not bury any more of our children because of something we've taught our other children to do.
Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest........it was too heavy for me to carry alone.
*climbing off of soap box*
Now, on to happier things...................................
As for the photo.....that is a pic of Wes Funk and I getting ready for my tv interview for "Lit Happens."
It actually turned out to be pretty fun, thanks to Wes, the Shaw guys, and the other interviewees. I was very nervous going into the cafe where they held the taping. I think it helped alot that I got to be the last one interviewed. Watching the other three go first helped tame the butterflies in my stomach.
Apparently, it will be shown on Shaw Saskatoon, youtube as well as www.wesfunk.ca sometime within the next few weeks.
Now that I've done it once, I think I'd be ok doing it again, if the opportunity presented itself. Let's all keep in mind that it's a pretty big IF, so I can sound pretty brave!
This week also brought with it some rehearsing, trailer fixing, and a trip to the Conquest trade show.
The trade show was fun, as usual. Met lots of people, and for the first time, the best seller for me today was "Everyday Wishes For Your Extraordinary Life"! Yup, I was thrilled to find out that it will be a Christmas gift for several adult children, an engagement gift for a young couple, and seems to be a popular gift for women to give to their women friends.
Before we took off toward Conquest, we had to make a stop at the post office. I had to ship off a couple of copies of each of "Crazy", "Tags",and "Wishes" to the National Archives in Ontario. Apparently, it's required. Who am I to argue,right? Now, all of my books have a spot out there. It kind of blows my mind to think that 75 years from now, my great-great grandbabies will be able to get their hands on copies of the silly books Grandma used to write.
Now for the upcoming week.................................
Monday........drop off books for Milbanke's in North Battleford on the way to Meadow Lake,Sk.
Tuesday........am...hang out with some kids at Dorintosh School, in Dorintaosh, Sk, then make my way to, say it with me, Kopahawakenum School at Flying Dust (going to have the kids there to teach me how to pronounce it!)
Tuesday....pm.....Chill with kids from Lakeview Elementary School in Meadow Lake, Sk. then attend their book fair and parent/teacher night.
Wednesday......am...Visit Green Acre School in Rapid View,Sk.
Wednesday.....pm.... See some kids at Jubilee Elementary in Meadow Lake,Sk.
Thursday..........rest, do laundry, make sure everything is ready for Saturday.
Friday.......Head out to visit kids at Major School in Major,Sk.
Saturday......Trade Show in Eatonia,Sk.
Gonna be a BLAST!
Well folks, that about does it for me for another week!
Until next time I'll leave you with this wish................................
May you know, in your lifetime, for every bully you encounter, five good people will become friends, loyal and true.
May you see bullies for the sad cowards they portray, misguided in believing their ego relies on how small they can make you.
May those out there who find joy in torturing those who are different, or tall, or small, or for any other ludicrous, ridiculous, nonsensical excuse....
May you stand in their shoes for a day, to taste the palpable hatred, truly understand the depth of the abuse...
May those who throw an insult at the guy by the water cooler, the girl in the mail room, the person waiting to cross at the light.....
May you be aware of the young ears around you soaking up the fact, that if you're doing it, bullying must be alright...
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