Rache Writes

1. Rewire your self-critical brain I really liked this article because it doesn't ask you to cut anything out of your life or to overhaul your habits. It's just asking you to refocus when a roadblock happens to take a breath, reward yourself for getting that far, and keep going. I'm really guilty of letting a setback completely derail me from a task so I'm going to try this the next time I'm feeling discouraged or overwhelmed. 2. Neil Gaiman's advice on the creative life I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman–my dad and I actually got to hear him speak a couple of years back. I always love his advice, and this speech is no exception. I love the message that no matter what happens, just keep going, regardless of the mistakes you might make along the way. I feel like the best feedback I've gotten in my life is when that person isn't just pointing out problems, but helping me find solutions. Obviously this isn't always possible, but in an aca...

Here are some potential topics I'm considering: 1. Stories from China This is such a broad category that I'm not totally sure what direction I would go with this yet until I do more research. However, due to my time spent in China, I would love to pursue this further. I haven't decided if I would prefer to focus on a human narrative or an animal/nature one, or what morals I want to hone in on. A potential approach could be focusing on China's only female emperor, Wu Zetian , as the narrator of a story. I might also create a story about the origins of the Chinese zodiac calendar and its affiliated animals. 2. Hindu goddess Kali I've gotten to take a couple of classes on Hinduism at OU and one figure that's always fascinated me is Kali . Some people refuse to have images of the goddess in their homes because she is thought to bring violence and bad omens. However, others see her as a loving motherly figure. I think exploring the two sides of the godde...

Thousands of years ago, a man who was all-powerful looked up into the night sky. The moon was there as always, but tonight he was frowning. The all-powerful man called to him, "Oh moon, whatever is wrong? You sleep all day and watch over the sky at night. Your life seems wonderful." The moon answered, "My view is beautiful but I am lonely. The stars are so far away and all night I watch as men happily live their lives. I wish I was a man like you." The all-powerful man replied, "Then you shall be one." And the moon became a man. As a man, he worked as a shepherd in the fields. Although he was less lonely, he was tired of standing all day in the heat. There was no cover of trees to give him comfort. However, he noticed rabbits darting around him as he worked, playing and taking shelter in the long grass. The next time he saw the all-powerful man, he said, "I no longer want to be a man. I wish to be a rabbit: free from responsibility and able to find sh...

I'm a sucker for origin stories. Creation is so open-ended: you can't prove or disprove how something came to be unless you were there. Starting with the end product creates some really interesting storytelling boundaries. I especially love origin stories because they often reflect the foundational values of a community. The Man in the Moon by Neville Fleeson I really love how concise this story is. The language is clear and the moral message of being content with yourself comes through. I also love that it's formatted as a conversation. The Hare that Was not Afraid  by Marie L. Shedlock This one takes more of a journey. Although I like it, I liked the first one more. However, it has essentially the same elements: it has a very clear moral message and uses conversation as well. (The Man in the Moon is struct by a spacecraft in the  1902 fantasy film Le Voyage dans la Lune . Source .)

Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4. Week 3: Jewish Fairy Tales Week 4: Bible Women Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6. Week 5: Folklore of the Holy Land Week 6: Ancient Egyptian Myths Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.] Week 7: China Week 9: South African Folktales Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11. Week 10: Pacific Northwest Week 11: Alaska Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13. Week 12: Beowulf Week 13: Canterbury Tales Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15. Week 14: Heptameron Week 15: Dante's Inferno For some reason, my original post deleted the last two sections and my explanation of what I was looking forward to, so I will do my best to remember what I originally wrote. I'm most looking forward to the unit over China! Since I got to visit, I would love to learn more about i...