Isabel Allende's Tales of Passion

This video comes from TED.com. Isabel Allende was the niece of Salvador Allende, the president of Chile from 1970-1973. When he was assassinated, Isabel was forced to flee Chile. Today, Isabel Allende is a prominent Latin-American author. She has written many books and short stories. Known for her feminist flare and passion, many of her works have been translated into multiple languages. This video provides a unique opportunity to hear from Isabel herself as she explains the things that have inspired her own works of inspiration.

Isabel Allende tells tales of passion | Video on TED.com

The Power of Inspiration

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

~Van Gogh

Looking around at the world, it seems to me that everyone is inspired in some way. Some people are more reserved about the things that inspire them, while others speak out and make clear what it is that drives them to become something great. If you look for it, each person has something that brings a twinkle to their eye and a smile to their lips. When I look at anyone I have ever admired, I find that it is their ability to be inspired that has lead them to where they are now.

No matter what a person does, a certain amount of inspiration is necessary. How can a person succeed when they are not passionate about what they do? Teachers need to have a passion for their students and subjects; cooks need to have a passion for the food and flavors they create; carpenters need to have a passion for building something that will last a lifetime. No person who does much of anything does so without inspiration and passion, and anyone with these key ingredients goes on to inspire passion in others. This leads to greatness.

Inspirations give us dreams. What it all comes down to is what makes us dream. There are different poems, songs, and pictures that inspire me. They inspire different thoughts and emotions within me each day. What is important about these is not necessarily what they look or sound like, but rather that they inspire. They inspire masses of people in the same way that a cook, a teacher, and a carpenter are both inspired and inspire in turn. When one person can write, paint, or say something that leads others to feel inspired, one of the greatest abilities of human kind is illustrated. Humans are unique because of their ability to inspire and to be inspired by others. So when you think of the things that inspire you, remember that these things touch your life and lead you to dream and to feel passionate about the things around you. Those inspirations let you dream and those dreams make your life great. In reality, a Van Gogh painting does more than look pretty. It makes us think of things we normally wouldn't. It invites us to stretch our minds. This is the true genius of inspiration.

Shakespeare's Impact

The following is an excerpt from my senior research paper. My paper is inspired by the work of Shakespeare.

The smell of warm ale and meat is thick in the air. Shrieks of laughter disappear into a flood of faces. Puck wanders about on a proscenium stage before a floor filled with people standing elbow to elbow. Above the mosh pit scene, there is a circular row of seats filled by the middle class. Above this row is yet another row in which the queen herself sits back and enjoys the show. It is a convergence of all levels of society brought together for a brief period of time to experience a play that comments on the class system contained in this very room. It is here that Shakespeare proves himself to be a genius, if for no other reason than for managing to die a natural death rather than being hanged.

Centuries later, high school students trudge to class and are asked to pull out their dry textbooks. They turn to page 259 and begin to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream individually. Just as students’ eyes become heavy with sleep and their heads begin to nod, and a single teacher stands in front of the class (also completely unenthusiastic about the play) and delivers an even drier lecture on Shakespeare. This was my experience in high school English. Comparing these two experiences side by side, one can hardly ignore the distinct change in atmosphere from Elizabethan England to our present day classrooms.

Year after year, generation after generation, students of English are asked to study the works of William Shakespeare. As high schoolers, these students are often curious thinkers and wonder, “why Shakespeare?” As a future teacher, I have only one answer: because Shakespeare is still relevant to our lives today.

The Key to Failure

In my bedroom there is a dresser. On top of that dresser is a jar filled with small pieces of paper. Each piece of paper has a quote that I read for the day. I know it is somewhat strange and maybe even cheesy, but it helps me to motivate myself to get going in the mornings. It also gives me something to work towards in the day. I fill the jar with things I want to remember, things that mean something to me. Today I drew the quote, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby said this, and I have to say he is absolutely right. Often times when I find myself overwhelmed it is because I am spending my time trying to please everyone. I try to please my family, my professors, my friends, even complete strangers who don't even know me. Often, this is because I care about the people I am trying to please. I want them to be happy. In reality, however, this leaves little time for success. I will never make everyone happy. My writing will never be perfect, my personality will not always shine at it's most brilliant level, my wit will experience dry spells, my humor will hide away at times, and there will always be someone there telling me I need to do better. Cosby here has a point, though. Every time I set out to make everyone else happy with me, I fail. I suspect this has something to do with the necessity of pleasing yourself in the midst of all of this. So here is my advice to you, dear reader. Go out and do things for a reason other than pleasing everybody. Do things because they make you happy. Do things because they will help you or others around you to be better people. Choose the people you want to please carefully. I don't have any idea what they key to success is. I am with Cosby on that one. I do, however, have a sneaking suspicion that he is on to something here. Just another creative inspiration for your day.

Take the Time to be Lucky

I recently went to see The Blindside with my family. We decided it would be fun to go and watch a movie at the theatre (something we don't do together often) over this last Thanksgiving break. I thought it was a wonderful movie and it got me thinking about how lucky some of us are. In one scene of the movie, Michael is looking at a Norman Rockwell painting (left). Later on when the family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner, he sits at the dining room table, and the whole thing turns into a scene just like the one in the picture. I think that so often in life, we forget about the little things. I know that I don't sit down with my entire family very often for a meal. Instead, at least one member of my family is missing. My favorite part of Thanksgiving was getting to sit down as a family and eat dinner. The painting seems to present this as something that happens on a daily basis. It seems like our world has become so chaotic that we forget how lucky we are to have the people we have around us in our lives. We don't make an effort to sit down for a family dinner anymore because we have "other things" on our minds. These "other things" seem to take the front burner in our lives and we unconsciously shove everything else to the back. It seems like such a small thing, sitting down for dinner with the family, but it really means so much more. It means that we are taking time out of our lives to spend with those we care about. It means that we are willing to put that paper that is due next week or that big project at work on the backburner for a while and focus on the people and things in our lives that really matter. A promotion at work or an A in class may get you somewhere, but it costs something as well. It is important to balance the things in life that matter to you. It takes time to be lucky. You put in time at work to get that promotion, time at school to get that A, and time with your family to foster relationships that will last a lifetime. Just a thought inspired by a couple of creative people. :D

Sink or Swim...

Caught in the middle of a crossfire
Lost my balance on a high wire
Trying to figure out what to do.

Pushed to the edge of my reason
Everywhere around me it's treason
I don't want to do that to you

Kamikazi airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly?
This could be a shipwreck on the shore
Or we could fly away forevermore
This time, it's sink or swim, sink or swim.

Hearing the song in your laughter
A melody I chase after
No one else has done this to me

Kamikazi airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly?
This could be a shipwreck on the shore
Or we could fly away forevermore
This time, it's sink or swim, sink or swim.

Take a deep breath
No more time left
This is what I thought I wanted
Why am I afraid?

Kamikazi airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly?
This could be a shipwreck on the shore
Or we could fly away forevermore

Kamikazi airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly?
This could be a shipwreck on the shore
Or we could fly away forevermore
This time, it's sink or swim, sink or swim.

~Tyrone Wells

I love this song. The Pacific Ocean is my favorite body of water in the entire world. I absolutely love it. When I hear this song, it makes me think about the ocean. One of my friends introduced me to this song and I have been hooked ever since. It always inspires me to take a chance. I think it is so true all throughout life that when you take a real chance, things can go really well or they can go extremely horribly. Even if you crash and burn, though, you don't have to wonder what if. Just a small inspirational thought for the day. :D

Some Things Every Woman Should Have and Know

Maya Angelou's "What Every Woman Should Have"

Every woman should have
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to.

Every woman should have
something perfect to wear if the employer
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.

Every woman should have
a youth she's content to leave behind.

Every woman should have
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.

Every woman should have
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

Every woman should have
one friend who always makes her laugh,
and one who lets her cry.

Every woman should have
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.

Every woman should have
eight matching plates,
wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal
that will make her guests feel honored.

Every woman should have
a feeling of control over her destiny.

Every woman should know
how to fall in love without losing herself.

Every woman should know
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

Every woman should know
when to try harder,
and when to walk away.

Every woman should know
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips,
or the nature of her parents.

Every woman should know
that her childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over.

Every woman should know
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more.

Every woman should know
how to live alone, even if she doesn't like it.

Every woman should know
whom she can trust, whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally.

Every woman should know
where to go,
be it to her best friend's kitchen table
or a charming inn in the woods,
when her soul needs soothing.

Every woman should know
what she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year.

An inspiring poem from a creative woman. Enjoy.

Marilyn Monroe to Janice Dickenson: The Metamorphosis of Beauty

Just the other day, I was watching I Love Lucy with my sister. I was watching an episode where Lucy decides to go on a diet so that she can fit into the costume made for Ricky’s show. Then it hit me…she was dieting to fit into a size 12. That’s right…12! In our day and age this translates to a size large. As it turns out, Marilyn Monroe (whose craze hit a little before Lucille Ball’s) was a size 14. These women were the very definition of beauty. A generation or two later we start to see skeleton-like figures such as Madonna and Cher who redefined our image of beauty partially defined by a smaller body size.



Just the other day, I was watching I Love Lucy with my sister. I was watching an episode where Lucy decides to go on a diet so that she can fit into the costume made for Ricky’s show. Then it hit me…she was dieting to fit into a size 12. That’s right…12! In our day and age this translates to a size large. As it turns out, Marilyn Monroe (whose craze hit a little before Lucille Ball’s) was a size 14. These women were the very definition of beauty. A generation or two later we start to see skeleton-like figures such as Madonna and Cher who redefined our image of beauty partially defined by a smaller body size.

Today, we watch shows like America’s Next Top Model and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency that tell us that the size 14 beauty queens of old are now required to be labeled as “plus-size.” They are indirectly (and in some cases not so indirectly) told that they simply don’t measure up. Perhaps Tyra Banks pretends to consider women of all sizes as beautiful, but in the end no plus-size model gets to “be on top.” In one episode, Janice Dickinson actually tells one of her models that she is getting "too fat" because she could barely squeeze into a size 3 skirt. The model says later on in an interview that she was happy with her body and felt more comfortable with her body and felt more healthy than she had in a long time. Unfortunately for her, she was forced to stand there while Janice berated her. As bad as this is on its own, add in the fact that young girls watch this show faithfully.

We need to stop and consider what messages we are sending young girls. As a country, we advocate small waistlines and minimal body weight every day in every form of the media, and yet we put on a false sense of alarm when we are forced to face the rising rates of bulimia and anorexia in our children. We tell girls every single day that they need to look like the photo-shopped images every actress and model broadcasts to the world (check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U ), and yet we are shocked when they resort to unrealistic and unhealthy means to do so. If we want girls to be healthy, perhaps we should start by showing them realistic, healthy bodies. Girls are expected to look photoshopped on a daily basis, and yet we frown on it if they feel the need to turn to eating disorders to do so. They are shunned if they have an eating disorder, and they are looked down on if they do not fit the picture-perfect mold set by size zero models.

If we really care about our youth, we should start by holding them to and advocating for realistic expectations. Being healthy is good, being a skeleton is not. If the generation that produces the image of beauty for our society cannot discern the difference, how can we expect anything more from our youth?

Some Nice Lyrics

Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
Better put ‘em in quotations

Say what you need to say [x8]

Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead,
If you could only . . .

Say what you need to say [x8]

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You’d better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say [x24]

~John Mayer, Say

Planing is Overrated

Last weekend I was watching the movie My Life in Ruins with my sister. In one part of the movie, as Nia Vardalos’ character is complaining that she had her life all planned out but it just wouldn’t go according to plan, she is asked “how can you plan life?” I absolutely loved Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I felt like both of these movies hit on that very theme. Life is something that you cannot plan, and yet we always try.

I, for instance, am a planner. I plan to take the necessary exams, get my teaching degree, assistant teach, and then go on to be a high school teacher. This, however, is only the beginning of my plans. I plan on going back to school, getting my masters and becoming a grade school principle only to go back to school again and get the necessary credentials to become a superintendent, or maybe a college professor. I have not yet decided which. As I sat watching this movie with my sister, it hit me just how ridiculous it is to plan your life.


Everyone always complains that children have the best lives in the world because they can do whatever they want. They have no problems. While this is not necessarily the case, I think I finally understand why many adults think this way. Children do not plan. They do not have to try and make their lives fit into a mold they have cast for them. They do what they do when they want to do it. They don’t stress about deadlines and degrees. They play, they sleep, they cause mayhem in our orderly lives, and we envy them for their ability to do so. When did it become unacceptable for adults to say they have no plans for their life? When did being open to whatever comes start to be a bad thing?

Essentially, this movie made me want to move to a foreign country. I know several people who have come to our country from different areas of the world, such as France and Nepal. They all notice the difference in our work hours. In these countries, work comes second to a personal life. In our country, people who put their personal lives first tend to be looked down upon. That is not to say that other countries do not expect people to have some idea of how their lives will turn out. Hollywood tends to overdramatize, and each country has its own expectations as far as plans go, but my point here is that life shouldn’t be so planned.

We are only given one opportunity to live. If everyone followed the mantra, “live like you will die tomorrow,” our world might very well fall apart. The economy needs workers, workers need jobs, and in order to have a job, you have to work . . . go figure. But imagine a world where you didn’t have to plan so much. Imagine a world where life just happened. It has been said that life happens when you are busy planning something else. Maybe we should give planning a break. In all of my planning, I have to admit, I have this secret hope that it won’t turn out like I planned. I hope I am pleasantly surprised all throughout life. I don’t want to know today where I will be by the time I am 80. I can plan it all I want, but why? What’s the fun in that?

This is not the first time I have thought about all of this. I tend to overanalyze and think about things a lot. This is simply another reminder for me to try and erase that need to plan everything from my personality and just let things happen as they will. You never know what life has in store for you.