tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43574151934626499882024-03-19T02:42:58.055-06:00My Own Mind blog / Homeschool Atheist MommaAlways Still HOMESCHOOL ATHEIST MOMMA, now Out of My Own Damn MindKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.comBlogger1071125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-35396256116435396452022-11-12T21:12:00.004-06:002022-11-12T21:25:17.756-06:00Dr. Robert Sapolsky's lecture about Biological Underpinnings of Religiosity<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc"></script>
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Leaving this here, highly recommended lecture:<br><br>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WwAQqWUkpI
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-53666220233380084002021-02-24T18:01:00.004-06:002021-07-20T01:58:25.214-05:00With Apologies to Greta Christina<div><div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="Skepticon – A Celebration of Science, Social Justice, and Dinosaurs!" class="rg_i Q4LuWd" data-atf="true" data-deferred="1" data-iml="968" data-index="0" height="92" 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" width="209" /></p></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I can, I love attending atheist conventions. The several that I have attended have been over 2-3 days and have had some really wonderful speakers, events, and vendors. The first atheist convention that my husband and I ever attended was about 2012 or so, I think, at an event called Skepticon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My husband and I had been chomping at the bit to spend time with others of like mind. We'd watched and listened to other conventions on purchased CDs and DVDs during the naughts with excitement. So we clearly remember the first convention that we were finally able to attend. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Atheists like myself who now enjoy being open will recognize some of the speakers: Rebecca Watson, David Fitzgerald, Richard Carrier, PZ Myers, JT Eberhardt, Joe Nickell, David Silverman. And <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UE__k4pL20&list=PLXPdqZtcirWauqyyPUzu8L5kUaJyKejJH&index=10">Greta</a> Christina. Jerry and I felt amazed! The openness, the goodness, it was like taking a drink after being in a desert. Finally, human beings who were openly discussing issues that are so often glossed over in the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Greta Christina is a woman who has written a couple of "atheist books" and who is a regular speaker on the atheist convention circuit. I'm delighted that I've had time to speak with she and her partner over several meals shared at the conventions. (though I seriously doubt she remembers me at all. ) Her book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Are-You-Atheists-Angry/dp/0985281529/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=greta+christina&qid=1614209710&sr=8-2">Why Are You Atheists So Angry?: 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless</a></i> is a book that I've read several times and have, even, <a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2017/07/why-are-you-angry-at-god.html">plagiarized</a> the idea of here on my blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This morning a video of her doing the talk came across my FB feed through two friend of mine, Pam and Scott. Listening to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UE__k4pL20">this talk</a> again today brought up some other reasons why I, a totally kind and nice and positive atheist, am pissed off at religion. Strap yourself in.</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Today, a cousin of mine posted THIS DRIVEL; and she means it:</span></li></ul><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozsrzdSTxnbopoR2L9063vdFzdOhvu-538sdOfyfHCy401eqVlrTqs4Bwc1fDPsWE2vUIdnRjewnZe9oR4DrloV1pe161XpdLIWLAgNEBRkR8kqgV6NBA2drPWmKuE6yh5_5tZb2qhpEO/s1116/covid+bullshit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="658" height="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozsrzdSTxnbopoR2L9063vdFzdOhvu-538sdOfyfHCy401eqVlrTqs4Bwc1fDPsWE2vUIdnRjewnZe9oR4DrloV1pe161XpdLIWLAgNEBRkR8kqgV6NBA2drPWmKuE6yh5_5tZb2qhpEO/w450-h760/covid+bullshit.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This crap is religious rhetoric that is ACTIVELY keeping us all trapped in our homes for fear of continued outbreaks and infection of this hideous virus. Over THREE HUNDRED days after our general and public knowledge of it!<br /></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Now, speaking as a therapist working with human beings who are wounded, traumatized, pained, and shamed by their varied religious upbringings:<br /><br /></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SHAME.</b> Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, all thanks to the absolute nonsense taught to them with the expressed goal of making them unable to doubt, question, think clearly, leave their parents' religious community.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SEXUAL ABUSE.</b> Again, g</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">ood, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad from having been <i>used and abused as children</i> for the sexual gratification of some grotesque adult who was unable to get their sexual needs met in a healthy relationship with a consenting adult. Not to mention the protection that the church has and IS affording the offenders, while shaming, wounding, and not choosing to support the actual victims: the children.<br /><br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SELF DOUBT.</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, ADULTS who struggle with those long-ago messages that good exists within this tiny box of what is acceptable, necessary, worthy of love. <b> ⃞</b><br /><br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SUICIDAL</b>. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good, kind, decent, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad, unworthy of this life because their brain's unlikely ability to break through the brainwashing is allowing for questions, reason, exploration of concepts outside of the box. And the brainwashing tells them that free thought is sinful, unworthy, and not worthy of life.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TRAPPED. </b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good, kind, well-meaning human beings who are, now, living with a sense of being irrevocably wrong or evil or bad if they question or attempt to live outside of the male-dominated, white-dominated lists of what is OK.<br />From domestic abuse to racial disparity and white superiority to male-dominated roles in life, these good hearts, in addition to struggling to change life-long behavior patterns, also have to deal with the negative self talk that they've inherited from their parents, their community, their culture, THEIR GOVERNMENT and their religions.</span></span></span></span></span></li></ul></ul></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />DAILY, I am working with beautiful human beings who are tortured by the brainwashing and upbringing within religions. Grown men and women who sob, cry, scream themselves into exhaustion for the struggle of the hideous, ugly, bullshit brainwashing...<br /><br /><br />Pissed off?<br /><b>OH, YOU BET I AM.<br />Me too, Greta.<br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: medium;">P.S. Greta, if you're ever here, PLEASE leave a comment! 😉</span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-5396512349870385562021-01-12T08:40:00.001-06:002021-01-17T14:09:05.145-06:00That Post with the Random Questions<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa4cWDu1ystRqHGn8M7WK34wZ5HDymIEmnVaxTUp1KfNVsQhKJ-BTpKY9gVQsHybYdc0tN6_m6ygImLhDG0xCPHWW0Pj9hjq0ztyH0CceiC_xrSICIbA9DPfi-3JzeD32cjHWbIxt6JhQ/s543/he77.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="377" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa4cWDu1ystRqHGn8M7WK34wZ5HDymIEmnVaxTUp1KfNVsQhKJ-BTpKY9gVQsHybYdc0tN6_m6ygImLhDG0xCPHWW0Pj9hjq0ztyH0CceiC_xrSICIbA9DPfi-3JzeD32cjHWbIxt6JhQ/w175-h253/he77.jpg" width="175" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For no reason other than to entertain myself, I have a long numbered list of questions next to me. It has over 200 questions, all numbered. I'm going to question myself for this post by randomly choosing numbers and, therefore, questions. 🤣<br />WHAT? It's fun!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I'll select five numbers first, then go and look at the questions I'm asking myself:<br /><br /><b>17. How do you maintain your physical health?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Actually, I don't go great with this.<br />I mean, I take my meds as prescribed. I see my doctors regularly. <br />But I don't exercise and I don't eat particularly well. My husband and I were doing the keto diet for almost two years when this dang quarantine started. Since the quarantine, I fell off of that particular wagon completely. It bums me out, but it's incredibly difficult to get back to it.<br />Also, my sleep patterns suck, really suck. I get enough sleep, but most of it is during the day.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">55. What do you wish others knew about you?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Really? I have this blog. What don't you know?! 🤣<br />OK, I'll add another question for this flip answer. LOL</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">42. How does it feel to be the age you currently are?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think I've covered this a couple of times here on my blog, but I really love it. I love being my age. Never in my life have I felt so free, so confident, so peaceful, so sure of myself, so authentic. Never have I felt so <i>in the right place</i>. I thank being 57 for these things.<br />I don't love being this close to 60, but I'm grabbing life for all it's worth. Even during this quarantine, somehow, and I have never spoken this one aloud, I feel awesome. I love my life and I'm absolutely OK with being "stuck" here in this house with my loved ones.<br />I don't love this country's politics right now, nor do I love the global pandemic. But my life is amazing.<br />I love being my age.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">113. I feel happiest in my skin when...</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm with my people.<br />I love my family and our time together makes me feel incredible.<br />My husband and I created this family as it is. We've both healed from our childhoods and we've created the type of family that we are incredibly proud of. A set of children who don't have to recover from anything.<br />I'm also very happy in my skin when I'm working.<br />For several decades I couldn't have imagined being here, now, doing this. It almost feels like I was born to be here, now.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">75. What was your first job and what did you learn from it?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRTNNttl4W1u8Zb8agu1FIv1hOIIFyQXps0O6CNjfM3JcrGbOR2Y4ZUsk8fYGmaIYSA2SZGg6UkCq2NHNZaHeKdLZGhBd1LdFSZ4aab1WsNkQ1hYdQDVq5A8ONQmeXFoWzqw_qrM6N4ih/s406/ace4b7b29f18ee0a66c2f02ab4e21f41.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="212" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRTNNttl4W1u8Zb8agu1FIv1hOIIFyQXps0O6CNjfM3JcrGbOR2Y4ZUsk8fYGmaIYSA2SZGg6UkCq2NHNZaHeKdLZGhBd1LdFSZ4aab1WsNkQ1hYdQDVq5A8ONQmeXFoWzqw_qrM6N4ih/w162-h311/ace4b7b29f18ee0a66c2f02ab4e21f41.jpg" width="162" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Other than babysitting and such, my first job was at a small department store in my small hometown, selling shoes.<br />I worked there for two years during high school and the year after I graduated. It was a small shoe department that catered to the older crowd of mostly males. We sold Hush Puppy shoes. lol</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What did I learn? First, I learned that my feet are difficult to shod. I have weirdly wide Fred Flinstone feet. Do you know Fred Flintstone?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also learned that I was poor. I really didn't realize that; how could I know? I didn't have clothes to wear to my job. I didn't have decent shoes to wear...to sell shoes. I couldn't afford medical care when I was too sick to go to work. I didn't have ride to work. It took me until I was at this job to realize that we didn't have anything.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">71. What is your first memory?</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember being 3-4 years old. I was in the downstairs basement (I think) of the house we lived in when I was teeny. It was a white-tiled bathroom with some dark green tiles mixed in. I had opened the bottom drawer of the bathroom vanity sink and I was climbing up onto the sink by stepping in the drawer.<br />That's it.<br />That's my first memory.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />That's it. That was five/six random questions from the random question list. Here are few questions for YOU, if you choose to comment:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">What memory do you cherish most?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">What is your favorite color and why?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">The words I live by are...</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">What is one small act of kindness was shown to you that you will never forget?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Does it really matter to you what others think about you?<br /><br /></span></li></ul><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-41416119060261275172020-12-20T08:06:00.046-06:002021-01-23T00:13:25.785-06:00Empathy<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7rjF4D3DbSXn1kaZlzY05JKZDMNFoJi7me2bXS8vBAqYSLkOcafZ35QTKvXilyHLNxQWY-2Q4r_pb-J6JnDV8eFbENpaKVg9O6m6TNvjzElA0hoizm0tBwd4n5F0eovBg75gI9d5lAko/s491/mom020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="345" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7rjF4D3DbSXn1kaZlzY05JKZDMNFoJi7me2bXS8vBAqYSLkOcafZ35QTKvXilyHLNxQWY-2Q4r_pb-J6JnDV8eFbENpaKVg9O6m6TNvjzElA0hoizm0tBwd4n5F0eovBg75gI9d5lAko/w165-h234/mom020.jpg" width="165" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was talking to someone recently who told me that they are <b>an empath</b>. They claimed that they are able to read people's auras. <i>I assure you, </i>they told me<i>, <br />I read people's energy. </i>The person went on to report specific instances where they felt successful in reading people...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Instantly seeking proof one way or another, I handed the Zoom call over to my daughter and she and I allowed the caller to "read" my daughter. <br />The "read" was hilariously, <b>hilariously</b> inaccurate.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The person went on to tell me that I am so empathetic and I, too, could be an empath. 🤣<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm on social media about as much as the next person and I notice many claims of people being empaths. It's like the new Wicca of ten years ago, a place of empowerment for people feeling disempowered or disenfranchised. It's very trendy to be an empath these days.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><u><span style="font-size: large;">Is anybody interested in my thoughts about this?</span></u></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Empathy</b> is the ability to understand the feelings of another person. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As for being <b>an empath</b>, my experience is that people claiming such things enjoy suggesting some sort of mystical energy is visible or sensible to them. So-called empaths claim to take on the energy/emotion/vibe of other people. Even to experience vibes of those far away from them or to experience the actual physical pain of others. In fact, those who claim to be empaths have a variety of claims of these exceptional powers of awareness and knowledge.<br />And, at the risk of offending a number of readers, I think it is an effort of people who are feeling particularly disconnected and powerless to reclaim some personal power, not dissimilar to how I think of Wiccan. These things seem very faddish to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Also, I'm convinced that those who have undergone trauma, who have spent years reading the violence of others, who are looking for empowerment, are extremely empathic...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Furthermore, we humans do read the emotions of others. We do notice ourselves feeling energy-depleted after being in a crowd. We do sense when others are experiencing something, even if we can't name it. Humans experience the emotions of books and movies, tht's what books and movies are intended to do! Humans are soothed by nature...It's fricking human.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Go read any website claiming to tell you who is an empath.<br />You WILL be an empath by their standards. 🤣<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEri8xquze-5qVR-nVCI9j1tLevyHSZkqYaDPbB-T9orID-6K9SKiQ-u8dpRZ6HDWXik4DoRI6bkVY6PsmuuY0OvvMJqvLBYxxlF0mydw8r8axD71KuWwkisEpik7ZpG6fStwkxEvfRl0/s303/empath1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="235" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEri8xquze-5qVR-nVCI9j1tLevyHSZkqYaDPbB-T9orID-6K9SKiQ-u8dpRZ6HDWXik4DoRI6bkVY6PsmuuY0OvvMJqvLBYxxlF0mydw8r8axD71KuWwkisEpik7ZpG6fStwkxEvfRl0/w156-h201/empath1.jpg" width="156" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I think we can all agree that some people are very sensitive to the feelings of others and some people do seem to experience emotions and events quite deeply. Most of us know humans who are highly-sensitive in one way or another. This deeper sensitivity often takes a toll on the highly-sensitive people. The deeper empathy can make these people feel very vulnerable, exhausted, even lonely. It's not a thing they brag about...<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As for the idea of an empath, I could not be more skeptical. This self-claim of e<i>xceptional powers of energy-reading</i> truly ring my bullshit-o-meter bell. The person who made this claim to me recently was weirdly bragging about how special they were and how, with a little effort, I, too, could be an empath. UTTER WOO.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Good grief. It was like watching a movie or something. Look at me. Appreciate my specialness. Notice my uniqueness. Acknowledge how very <i>myyyystical</i> I am. I must be seen as special!!!<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8Va2cTgISJWEGIzCAWXeuGgupnRht91GISi4h6UI_s7Ql-4FS6OT8hFmn31Xq1CzwaURVu5SWlOFLpWnA13ooz5QiwIvwjhjWCNJ1Ep3bSpv9Sv4aXsjRJzRVoqno7kQk9JxJkQqpnEK/s236/empath2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8Va2cTgISJWEGIzCAWXeuGgupnRht91GISi4h6UI_s7Ql-4FS6OT8hFmn31Xq1CzwaURVu5SWlOFLpWnA13ooz5QiwIvwjhjWCNJ1Ep3bSpv9Sv4aXsjRJzRVoqno7kQk9JxJkQqpnEK/w171-h171/empath2.jpg" width="171" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Good grief. <br />All of these claims of mystical empaths are nothing more than our country's acceptance of bullshit and our willingness to believe extraordinary claims without extraordinary proof. TYPICAL of our dumbed-down world.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As for the person on the phone, our relationship is not a close one and I very much doubt it will ever be...<br />Don't worry, I'm not being randomly and instantly judgey, this person and I have had an extremely contentious relationship as adults...It's exhausting.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b>What do you think?</b></span><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><p><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></p><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-5681643061931513322020-12-16T03:28:00.003-06:002020-12-16T03:29:13.664-06:00My Own Damn Mind<p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">“My own mind is my own church.”
<br /> <span style="font-size: large;">―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
Thomas Paine,
</span>
</span></span><span id="quote_book_link_1031803"><span style="font-size: large;">
<i>The Age of Reason</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="quote_book_link_1031803"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="quote_book_link_1031803"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>. </i></span></span>
</span></p><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-53591629024942285792020-10-03T03:06:00.010-05:002020-10-10T00:39:48.484-05:00Yann Martel's The High Mountains of Portugal <p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv3m0dqmk_7WWmzP0C-s03Fs22Ih0O5-OubTY4LEXQTzYUY4rQC-Yen4zJmk-nbMGL8GcNJlDEzisk3SMTvmxE2-PD9wXZNMVBrVM5grcXBILnMcLxgeEJyEllKF1NfVvn5I3k3HQ2imb/s1080/portugal4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv3m0dqmk_7WWmzP0C-s03Fs22Ih0O5-OubTY4LEXQTzYUY4rQC-Yen4zJmk-nbMGL8GcNJlDEzisk3SMTvmxE2-PD9wXZNMVBrVM5grcXBILnMcLxgeEJyEllKF1NfVvn5I3k3HQ2imb/s320/portugal4.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />If I've never mentioned it before, I often write these blog posts about books seconds before I fall asleep. That's why the posts are somewhat offbeat and windy. And this one is no different. I wrote this one in my head about two nights ago and I'm certain that I've forgotten the parts that made me laugh.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I finished the book <i>The High Mountains of Portugal</i> the other night, I went online to see if I had really understood the book that I'd just finished. As it happens, according to some book analysts, I didn't.<br />Don't get me wrong, I did see some religious undertones and symbology. I didn't think the whole thing was a treatise on religion and grief! Superstition, allegory, and mythology certainly play their parts, though.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yet, I have the nerve to write my own review, and forgive me, for I've returned the book to the library and don't remember deets:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The book is divided into three sections, each section with the word "home" in the title. The first section, in 1904 or so in rural Portugal, a guy, Tomas, having discovered a hint of a hidden wooden, carved figure hidden away in a church in the high mountains of Portugal, is given a car to drive to discover this wooden item treasure.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cars were nearly nonexistent in Portugal at the time. This fellow, Tomas, learns to drive the machine as he drives out of the city and into the rural areas of Portugal. This drive of several days, maybe ten days, are among the most entertaining driving pages I've ever read! Not only does the character describe his struggle with this new-fangled machine, the people he meets in the tiny villages are equally amazed with the roaring machine as he drives into their town square and their behavior is adorable. I would I could have been there. <br />Speaking Portuguese.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you go, as I did, and Google the high mountains of Portugal and, specifically, some of the villages mentioned in this book, you will not be sorry. It's beautiful.<br />The entirety of rural Portugal should be a puzzle.<br />(High praise.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dWvr3lTxk6QF5WykwlW-xbuKHaOoKIqbzSea9HSq-c5ArFXASK4vEDdb9qNfw0-Hvw9K93enYi8e9HVB0nGPuZG56_Emk4CM4jtizEeABGs_yPmF_TrtMnLxqBlIMwn3DjMwUP8Kcenh/s1672/portugal5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1672" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dWvr3lTxk6QF5WykwlW-xbuKHaOoKIqbzSea9HSq-c5ArFXASK4vEDdb9qNfw0-Hvw9K93enYi8e9HVB0nGPuZG56_Emk4CM4jtizEeABGs_yPmF_TrtMnLxqBlIMwn3DjMwUP8Kcenh/s320/portugal5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking that the machine that Tomas was driving looked something like this. >>><br />Or thereabouts.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span> </span></i></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This journey to find the treasure takes our hero Tomas on country roads that give him the thrilling experience of going at least twenty miles per hour!<br />This third of the book was almost entirely delightful. Surely some will find the talk of engines and leather and lights and the idiosyncrasies of early driving a total bore. I did not.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Second section, we're about thirty-five years in the future and, somehow, in the morgue with a Portuguese forensics guy. He's working late when his wife visits with dinner, wine, and some Agatha Christie books. They discuss his wife's theory that Agatha Christie's books somehow reveal religious overtones, truths, and explanations. None of it made a lick of sense to me, but I requested Aggie's titles from my local library nonetheless... and enjoyed the repartee between the couple.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And then the morgue guy is visited by a woman who brings him a dead body in some luggage, yes, to be autopsied. Upon opening up the body of the woman's husband, the pathologists discovers a cache of bizarre items, only a few of which could I connect with any other part of the story. But OK, a bit of magical realism that did bring color and, weirdly, delight, to the entire autopsy experience. Perhaps, especially, the flute.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And, thirdly, the last segment of the book brings up a Canadian politician, after retiring, making several BIZARRE<span style="color: red;">*</span> changes in his life. Some entertaining connections are made. I enjoyed his experiences that I choose to not be specific about because that might give away too much...just in case you decide to read this book.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzME6yBfW1eXGEk5CI1818m8qM_c3O8N-xwqfMj6BirjywPjY2tVCrz_DQeivVHMPSCHcEY-umo_e-y3RI-wpoHElVSiPs6gE3OaHxV8MGqAo4sElH-hiwmJnILESXXRzfCd0wkILAMAVg/s850/portugal6.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="850" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzME6yBfW1eXGEk5CI1818m8qM_c3O8N-xwqfMj6BirjywPjY2tVCrz_DQeivVHMPSCHcEY-umo_e-y3RI-wpoHElVSiPs6gE3OaHxV8MGqAo4sElH-hiwmJnILESXXRzfCd0wkILAMAVg/w126-h86/portugal6.png" width="126" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">But allow me the latitude to say that I enjoyed what I THINK was something of a shape of the story. Beginning with a back-to-simplicity and ending with a truly back-to-nature series of events and life choices. To me, that was a beautiful journey.<br />Like going back home, only more so.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">Although I had to go figure out what I'd just read, eventually I just accepted my own read of the book. And I say this, it was oddly tender and funny and introspective and surprising. Yes, and bizarre.<br />And that's saying something about a book that seems to be about grief...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This seems like a fun book to use with a book club. So many ways to interpret things...but better you than me. I think I'd feel unschooled!<br /><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M2QllxWBDVI1yFwRHVQ4KTLLhJxOY_eKyEAa1ASLEraTXyheSdtWYovTvalwXDCNe_cjiFzqfB2DsPThJUcFP_yLUzKgf4MKfHlwtgVL8MG8FLz6IBCOOHlV_hkGz06Ab-HK9ORECuyu/s259/portugal+yann.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M2QllxWBDVI1yFwRHVQ4KTLLhJxOY_eKyEAa1ASLEraTXyheSdtWYovTvalwXDCNe_cjiFzqfB2DsPThJUcFP_yLUzKgf4MKfHlwtgVL8MG8FLz6IBCOOHlV_hkGz06Ab-HK9ORECuyu/w152-h114/portugal+yann.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martel</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I'm left with some curiosity about the author, <br />Yann Martel. I think I'll go read more about him. 🙂<br />This book is a zillion miles from <i>The Life of Pi</i>.<br />I think.<br /><br />I give this book seven stars for the gorgeous healing and journeys that one experiences during the reading of this book.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H37XBIIJyGf8rl0pCqVuwmWPho1NdMlt6j3mHAL8FuPgk4pChB-f9uudu5GoqSMdgJj_7zHvzh89Aa1QfhCMXGAuJjnIGERAeBC4ByYQTeg9FisLy-Ov3vuguxlQVIBTIAZJefxiPZak/s558/7+stars5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="77" data-original-width="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H37XBIIJyGf8rl0pCqVuwmWPho1NdMlt6j3mHAL8FuPgk4pChB-f9uudu5GoqSMdgJj_7zHvzh89Aa1QfhCMXGAuJjnIGERAeBC4ByYQTeg9FisLy-Ov3vuguxlQVIBTIAZJefxiPZak/s320/7+stars5.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: red;">*</span> <span style="font-size: medium;">I SELDOM read books that require this frequency of use of the word "bizarre"</span>. <span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">LOL</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span> Have you read it?</span></span></span></span><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></p><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-36042532498593537982020-10-01T05:16:00.002-05:002020-10-03T02:28:04.726-05:00The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIPsXD1yIrqWZAJc1ryHy02jgRZY-8q8j8a3B48TpXww2DxtXZn0WaF7bw67bEMNZgPrqCHZ2vQfjOIojoUr7sPopQ1_8Yio-jnFKA2owz_Y4egQGJlgGFCTGmclLOXqo548rnotwV8b/s500/0812997174.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIPsXD1yIrqWZAJc1ryHy02jgRZY-8q8j8a3B48TpXww2DxtXZn0WaF7bw67bEMNZgPrqCHZ2vQfjOIojoUr7sPopQ1_8Yio-jnFKA2owz_Y4egQGJlgGFCTGmclLOXqo548rnotwV8b/w187-h283/0812997174.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="187" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Surely you've read <i>The Life of Pi</i> by Yann Martel when it came out in 2001.<br />Everyone did.<br /><br />Or maybe you saw the movie, which was pretty good, but still not the book.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From that book, and the HOURS that I spent thinking about it and its meaning, I began to understand a concept that my friend Kendra introduced me to: Magical Realism. A concept that, according to Kendra, appears often in Mexican literature, like hers. In magical realism, smack dab in the middle of a normal piece of literature, the author plops bizarre or symbolic bits of magic. And, interestingly, as Kendra told me, it is all without fanfare or attention of any kind. We are merely to accept its existence in the literature.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VnmBl-zWbKqDes8lUxDzKonND_jnkrgRmfcN8MnO2ToHsxNKxBqWB3A_23kMfJLKyabGb3MZy2_Ku8aU3j0UgQcW_-gH_RITyQoedowZm4_htSBmX5sw10BsyC0b4pHxoFfecSOf53QF/s160/0156027321.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="104" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VnmBl-zWbKqDes8lUxDzKonND_jnkrgRmfcN8MnO2ToHsxNKxBqWB3A_23kMfJLKyabGb3MZy2_Ku8aU3j0UgQcW_-gH_RITyQoedowZm4_htSBmX5sw10BsyC0b4pHxoFfecSOf53QF/w122-h188/0156027321.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="122" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">It took me years to truly appreciate magical realism and <i>The Life of Pi</i>, though I'm quite sure I misinterpreted THAT ONE for years, helped me to understand magical realism and to savor the flavor and color that it adds to the dish (subtle allusion to <i>Like Water for Chocolate by Mexican</i> novelist </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="aCOpRe"><span>Laura Esquivel</span></span>). </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And so, in my reading of <i>The High Mountains of Portugal</i>, besides the gorgeous language and everyday wonder, I thought I was reading a novel of magical realism. But when I went to the lit analysts of the internet, I discovered that I, again, had missed the whole point of the book. Apparently it's about religion.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh well. Stay tuned for my review anyway. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script><!--AddThis Button END-->
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-52399483579585058242020-09-16T02:14:00.004-05:002021-01-20T17:57:00.200-06:00Strange Job Situations<p><span style="font-size: large;"><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><!--AddThis Button BEGIN--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02GyP9tYnGAm_AgGmstwcz621wEz0dnWU88f538SgJNpxWVTladAZ5kj_UxwCrdV73jx4XtPAIapgE8kSUwY1f9ASbfvOyDJxUbEct00FZIDuqZcCVNu63Bri428jBZrVOcmWK6o5gZ3O/s509/oomodm005.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="333" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02GyP9tYnGAm_AgGmstwcz621wEz0dnWU88f538SgJNpxWVTladAZ5kj_UxwCrdV73jx4XtPAIapgE8kSUwY1f9ASbfvOyDJxUbEct00FZIDuqZcCVNu63Bri428jBZrVOcmWK6o5gZ3O/w163-h250/oomodm005.png" width="163" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I was on FB with some friends talking about the weirdest or oddest thing that had ever happened to us at work. Here's mine:<br /></span><p></p><div class="ecm0bbzt e5nlhep0 a8c37x1j"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="oi732d6d ik7dh3pa d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb hrzyx87i jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">I'm a therapist and I used to work in my home town; <br />I switched from one agency in this small town to another agency in the same small town.<br /><br />Starting this new job, I took over a caseload of clients that another therapist had been seeing. While I was reviewing and looking at the files of my new clients, I noticed that one my new clients was the best friend of one of my clients from the OTHER agency across town. I'd already met this new client of mine several times because the two girls would often be together when they'd "drop in" to chat with me in the office.<br /><br />So I started reading my new client's file. It told of how the client and her friend were in love with and stalking the friend's therapist at the other
agency.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Yes, ME.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">They were stalking me.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: #b45f06;"> What's YOUR weirdest work story? </span> </span></span><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>You Might Also Enjoy This:</b><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/07/neutral-affirmations.html#.X2G5c9R7nVg">Neutral Affirmations</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/06/validation.html#.X2G5lNR7nVg">Validation</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/05/out-dated-social-contruct-debacle.html#.X2G5rNR7nVg">Out-Dated Social Construct</a></span></div></div></span></span></div><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-87235061051153548932020-09-08T21:36:00.003-05:002020-09-08T21:36:50.407-05:00How Can I Convince Them?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_XaodC8BQUcbhAMFVZ_MK7jmjST9sXsMdElOuW9f6-QCWUv_HxqOdIaBID930fJMVYc0somfjfqXmHWzdSsv2cza5b8Jmjd5SUxdOuMZQLBz1hOEowVhN5up9hpo91o5h0ZjIHYh4xcx/s333/mug.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="333" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_XaodC8BQUcbhAMFVZ_MK7jmjST9sXsMdElOuW9f6-QCWUv_HxqOdIaBID930fJMVYc0somfjfqXmHWzdSsv2cza5b8Jmjd5SUxdOuMZQLBz1hOEowVhN5up9hpo91o5h0ZjIHYh4xcx/w164-h164/mug.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I spend YEARS of my life trying to convince someone that they were wrong about me.<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was someone determined to believe <i>what he wanted to believe</i>. Reality, truth, emotion, evidence. NOTHING convinced him otherwise and, worse, he spread stories and his opinion about me far and wide. To this day, I still feel it in some people when I interact with them. There is very little I can to do change it.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why am I talking about this?</b><br />Because I see it on Facebook all of the time.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">HOW can I convince my loved one to see that BL really do M?<br />What can I say to explain to my loved one how horrible the current president and his administration are?</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Good people are constantly looking for the perfect words and phrases to convince their loved ones of fundamental humanist beliefs, of the belief in the goodness of all people.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So what are those words?<br />I'm sorry, but the answer is <i>there are no special words</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing you can say.<br />These people aren't lacking in evidence; they are lacking in desire to believe what you believe or know to be true.<br />That is racism and that is a choice.<br /><br /></span></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Satisfy;"><i>Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.<br />All things break. And all things can be mended.<br />Not with time, as they say, but with intention.<br />So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.<br />The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you</i>.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">~L.R. Knost</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span></blockquote><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: small;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:<br /></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/01/imposter-syndrome.html#.X1g8C9R7nVg">I'm Sensitive <br />Imposter Syndrome<br /></a><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-to-teach-ethics-to-our-children.html#.X1g71tR7nVg">How to Teach Ethics to Our Children <br /></a></span></p><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style"><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_pinterest_pinit"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};</script><script src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-513848382ac5abbc" type="text/javascript"></script>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-11716528469367791792020-07-24T10:32:00.005-05:002023-09-12T15:30:36.805-06:00What to do When my Girlfriend is PMSing<div class="separator"><div dir="ltr" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">OK, so you've identified that, indeed, she is probably PMSing. <br />Now what?<br />It's true that it can be a bit of a minefield at first, so it's no wonder you're confused. Each woman feels different and handles her own cycle issues differently. So how can <i>you</i> possibly know what to do, right?<br /><br />The good news is that it's temporary. A day or two and she'll be back to her normal self. But these two days...Dude.<br /> In the meantime, I do recommend that you arm yourself with knowledge and with a few suggestions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />As always, it's your choice what you choose to do at these times.<br />Just keep in mind that this will happen every single month. How you choose to handle it will affect your overall relationship over time. Of course, there is time to figure it out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b>Here are a few ideas for you:</b></span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ask her what she wants from you. She knows, so believe her.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to her. Your attention shows you care.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is probably experiencing low-key pain.<br />Doesn't mean she doesn't want sex; she probably does.<br />It only means that she might be feeling a bit achy-breaky for the day.<br />It might be headaches, body aches. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If she prefers to be alone, leave. <br />Let her do this thing alone. It's pretty darn unpleasant to be around her and she knows it. She's probably protecting you and she's probably embarrassed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If she is craving chocolate ice cream, get two.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Check under the sink to see if there are enough pads or tampons. It won't hurt you to pick some up from the drug store.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Make her favorite things magically appear.<br />She will cry happy tears and love you even more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Use your words.</b> She would like it if you would remind her that you love her and why. For some reason, she can't do this for herself at the moment and she wants to hear it.<br />She needs to hear it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is doing her best. Her emotionality is never an attempt to manipulate you or anything. It's an unpleasant chemical situation, for real. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be gentle and kind and patient. <br />She will notice and thank you for it. Tomorrow.<br />At the time she is in emotional turmoil; your quiet kindness will be very appreciated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Be there. She really wants you to be there.<br />If you're off with the guys while she's suffering...let's just say she might not understand that in the moment. Her interpretations miiiight be a bit...skewed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Do a little research of your own on Pre-Menstrual Syndrome.<br />The physical and emotion symptoms are well-documented.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Extra hints for your peace of mind:</span></b><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If she is angry or weepy, it's not really about you. <br />Or about anything else. Or about nothing.<br />It's weird.<br />I promise you, she is trying to control it. But chemistry is super strong on these days. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She's probably been in fear or in shame of showing you herself on these days.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">These emotional waves are overwhelming and powerful.<br />The emotions might swing rather dramatically rather quickly.<br />You simply being there quietly supportive can be very grounding.<br />Enjoy the moments she's able to laugh about it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Listen, console her, hold her of she wants you to.<br />And, <i>hear this</i>, she cannot help it.<br />Tomorrow will be a better day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Don't offer advice.<br />She totally knows what to do.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Have a conversation with her on non-PMS days about what you can expect, what she needs, what to plan for. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She might cancel plans on you; staying home is comforting.<br />Don't take this personally.<br />Maybe even keep it in mind when you're planning upcoming events that you want to share with her.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">And never EVER <i>accuse</i> her of PMSing.<br />In the moment, or EVER.<br />It's a real sore spot in the moment. And it's a rude, aggressive act at other times.<br />Tomorrow she might even laugh about it, but not today.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It might be better for your peace of mind to, occasionally, take a break for your own self care. This stuff is not for the faint of heart. If she's got a sharp tongue, you are well within your rights to go into the next room. No reason why you should be a punching bag.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, she literally can't help it.</span></li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmKWDN1FeYT-NJOYDkEcvv2QXo0GpMww1eW85IEvIj9tATScLRl2ye3vV4FVg2RJkwUfHYX8BCDbX_Utlg5BSRJfELza8aWCWXafKU3ZvrQB5rFFw94dLNKzOm2EDsul19jqVWf0DpYuq/s1600/51393317_10213207001400935_6745090686321688576_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmKWDN1FeYT-NJOYDkEcvv2QXo0GpMww1eW85IEvIj9tATScLRl2ye3vV4FVg2RJkwUfHYX8BCDbX_Utlg5BSRJfELza8aWCWXafKU3ZvrQB5rFFw94dLNKzOm2EDsul19jqVWf0DpYuq/s200/51393317_10213207001400935_6745090686321688576_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Things she might like:</span></b></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Low lights.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Motrin or Tylenol.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Some nice, hot soup. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A hot bath.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A glass of wine. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A reminder to rest.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sex.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">No sex.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A blanket and a puppy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Rest.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A hot water bottle or heating pad. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Gentle stretches.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A book. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Crying. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To be left alone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">To cuddle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> A nice warm cloth over her eyes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Romance.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Kind and loving words.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Going out on a low-key, romantic date.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Many couples can take months or years to figure out the best way to weather this monthly storm. If you figure out the chemicals and the calendar of the whole thing, you can plan for it so you're not surprised every time. Keep your calendar empty for those few days and plan for low key activities and homebody time. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Communication is key. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"> What do YOU think? </span> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />Other posts you might enjoy:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2012/12/pms.html">PMS</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/05/raising-our-strong-willed-children.html">Raising Our Strong-Willed Children</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-daughter-is-fierce.html#.Xxr9HxJ7nVh">My Daughter is Fierce!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm here to offer you that much-needed advice that you are beginning to be aware that you need. You might not have the words for the question yet, but this is the answer:<br /><i>She's PMSing.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">First, how to identify when or if your girlfriend is PMSing.</span></b><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She will tell you. Believe her.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She has a few tiiiiny blemishes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She appears fatigued.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is having cravings for chocolate or almost any other food.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is particularly negative or pessimistic or weepy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She seems a tad bit...moody. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She feels overwhelmed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She seems to need extra validation from you. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She's irritable.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is either staring at you with daggers or she can't make sustained eye contact. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is sleeping more or not at all.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She is negative on herself.<br />Don't know why, but it's kind of universal.<br />In a sucky way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She uses the word "bloated".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Her emotions seem to run from laughing out loud to crying in a matter of minutes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">You are walking on egg shells and you have no idea why.<br /><br /></span></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe_PYDr5YEd2P32_CeLpZC5wZ2fUCkW_RUGTLzQk2mzqy3boMvXH9OLm5uoEgkYPlsv-q17x3D6Uk8QFQg1MxAi7_c8IgkXZWh6pdFagTLbLeELc1eeV78OHqOuzCt3PumaVM6M-1l5TO/s750/0000nn.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="44" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe_PYDr5YEd2P32_CeLpZC5wZ2fUCkW_RUGTLzQk2mzqy3boMvXH9OLm5uoEgkYPlsv-q17x3D6Uk8QFQg1MxAi7_c8IgkXZWh6pdFagTLbLeELc1eeV78OHqOuzCt3PumaVM6M-1l5TO/s320/0000nn.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-6465525677059750132020-07-08T14:43:00.003-05:002020-09-09T20:54:54.123-05:00Neutral Affirmations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div dir="ltr" id="m_-1117130114198662295gmail-docs-internal-guid-5cc5f6e4-7fff-2a4c-8407-9bea39fc6a41" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many of us work hard to improve our self-esteem and self-confidence and one of the common strategies for making improvements is to use affirmations. Affirmations are statements that we can use as a form of positive self-talk in order to get into the habit of substituting negative thoughts about ourselves to positive thoughts. You might be considering using affirmations for yourself or even for your child.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span>
<br /></span>
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you were to pay attention to all of your thoughts in a given day and to count all of the negative things you say to yourself in a single twenty-four hour period, how many negative thoughts about yourself would you guess you say to yourself? Five? Fifty? Five hundred? Some studies estimate that we have over fifteen thousand thoughts in a given day and that, conservatively, over 75% of those thoughts are self-judging thoughts. That can be over eleven thousand negative thoughts in a single day!</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of that! Thousands of negative thoughts in a single day!</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span>
<br /></span>
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know that it is our thoughts, conscious and unconscious, that strongly impact our mood for the day, that can limit our sense of personal power, that can impact how we feel about ourselves, including how hopeful we are in life, and can even affect our physical health. As a part of good self care, affirmations are often recommended or used to lift our moods, to improve our thoughts of ourselves, and to remind us to speak kindly to ourselves. You can see how you might use affirmations to help your child with their own thinking patterns.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span>
<br /></span><br />
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there might be a huge problem for some of us when using affirmations. They can feel incredibly unrealistic, absurd, and unbelievable. </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I attract positivity to myself! </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am successful in whatever I do! </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel an abundance of joy!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> </i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Today will be amazing!</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I get love in abundance.</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I'm always on my own side!</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I can perform perfectly at school!</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I am blessed with an incredible friend group!</i></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If these affirmations are untrue I might become very resentful of someone encouraging them. I might even feel shame that such statements have no positive impact on me.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span>
<br /></span>
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are one of those people who feel annoyed by, bewildered by, shamed, or just turned off by affirmations, here’s an idea. Consider an entirely different type of affirmation, something I call the Neutral Affirmation. These statements are neutral but true. They are the kind of thoughts you might have that would remind you to lay off of the self-criticism or judging of self and to, instead, use rational and true statements to challenge the negativity.</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span>
<br /></span>
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few examples of Neutral Affirmations:</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
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</span><br />
</span></span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> Some days are harder than others; I’m doing my best today. <br /> Today I’m OK.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’m working on accepting me just as I am</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> Feelings are not facts.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I can ride this wave and get back to work.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> Professionals ask for support every day.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> With time and effort, I’m getting better.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’m smart and capable.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I can handle this.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’m not going to give up.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I know who is on my side. First, I am.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> Just for today I will...</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’m going to say something positive to myself instead.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’ll give it another try.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> Tomorrow is another day.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I will not judge myself on cultural stereotypes.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I can feel the fear and do it anyway.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I am doing active work to improve my life.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I notice I handle things better when I correct my limiting thought <br /> distortions.</span></span></span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span> I’m not feeling confident, but I’ll still do my best work today.
</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
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</span>
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using Neutral Affirmations do not offer pie-in-the sky sentiment or artificial optimism to correct negative self-talk, but, rather, realistic, believable, logical, true statements to remind us to nip the black and white thinking in the bud. Neutral Affirmations can prompt our thoughts to challenge the many habits of distorted thoughts that we use regularly without even being aware of it. We are already thinking thousands of thoughts each day, why not work to deliberately improve what we feed our minds!</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
</span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">
<span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Work with yourself or with your child (or with your therapist) to create a list of neutral affirmations that can address your specific thought distortions.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><b> What do YOU think? </b></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy These Posts:</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/05/atheist-and-secular-therapy.html#.XwYhBhJ7nVg"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Atheist and Secular Therapy</span></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2020/06/validation.html#.XwYhPBJ7nVg"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Validation</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2017/07/virginia-satir.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Virginia Satir</span></span></a></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-79161627969101206212020-06-30T08:33:00.000-05:002020-06-30T08:43:54.693-05:00Validation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">The other day my client lamented, “I need validation. I shouldn’t.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">I asked him to sit back a moment and listen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">The baddest people on the planet need validation, I told him. Military people need validation. They get amazing arrays of pins across their chests, medals, awards, bars, patches, salutes, statues, commemorations, and accolades of all kinds. Performers need validation. There are dozens of award shows where performers and all of those people who work in those fields get nominations and awards every single year. Those shows get millions of viewers. Athletes need validation. They get rings and cups and awards and cash bonuses and signs and fanfare and parades and fans and social status. Wrestlers get a gold belt the size of a dinner plate, for goodness sake. People in business need validation. They get bonuses, fancy titles, extra time off, mention in the newsletter, certificates, staff/manager meetings, and all forms of recognition.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">From hearts and flowers to cards and gifts, from toasts to roasts. We need our birthdays, cards, LIKE on Facebook, exploding fireworks on gifs, gaming coins for decent game playing, tips for workers, holidays, remembering, hugs, dates, play dates, public call outs on social media, private validations between people. Most online purchasing is rewarded by the sellers, much as we reward the sellers with validation. Who hasn’t asked you for a review of their product, service, or brand?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Humans are a validation-seeking species. Validation lets us know that we are accepted and approved of by our tribe; it lets us know that we are connected in to the life-giving groups that we populate. The genuine offering of kindness, love and approval makes our brains release the happy chemicals that light up our lives.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">As we move through the complexities of our lives, expressing ourselves with our very lives, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">others noticing our actions </span><span lang="en-US">is the glue that keeps us together as individuals, as dyads, as groups members. Acknowledging our loved ones efforts is considered the highest form of loving them. In fact, the human need for validation is so great that Abraham Maslow accounts for it on the essential hierarchy of needs for human beings for good mental and emotional health.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Interestingly, offering validation is a relationship skill that we seldom hear about, seldom practice, seldom value. But the absence of validation is the main reason many couples enter into therapy. Couples, families, humans seeking intimacy with others often have not learned the basics of validation in relationships and are frozen in their confusion and need.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">So how do I offer validation to others?</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Answer:</b> Honestly and often.<br />
Take time regularly to see your partner, spouse, child, friend, coworker. Notice their efforts. Express sincere interest in their activities, emotions, efforts. Let them know that “I see you there.” Let them know that, just as they are in that moment, in all of their glorious vulnerability and imperfections, you love them and find value in them.<br />
<br />
</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;"><span id="goog_1372105568"></span><span id="goog_1372105569"></span>Great, now how do I elicit validation from others?</span><span lang="en-US"><br />
Ah, there is the rub. You cannot do this. Coerced or manipulated validation from others feels...invalidating. Instead, model validating behavior and, then learn to validate yourself. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Become the very thing that you need. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Begin to notice others around you.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Recognize effort.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Put everything down and listen.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Give generously of your time.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Respond to their energy, enthusiasm, passion.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Ask questions to learn more.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">And do it again tomorrow.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">Yes, needing to be validated by others is hard-wired into our brains. At the same time, it’s worthwhile to learn to validate ourselves too. Let’s celebrate that. Let’s get working on self-validating. Then we’ll always have </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-style: italic;">enough</span><span lang="en-US">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">My client was moved. He sat back and replied, “I’m ready.”</span></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-70156128063484942372020-06-15T03:27:00.003-05:002020-06-15T03:31:14.015-05:00TEN Random Things About Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><font size="5">TEN Random Things About Me Tonight<br /></font>
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<font size="5"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenUEBOLXjwla2T0q5il5GmoHLL2Q8YgKNrJNR0laL58eG5ZyQaQDYav4B0-QBFmhQJJO73fSIcNx6BwEUabkGULXwgMe20VztVssDCWIAFzVLW9_ZRM83Q5I07qoVPhyiYOH3DSozeZC_/s1600/ten1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenUEBOLXjwla2T0q5il5GmoHLL2Q8YgKNrJNR0laL58eG5ZyQaQDYav4B0-QBFmhQJJO73fSIcNx6BwEUabkGULXwgMe20VztVssDCWIAFzVLW9_ZRM83Q5I07qoVPhyiYOH3DSozeZC_/s320/ten1.jpg" width="214" /></a></font></div>
<font size="5"></font><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>
<font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight I'm playing<a href="#" id="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVnIKTWhNs" name="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVnIKTWhNs"> this song </a>over and over and over again because I'm really REALLY in love with my husband.<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I went to make dinner tonight and there was NOTHING. So we had Chinese delivery and it was delicious!<br />I had Chicken Egg Foo Young.<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been taking vitamins for hair and nails and I think I'm finally beginning to see some progress. My nails have been suffering since my new meds and treatments this year for cancer. I've been missing the easiness I've always had in growing long and strong nails. <br />The things we worry about. LOL 😄<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">This afternoon my son and I went out to the park for a couple of hours. There is no better company. 💙💚💜</span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm trying a new style of underwear.<br />Yes I am.<br />I'm trying the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VTVDT84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">boyfriend style</a>. <br />I just wanted more comfort.<br />LOL 😁<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm currently reading a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cabin-End-World-Novel/dp/0062679112/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NFB8ONWAOMOL&dchild=1&keywords=the+cabin+at+the+end+of+the+world&qid=1592208382&sprefix=the+cabin+at+the%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1"><i>The Last Cabin in the World</i></a> by Paul Tremblay. I'm about 2/3 of the way through it and I'm still thinking <i>WTF is this book about</i>.<br />I was looking for something apocalyptic to read and this one came up on my library search.<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquApK68nBjWN88tPcEdmMTfU6EF-Gk33oWIUdEYwCgAZ7o4hAcBJvKbKpiPQp5KqHhKi5okI6u6BHB7XxCf6xhkiASHbogIOhl30a3fS1XFNskRjPiIs9P45gCLfc3l8Htc4sn0ggi1R_/s540/103449918_546968826186698_5769191775356858889_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="480" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquApK68nBjWN88tPcEdmMTfU6EF-Gk33oWIUdEYwCgAZ7o4hAcBJvKbKpiPQp5KqHhKi5okI6u6BHB7XxCf6xhkiASHbogIOhl30a3fS1XFNskRjPiIs9P45gCLfc3l8Htc4sn0ggi1R_/s320/103449918_546968826186698_5769191775356858889_n.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fce8b2;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Screen shot<br />from a video chat.</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>With this quarantine, the WORST part for me: <b>I miss my grandbabies so much.</b><br />We keep in contact every way we can!<br /></span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I just sent my grandbabies some surprise toys from Amazon.</span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm doing all of my work on video chat with clients right now. I thought it would be very weird and awkward, but it turns out that it's pretty nice.<br />It's very flexible and we can chat quite comfortably.<br />On the other hand, I feel waaaay more tired after a night of teletherapy than I every did from a night in the office with clients face-to-face.</span></font></li><li><font size="5"><span style="font-size: large;">It's 3am and I'm going to bed.<br /><br />Take care, ya' all. 💛</span></font><br /></li></ol></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-20809719431787481132020-05-21T04:54:00.003-05:002020-06-24T04:23:40.503-05:00How to Teach Ethics to Our Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9eZ4IBlmC9WywXYCgNmfkD4LuudIDc9TH4bjHkPOqKtYI6lpyBCalMgAAI0l4OAjD7MXyqFlw56aNq7eI8_-Cz6CBro4KukJ0faVPfDCrcu01AlQSmSorYY5vDPS9cLeZxyoi_Zy5s6K/s1600/ethics3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9eZ4IBlmC9WywXYCgNmfkD4LuudIDc9TH4bjHkPOqKtYI6lpyBCalMgAAI0l4OAjD7MXyqFlw56aNq7eI8_-Cz6CBro4KukJ0faVPfDCrcu01AlQSmSorYY5vDPS9cLeZxyoi_Zy5s6K/s200/ethics3.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">My last post, all about ethics and relativism, was all about leading up to this post about how to teach our children to be ethical human beings. Interestingly, it's a pretty easy process. Which is great because the statistics are climbing, the number of atheists in this country has hit somewhere in the twenty percent range. That's ALOT of kids not getting their ethics from a religion...yay!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavKBIXh3zTP6SoT3Jjhpu15OK2FLGpVb3u_skNQgLOtTQMyG_OuygldE3C6iyYDDYrPVJ_OgzzL4sWk-FKEJrYxpewaw-aSKYgBKLzn35_fU3cGSSd25O2NBQiZhbTChyphenhyphen5JjNjpoVbpjh/s1600/liz+march+2919.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavKBIXh3zTP6SoT3Jjhpu15OK2FLGpVb3u_skNQgLOtTQMyG_OuygldE3C6iyYDDYrPVJ_OgzzL4sWk-FKEJrYxpewaw-aSKYgBKLzn35_fU3cGSSd25O2NBQiZhbTChyphenhyphen5JjNjpoVbpjh/s200/liz+march+2919.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">How do we do it?<br />By living it.<br /><br />Our children watch us. They learn from making mistakes (and from not making mistakes). They learn when we make mistakes. They learn from the world around them. They learn from exploring issues. They learn from interacting with the people around them. They learn by how people treat them. They learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's not done in weekly lessons; it's done living day by day by day. In the moment and over time. Trust me, they learn.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, and I'm being completely honest here, I'm not at all sure that raising a child <u>in the church</u> is the most ethical things to do...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/2020/05/kayleigh-mcenany-it-doesnt-matter-when-people-call-me-a-liar-because-i-stand-as-a-christian-woman/amp/?fbclid=IwAR2WNu7x7DwUtWXlMcNrS3CPyoHTxXzrPgNMlOQCbrDKnEpc4JM1g-1fKBY">Do</a> <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article187938144.html">your</a> <a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-are-there-far-more-Christians-in-U-S-prisons-than-atheists">research</a>; <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2019/05/pastor-who-repeatedly-raped-daughter-14-gets-light-sentence-because-jesus/">you'll</a> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/05/01/alleged-synagogue-shooter-was-churchgoer-who-articulated-christian-theology-prompting-tough-questions-evangelical-pastors/">see</a> <a href="https://ffrf.org/component/k2/item/18500-the-scandal-of-pedophilia-in-the-church">what</a> <a href="https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A216/parenting-in-an-antispanking-culture">I</a> <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-dimension/201511/fundamentalist-christianity-and-child-abuse-taboo-topic">mean</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVnGhw5C5Zq16gvrGlHJZhRRGz7o-RL_9eIWLAV9axIA1n0xqeXKDjAFMSisbgfEQ5ANwa-T46cp2LRp9SEFBNphfTPCNT8EHVuZKlIiwdOtfhw7qbwWSdsnrrBGAo8bRHCKBDRPZwmnc/s1600/100480362_10157019473005636_3411006655037440000_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="960" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVnGhw5C5Zq16gvrGlHJZhRRGz7o-RL_9eIWLAV9axIA1n0xqeXKDjAFMSisbgfEQ5ANwa-T46cp2LRp9SEFBNphfTPCNT8EHVuZKlIiwdOtfhw7qbwWSdsnrrBGAo8bRHCKBDRPZwmnc/s320/100480362_10157019473005636_3411006655037440000_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2018/09/pro-life-on-campus-and-my-son.html#.XsZO4MB7nIU">Pro-Life on Campus and My Son</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-tooth-fairy.html#.XsZPMMB7nIU">The Tooth Fairy</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/05/secularity-and-sexuality-and-my-family.html#.XsZPiMB7nIU">Secularity and Sexuality and My Family</a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-64103458511125303162020-05-21T04:32:00.002-05:002020-09-09T21:08:39.856-05:00Atheist Morality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDErNhwVrWAqrUsynxhHVSgDiTFpmBajJSKRQTGCh1eYZvEdsAMYNZ0Xslg7hn7PQ1gf3mIvvOp9Mf6ortSYBiiVDwuoFCPbFkpMGFlqAOKLZehu0svwPh-wEaTm-HGptj5M8o76qfkPb/s1600/ethics1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDErNhwVrWAqrUsynxhHVSgDiTFpmBajJSKRQTGCh1eYZvEdsAMYNZ0Xslg7hn7PQ1gf3mIvvOp9Mf6ortSYBiiVDwuoFCPbFkpMGFlqAOKLZehu0svwPh-wEaTm-HGptj5M8o76qfkPb/s200/ethics1.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: times;"><font size="5"><span>Without a doubt, one of the most common questions I've heard from people when they find that I'm an atheist, it is <i>How can you have morality or morals without the Lord or religion</i>.<br />Good grief. I've heard it thousands of times and, would you believe, I heard it this week...from a bunch of therapists. 😠</span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>What prevents me from doing mean things?<br />What keeps me from hurting people?</span><br />
<span>Or <i>killing</i> people?</span><br />
<span>What keeps me from breaking the law?</span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Good grief, and these people are absolutely serious when they ask these questions...so I'll proceed honestly.</span><br />
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<span>Besides, the answers are easy ones.</span><br />
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<span>First of all, a small matter of semantics. I prefer the term ethics over morality. I have, several times, talked about how I do not accept that religions own words. I do not reject the word <i>morality</i> because it is generally claimed by religions, but, rather, I claim the word <i>ethics</i> because it allows for a study of the world and for personal choices. It allows for the complexity of a range of choices, for explorations, and for corrections. It allows for personal choice.<br />So, yeah, <i>ethics</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span>So what prevents me from killing people? </span><br />
<span>I do the right thing because it feels good. I do the right thing because my brain and my thoughts continually consider events from multiple perspectives. And I do the right thing because it is the right thing. I have, literally, raped and killed exactly as many times as I've wanted to.<br />Zero, of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times;"><font size="5"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmikrWJzVwj8hen5eXs_s4MXJ0V6f5MXPbELpf3bx1eveitaXYQ4I5CVnnuL6iCcNn-dCFbHdMwq0O8yn6egvqwS4tLZk28Lq4gFpFb-w49VKHyKJd35ehEQiCrwl1zWWSSD3YIsZ8i0gB/s1600/ethics2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmikrWJzVwj8hen5eXs_s4MXJ0V6f5MXPbELpf3bx1eveitaXYQ4I5CVnnuL6iCcNn-dCFbHdMwq0O8yn6egvqwS4tLZk28Lq4gFpFb-w49VKHyKJd35ehEQiCrwl1zWWSSD3YIsZ8i0gB/s200/ethics2.jpg" width="136" /></a></font></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><font size="5">
<span>God morality is black and white. <i>Ethics</i> recognize and appreciate the greys of life. A full respect for cultures and families and situations requires that we explore human behavior carefully. As a psychotherapist, I believe strongly that the need to <i>do right</i> (or ethics) requires us to explore, accept, even love a wide range of human behavior.</span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Secondly, ever heard of relativism?<br />Relativism tells us that what is wise, true, and good exist in relation to cultural and historical context and are, therefore, not absolute. Some may think that relativism leads to slippery slopes, but I think it leads to human wisdom, to individual wisdom. </span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>So, YES, it is not just possible to have morality without a deity, it's more likely.</span></font></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<font size="3"><span><span>This subject is very, very, very complex and some people study morality vs. ethics for years. </span></span></font></div><font size="3">
</font><div style="text-align: center;">
<font size="3"><span><span>This post is just my distilled thoughts on a complex matter. </span></span></font></div><font size="3">
</font><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3">
<span><span>Take it for what it's worth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span><span>Your thoughts?</span></span></span></font><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBHCKXS7efug3nQPf9NTTPSPlSvfOvJ74-lE1X3aGsmocBVBfkzom6Y-VJMYL2E9PnYoN661fyuQ-r3tb8z_7JW4nHHVDHfZC8AwJSHRMeEimprJfOmlfnG_TOLhT6gZqytLET6zIOkeO/s1600/ethics4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="900" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBHCKXS7efug3nQPf9NTTPSPlSvfOvJ74-lE1X3aGsmocBVBfkzom6Y-VJMYL2E9PnYoN661fyuQ-r3tb8z_7JW4nHHVDHfZC8AwJSHRMeEimprJfOmlfnG_TOLhT6gZqytLET6zIOkeO/s400/ethics4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just stumbled upon this on FB about five minutes ago!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/01/myths-about-atheist-parenting-morality.html#.XsZIpcB7nIU">Myths About Atheist Parenting: Morality, Ethics, and Santa Claus</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2011/08/morality-vs-ethics.html#.XsZI6sB7nIU">Morality vs. Ethics</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2018/08/resisting-temptation-is-too-hard.html">Resisting Temptation is Too Hard</a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-47185693009009552962020-05-18T22:46:00.002-05:002020-05-18T22:46:55.068-05:00Out-Dated Social Contruct Debacle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">UUUGH, I had something happen yesterday and I have to share with other atheists, anti-theists, non-believers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm a psychotherapist. I'm part of a group of other psychotherapists on FB.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> So, yesterday someone posted "List an outdated social construct". Of course I wrote "religion".</span><br />
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Well, the pushback was immediate, ridiculous, mean, and continuous for about two
hours until, DOY, I finally refused to respond. It was awful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I took a break. About an hour or so later, the entire thread was REMOVED.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Like, WTF.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The entire experience upset me.</span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-19066191797472250032020-05-13T17:01:00.003-05:002020-12-03T16:42:32.224-06:00Raising Our Strong-Willed Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #c27ba0;">This blog post is for you, Dear Parents of Strong-Willed Children.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8o03etASS9YgHI8bviwnKoC_CEJw4qUJUeT2LSFCpmzem4ltj4OLmZEm4LZJLTtHSDXuXzWypkYKTMEwWRvqfTotUkk_y17VhXLTcu2Ri0syp658CZpgGDUAQp-8ky7GhO9OMwFI0lk6/s1600/liz+may+2020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="564" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8o03etASS9YgHI8bviwnKoC_CEJw4qUJUeT2LSFCpmzem4ltj4OLmZEm4LZJLTtHSDXuXzWypkYKTMEwWRvqfTotUkk_y17VhXLTcu2Ri0syp658CZpgGDUAQp-8ky7GhO9OMwFI0lk6/s200/liz+may+2020.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For my long-time readers, those who have watched my children grow up over these last years of my blog, you will know that my daughter is now nearly twenty-three years of age. If you've followed me for awhile, you know that Elizabeth and I have learned so much together about what it means to be mother and daughter, how one grows up with a strong woman in your life, and how to continue loving and encouraging each other in this dynamic relationship of ours.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have both learned alot.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you're in the market to learn about parenting a strong and amazing human being like this, I hope you will take some time and read some of the other posts on this blog that are specific to our lives together. I have posted some of my favorites below, but there are many others to check out. In this blog I have often referred to these specific blog posts with the label <i>challenging children</i>. But, I regret that. Now I might call them <i>Strong-willed children</i>. For now, until I find a better term. Not that <i>challenging</i> is wrong. 😉</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth is at a very significant place in her life right now. In about a week she will take her final class in undergraduate studies and will be readying herself for a quarantine graduation. She and I have been talking quite a bit about what it has taken to get her to this point in her life in one piece, with some real success, and with this moment of launch that she is facing.<br /><br />The damn quarantine is a difficult place for our kids, teens, and young adults to find themselves. Their minds and hearts are so vibrant and full; our homes are loving, but small for them. It takes all of our care and love to keep them going in this freaking tough time.<br /><br />Here is a brief summary of what parents of Challenging Children need to understand and to learn:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The answer is to NOT <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/10/advanced-anger-management.html#.XrxqIcB7nIU">"break"</a> her</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Do everything to allow her to keep her pride, <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2014/08/mandalas-harmony-and-time.html#.XrxqysB7nIU">keep her spirit</a></span></li>
<li><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/01/part-four-some-call-them-whiners-bottom.html#.XrxpYMB7nIU"><span style="font-size: large;">Including celebrating that spirit</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">They have to learn to control their passions in this world, to survive, <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/02/proud-momma-moment-my-daughters-rant.html">to thrive</a>, to make it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2014/03/challenging-teen-redux.html#.Xrxq9cB7nIU">ME controlling her is wrong</a>; I learned that <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2017/11/making-mountains-of-molehills-hideous.html#.Xrxtl8B7nIU">the hard way</a> many times.</span></li>
<li><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/11/part-two-some-call-them-whiners-drawing.html"><span style="font-size: large;">She needs my love, patience, approval, and, most of all, understanding.</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">How much can I say <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-parental-confession.html#.XrxqisB7nIU">'yes'</a> to her</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2017/10/got-teen.html#.XrxpDsB7nIU">I'm her tether</a>, though she kind of hates that fact </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">This is NOT a "behavioral problem", this is who she is.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">I must support her, <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/08/i-am-buzz-kill.html#.XrxrHsB7nIU">even when I don't understand</a>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/02/next-time-tell-them-that-you-wouldnt-do.html#.XrxqXsB7nIU">She doesn't accept lessons from me</a>; she has to learn them on her own.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Use positive language when describing her; she is already critical of herself in her head. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She always prefers having choices and always resents my choice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Give them <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-letter-to-elizabeth-in-korea.html#.XrxrpcB7nIU">LOTS of latitude</a>, <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/08/can-i-rebel-now.html#.XrxsV8B7nIU">LOTS and lots of latitude!</a> to explore their strong interests.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Although she often behaves in very unloving ways, <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/12/part-three-some-call-them-whiners-have.html">she needs my love the most at those times.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-i-planned-to-be-as-parent.html">She hates arguing with me</a> as much as I hate arguing with her. <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/08/guest-post-lizzie-wants-world-peace.html#.XrxrjMB7nIU">Maybe more.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">She can get <a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/05/var-addthisconfig-datatrackaddressbartr.html#.XrxsssB7nIU">very mixed up </a>in her own strong emotion and finds our relationship both a touchstone for centering and something she resents.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">Always correct and educate when the storm passes or at peace time - never during the storm. <br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2014/12/24-hours.html#.Xrxr-MB7nIU">She's the best friend</a> a mother could ask for. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2014/08/its-going-to-be-worth-it.html#.XrxtA8B7nIU">It's Going to be Worth it</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/02/thirteen-tips-for-parenting-your-strong.html#.Uai8mZwe3TQ">My Thirteen Tips for Parenting your Strong-Willed Teen</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-best-days-as-mom.html#.Xrxt-MB7nIU">My Best Days as a Mom</a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-2981961163971503332020-05-07T09:22:00.000-05:002020-05-22T14:40:44.445-05:00Here's How These 80's Actresses Look Now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq2Xz0JPE9EX8LssukqVhwN_GJtiAgtKN7dWHofjsiGjFacG-AOEG2t0q1OMglpsTEfM1PFh5MAvKdeyo83z-LetXADmsWkR_s0H_jXxKcjyiyyEoKmA-ppgigAq1bl3gSrSJmSQX9ojx/s1600/age+pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq2Xz0JPE9EX8LssukqVhwN_GJtiAgtKN7dWHofjsiGjFacG-AOEG2t0q1OMglpsTEfM1PFh5MAvKdeyo83z-LetXADmsWkR_s0H_jXxKcjyiyyEoKmA-ppgigAq1bl3gSrSJmSQX9ojx/s200/age+pic2.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's one of those social media tropes that you will find everywhere. Special click bait. Click here and see what that gorgeous woman from the 80's looks like now. What Time does to a person. It's unkind.<br /><br />Have you seen even ONE of these pieces telling us just what Time will do to a male hottie? I haven't and I have specifically looked. This goes beyond a feminism thing. It's about humans!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I find these clip bait pieces infuriating. It's the shock value that they are going for and that's the low-hanging fruit of click bait. Who doesn't look older after thirty years? Thirty years are hard on a person's appearance. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1GAQdGHQENUuwWDFHU4BTHNMBTXk98HWoiiXBndWbzEzstG0szCKdGz8ImMca7sPTgQ6lRxRw1n9gK8ZcKMOVnwlphoHFD3aJwQXSMbAsJXmOqLiQ-krPAGt_fk6UhPqOTfvWGtmj24/s1600/age+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1GAQdGHQENUuwWDFHU4BTHNMBTXk98HWoiiXBndWbzEzstG0szCKdGz8ImMca7sPTgQ6lRxRw1n9gK8ZcKMOVnwlphoHFD3aJwQXSMbAsJXmOqLiQ-krPAGt_fk6UhPqOTfvWGtmj24/s320/age+pic.jpg" width="107" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eyes sag, puff, wrinkle. Skin fades, ages, wrinkles, discolor. Hair loses shine, greys, changes texture, grows in places other than one's head. Bodies gain weight, lose weight, lose their vitality, get out of shape. Clothes stop fitting so sweet, stop looking svelte, droop, get super tight. Voices thicken, crack, weaken, get gravely. These things are normal, perfectly normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Photographers cheer when they get a bad shot of a former beauty. As though beautiful people gall we average folk. As though we're happy to see the mighty fall. Our country rewards gaffs, falls on stairs, doughy middles, evidence of child birth, crows feet, nerves, lip sag, or grey hair with shame and derision. And the masses enjoy it. Why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The gratuitous showcase of the ravages of time must be a huge draw for those who <i>click</i>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY9F-x3cvHW6zUgPG-UHDqnYzgVRM-zsP4kUvW42lgIQC2FNF5B6E9GJuHJZzAVgVC9OZkeKbI47RYp2tww-WACJqQGOPCN8ECS9xSFSmvi2joyli4iT4_GZqGgKCyunViKRuRgQWQCT-/s1600/age+mcdermott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1140" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY9F-x3cvHW6zUgPG-UHDqnYzgVRM-zsP4kUvW42lgIQC2FNF5B6E9GJuHJZzAVgVC9OZkeKbI47RYp2tww-WACJqQGOPCN8ECS9xSFSmvi2joyli4iT4_GZqGgKCyunViKRuRgQWQCT-/s200/age+mcdermott.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Every single human being ages. Every single beautiful person ages and loses some sparkle. Is this something to be shocked by? Other cultures worship, literally <i>worship</i>, age. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I refuse to click on the bait. Do you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-own-mind.html#.XrQWrcB7k1k">My Own Mind</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/09/pantyhose.html#.XrQW6cB7k1k">Pantyhose</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/05/occupy-space.html#.XrQXRMB7k1k">Occupy Space</a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-62439173517591082092020-04-20T21:17:00.000-05:002020-04-20T21:17:21.325-05:00I Could Not Homeschool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqqQWkJKPXwghjSGaD0MzaiwP7YGM0xyiw6XpomL4yx6gINcVmZBC_EGvcZnnUn3EhnwuSnphTq6rpy-fd2Km5Vva98TQ4OVaH3UH8UioN1EZPNyFkKIhd-FN1W5QdyYKgjGz1v2_Pbnm/s1600/brain6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="283" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqqQWkJKPXwghjSGaD0MzaiwP7YGM0xyiw6XpomL4yx6gINcVmZBC_EGvcZnnUn3EhnwuSnphTq6rpy-fd2Km5Vva98TQ4OVaH3UH8UioN1EZPNyFkKIhd-FN1W5QdyYKgjGz1v2_Pbnm/s200/brain6.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Homeschoolers are familiar with comments from non-homeschool parents saying things like<i> I could never do that</i> and <i>You must be so patient</i> and things like this. Comments that suggest that homeschooling parents have talents and skills that other parents don't have. But I surmise that parents have come to believe that certain people should teach their children certain things and other people should teach their children other things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The truth is, we've been kind of <i>taught</i> to believe that we are generally not qualified to teach our own children. The truth is, we're just out of practice. I ran across this meme today and had to run here to post it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSjJ7RSTBj1CwOYYQeDAuRqjfl1FIIGCb_eTayEIU3xYs5Tl4A4hzuvCXMiVZPlm1QbejWJXNVhS3ppzRDDcVQtSWaKDokeJhnwu8g-wylffV740X_vxmmoFf0cZGtCFH4S5A1yD_Wb8D/s1600/94138005_2451229691645526_1645095473641422848_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSjJ7RSTBj1CwOYYQeDAuRqjfl1FIIGCb_eTayEIU3xYs5Tl4A4hzuvCXMiVZPlm1QbejWJXNVhS3ppzRDDcVQtSWaKDokeJhnwu8g-wylffV740X_vxmmoFf0cZGtCFH4S5A1yD_Wb8D/s320/94138005_2451229691645526_1645095473641422848_o.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Give it some thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You CAN do it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>You Might Also Enjoy:</b><br /><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/04/is-school-superior-to-homeschool.html#.Xp5Se5l7nIU">Is School Superior to Homeschool?</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/01/should-we-homeschool.html#.Xp5SsZl7nIU">Should We Homeschool?</a><br /><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2015/10/you-are-your-best-gizmo.html#.Xp5S_pl7nIU">YOU Are Your Best Gizmo</a></span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-78220745914976691692020-04-10T16:13:00.002-05:002020-04-10T16:13:26.269-05:00Corona: Schooling at Home:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIxS3yrSRBxq0BsQ2zyeDx9pkLxhO4bB5cCy7DFbpkHLbDDEOAKzgwhyphenhyphenT2PqF7i_uobzGKlvfDsiY3qBEuc_UjN-ahBTOzAPyY1ktLuUq257bT7RiFXYrTZkWkEId6tLRuh_JH-MWlOPh/s1600/123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIxS3yrSRBxq0BsQ2zyeDx9pkLxhO4bB5cCy7DFbpkHLbDDEOAKzgwhyphenhyphenT2PqF7i_uobzGKlvfDsiY3qBEuc_UjN-ahBTOzAPyY1ktLuUq257bT7RiFXYrTZkWkEId6tLRuh_JH-MWlOPh/s200/123.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello Schooling-at-Home Parents!<br />Welcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm here to answer any questions you might have about having lessons at home with your children. If you have any questions for me, homeschooling mother of two now-college students, please write comments below and I'll answer them for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, here are a few of my homeschool hints from the past:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Remember: your goal is learning, not being manacled to a schedule.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US">Watch <i>Crash Course World History</i>
by John Green on youtube. When we do this we watch each episode twice: once for the entertainment value (which is considerable) and once to
take notes and to really hear everything that goes by so quickly in John
Green's inimitable repartee. We then Wiki everything we don't know,
research the people, places, and events mentioned, and follow our own
interests until they run out.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Relax</b>. This takes time to figure out.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span><b>Live with the failures and the successes</b>. Again, life is full of these moments every single day. Keep your cool and accept each moment as a life lesson.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span>Schooling at home give you some freedom to loosen things up a little bit. Do something unusual, ask your child what they'd like to do for lessons that day. When I've done this, I've always found my kids more willing to do the work and more likely to have more content to their day than I would have given.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span><span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Love them.</b> Your children will bring the craziest things into your home and, somehow, you will be enriched for all of it! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span><span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's an unprecedented situation. Take a little time to relax into it.<br />It will be OK.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #4c1130;"><b><span><span>I'm here.<br />I'm on your side.<br />You can do this!</span> </span></b></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-89349367221003934042020-04-08T17:09:00.000-05:002020-04-08T17:09:02.973-05:00Corona: Schooling at Home: Resources<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've
noticed a large surge in readers of this blog lately, presumably due to
the large number of families now schooling their kids at home. I'm
assuming people are looking for ideas, support, or something! So, New Parent Schooling at Home, this blog post is for you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next, let's think about resources. <br />You are beginning with som</span><span style="font-size: large;"> resoeurces from school. Online lectures or lessons followed by daily work to complete. (At least that is what I'm seeing.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span>A friend on Facebook just posted a link to this film <a href="https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/your-inner-fish?fbclid=IwAR2ew2U1eXj1q0bv2vd6-GxiQzbyG4ACINtCkeSXJT3PE1qNUJK5c7oKahs">Your Inner Fish</a>, available<a href="https://www.biointeractive.org/"> HHMI: BioInteractive</a>, a website for science teachers to share tons of media materials. SHARE THIS LINK!</span><span> It's absolutely wonderful.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>PLEASE check out the main website called <a href="https://thekidshouldseethis.com/browse">TheKidsShouldSeeThis</a>.
The site
has THOUSANDS of videos of so many different subjects, from sciences to
musics, to particles, to animation, to, well, you name it, with a
special focus on STEAM—science, technology, engineering, art, and math.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><a href="https://openstax.org/">OpenStax</a>is a global collection of educational materials completely coordinated by
volunteers and maintained by generous donations by philanthropists like
Bill and Melinda Gates, Andrew W. Mellon, William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation, and others under the auspices of Rice University in Houston.
The entire collection is available completely free of charge. It can be
downloaded in various digital forms and can also be remixed and edited. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span>MIT also has <a href="http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm">Open CourseWare here</a>.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span>Joy Hakim is an American author/past school teacher who has written a ten-volume history of the United States, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-US-Eleven-Set-Paperback/dp/0195327276?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_sw_r_other_awd_SJMjxbSXW16M5">A History of US</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-History-US-Joy-Hakim/dp/0195157117/ref=la_B000APDUMU_1_34?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462172711&sr=1-34&refinements=p_82%3AB000APDUMU">Freedom: A History of US</a></i> (a trade book to accompany a 16-part PBS series), and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Science-Stories-Narrative-Adventurers-ebook/dp/B00ZJ7SUHY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462173007&sr=1-1&keywords=reading+science+stories+joy+hakim">Reading Science Stories</a>, all published by Oxford University Press. Hakim is also the author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Story-Science-Aristotle-Leads-Way/dp/1588341607/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Story of Science</a></i>, three volumes co-published by Smithsonian Books and the National Science Teachers Association. </span></span></span></span><br /><span><span><span><span><span>Also, please check out this<i> <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/">phenomenal</a></i><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/"> accompanying website</a> for <i>Freedom: A History of US</i>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span>We LOVED <a href="http://edhelper.com/">edhelper.com</a> back in the day. </span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><a href="https://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a> and <a href="http://www.thegreatcourses.com/">The Great Courses</a> offer wonderful material in various formats.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We also use the many online resources at our disposal from <a href="http://whitehouse.gov/">whitehouse.gov</a> to the many, many excellent videos on youtube.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span><div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">There's a decent start. Let me know what you think!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Please send me specific questions,<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: large;"> otherwise I'm just guessing!<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">.</span></span></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-33096137015204795772020-04-06T14:46:00.000-05:002020-04-08T16:27:57.588-05:00Corona: Schooling at Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvy-6tsotzuQJCB_y6-EhwFY8vRMrykAp2yyoGzOTyYchRpVuztw2cwWYMQS8VI2alla_hCQ3hEAtle3SGqb0aYyD3ZenzI-2COx_-vLNWE3JtLqljEbzbd1vIjnMGoVHfTjT5Hp-yenS/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvy-6tsotzuQJCB_y6-EhwFY8vRMrykAp2yyoGzOTyYchRpVuztw2cwWYMQS8VI2alla_hCQ3hEAtle3SGqb0aYyD3ZenzI-2COx_-vLNWE3JtLqljEbzbd1vIjnMGoVHfTjT5Hp-yenS/s200/1.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've noticed a large surge in readers of this blog lately, presumably due to the large number of families now schooling their kids at home. I'm assuming people are looking for ideas, support, or something! So, new parent schooling at home, this blog post is for you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First, maybe you're thinking about scheduling and time management. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">School is divided into six/seven hours a day with a different subject each hour or unit. And that's fine, but let's think about how our interests work. If we're into something fun or engaging it can be hard to switch gears on the hour. I recommend a slightly different way to schedule your week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some subjects are best touching on and practicing daily, namely language and math. Everything else, every other day or so. <br />For an example, consider this idea, each line is an hour or unit of time that works for you. Keep in mind, it's always more about what is working than what is planned. Think about four structured hours a day...max.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's how I handled it, in general:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77L6NevKRH3TMDb9f6t6LkQOw_izv52EGG9W1WemR9UZjzwOLO-e28K4LTfsfPk4bLquxP1igXBiLW6wwzJ185QtLRwd1a0Wpi4TkXWMfjRWAVxQ-ThuEGc75vLEgm3dvZi7DWbSG5WZJ/s1600/corona2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="700" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77L6NevKRH3TMDb9f6t6LkQOw_izv52EGG9W1WemR9UZjzwOLO-e28K4LTfsfPk4bLquxP1igXBiLW6wwzJ185QtLRwd1a0Wpi4TkXWMfjRWAVxQ-ThuEGc75vLEgm3dvZi7DWbSG5WZJ/s640/corona2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I recommend, any age, reading every single day. If your child is <a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/02/great-reads-for-tweens-and-teens-for.html">older</a>, grab a good book or two and read daily. If younger, have reading time every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, scheduling is an ongoing challenge.<br /><br />My biggest reminder: Relax.<br />It will all be totally fine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No need to worry about keeping up. You'll do just fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">I'll post more tomorrow.<br />Tomorrow I will post some great online resources.<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />If you have specific questions, please ask!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>..... </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>If you like this, please check out these links:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/03/homeschool-curriculum-high-school.html#.XouANnJ7nIU">Homeschool Curriculum: High School</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/02/homeschool-tricks-for-improving-your-day_20.html#.XouAdXJ7nIU">Homeschool: Tricks for Improving Your Day</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-note-to-myself-at-beginning-of.html#.XouGSnJ7nIU">A Note to Myself at the Beginning of Homeschooling</a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-71524570599750648612020-02-21T00:41:00.000-06:002020-02-21T03:46:17.349-06:00Pink Ribbon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWPqX3RhtP91xafmzvEVJBDhtI1I_8LEQw7Qv3nZt80f2-HU56bWfO6Pq7r1hg-_vdpO9HLVEp2AXZ0vPgvPv1JqSfNKgb5qjP-NgUZfAQMX_HZETWb2OM5nb23aDUlUbHB8ee8BC_IIN/s1600/pink+ribbon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWPqX3RhtP91xafmzvEVJBDhtI1I_8LEQw7Qv3nZt80f2-HU56bWfO6Pq7r1hg-_vdpO9HLVEp2AXZ0vPgvPv1JqSfNKgb5qjP-NgUZfAQMX_HZETWb2OM5nb23aDUlUbHB8ee8BC_IIN/s320/pink+ribbon1.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I've been wondering about Social Media and how to manage your life on it. It's so weird. TMI, TLI? I don't know.</span><br />
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q">
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I decided to just share my stuff, the stuff going on because it makes sense to and because I care about my friends and family and I think they would care. I hate being the person who is the last to know...</span><br />
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
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<div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q">
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, the good kind, IDC with no lymph node involvement, stage 1. If you Google it you will see that this form of cancer is highly-treatable and with good prognosis. </span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I'm very optimistic about it.</span><br />
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had a lumpectomy this week and I'll be getting radiation treatments for a couple of weeks, starting in about a month.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q">
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">SO, I'm now status-post lumpectomy, some minor pain and discomfort, but mostly fine!</span><br />
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Geez, would you tell everybody like this? I have NO idea!</span></div>
</div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-88496398030318983622020-02-19T06:05:00.000-06:002020-04-05T20:44:02.048-05:00I'm Surprised These Things are Anywhere on our Radar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT0YbRt5O8pyz0Tubn4a2PyaXsGjoJg3rm-XsagtyJSwAHNh7gPNqEd2GL3X89YvSmcKfcmCf3hgw1dTskQMRvVJmFScRmQGQEMq8SBAX47QeK7wqXAWoFpJgivH36Zkd7rpBTOzB8pjU/s1600/jeff2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT0YbRt5O8pyz0Tubn4a2PyaXsGjoJg3rm-XsagtyJSwAHNh7gPNqEd2GL3X89YvSmcKfcmCf3hgw1dTskQMRvVJmFScRmQGQEMq8SBAX47QeK7wqXAWoFpJgivH36Zkd7rpBTOzB8pjU/s320/jeff2.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jeff Goldblum, What the heck.<br />Why is this guy still on our radar? I've never cared for the guy at all. I haven't liked him since <i>The Big Chill</i>, one of my favorite movies, and now he's ironically popular again. ugh. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I started thinking about the other popular things that I absolutely have no affection for. My negativity is pretty strong in this post, so be prepared. Here's my list, things I'm rather annoyed with and just can't keep quiet about tonight. Maybe it's PMS.<br />🤣<br /><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">WHY are these things <i>THINGS</i>?<br />Why don't we have the courage to just show them the door?</span><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Jeff Goldblum - Why is THIS man still acting?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">ABBA - just why?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Justin Bieber</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Donald Trump</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Billionaires - why are these people admired <i>at all</i>?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Some over used female baby names - I won't list them here, but there are some names that I just can't stand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Duck face - WHY?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie Fisher </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Patriotism - such a bullshit thing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hashtags</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Alexis Bledel </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">FOX news</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Expen$ive coffee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">New Years Eve - such an invented thing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">James Corden</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Marvel movies, super hero movies - Just. Stop. Now.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ryan Gosling - what's with this overrated actor?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Mountain man beards - I am SO over them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">BTS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Super expensive, trendy tennis shoes - time to stop supporting this kind of crap</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cruises</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The Mona Lisa - there are waaaay better works of art</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">All things woo: crystals and whatnot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dabbing - 🙄</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Forest Gump</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Facebook challenges </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lumberjack beards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Catholicism </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Social media celebs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Funny black t-shirts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Diamonds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Howie Mandel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Disney</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Valentines Day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Those angry cat memes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Comments about pizza and pineapple</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Dumbing down anything </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Adam Sandler</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Wine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bow ties - so overused </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The word <i>Awesome</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Fame, caring about what celebs think</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Virginity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cigarettes</span></li>
</ul>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Anyway, just my little list of negativity. What would you add? </span></span></span></i></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357415193462649988.post-21475135647731885492020-02-15T03:29:00.000-06:002020-02-15T03:29:27.370-06:00Eleven Love Songs I Never Want to Hear Again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietPPO3TqPQZWxLaXeRYCXkkxyuLYW75mIU2wHKLCS1aJGGKySTJx7vdOmLHxWn88w5zMcmfWWMJWkq_3sG9cx-fnLwa3ezwFhj1hiBhOHV7iPYn0Y3ldXia3UimuRRHh7BnQ8tCwk6I5j/s1600/oomodm004.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietPPO3TqPQZWxLaXeRYCXkkxyuLYW75mIU2wHKLCS1aJGGKySTJx7vdOmLHxWn88w5zMcmfWWMJWkq_3sG9cx-fnLwa3ezwFhj1hiBhOHV7iPYn0Y3ldXia3UimuRRHh7BnQ8tCwk6I5j/s320/oomodm004.png" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was listening to the radio today and the DJ announced that, next, she would read the top <i>some number</i> of songs that some magazine, maybe <i>Rolling Stone</i>, had listed as the Worse Romantic Songs of All Time. Quite a list for Valentine's Day. Well, I got out of the car moments later, but I kept wondering what songs were in that list. So, I decided to make my own list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Romantic songs are notoriously nauseating or obnoxious. I'm sure you have a few songs on your Never Again List. If so, please add them in the comments section. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keeping in mind that my songs are OLD, like 70s and early 80s.<br />Here's My List:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"> ANYTHING by Chicago</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> ANYTHING by Celine Dion, but especially <i>My Heart Will Go On and On</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Fire and Rain </i>by James Taylor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i> The Pina Colada</i> <i>Song: Escape</i> by Rupert Holmes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>I'll Make Love to You</i> by Boyz II Men</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>As Long as You Love Me</i> by the Backstreet Boys</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>She's Like the Wind</i> by Patrick Swayze</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Making Love Out of Nothing Now</i> by Air Supply, in fact, everything by Air Supply</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>Muskrat Love</i> by The Captain and Tenille</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>I Wanna Know What Love</i> Is by Foreigner</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>All By Myself</i> by Eric Carmen, of course</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GOOD GRIEF THESE ARE TERRIBLE!<br />😄<br /><span style="font-size: small;">What songs did I miss?<br />What would you add?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You Might Also Enjoy:</b><br />My Ten Favorite Love Songs (Coming Soon)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2013/12/play-list-for-blues.html#.Xke1d4h7nVg">Playlist for the Blues</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-perks-of-being-55.html#.Xke4k4h7nVg">The Perks of Being 55</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/07/99-things-i-love.html#.Xke4t4h7nVg">99 Things I Love</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://taytayhser.blogspot.com/2019/05/every-artist-was-first-amateur-ordinary.html#.Xke444h7nVg">Every Artist Was First an Amateur: Ordinary Things</a></span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309932952235453461noreply@blogger.com0