FEEDBACK THOUGHTS

Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head: Web Link
This article really resonated with me. I have always been my worst critic. "They originate from external criticism, or our own fears and doubts." Once we hear these negative words that "we're not good enough" we run them on loop in our head. It seems so crazy to me the Rajeev would only spot out the small negative things when he received so much positive feedback. But, we all do that when we're our own worst critic. I use to crave criticism in the dance studio. I wanted my teacher to find something wrong with me, to push me to be better! If I was given positive feedback after feeling like it wasn't my best I was always more comfortable receiving negative feedback. I love the 4 step plan to move past negativity and into productivity: look for the positive, hear the positive, dig into understand the positive, believe the positive and act as if they're true.

Image: Web Link

Why rejection hurts so much -- and what to do about it: Web Link
The next article I read was "Why rejection hurts so much -- and what to do about it." Whether the rejection is big or small, it still hurts. If you're at all familiar with The Enneagram, there are specific rejection types. Being a 2 I am a definite rejection type, meaning rejection gets to me a little more than others. I love how this article answers the question of why it hurts so bad? "The greatest damage rejection causes is usually self-inflicted. Just when our self-esteem is hurting most, we go and damage it even further." Our brain is wired to be affected by rejection since the dinosaur ages. But, there are a few things we can do to help us not to be so affected by rejection. 1. Have zero tolerance for self criticism, 2. Revive your self-worth, and 3. Boost Feelings of social connection.

TOPIC BRAINSTORM

As soon as I think of Fairy Tales I think of Princesses. While I have probably seen every Disney Princess movie ever made I think it's a good thing to broaden my Princess knowledge. The decision to look at Princesses from around the world and different cultures or to just focus on one culture. I read the story The Princess and Her Parties for inspiration and I loved the style of the writing. This story was narrated by the queen. The queen wants to share with her daughter all the advice a mother could give for her 16th birthday. So, she reaches out to other queens all over the world to send the young princess do's and don'ts when going into the dating world. The story chapters are divided by the different queens and their letters. I also liked how the style of writing was very modern and relatable. I think I can learn a lot from this topic. I do not have a lot of knowledge about princesses and queens around the world. Maybe there's a way to incorporate their own traditions into a story similar to this.

Project Idea: Fairy Tale Princesses: Web Link
The Princess and Her Parties, By: Kate Carlton, Web Link

Image Source: Calvin vs. World

 

 

My next inspiration for my storybook is Alice In Wonderland. Alice In Wonderland has so many wonderful characters to choose from and I'm very familiar with the story. I really like the theme of modern day fairy tales. Taking these older stories that have been told for years and years and giving them a modern day twist. This particular story is about a modern day, high school student named Alice. Alice is on spring break and is bored as can be. She's been scrolling on social media all day and finally decides to go outside for a little bit. While she's outside, she sees a White Rabbit and follows it all the way down his rabbit hole. Of course, she has to keep her social media updated, so literally makes a Facebook post while she is falling down the rabbit hole. Alice has the attitude of a typical entitled, spoiled, high school girl and her exploring this new place is so entertaining. Along her journey she meets the traditional characters of Alice In Wonderland and documents everything through her social media.
Project Idea: Alice In Wonderland: Web Link
Alice's Journey Through Social Media: Web Link

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Women of Hercules, Welcome to "Her" Story, was my next story for inspiration. This also followed the theme of putting a modern day twist on these older stories. Welcome to "Her" Story is about a talk show featuring the three women from Hercules's life. Between the three women they give the inside scoop on details and secrets that were left out of the original story. It's a fun and entertaining twist on the traditional Hercules story we have heard for so long. I like the idea of having a talk show host and interviewing the characters. I think that's an interesting approach and I like the variety than just retelling the story.
 Past Storybooks: Web Link
The Women of Hercules, Welcome to "Her" Story: Web Link

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I am a sucker for pop culture, my favorite place to find celebrity gossip is E! News, so I couldn't resist when clicking on this storybook. E! News Special: Diary Reveal is about the women of the bible and some of their untold stories. The retelling of these women's stories are so insightful and from their point of view. I think it helps me to understand the original stories told in the bible. Reading stories from a different perspective can be a learning benefit and make things more interesting and entertaining to read. This author went into great detail to retell the stories of four women from the bible. I really enjoyed reading this storybook.
Past Storybooks: Web Link 
E! News Special: Diary Reveal: Web Link

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WEEK 2 STORY: The Woman in the Wall

Once Upon a Time, there was an interior designer that loved to design homes for others. She was so talented, creative, and so good at her job that she went all over the nation to design houses. But, one day she was getting tired of designing homes. As she drove home from her office and walked into her house a twinkling star came shining across her yard and all of a sudden, a fairy was standing in front of her. Not knowing what to say or think, the Interior Designer stood there speechless. The fairy introduced her self, "I am the gratitude fairy and I'm here to remind you of all the things you have to grateful for." The interior designer replied, "I don't want to be an interior designer anymore. I'm so tired and just want to sit all day...I'd rather be a piece of furniture!" The gratitude fairy raised an eyebrow and said under her breath, "Be careful what you wish for." With her pretty wand and sparkly magic dust she turned the interior designer into a chair! A day went by and the once interior designer, now chair complained, "I don't want to sit around all day, I want to be a lamp it seems light and warm." So the gratitude fairy turned her into a lamp. Another day went by and the once interior designer, that turned into a chair, now a lamp, complained, "I hate being turned on and off everyday!" I want to be a rug, so I won't get moved around!" So the gratitude fairy turned her into a rug. A couple days went by and the once interior designer, then chair, then lamp, and now rug complained, "I getting stepped on all the time, I want to be apart of the wall, so I can see everything that's going on, and no one can mess with me." So the gratitude fairy turned her into a wall. And there she stayed and lives to this day.

Bibliography.  "The Man in the Moon" from Laos Folk-Lore by Katherine Neville Fleeson. Web source.

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READING NOTES: WEEK 2 ANTHOLOGY

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology
Origins: The Man in the Moon
This story comes from Laos in Southeast Asia. Story source: Laos Folk-Lore by Katherine Neville Fleeson (1899).


The Man in the Moon really grabbed my attention. The overall theme tells the story of a man who is never content and is constantly wanting a change. The Man in the Moon is a great reminder of the rule, you get what you get, and you don't throw a fit. The blacksmith continues to complain about everything and the wise man is running out of things to let the blacksmith turn into. In the beginning the blacksmith's work was too warm and he wanted to become apart of the mountain because it was cooler. Eventually he was unhappy as a mountain side, and wanted to be a stone cutter. The wise man was laughing at this point, but yet again made him a stone cutter. Of course being a stone cutter was too hard and the man's feet were tired. Then he became the sun, because he wanted to be warm. Then he became the moon, and missed being a blacksmith. But the wise man had changed him so many times, that the man stayed as the moon for forever. The blacksmith learned a valuable lessen that you shouldn't take the life you have for granted. When we find ourselves comparing our lives to others we miss the opportunity to be grateful for what we already have. The one thing I want to remember to take away and include in my own story is that there should always be a lesson to be learn.

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WEEK 2 READING OVERVIEW

 Tentative Schedule

Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4.
Week 3: Ancient Greece: Homer's Odyssey
Week 4: From the Bible: Bible Women

Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6.
Week 5: Frame Tale Stories: Arabian Nights
Week 6: Folktales and Fairy Tales: Indian

Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.]
Week 7: Japanese Fairy Tales: Lang
Week 9: Japanese Fairy Tales: Ozaki

Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11.
Week 10: Specific Tribes: Apache
Week 11: Specific Tribes: Cherokee

Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13.
Week 12: Hero Tales: Robin Hood
Week 13: Literary Works: Alice in Wonderland

Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15.
Week 14: Brother Grimm: Librivox
Week 15: Fairy Tales by Country: Italian

When making my Tentative Schedule, it was so difficult to make a decision, because so many stories grabbed my attention. Ever since I was younger I have always loved reading stories about princesses, magic, fairies, and prince charming. Looking at my schedule I see a theme of stories that I remember hearing when I was a little girl. In Middle Eastern and Indian units I'm really eager to read Arabian Nights, because it includes Aladdin. Later on in Weeks 12 and 13 I'm very excited for Robin Hood and Alice in Wonderland. My interests lie in fairy tale stories that I'm familiar with. 

Illustration by Sir John Tenniel