Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

i choose April 28, 2011

Filed under: Commentary,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:40 pm
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I choose

to believe.

.

I choose to believe

that my one vote

can make a difference

like a single pebble

rippling

to the edges of a still pond

 .

I choose to believe

that my choice

provides the fuel for the future,

that in exercising my franchise

my small voice resonates.

I do not have to stand

in the street and shout

to make my opinion heard.

I walk into my polling place

unmolested

and cast my vote fearlessly.

.

I choose to believe

that my vote matters.

I choose to believe

that leaders want to govern

responsibly,

that they care about the people

they represent,

that they want to make a difference.

I choose to believe

in the hope of a better tomorrow.

.

I choose to make a difference.

to be a pebble in the pond

of democracy,

and so

I vote.

 

 

young voices April 27, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:52 am
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I’m feeling hopeful that things are changing.

The Powers That Be don’t try to attract the youth vote, because they say youth don’t vote. I’m a little confused about that, because I voted when I was a youth, as did my friends.  My students all seem very excited about the possibility of voting as they leave high school. So what happens? What makes them drop out of the voting process?
On Facebook right now there is a status floating around that goes, “Out of 23.6 million electors in the last election, only 5.2 million voted for Harper’s Conservatives. That’s 22% of eligible voters, and 16.2% of the total population. There are 5.65 million Canadians aged 18-29. In the past, this age group has voted so little that politicians don’t bother with them. If all of Canada’s youth voted, they would rock the whole political system!”
I didn’t check the facts before I reposted it, but I like the message. The youth have power, if they choose to use it.

Somewhere else I heard, “You wouldn’t let your grandparents choose your music, why do you let them choose your government?”  😉  I like that one, too.  It appeals to that rebellious streak in me.

I decided to conduct a little poll on Facebook. Most of my Facebook friends are former or current students, so I asked,  “Are you voting in the federal election?” Over 84% of respondants said either yes or that they would if they could.  That’s a positive situation that doesn’t seem to echo what the government believes.  Of course, my highly scientific poll was a rather small sample (13 total) so perhaps it is meaningless.  I choose to believe it shows that within my circle of influence, at least, young people want to have a voice.

We all need to contribute to the exercise of democracy.

Over the years I think I have voted for every party from Reform to Green. I tend to study the candidates and choose the one that seems most intelligent and well spoken, as opposed to the one who is most likely to have his/her party form the government. My husband doesn’t think this is very strategic, but I try to believe in the power of my one vote.

.
Voting is an exercise in hope. We trust that we will have a government that listens to us and makes wise decisions. Most of the time, we’re pretty lucky, compared to most places in the world. I like to think that’s because we’re watchful. Young people on the other side of the world are dying these days to get the right to have the government of their choice.  I hope our young people take advantage of their franchise, and don’t let their grandparents make the decisions without their contribution.

 

word power April 23, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:45 am
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 When you change the perspective, you change everything.  Words are powerful tools.  They can be the fuel to change the world.  Words begin revolutions.  A good word can bring success.  A bad word can destroy a reputation.  A kind word can inspire love.  A cruel one can unhinge love.

Choose your words most carefully.

Change the world.

 

ever considered? April 21, 2011

Filed under: Commentary,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:08 pm
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Topic #99: Have you ever considered writing a book? If so what would it be about? Make a list of the ideas you want to cover, or the themes it might have. If you’ve never considered writing a book, what other major work have you thought about (a movie? a symphony?).

Ah, yeah…  😀  Well….   Of course there’s Grace Awakening (click the link above).

Mostly, I think I’d like to stick to writing for teens and young adults.  I like themes of acceptance, love, and growth.  I like to teach something as well, so Grace Awakening is full of characters and references to Greek mythology, poetry forms, and history which gives a lot of extra dimension to the story if the reader chooses to pursue additional investigation.

I started writing a book when I was a teen.  I had the theme and some of the key characters figured out early, but it took many tries to get it into a form that worked properly.  In the six months that Grace Awakening was evolving on my keyboard, it was surprising how all the past writing wove itself into the narrative, expanding into something powerful and new. 

Everything that was becomes part of what will be.

I am presently working (or procrastinating) on two novels.  One is ‘just about finished’ (as i t has been for a year or so) and the other is the prequel to Grace Awakening.  Doing the research for that one last month in France makes me yearn for another trip.  There is so much to learn, and the words flew thick and fast while basking in all that atmosphere.  I have several other ideas floating around in my brain as well.  Once you start writing, the words bubble like a spring, and the chapters drift like a river toward a sea of story.

 

Responsible government April 20, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:30 pm
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There is a certain expectation we have of leaders.  If a school principal stormed about screeching incomprehensively, kids would neither respect him nor listen to him.  His more positive leadership abilities would be lost in the extremely visible hysteria.  If a teen wants something, stomping and shouting is less likely to attain the goal, than quiet, persistent pressure and negotiation.  If a dog is yapping uncontrollably while you’re trying to talk to someone at the door, the dog gets a firm silencing.  Yet in the House of Commons, screeching, shouting and yapping are the order of the day.

How can the grown men and women who wish to govern our nation expect to be taken seriously as trustworthy, thoughtful people when their behaviour suggests they are hysterical toddlers?  Whenever I tune into Question Period I last about twenty seconds before I have to change the channel because the bickering sounds like an out of control Middle School classroom. 

So how about it folks?  If you want to govern the country, how about showing some self-control and good sense?  Quit shouting in the background while other people are trying to speak.  Quit calling each other names.  Quit using scare tactics to try to convince the populace that negotiating in a coalition scenario is worse than having one man’s ideas shoved down our throats.  Let’s see some real responsible government for once.  That’s my expectation of a leader.  Let’s hope after this election we have one.

 

lies April 19, 2011

Filed under: Literature,Pondering — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:17 pm
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I lie to myself all the time.  But I never believe me.

(Ponyboy speaking in The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton p. 18).

  How true this is, eh?  We convince ourselves all the time of things that aren’t necessarily so, in order to function. 

  • “She loves me, even though she keeps saying she wants a divorce.” 
  • “The cancer won’t spread.” 
  • “I don’t need to do up my seatbelt.” 
  • “I’ll never get in an accident.” 
  • “It won’t matter if I have one more drink.” 
  • “The kids won’t remember I wasn’t there like I said I would be.”

We tell the lies to ourselves, but we don’t really believe them, so they niggle in the back of our minds, making us feel snappish and guilty.  We could be better, but we aren’t.   Preservation requires a little self-delusionment.  What happens when we are faced with the whole truth?  Can we find a new way of being?

 

strong and womanly April 17, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:46 am
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portrait of Charlotte by her mom

From the time I was eleven years old, I remember planning to name my daughter after my grandmother. My father’s mother was Charlotte, and I thought it was the most beautiful name! My mother assured me that I’d change my mind a hundred times before I grew up, but I didn’t. When my baby girl arrived, the nurse set her on my chest. When I whispered, “Welcome, Charlotte” it was like greeting someone I’d been waiting for my whole life. A few months after her arrival I asked my husband, “Did you even like the name Charlotte?” and he said, “Not particularly, but I’m used to it now.” He didn’t have any opportunity to disagree, the option was not negotiable.

Now our baby has grown into a beautiful, talented, caring young woman. She is a perfect blend of the best of her father and the best of her mother. She is remarkably intuitive when dealing with people (her father) and joyfully vivacious and creative (her mother). She is loyal, kind, and diligent. She is the epitome of her name’s meaning: strong and womanly.  I am proud of who she is and what she will be. I am always honoured to know her and I am blessed to be her mother.

 

the best hat in the world April 14, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:10 am
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In the ruined 11th century fortress above Fontaine de Vaucluse, France

I own The Best Hat in the World.  It is a Tilley hat, of course.  My particular model is the Tilley TH8.  It has travelled with me to Mexico and France.  It stays on in the wind and shields me from the sun and the rain.   It has a lifetime guarantee, and it is really cute.  I love my hat.

Correction: I ownED the best hat in the world.  On March 21st I rushed off the train at Valence, France and raced for the connection to Lyon.  Five minutes after the train departed I realised I was missing my hat.  It had been above the packs on the racks above our heads.  When the bags were pulled off and set onto our backs, it had slipped behind and wasn’t noticed by the tall man I travel with who is supposed to check the high places…

Drat.

All is not lost.  Following the Tilley hat rules, my name and phone number are recorded on the label in the crown.  Inside there is a message from Tilley asking the finder to send it to them.  Tilley has me on file, and will send me my hat if it gets there.  They have already heard from me about my lost hat and have their fingers crossed as well.

When I reported the loss at the Lyon train station, the attendant was supportive.  I would have to call or fax officially for them to send it to me.  I knew I was not going to have phone access until I got back to Canada. I must have looked glum because he said, “Avoir courage, Madame!”  🙂  You’ve  got to love that kind of service.  I have since faxed to Lyon and requested them to send it to me “service contre rembursement”  (i.e. C.O.D.) though I greatly fear that the bill will be more than I paid for the hat.

Wish me luck!  I”ll let you know how it all works out!

Last recorded moments of Me and my Tilley hat together- in front of the Church of the Cordeliers in Avignon, where Laure de Sade is buried.

 

rare and amazing…;-) April 13, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:43 am
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Topic #95: What rare talent do you have that most people don’t know?

Carlin Medieval Feast

I have many skills that are a little out of the norm, but the one that seems to surprise people the most, is playing the harp.  To you loyal readers of this blog, this is old news.  Did it surprise you? Of course, I rarely practise these days, and so my skill level is deteriorating at a dramatic rate, but that doesn’t seem to matter. The fact that I own two harps and can make some semblance of music with them causes amazement. I confess, when I take a harp out in public and pluck the first strings, I am regularly astonished at how silent the room will become. I played a couple of old tunes at a Middle School Medieval Feast last month, and I couldn’t believe how silent Middle schoolers could be! 

For the record, it’s not hard to play a harp. The tuning of 33 or 44 strings is a bit of a pain, but the actual playing isn’t so terrible. If you can play a piano or read both treble and bass clef, you can read the music easily. Learning how to pluck will take only an hour or two to learn. Of course, putting it all together requires skill, but that’s about practice, not about inherent difficulty. A harp is no more difficult than a violin or an accordion to learn; you just sound much, much nicer while developing your skill! 😀

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PS.  If you are interested in learning to play the harp and either renting or buying one, click on BC Harps on the top of this page for links to teachers, stores and harp makers.

 

the power of a new reaction April 11, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:06 am
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Only a fool repeatedly does the same thing, and expects a different outcome.

Recently I taught Career and Personal Planning classes to  groups of grade 6 and 7s.  We have been working on bullying and kindness.  The point of this lesson is that we are all capable of being bullies in certain situations, and in these moments, when we are not our best selves, we can make better choices.  We discussed those situations at home, like fighting with our parents or little brother/sister that can feel like we’re caught in a script, following along the same words and coming to the same end- punches, slamming doors, hurt feelings.  We know the ending from the first word, because the behaviors are so entrenched.  The kids could relate to this.

The challenge was to  change.  Instead of responding the same way, they were to respond a different way.  Instead of joining the fight, they were to say something complimentary, or walk away, or give a gift.  Don’t do the expected thing.  Changing the response changes the ending.  The kids monitored the changes and reported their experience.  Universally, they diffused the fight.  Some were more successful than others, but all were astounded by how one small change in reaction, changed everything.

 When you find yourself entrenched in a hopelessly repetitious circle, make one change in reaction and see how it alters the world.