Gold Star

July 30, 2021 by

In two weeks, I will start my junior year. At Georgia Southern. With the exception of one more lab science and my Spanish requirements, I am at the point where all my classes are ones I want to take. I want to get into how painful it is to have to take all the other “required core” classes, but I try and remind myself that there is a greater good purpose to those and it’s not the point I want to get into today anyway.  

One of the classes this fall is “Writing for Publication.” As luck would have it, the professor has already opened (somewhat) the course and I spent a little time peeking around to see what I was in for. To say that I was comforted (I like to know as much as possible as early as possible), scared (it is a lot of real deal, big girl writing), and embarrassed (ask Jordan how many times she’s looked at me and said “I need content”) all in one big whirlwind of gross yummy feels is an understatement. I still am not sure how to quantify what exactly all of it was.  

I can say it got me here to this keyboard, so that’s something.  

The first assignment is, as you might expect, an introduction. For this introduction, the professor offered ideas for tidbits we may want to share about ourselves: 

  • Identify writing and publication goals (short term and long term) 
  • Describe a current writing project that you plan to work on in this class 
  • Reflect on what you think are some of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer 
  • Describe aspects of the publication process you want to know more about 

It is damn near laughable the amount of panic I immediately felt in my chest. Laugh. Able. Seriously. If we are friends on Facebook, you can probably pinpoint the exact moment this happened (approximately 14:16 minutes before 4:38pm on Tuesday). I have gotten better at selfcare in my moments of paralysis caused by feeling overwhelmed or afraid. This video is a good one. And, the winning line is alllllll the way at the end so I am never tempted to turn the video off early.   

“Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.”

Kelly McGonigal

Feeling a bit more centered, I pulled out my iPad to beginning importing some material that needs to be read for the class. Another notebook was already opened. I use this excellent program called GoodNotes. If you are a notebook junkie like me, I cannot recommend it enough. However, if you are a notebook junkie like me, I feel compelled to warn you of one significant drawback; you can go overboard with it. When constricted by the physical nature of individual notebooks, some judgement and moderation is required. With GoodNotes, not so much. You can literally have as many notebooks as you want. Consequently, you can have as many notebooks as you want. If that doesn’t make sense to you, consider yourself lucky and move along. If you get it, just remember, I warned you.  

Anyway, I opened up GoodNotes and found the notebook I use for my catch-all daily notebook was already opened. Sweet relief washed over me. I could procrastinate the task I was doing to focus on this other task (organizing the piecemeal notes) AND not have to call it procrastination because it was still productive and somewhere on my to do list. Again, confused – move along, nodding your head – not alone.  

The notebook had been pretty neglected as of late meaning there we quite a few pages of scribbles that needed to be handled. As it was, either my luck was short lived, or the universe was having none of my little hide and seek justification today. One of the first notes I came across was a quote from Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly. “When our self-worth isn’t on the line, we are far more willing to be courageous and risk sharing our raw talents and gifts.” Right beside it was the note I made. “But how do you get your self worth off the table?’ 

I tried to keep scrolling but the ideas collided before I had time to make the intersection clean or slam on the brakes.  

I allow my self worth to be among all the other offerings available on the charcuterie board that is my life. My relationships, weight, writing, health, looks, wrinkles, business, past, hobbies, sleep schedule, champagne glass, tears, thoughts, missteps, achievements, issues, and insight – all of it. Next to the olives and above that bombass blue cheese from Thomasville. Just put that shit on a gourmet cracker.  

And I get angry. And that pisses me off. I am not surprised at the anger. I am dealing with quite a bit of anger issues lately. Evidently it is a byproduct of working through my fear issues. My therapist assures me that it is quite normal, and, in fact, she sees it as progress and is proud of me. Gold Star for me.  

So, I need to work through the anger by going back to the thing that started this whole mess to begin with. Well, I suppose not so much working through as it is just being honest and answering the questions.  

First, I get my self worth off the table by just taking it off the damn table. Period. If I forget and slide it back up there, I just take it off, as many times as it takes. I remind myself that I am worthy because I am worthy. Full Stop.  

Now that I have taken care of that question, I can move on to the other four.  

I do not currently have any writing or publication goals. I am currently afraid of my words and have not been able to adequately work through that fear without getting unproductively angry. I also have an irrational fear that I am not good enough and do not have the time or skill to get good enough. I am irrationally convinced that I have wasted too much time and opportunity to deserve any of it. As such, I do not have a current writing project and am desperately hoping I can voodoo one up so that I do not limp through this class. I cannot even get to a place where I can discuss my strengths and weaknesses as I am not consistent enough in my practice to accurately identify them. Therefore, I do not even think about the publishing process in any tangible way although I would love to have a clever work burst forth from my keyboard without actually having to split myself open to get to it.  

Think that’ll earn me passing marks? Gold star again.  

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: ,

Open Your Sails

July 27, 2021 by

“A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things.”
– Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (1906-1992)

As a Naval electronic tech, I I heard a lot about Admiral Hopper. She was a pioneer in computer technology development. More interesting to me is the era in which she lived and accomplished so much as a woman. I can only assume obstacles where far more numerous. The women of the early 21st century would do well to remember the tenacity displayed by the women of the early 20th century. In fact we would all do well to reflect on the champions of our past.

Often we find those who have gone before us that inspire us to greater things. We concentrate heavily on the accomplishments and thrill at the journey they took throughout their life. We honor the challenges they overcame and admire their ability to move forward regardless of obstacles.
However, few of us translate these experiences into an example of what we can do for ourselves. For some reason, there is a gap between what we believe what others can achieve and we can accomplish ourselves. It is as if we assume those who have gone before us have some unknown superpower or possess a secret that they didn’t share. They could do all those things, but we can’t.

Today I encourage you to remember that no ship worth is building is meant to stay in port. And no life worth living is compelled by fear and apprehension. Your inner warrior appreciates the accomplishments of those who have gone before you. That warrior is anxious to be among the ranks of those who have sailed fearlessly. Pull up the anchor and be that person who inspires. The potential is in you.

Filed Under: Turn Around Tuesday Tagged With: ,

The Intercessions of Athena

July 26, 2021 by

It can be difficult to appreciate the many nuances of Homer’s epic Odyssey during an initial reading. I have found much of the material to be overwhelming both in scope and analysis. The sheer length and detail present a plethora of ideas to understand and consider. Additionally, interpretation is challenging as I find myself placing 21st century bias onto a classic work. However, because classic mythology often highlights successes and shortcomings of the human character by projecting them onto god figures, it is logical to assume the complex nature of decision making and ego affects the occupants of Olympus as well. One example of this duality is the assessment of blame. Both gods and mortals attribute the causes of strife to the other. Most notably is the lament of Penelope. While the involvement of the gods (or non-involvement, as the case may be) is undoubtedly a factor, their assistance, particularly that of Athena, is paramount in the return of her husband, Odysseus. Without Athena’s eventual intercessions in petitioning Zeus, preparing Telemachus, and inspiring Penelope, Odysseus would have never made it home to his wife.  

Homer begins the argument of blame in book 1 by giving the perspectives of both Zeus and Penelope. First, Zeus address the council of the gods, saying:   

Ah how shameless —the way these mortals blame the gods. 

From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes,       

but they themselves, with their own reckless ways, 

compound their pains beyond their proper share. (1.37-40) 

To Zeus’ credit, he does not claim that the actions of the gods hold no instance of blame in the ill happenings of mortals. But he is clear that it is a shared blame. Penelope, in contrast, lays all the fault at the feet of the gods telling her son, Telemachus that “Bards are not to blame — / Zeus is to blame. He deals to each and every / laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases” (1.400-403). Interestingly, this declaration occurs after, unbeknownst to Penelope, Zeus has allowed divine intervention on her husband’s behalf. In fact, it is now Athena who will step in and allow for Odysseus to return home.  

It is important to note that Athena is not obliged to intercede on Odysseus’ behalf at all. First, this requires her to take a position directly opposite of Poseidon who is currently staunchly opposed to any good thing happening for the hero, a feud which Odysseus brought upon himself. In book 9 Odysseus recounts the story of the Cyclops to the Phaeacians. The story concludes with Odysseus blinding the son of Poseidon, Polyphemus. Odysseus, unable to control his hero nature, calls out to the wounded Polyphemus, “‘Cyclops — / if any man on the face of the earth should ask you / who blinded you, shamed you so —say Odysseus” (9.558-560). This gives Polyphemus all the information he needs to petition his father in retaliation. Of course, for Athena, Poseidon is an adversary that she has confronted before in the quest for the city of Athens – where she was also victorious. Secondly, and maybe most telling, Athena has some issues with Odysseus herself. Leaning on Jenny Strauss Clay’s 1983 study The Wrath of Athena Gods and Men, there is support for the idea that Athena has not helped the hero up to this point because she simply did not want to. She was angry with the Odysseus. She felt that she had always been instrumental in Odysseus’ success. However, it could not be denied that the hero was capable in his own right. Odysseus’ wit and strength was substantial enough to appear to Athena as a challenge to her own (Clay, 209). Coupled with the Poseidon problem, Athena chose to do nothing to ease his strife. For the duration of Athena’s disassociation, Odysseus is at Calypso’s mercy.  

“She was angry with the Odysseus. She felt that she had always been instrumental in Odysseus’ success. “

However, Athena has an affection for Odysseus because they are so much alike. In this mortal, she respects his cunning mind and his skill in warfare. It is this affection that prompts Athena to intercede on his behalf. Until Athena’s intervention, Odysseus has been held on Calypso’s island for seven years. In order to release him from this entanglement and start his journey home, Athena petitions Zeus to allow for Odysseus’ release from Calypso. This intervention, as is customary with Athena’s wit and cunning, is well timed. Poseidon is away in Ethiopia during the meeting of the gods (1.25). This not only allows Athena to intercede on Odysseus’ behalf, but gives Zeus the ability to agree without having to mediate a disagreement between his daughter and his brother. It is clear that Zeus needs little encouragement to grant Athena’s request as he agrees with her assessment of the “Great Odysseus / who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too / he gives the immortal gods who rule the vaulting skies?” (1.78-80). With her request granted, Athena continues with the rest of her plan to get Odysseus safely home.  

Interestingly, Athena does not simply go to the island where Odysseus is being held and escort him home under her protection. It seems that with her abilities and the support of the other gods, this should be an easy enough feat. However, that would not be in line with the relationship that Athena and Odysseus have created. First, Athena enjoys watching the hero be the hero. She finds brilliance in his ability to be successful. Second, as discussed, Athena and Odysseus have been at odds before for numerous reasons, not the least of which is Athena’s opinion that Odysseus is “too clever; his intelligence calls into the question of the superiority of the gods themselves” (Clay, 209). Instead, Athena chooses to assist rather than enable. Unfortunately, due to the length of time that has elapsed, the journey home has acquired some additional challenges, namely the suitors of Penelope and their desire to occupy the seat left vacant by Odysseus. Consequently, even if Odysseus could make it back to his homeland, he still has one fight left. In his current situation, would have to go it alone. Success with those odds is not favorable. Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, would be a great asset, if he were an able ally. As it stands, he has grown up without a father resulting in the challenges in maturation typically expected in a young man who has not had the influence of his father. Telemachus is, to be blunt, a bit whiny, timid, and morose. He is not prepared to go into battle alnogside his father. Penelope has endured a long time of missing her husband and fending off suitors; her appearance and her spirit is waning. While one would think this would not matter after such a long absence, it is clear from Telemachus’ conversation with the disguised Athena in book one that his admiration of his mother has dwindled; that the disheartening of Odysseus could suffer the same is plausible. Gaining support from Zeus is clearly only the first step; Athena has more work to do.  

Athena’s next intercession is the preparation of Telemachus. She disguises herself and presents herself to him as a guest, a warrior friend of his father’s. What she finds is an incapable “Prince… / heart obsessed with grief” who can do little more than lament his current situation and hope against hope that his father will return and restore his home (1.133-137). Homer makes it plain that Telemachus is not going to be capable of remedying the current situation himself without some type of outside catalyst. The absence of Odysseus combined with the intrusion of Penelope’s suitors have created a situation in which young Telemachus has lost the drive to move into adulthood as Odysseus’ son. When questioned by Athena, Telemachus practically removes himself from his entire family, doubting the fidelity of his mother and his paternity by responding:  

Mother has always told me I’m his son, it’s true,  

but I am not so certain. Who, on his own,       

has ever really known who gave him life?       

Would to god I’d been the son of a happy man       

whom old age overtook in the midst of his possessions!       

Now, think of the most unlucky mortal ever born —      

since you ask me, yes, they say I am his son. (1.249-255) 

Immediately, “the clear-eyed goddess reassured him,” and continues throughout the exchange to encourage Telemachus’ morale. It is this mentorship into adulthood that Telemachus was missing. Athena proceeds to set a path for Telemachus to follow that will afford him the opportunity to regain confidence in both himself and his family. It is this confidence that will shape him into a reliable ally for his father’s return.  

Penelope also needs some divine intercession from Athena. She has long awaited the return of her husband and her hopes of his return have all but vanished. Athena works to rejuvenate the life and vitality into Odysseus’ wife. She begins with assuring her in book 4 that her son is protected by the goddess. Penelope is distraught when Medon informs her that Telemachus has gone off to Pylos. She petitions Athena to watch over her son. Of course, as this was Athena’s mission, the petition is granted. Athena uses this opportunity to begin the encouragement of Penelope. She appears as a phantom and tells her “Sleeping, Penelope, your heart so wrung with sorrow? / No need, I tell you, no, the gods who live at ease / can’t bear to let you weep and rack your spirit” in an attempt to pull Penelope out of the despair she has fallen into (4.904-906). Penelope askes about her husband as well, but, as the time to reveal Odysseus has not yet come, Athena does not answer her question.  She does return to Penelope in book 18. It is here she begins to prepare Penelope for Odysseus’ return and the battle with the suitors. Athena knows that Odysseus’ return will have to be revealed in a strategic way so that he will have the advantage when the fight begins. Much the same way as Athena enhanced Telemachus before his journey and would Odysseus when his identity becomes known, she comes to Penelope at night lavishing her with gifts to restore her beauty. This begins the chain of events that will lead up to Athena encouraging Penelope to craft a contest. The winner will be her suitor of choice. Again, Athena has cleverly put together the perfect situation for Odysseus to reclaim his rightful place in his life.  

There is validity to Penelope’s grievance that the gods are responsible for the strife that occurs in the lives of the mortals. If the full of the story is taken into account, the gods are responsible for Odysseus being away from his homeland to begin with as the Trojan War began with Paris choosing Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess in a contest inspired by Eris. However, there is merit to Zeus’ claim that men create their own difficulties. Odysseus’ return home after the war may have been possible had he not offend Poseidon. Athena may have not remained absent if not offended by Odysseus’ confidence. Regardless of the catalyst or influences, another idea is true in Homer’s Odyssey. Without Athena’s eventual intercessions in petitioning Zeus, preparing Telemachus, and inspiring Penelope, the story ends much differently. Telemachus is overcome by the suitors, Penelope is forced into choosing a man she does not love, and Calypso realizes her desire to keep Odysseus, and our hero never makes it home. While Athena created a more difficult situation for herself and Odysseus, it is her intervention that makes the reunion possible. Although, the great challenge may have been the appeal for goddess of wisdom and war.  

Works Cited 

Clay, Jenny Strauss. The Wrath of Athena: Gods and Men in the Odyssey. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1997.  

Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Books, Kindle Edition,1996.   

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: ,

Disposition is not Circumstance

July 20, 2021 by

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

-Martha Washington (1732 – 1802)

I love that thought – determined to be happy. Sounds like such a contradiction in efforts. Happy seems so carefree and determined is so intentioned. Interesting and brilliant! A complete commitment to take control over one’s attitude. For those of you who didn’t know, being happy isn’t always easy.

Whatever the situation…guess that falls in line with the old adage that an untested virtue is no virtue at all. I suppose it is easy to say you are a happy person if there is always tons of stuff to happy about. Guess it’s not so hard to look on the bright side when that is all there is. Pull it off when things are tough, then you have accomplished something.

Disposition not circumstance – think about that for a while. Understand that this speaks to the idea that what is going on is not nearly as important as your attitude towards what’s going on. This is an important truth. It takes all of the power out of the thing you can’t control (circumstance) and places it squarely in that thing which you can (attitude). We can allow ourselves to be victims or circumstance or warriors of attitude. The choice is there every day for the making.

Today I want to encourage you to place more emphasis on attitude than circumstance. I am not saying denial or rose colored glasses. I am saying attitude and perspective. There is nothing you can do about things you can’t control except exert a positive influence on it using those things that you can. I am not saying easy or necessarily fun. I am saying beneficial and totally worth it.

Filed Under: Turn Around Tuesday, Uncategorized

Integrity

July 13, 2021 by

“It is always worth it to stand on principle. Wrong is wrong even if it was over a penny.”
– Clarence Thomas, United States Supreme Court Justice

It’s that time again. April’s Word of the Day. If I am not careful, this will become habit – I do so enjoy it.

Integrity

  1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values
  2. an unimpaired condition
  3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided

That last one is my favorite. Those two words – “complete” and “undivided” – sound like the makings of a good night’s sleep.

The word “integrity” gets thrown around a lot. My optimism says that most people mean it. My realism knows that some don’t. My observation tells that most want it – depending on the cost.

Now, understand – I am all about picking one’s battles wisely. If we choose to die on every hill, we stand a great chance of creating zero change because our effective life is cut way short.  But, being a person of integrity demands that there be a set of morals we hold that refuse to be compromised – regardless of the cost.

Sometimes those values get overshadowed by the on goings of our busy lives or on the road to an ultimate goal. It has happened to the best of us. But, there is no better day than today to regain control of who we are, and not who the world would like to compromise us to be.

Filed Under: Turn Around Tuesday Tagged With: ,

Hera and Aphrodite: Mishaps in Matrimony

July 12, 2021 by

Beginning the journey to learn about the various, and often contradictory, myths has exposed just how little I know about the different gods and goddesses. In particular, I thought Zeus had a different moral compass with a behavior that modeled a more traditional idea of honor. I thought of Hera as composed, and a respected Queen as the wife of Zeus. I did not realize Aphrodite was married. I always assumed (incorrectly), that she was the beautiful free spirit who inspired but did not participate in matrimony. To add to the intrigue, I have become aware of the lack of cannon in the mythological stories themselves. This is where the contradictions, inconsistencies, and various perspectives come from. Because there is no cannon, there is no way to declare with any certainty which telling is the original one. However, one can deduce from the more prevalent myths that the occupation of the role of wife by both Hera and Aphrodite has many similarities. They have similar origins at the hand of Zeus. While their methodology is different, the chaos created by their wifely circumstances is palpable. Although these similarities exist, the favorability enjoyed by Aphrodite is notably different from that offered to Hera.  

Statue of Hera
The Campana Hera, a Roman copy of a Hellenistic original, from the Louvre

The myths (and subsequent consequences) revolve around the desires of Zeus. Far from the benevolent and chivalrous gentleman, Zeus is nothing if not a take what he wants by any mean necessary deity. Procuring Hera as his seventh wife (although I confess to being a bit confused about how that works in the cosmic timeline) is no exception. I assume that Hera found benefit in being Zeus’ sister since it was he that brought her and the rest of their siblings back from the stomach of their father, Kronos. However, as a wife, it would appear that Hera was reluctant. Not one to take no for an answer, Zeus transformed himself into a cuckoo bird in order to entice Hera to bring him close to herself. The seduction worked and they married. This would seem to be the perfect role for the goddess of marriage (Roman and Roman 12). Unfortunately, the rampant promiscuity of her husband led to many difficulties. Hera is often portrayed enraged and jealous, going to treacherous and murderous ends in attempts to punish both her husband and his consorts. 

One such attempt occurred after the birth of Athena. Because of a prophesy, Zeus swallowed Athena’s mother, Metis, while she was pregnant with the goddess. Athena was later born in epic goddess fashion, full formed and fully ready for battle straight from the head of her father. While not technically a result of adultery (Metis and Zeus were married at the time), the birth of a child that was not hers infuriated Hera. I would suppose that after many slights, transgressions, and disloyalties, Hera would find it impossible to endure any encroachments on her position as the current bearer of Zeus’ children. In retaliation, Hera brought forth a child on her own. In keeping with Hera’s commitment to fidelity, she brought forth her son Hephaistos without participation from Zeus or any other entity. Unfortunately for Hera, Hephaistos was not the specimen Athena was. Where Athena was formidable and grand, Hephaistos was anything but. In her frustration, Hera cast her son from Mount Olympus. As one might imagine, this caused a great resentment in Hephaistos. In retaliation, he fashioned a throne designed to trap his mother in unbreakable bonds (Hansen and Hansen 50).  

Now, whatever Zeus was, willing to allow his wife to remain bound to a chair was not one of them. As Hephaistos was the only one who could free Hera, Zeus offered Aphrodite in marriage to whomever succeeded in convincing the disgruntled son to set his mother free. Ares, Aphrodite’s lover, attempted the mission and failed. Dionysus did not. Disliked by Hera himself, the god of wine convinced the craftsman god that the hand of Aphrodite was worth freeing the queen goddess. Hephaistos agreed and Dionysus found Hera’s favor and Hephaistos Aphrodite’s bed (Theoi Greek Mythology). 

Now, like Hera, Aphrodite found herself in a marriage not of her choosing. Also, like Hera, this arrangement left Aphrodite with a disposition for rebellion. Unlike Hera, however, Aphrodite did not feel compelled to maintain her fidelity to her husband. Instead, as the goddess of love, evidently regardless of martial disposition, Aphrodite and Ares continued their passionate love affair. It did not take long for Hephaistos to become aware of the duplicity. In retaliation, he devised a plan to catch the two lovers in the act and exposed their deceit to all the gods and goddess (Hansen and Hansen 113-114).  

The consequences of an unhappy home life for both goddesses were not limited to only the aforementioned examples. Both goddesses developed reputations for disruption that can logically tie back to their dissatisfaction with their husbands. It is important to note that the jealousy, trickery, and vengeance employed by Hera and Aphrodite are not particular to them. On the contrary, gods and goddess have displayed common characteristics of heightened emotions, sensitivity to slights, jealousy, and a desire for swift retribution when they feel as if they disrespected (Hansen and Hansen 35). However, as Hera is the goddess of marriage and Aphrodite the goddess of love, their behavior in the role of wife coincided directly with their respective honors. Therefore, Zeus’ infidelity is intolerable to Hera while remaining faithful in a loveless marriage was impossible for Aphrodite.  

It is easy to dismiss these love affairs as benign. Really, how much harm can come from people, deity or mortal, falling in love?

April Trepagnier

Perhaps because love is viewed as an invigorating emotion evoking thoughts of blooming flowers and young lovers while marriage is an institution for the adult and settled, the interferences of Aphrodite are viewed with less condemnation that those of Hera. Aphrodite was notorious for creating love affairs between gods and mortals to satisfy her amusement. It is easy to dismiss these love affairs as benign. Really, how much harm can come from people, deity or mortal, falling in love? Well, turns out it is a lot actually. Most notable was the Trojan War.  

While the epic of the Trojan War is often told and relatively well known, the genesis of the event is lesser explored and sometimes debated. One version suggests that Aphrodite’s meddling in the amorous affections of mortals and gods had created unforeseen consequences in the area of the resulting children. Real emotion found its way into some of these god-parent/demigod-offspring relationships. Because the demigods were mortal, this caused great strife for their immortal parents. Zeus was ready to see this era come to an end. He then employed Eris and a golden apple and counted on the vanity of the goddess to do its work. And it did. Tasking Paris with the responsibility of awarding the apple to the most beautiful goddess, Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite all made offers to be chosen. Aphrodite once again used the powers of desire, promising Paris the hand of Helen of Troy. This was the selected offer, and she won the golden apple from Paris thus infuriating Hera and Athena (Hansen and Hansen 82).  

Statue of Aphrodite
“Amfiteatri Afërdita“

Because there are a few events that occur in between the golden apple and the actual battles, it is easy to forget that Aphrodite had a hand in the mayhem. Aphrodite probably benefits from equal parts of romantic ideations and distance in proximity from initial cause to final result as she does not typically reveal her dissatisfaction with her marriage in direct relation to her husband. Hera routinely chooses a different method. Her interventions are, as one would expect of the goddess of marriage, directly aimed at the infidelity of her husband. She was nearly successful with her creation of Typhon. A child Hera brought forth on her own, Typhon was arguably the most formidable monster in mythology. Hera’s intention was for her son to overthrow her husband, thus freeing her from his power and punishing him for his infidelity. It nearly worked until Zeus overtook the monster to end the battle (Hansen and Hansen 233-234).  

More often, however, Hera is not quite so direct, choosing to take aim at the those around Zeus instead of the god himself. As such, there are typically relatively innocent women (even Hera fell victim to Zeus’ trickery), and children involved. Hera attempted to kill the infant Herakles, son of Zeus and Alkmene. She tricks Semele, mother of Dionysos, into destroying herself with Zeus’ radiance (Hansen and Hansen 187-188). This victimology rarely lends itself to sympathetic ideals. The result is a harsher view of Hera than Aphrodite experiences.  

Although Hera is considered strong, beautiful, and desirable, she is also characterized as a bitter housewife fueled by jealousy and overcome by pettiness. It occurred to me that this could be the very reason Hephaistos was born slighter in stature, weak, and unattractive. I think that there could be an argument made that Hera’s son is the embodiment of her inner angst. If, in mythological genealogy, like begets like, and Hephaistos comes from Hera alone at a particular time and for the express purpose of retaliating against Zeus for the birth of Athena, then it stands to reason that this would be the child Hera brings forth. Whether this is the actual cause of Hephaistos infirmary, of course I cannot know. However, it is symbolic of the typical way in which Hera and Aphrodite are regarded differently in their wifely roles considering the similarities in their situations.  

When one is considering the idea of “wife” and what that looks like in the context of mythological deities, it is often difficult to reconcile the manipulation, force, and aggression utilized when dealing with matters typically viewed as more romantic. However, it would appear that the deities are no less immune to drama created by emotional and physical desire than mortals. Hera, the Queen of the gods and Aphrodite, arguably the most well-known goddess are not so powerful as to be immune to the consequences of gods, more specifically, Zeus, behaving badly. Both goddesses were manipulated in their role as wife. True to their natures, these manipulations were answered with matronly punishment and seductive cuckolding. While both women may have desired to illuminate the more positive qualities of their honors, the lack of fidelity and passion prevented this for each of them respectively. While both women acted out against perceived wrongs, Hera’s outbursts, whether warranted or not, will always appear to be less flattering than Aphrodite’s indiscretions.  

Work Cited

Hansen, William F., and William F. Hansen. Classical Mythology: a Guide to the Mythical World of the Greeks and Romans. Oxford University Press, 2005.  

Roman, Luke, and Monica Roman. Aphrodite to Zeus: an Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology. Checkmark Books, 2011.  

“Theoi Greek Mythology.” THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY – Exploring Mythology in Classical Literature & Art, www.theoi.com/.  

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Cherish the Footprints

July 6, 2021 by

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady, 1884 – 1962)

I don’t mind telling you that things have been a little stressed for a while. Some factors are wonderful while others are not so great. Isn’t it nice to know we all feel that way sometimes?

At one of the peak stress moments, I received a gift in the mail with a card attached that has this week’s quote on it. The gift was wonderful, but the gem was the card. I would not be exaggerating if I told you I was instantly energized and felt newly confident. I appreciate my friend more than she knows and cherish her footprints.

So today, on this Tuesday Monday, in order to battle stress and make a great day, I encourage footprints and the acknowledgement of footprints.

Take the next five minutes – we all have five minutes – and contact two people.

  1. Be a footprint leaver. Now, I know we don’t have any idea when, where, or how we leave all our footprints. But, we all know when we’ve been good to another person.
  2. Be a footprint appreciator. You already know who this person is – you’ve been thinking about them this whole time. Tell them.

Spreading goodwill and expressing gratitude can be two of the greatest ways to overcome Tuesday Mondays – or any other day that feels like it is!

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Education and Possibilities

June 29, 2021 by

“The strength of the United States is not the gold at Fort Knox or the weapons of mass destruction that we have, but the sum total of the education and the character of our people.”

Senator Claiborne Pell, Rhode Island, 1961-1997

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I didn’t take my education more seriously. In fact, it didn’t become a factor at all until I became a mother myself – funny how that works.

Now, as my older children prepare to return to school (one more anxious than the other), I consider it a top priority to guide them towards an appreciation of learning. I hope to instill in them more than retention of facts, but the ability to construct those facts into ideas and new creations.

As one who has recently returned to college, I am excited about learning new things in a different way. However, in this adventure, I realize how much I have already learned through those around me.  The life of a learner doesn’t start and stop within the confines of a building or a semester schedule.  It is a continual cycle of being taught and then teaching others.

Imagine the possibilities when these two habits are adopted. Our abilities and understanding grow with exposure to new things learned. Then that growth multiples and gives back when we turn around and offer what we know to somebody else.

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Jordan, Everybody. Everybody, Jordan

June 25, 2021 by

Jordan Sparks is an aspiring author on the pathway to becoming a teacher, with an education built from a partial BFA in Writing at Savannah College of Art and Design and a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education at Georgia State University.  Until she can achieve her plans of being a published author, with her first manuscript nearly finished, she participates in Nanowrimo and several online writing groups. With a focus on contemporary queer works geared toward young adults, she’s used her experience as a college student and in the classroom as a Deep Writing Fellow to strengthen her understanding of her audience as a writer and a person.

I have a tough time with follow through. That’s not entirely accurate. My problem is patience. It took me longer than I care to admit figuring this out. The challenge is that it manifests itself in so many different ways that the root issue of patience was camouflaged. 

You see, when I get an idea, I am like a dog with a bone – completely consumed, singularly focused, highly passionate. If the bone is a biscuit, a treat, this works for me. It’s consumed easily, quickly, efficiently, all in one sitting. If the bone is a squeaky toy, I can make this work too. I may not see progress in finishing the bone, but it makes a fun noise; I know I am doing something even if I am not completely sure what that something is. 

If it is a real bone, a solid bone, a big bone, this is where I find my challenge. There’s no sign of progress, no way to tell how long the endeavor will take, no certainty that I can finish it or be successful with it. Sticking with this bone in a consistent way is not my strong suit. For a long time, I was tough on myself because I thought this meant things about me that I viewed as shameful. I thought that it meant that I was lazy, fearful, soft, fickle, a quitter. 

This was a tough figure out for me. I was torn between trying to be brutally honest with myself and a nagging feeling that these things were not true about me – even if the evidence suggested that they were. 

One of the first steps to figuring this out was getting some help. I needed someone who could think for me, think like me, but function differently enough to organize my chaos, put me on task, and track what I considered to be untrackable. 

Y’all, I don’t always realize how great my ideas are as soon as I have them, but I realized bringing Jordan on as my assistant was a game changer almost as soon as she agreed to the position.

For nearly three months, Jordan has been my other brain, my scorekeeper, my nudge, my handler, my finagler. When I tell you she is brilliant, trust that it is an understatement. 

It was during the first two of these three months that I attempted and failed to be the task completer she hoped I would be. I was stumped. I imagine she was frustrated (although she never showed it). Here is this perfectly curated plan, brilliantly laid out in exactly the way my brain works. This should be my EXACT type of bone. Yet I am still unable to bite into, to stick with. WTAF?

Patience. I am impatient with myself, I am impatient with the process, I am impatient with the results. The path that Jordan has laid out for me is not a 5-minute quick draw. It is a journey into the productive, creative, academic, successful endeavors I want to participate in. It has always been that. But it took Jordan’s involvement to help me see it. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the discovery and her patience while I find my own. 

Now, I share her with you. I have no idea what she is going to write about, what type of conversations she is going to start, how often, or anything. I just know she asked for space here and I was honored to give it. If she is half as brilliant for you as she has been for me, we are all in for a treat.

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Reconnecting with Bliss

June 8, 2021 by

Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss.
Nothing is as rich.  Nothing is more real.

~Deepak Chopra

My favorite things about today’s quote may not be readily apparent. In fact, it took me a bit to figure it out myself. You know how when you look at a piece of art, hear a great piece of music, take a bite of a great piece of food – you know you really like it, you just having trouble putting the words to the feeling. Then I realized my appreciation is in three parts.

First, he uses the word “reconnecting.” This word is totally encouraging. It suggests that bliss separation happens. We shouldn’t feel inadequate or inept if we find ourselves in a funk. We can be encouraged that it has happened to others as it is happening to us, and we can reconnect.

Second, he calls the bliss reconnection “real” – and it is. How many of us have gone through those darker periods? We consider those to be very real. In the same truth, moments of bliss have to be real as well. However, we fail to trust the realness of the lighter moments as fear tells us they are little less that vapor and imagination, therefore they will vanish quickly so let’s not get too excited. But the bliss is real and can be believed in.

Finally, and most importantly, Chopra does not define what the bliss is. He does not tell us how our inner spirit manifests or identifies this bliss. I personally find this connection spiritually via a theology that I have faith in. But I will tell you there have been periods in my life where that connection was confused and shaky. How encouraging it is to know that bliss is not judgement or condemnation but inner strength and light – and call that what you will.

Today, I encourage us all to identify our bliss. Remember that it is real, it is yours and it is up to you to define and hold on to. We are not talking about a superficial feel good moment that comes and goes with the change of the seasons. We are talking about the inner spark of immutable light that connects our authentic selves to the rest of humanity and beyond. It is characterized by goodness, strength and possibility. It is yours, ours, for the connecting.

 

*Featured photo credit ~ Cheryl Empey
*Chopra Photo – Public domain

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