Famous Last Words Week 3

So many things are running through my mind right now. I'm so sleepy. I need to study. My exam is on Monday. I have work in the morning. I have to finish my molecular lab report. I need to read for colloquium. I forget to deposit my check. I need to finish that scholarship. Med school interviews are approaching. Did I remember to put air in my tires? The list just goes on and on. One of the things I am currently struggling with is handling the pressure at work. I just finished training as a pharm tech and the job comes with a steep learning curve. Learning how to work a completely new system is one thing, but learning how to adapt to patients' cranky moods and accusations are another. Yesterday was one of the roughest days at work. My coworkers and I were trying our best to please every patient, but there was only so much that we could do. We had patients yell profanities at us at the top of their lungs. It was quite the scene. I left work feeling defeated. I dreaded coming into work this morning, and my senior tech noticed my melancholic mood. He heard about last night's catastrophe... Well everyone did. I never thought that I would get out of my blue funk, but he really did make me feel better. He told me that the greatest challenge in life is to maintain happiness when the world around me exposes its ugly side. I still remember what he said to me to brighten my day, "Have you ever heard sharpen by fire? That's what you did last night. You were thrown in the fire and came out stronger and smarter." It made me realize that challenges are what mold me into the person that I am today. I will never learn unless I challenge myself. This experience reminds me of the growth mindset concept. I didn't fail that night. I just wasn't quite there yet.

Quote by Ferdinand Foch

Tech Tip Pinterest

So I always have been the type of person just to pin things that caught my attention, but I never knew how to edit the pins. Now I do! I just to write my thoughts on each pin and give a small description so other pinners know what they're looking at. My largest board is called Imagination which includes mostly art. I edited some pins that reflected my own thoughts. I started using Pinterest because my cousin used it to look up nail ideas in the summer. My friend also used Pinterest to search art and crafts ideas, so I decided to finally make a Pinterest (I was really tired of just looking at pins without a log in) and began exploring. Man... Did I explore! I became really addicted... I search for a lot of canvas ideas which I used to decorate my room or give to my friends as gifts. It's actually a really great sight for other things too. They have everything from craft to cars to celebrities to workouts and nutrition! I highly recommend it!

One of my edited pins. Paper sculpture by Cheong-ah Hwan

Growth Mindset Week 3

I recently read a storytelling post that was based of Hanuman's leap. It was my favorite storytelling post because it was about a boy who chased his passion for science which later helped him find a cure for his mother's sickness. The author was inspired by a line in Hanuman's leap which read, ""when he was still a child he had thought the sun to be a fruit growing in the sky, and sprang easily three thousand leagues toward it." I believe that Hanuman really demonstrates a growth mindset because he saw a challenge and pursued it until he was successful. Although other characters bashed on Hanuman and ridiculed him, Hanuman pushed himself until he made his leap. Stories about inspiration really encourage me to continue pursuing my own dreams even though I feel like it would be easier to give up. Class, homework, work, commuting, and other obligations make me want to rip my hair out. Characters like Hanuman are great reminder to never give up on a challenge just because it is difficult. Just like Hanuman and the boy in the story, I can reach my goals too.

Cat running towards its goal! Source

Storybook Styles: Love Stories

Topic: I decided that I will write my storybook on love stories/epic couples. The couples that I have in mind so far are Dasharatha and Kaikeyi, Rama and Sita, and Shakuntala and Dushyanta. I'm still deciding on my fourth couple. I am trying to construct a storybook that teaches a different lesson on relationships. For Dasharatha and Kaikeyi, I imagine the lesson to be something along the lines of betrayal within a relationship. Rama and Sita's story can teach a lesson in fidelity. I'm still brainstorming what Shakuntala and Dushyanta can teach.

Bibliography:
1). Dasharatha and Kaikeyi from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)
2).  Sita Tested from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).
3). Shakuntala: The Forgotten Wife by Dolat H. Doongaji & A. K. Doongaji (1970).

Possible Styles

In general, I'm leaning towards a first-person style with a frametale. The connection between the couples will be simple, such as relationship lessons found in a book.

Thoughts of each Individual. I read a storybook where a girl reads through a diary and discovers the love story between Sita and Rama. I'd like to adapt to her style except I want to present each individual's point of view on the relationship. What I had in mind is that I would draft an internal monologue for each character that reflects the dilemma in their marriage. For instance, I would write Kaikeyi's thoughts on her marriage which she may think is failing compared to Dasharatha's thoughts on the marriage which he may think there is no problem. I'm excited to play with this idea with Shakuntala and Dushyanta since Dushyanta's memory of his wife is erased.

Counseling the couples. Narrating a couple's therapy storybook would be challenging which is why I'm not too excited about this style. It would definitely be interesting to give each couple advice. I was thinking that a counselor would identify the problem and provide a healthy solution that requires commitment and communication. In this way, it would easier to convey a lesson or moral about relationships.

Self Realization. Based on other people's experiences, there is always a self realization or an epiphany that gives insight into oneself after a relationship terminates. I thought it would be a neat idea to show how each individual reaches a "self-realization" moment during their hardships in their relationship. In that way, I can write a lesson such as "Love yourself first" or "Become independent." I like this storybook style more than others because it allows me to brainstorm conflicts within individuals such as low self-esteem, jealousy issues, body image, or arrogance.

Mutual Growth. This style might be considered the opposite of the self realization theme. With this style, can show how each individual grows with their significant other as one couple. This can convey the meaning that one partner can learn from the other to strengthen the relationship. For example, a husband may teach his short-tempered wife how to be patient.

The theme of epic couples. Source.

 

Storytelling Week 3: Sita - The Girl on Fire

Rama was the man of the hour! The gods rejoiced in the heavens because Rama fulfilled his destiny of defeating Ravana with his powerful Brahma-blessed weapon. The mighty hero searched for his lost love, the beautiful Sita, in Lanka where she was held hostage. After searching high and low, Hanuman guided Rama to the tree where he last saw Sita. Sita recognized Rama from a distance and ran to her husband. She felt an overwhelming amount of mixed emotions: happiness, comfort, and most of all love. She had dreamed of her rescue every night. Finally my husband returns to me! Once I'm in his arms, the pain and despair that Ravana brought upon me will melt away, thought Sita. She sprinted across the field with open arms to feel her husband's warmth and security that she longed for. Just as she was about to hug her true love, Rama stretch his hand in front of to stop Sita.

Rama: "Whoaa now.. Easy there, Missy."
Sita: "Rama what's wrong? Why won't you embrace me? It's been so long, and I have been through the worst pain without you."
Rama: "Yeah ok ya see I'd like to believe that, but you've had company."
Sita: "Company? Rama, the city of Lanka was no friend to me. I have been alone."
Rama: "Well there was always your best friend Ravana..."
Sita: "...Are you serious..?"
Rama: "Listen I know you have needs, and Ravana is a good-looking guy. You were alone with him for awhile. Things could have happened."
Sita: "IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME?! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!"
Rama: "Calm down, woman! He tried to make you leave me! Am I wrong for assuming? I'm just trying to protect my honor."
Sita: "What have I ever done to you to make you question my loyalty! I have loved you and cared for you since the first day I saw you! I have been the most faithful wife to you, but here you are denying me? This in unbelievable."
Rama: "I still love you, Sita. I just want you to prove yourself to me. All I'm asking is for you to walk through fire so I know that you're pure. It's not so bad."
Sita: "........."
Rama: "You're making this a bigger deal than it has to be. Just walk through the fire."
Sita: "What if I die Rama? You're going to let me burn to death because your jealous mind is clouding your reasoning?"
Rama: "If you have been faithful then you won't die. If you have been unfaithful, then you deserve to die. It makes sense to me."
Sita: "You're incredibly despicable. What if I accused you for infidelity and made you walk through fire!"
Rama: "That's different. I'm a good person so I would never cheat on you."
Sita: "If this fire doesn't kill me, I'm going to kill you."
Rama: "Uh huh love you too. Now walk!"

Sita felt the heat of the flames from a few feet away. She looked at her husband who kept urging her to walk through the inferno. Sita was infuriated with her husband's accusations, but mostly, she was depressed with the revelation that Rama may not be the same person she fell in love with. My Rama would never do this to me... Before she took her first step towards the fire, the gods saved her from burning and proved her fidelity to Rama.

Rama: "Sita you're pure! My dear Sita I never doubted you for a second!"

Rama opened his arms to embrace Sita, but she stepped away.

Rama: "Eh.. Why aren't you hugging me..?"
Sita: "I think we should see other people."
Rama: "What do you mean? It's us. It has always been us."
Sita: "Not anymore. Bye Felicia."

Then Sita walks off into the sunset, towards her kingdom.

Sita Walking in the Flame. Source

Author's Note: I decided to write about Rama's confrontation with Sita about her infidelity.In the original story, Rama was guided to Sita by Hanuman. He rejects Sita because he questions her purity. In order to prove herself to her husband, Sita walks through fire but is saved by the fire god Agni. At this point, Rama acknowledges Sita's purity and accepts her as his wife.
       In my story, I gave Sita some attitude and sass. Instead of being submissive, Sita was had more fire in her soul and actually talked back to Rama with a fierce tone. For once, Sita stood up for herself. I was shocked at Sita's reaction when I read this chapter because I believed Sita would defend herself because she was always a faithful wife. My goal of this story was to have Sita gain control of her life. I wanted to protray her as an independent woman who has zero tolerance for controlling husbands. I'm pretty biased on the topic because I have experienced the consequences of a jealous, controlling boyfriend. Also, I took the story to the extreme and added more modern dialogue. In my story, I had Sita leave Rama which reveals her strength and independence.

Bibliography: Public Domain Edition of Ramayan  Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914) Testing Sita.

Reading Diary B: New Face of Rama

Hanuman returns to the kingdom to report to Rama and King Sugriva about what he saw in Lanka. The monkey armies advance to Lanka to rescue Sita. Meanwhile back in Lanka, Ravana's royal court discusses whether they should return Sita to Rama or to go to war with Rama. Ravana's younger brother, Vibhishana, urges Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but Ravana refuses to heed his brother's lecture. Vibhishana abandons his brother and becomes allies with Rama. This action caught my attention because Vibhishana cuts his brotherly ties with Ravana. Family who turns on other family may appear as the ultimate betrayal, but Vibhishana can be justified because Ravana is committing an awful deed by holding Sita hostage.

Rama and the armies attack Lanka. The scenes depicted in the story reminded me of a battle scene from Lord of the Rings, especially when Garuda heals the soldiers in battle.

It was a cruel trick that Ravana and Indrajit played on Rama and Sita, making an illusion that they were both dead in order to feel despair and lose hope. A major event occurred when Lakshmana slayed Ravana's son Indrajit. Even though villains are portrayed as heartless monsters, Ravana mourned for his son: "He was the mightiest of my heroes and the dearest to my heart." Ravana was shattered. He attempted to slay Sita for revenge, but rakshasas stopped him from tainting his reputation. Infuriated, Ravana almost kills Lakshmana. As he was destined to do, Rama kills Ravana using the weapon created by Brahma.

What shocked me the most was the reunion between Rama and Sita. I was expecting a very romantic embrace when they saw each other, but instead Rama denies her! He's suspicious of Sita because she stayed in Ravana's house. Rama had the audacity to say, "...but thou art stained by dwelling with another than myself.." I thought their love was so powerful and loyal that Rama would always trust Sita. How could he let Sita walk in fire to prove herself? After reading the chapters for this diary, I lost so much respect for Rama.

Sita walking in the flames. Source: Mewar Ramayana

Reading Diary A: Rescuing Sita

Hanuman, a monkey that serves as the chief counselor of Sugriva, joins Rama and Lakshmana in their search for Sita. Hanuman becomes a loyal member of the trio. The monkey explains that Sugriva also lost his wife. Vali left to go fight a demon in a cave and left Sugriva in charge in guarding the mouth of the cave. After hearing shouts and cries, Sugriva assumed that his brother died and left the cave to rule the kingdom. However, Vali never died. He climbed out of the cave and saw that Sugriva took responsibility of the kingdom. Not only that, but the cave had been filled in which made Vali's escape from the cave more difficult. Infuriated with his brother, Vali accused Sugriva of trapping him in a cave in order to take over the kingdom. Vali then kidnapped Sugriva's wife. Rama then promises Sugriva that he will battle Vali. How can Rama trust Sugriva? What if Sugriva really did trap his brother in the cave?

Rama battles Vali, but not in the most honorable way. Actually, Rama hides from Vali in a bush and shoots an arrow that kills Vali. I wonder if Rama felt that his actions were justified, or if he felt guilty that he didn't battle Vali in a fair match. Although Vali did kidnap Sugriva's wife, Sugriva still wept for his brother's death. Sugriva becomes king and promises Rama to find Sita. After the end of the rainy season (which made Rama really impatient), Sugriva sent four armies of monkeys in four directions to find Sita. They found a lead to Sita in the southern direction when Sampati, the bird brother of Jatayu, confirms that Ravan took Sita towards Lanka.

I thought it was interesting that Ravana tried to convince Sita to leave Rama. To me it's pretty funny that Ravana actually thinks that he could persuade Sita to leave her soul mate. He threatened Sita that after two months if she didn't give in to his requests to become his wife, then she would be tortured

Ravana attempting to persuade Sita. Source: Mewar Ramayana