Review: Having Hope

My favorite video from the announcements was the Live to Inspire: Dance because I have spent most of my life watching dance shows. Dance can communicate emotions and a story from the power in each movement. My favorite graphic from the announcements was about hope. I struggle with many of the major science courses that I have to take for my major and I always have to remember to have hope and to not give up no matter what.

Having Hope: Incidental Comics

Famous Last Words: Chinese New Years!

I liked that the readings this week were also about the Ramayana but from a different perspective. I liked reading it from someone else’s point of view because they provided details that I hadn’t thought about or that I didn’t see before when I was reading the first version I read. I also saw how one story could be interpreted so many ways. I did have time to do both portions of the reading and the part I remember the most was the scene between Kaikeyi and Manthara because I previously wrote my story from Manthara’s perspective because I felt like she was misunderstood since she never told Kaikeyi what to do with the two boons in the first version I read. However, in the second version I read, Manthar was truly evil and she did tell Kaikeyi to banish Rama for 14 years. For my future readings, I will probably do research behind the background and see if there are other versions as well that I could read before I write my story to avoid a misguided story with a very narrow scope. I loved the stories I read from other people, I also found people who wrote stories focusing on one character’s point of view. My other classes are stressful as always but I can always depend on this class to de-stress. I really like reading others’ stories in this class and taking the time to sit down and just type away my stress on a page. I hope to get ahead for next week and stay on top of my material so that I can finish the class early. I am excited for this weekend because it is Chinese New Years so my family has a huge celebration so I am looking forward to all of the food and bonding time with my family.

New Year: Metro

Reading Notes: Dharma Ramayana Part A

The Trial of Strength

Plot:
Rama, Laksman, and Vismatria set out on a journey to Mithila. They hear of a bow that has been passed down in the Janaka family but no one has had the power to string the bow until Rama arrived. He was able to not only string the bow but he actually broke the string. Rama won Sita's hand in marriage and then Urmila and Laksman ended up getting married too. They had a huge ceremony and made sure to invite Dasaratha. After the wedding, they headed back to Ayodhya but ominous birds swooped low to foreshadow that something bad was coming. A dust storm formed and out came Parasurama, a sage who had killed many. Parasurama challenged Rama after having heard of his strength and Rama passed his test which revealed that he must be an incarnate of Visnu. 

Setting: On a journey to Mithila

Rama breaking the bow: Quora

Bibliography. "The Trial of Strength" from Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love and Wisdom by Krishna Dharma, web source

Reading Notes: Nivedita's Ramayana Part B

Rama's Sons

Characters in the Scene: 

Valmiki
Rama
Lava
Kusha
Sita

Plot:
Valmiki taught Rama's sons: Lava and Kusha to sing about all of the wonderful things that Rama has done and many enjoyed those songs. Rama finally met them and offered them money but they rejected it because they live in the forest and have no use for money. Rama eventually figures out that they are Sita's children and sends a messenger to bring her back to test her innocence again.

Setting: At Rama's palace in Ayodhya

Lava, Kusha, and Valmiki: Detechter

Bibliography. "Rama's Sons" from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana by Sister Nivedita, web source

Reading Notes: Nivedita's Ramayana Part A

Kaikeyi's Scheming 

I wrote notes about this scene from the Ramayana PDE I read the previous week so I wanted to do the notes on this scene again but this time written by a different person to focus on some key differences. The first difference is that the scene starts off with the narrator talking about how Kaikeyi is generous and kind but not innocent enough to avoid being persuaded by evil which foreshadows what is coming. In the PDE version, you don't see it coming. Also, Manthara talks about how Rama's mom might take revenge on Kaikeyi for something that Kaikeyi had done to her in the past. Kaikeyi also gets mad and exclaims that Rama must be banished, but in the other version, you don't find out what she was going to do with the 2 boons until the next scene when she talks to the king. Manthara in this version tells Kaikeyi to banish him for 14 years but she never said that in the other version which is why I wrote my story based on the fact that Manthara was not the one who suggested those things to Kaikeyi but in this version, she did.

Manthara and Kaikeyi: Netzone

Bibliography. "Kaikeyi's Scheming" from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana by Sister Nivedita, web source

Learning Challenge: Deskercises

My favorite article was Deskercise! 33 Ways to Exercise at work. I liked that the exercises were more inconspicuous so I wouldn't cause too much attention if I started deskercising. My favorite exercises that I will probably try out are the stair master, wall street sit, last man standing, patient printer, seated leg raiser, shoulder shrug, and posture perfecter.

Shoulder Shrug: Deskercise

Growth Mindset Cats on Pinterest

I chose this growth mindset cat because my parents have always compared me to my older siblings and other people my age and it has always made me feel like I wasn't enough so I stopped trying because I thought I could never be as good as others were. However, I eventually realized that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses and I was going to do the best I could no matter how my achievements were compared to others.  

Be confident in yourself: Growth Mindset Cats

I chose this growth mindset cat because I am pretty shy so I find it hard to ask questions whenever I need help, but then I end up assuming my answer is right rather than confirming with the teacher and then I end up regretting not asking questions later when I find out that I misunderstood the concept the whole time. 

Ask away: Growth Mindset Cats

I like this growth mindset cat because it is definitely true that not succeeding in something makes you feel pretty terrible but it doesn't mean that you wont' be able to succeed next time or at anything. Mistakes are there for you to learn from them.

Failure doesn't define me: Growth Mindset Cats

Tech Tip: Pinterest Board and Pinterest Embedded

My pinterest board for this class can be found at this link. I have used pinterest before to look up recipes or cute craft ideas but I have never actually created a board of my own and pinned things on my board.