Learning Challenge: Empathy

I read the article, "10 Reasons to Stop Judging People" and I think everyone needs to read this piece. It's such good reminder because we often judge people as second nature and that really needs to stop. I think society has taught us that we're special so we make up reasons why everyone else is not. Let me tell you this: THERE'S ROOM FOR ALL OF US! It doesn't need to be a competitive world where only one person needs to win. We can all be successful in our own unique ways.

The article gives 10 reasons we should stop judging people and here are my favorites:
-Depersonalize: We take what a lot of people say as something directed toward us when that is most likely not the case. We need to remember they have a reason for saying and feeling what they do and it most likely has nothing to do with us personally.
-Look at your own behavior: Like I said before, judging people is second nature. But the more we catch ourselves judging people, the more we can learn and break the habit.
-Give the person the benefit of the doubt: It's so much easier (and better) to spread kindness rather than judgement. Let's all live our own lives the way we want to!

I'm going to try to implement these every day so I can become a better and less judgemental person! We should all do they same and remember to spread kindness as much as we can and love on one another! That's the only way we will be successful in the long run!

Empathy Quote. Source: Flickr

Tech Tip: First Tweet

I have had a Twitter account since probably 2011 although I don't really use it for anything. I'm not a big tweeter because I don't see the point in sharing with people my personal thoughts. Also, I know that in a few years I will look back and laugh at myself!

I do really like Twitter, however, because I feel most connected to the world when I'm using it. I get a lot of my news updates from there and I like being able to see other people's thoughts as well. Also, people are so funny so I mainly just looked at the funny things other people have posted.

I don't think I will start tweeting updates anytime soon but I think I will continue using Twitter!

Learning Challenge: Deskercise!

This week, I decided to challenge myself to Deskercising! Deskercising is when you do little things at your desk or while you're working to stay active and keep the blood flowing! It's important because it keeps you awake and focused while you're working too, and it's good for your health! I read 17 Exercises You Can Do At or Near Your Desk for inspiration and here's what I tried:

1. TMJ Exercise:
I really liked this one because I actually suffer from TMJ (or jaw pain) and when I get stressed out, the pain only gets worse because I clench my mouth so much! This move requires moving the jaw right to left about six times to loosen up! You'd be amazed at how much better you feel after with only doing something little!

2. Shoulder and Neck Stretches:
This move requires you to turn your head one way while you turn your torso the opposite way. It makes for a great stretch! My back cracked when I did it and I felt less stiff after!

3. Shake it Up
The final move I tried is the Shake it Up move. This requires you to shake out your wrists and hands every hour. When I write and type, my hands get cramped and this really helped relieve tension and cramping within them! 10/10 would recommend!

All of these moves and so many others helped me increase productivity and made me feel just overall better throughout my day. I highly recommend doing some to help you too!

Stress. Source: Pixabay

Growth Mindset: Fitness Schedule

I am a student athlete here at OU (Pom) and that requires a lot of time, practice and commitment. Outside of practice and our team workouts, I like to workout on my own. Some of my teammates think I'm crazy for putting extra time in from our already demanding workouts, but being in shape is hard for me and my body to keep up. I'm not built like a lot of my other teammates so it makes me feel stronger and healthier during practices and performances when I'm on the field or the court! I think sticking to a consistent schedule of working on school and studying will help benefit in my school life. I stick to a very consistent workout schedule so I think if I budgeted the same amount of time to school, I wouldn't be so stressed out close to due dates!

(Strength. Source: Flickr)

Tech Tip: Canvas Profile

This week I decided to add a picture to my Canvas profile! I realized I didn't have a picture and my profile was left blank. This makes it hard for teachers and other students to put a face to my name! I decided to keep my display name the same and not add a bio! But I think adding a picture was a good step in the right direction! Here's a picture of my new profile!

Learning Challenge: Time Management

Time management is very important to me. This semester I am battling taking 24 credit hours, being a student athlete, and being involved in my sorority. This requires me to manage out every aspect of my time. I have found that using even a free hour in the day to get as much done makes a big difference in the end. A lot of times when I get home from the day, I just want to lay on the couch. But that results in me staying up later at night to finish my homework and be tired the next day. By getting as much done early in the day, I can actually have less anxiety in the long run. With a busy schedule like mine, time management is a requirement!

Time Management. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Growth Mindset: Cats

Cats are so funny and versatile. They can accurately depict the emotions we are feeling in several different ways. This week, I decided to explore the Growth Mindset Cats and share some of my favorites.

1.
 
(In order to learn, we must prove and poke)

I liked this one because it shows that we need to explore in order to learn. I learn by doing rather than watching or listening because then I can really understand and get a good grasp on the concept.

2.

(Failure hurts, but it does not define me)

This one really resonated with me because there have been many times in my life that I have both succeeded and failed. Although success was fun and thrilling, I learned more from failing and I used that hurt to help set new goals and do better the next time. Failing sucks but we should use it as motivation rather than defeat.

3.

(We do things better together)

I loved this one because success doesn't come without help. I'm currently on the OU Pom Squad which is very much a team sport. I don't do anything without my teammates by my side and they help push me to be better both inside the gym and on the field, and also outside in the real world. We should use the support from the people around us to make ourselves better.

Week 15 Story: The Dog and the Corpse

A moujik went out in pursuit of game one day, and took a favorite dog with him. He walked and walked through woods and bogs, but got nothing for his panis. At last the darkness of night surprised him. At an uncanny hour he passed by a graveyard, and there, at a place where two roads met, he saw standing a corpse in a white shroud. The moujik was horrified, and knew not which way to go - whether to keep on or to turn back.

"Well, whatever happens, I'll go on," he thought; and on he went, his dog running at his heels.

When the corpse perceived him, it came to meet him; not touching the earth with its feet, but keeping about a foot above it - the shroud fluttering after it.

When it had come up with the sportsman, it made a rush at him; but the dog seized hold of it by its bare calves, and began a tussle with it.

When the moujik saw his dog and the corpse grappling with each other, he was delighted that things had turned out so well for himself, and he set off running home with all his might. The dog kept up the struggle until cock-crow, when the corpse fell motionless to the ground. Then the dog ran off in pursuit of its master, caught him up just as he reached home, and rushed at him, furiously trying to bite and to rend him. So savage was it, and so persistent, that it was as much as the people of the house could do to beat it off.

“Whatever has come over the dog?” asked the moujik’s old mother. “Why should it hate its master so?”

The moujik told her all that had happened.

“A bad piece of work, my son!” said the old woman. “The dog was disgusted at your not helping it. There it was fighting with the corpse—and you deserted it, and thought only of saving yourself! Now it will owe you a grudge for ever so long.”

Next morning, while the family were going about the farmyard, the dog was perfectly quiet. But the moment its master made his appearance, it began to growl like anything.

They fastened it to a chain; for a whole year they kept it chained up. One day, the dog eventually chewed through his chains and ran off into the woods. Its master ran after him with a shotgun shooting at him multiple times but the dog dodged each bullet. The master eventually gave up and let the dog go into the woods. The dog cared for its master but not its actions and never forgot him for what he did. He never came back and lived in the woods forever. 

Author's Note: The dog and his master passed by a graveyard and saw a corpse. The master tried to avoid him but the corpse rushed towards both of them and the dog tried to fight him off. The master left the dog and the corpse. Once the dog won the fight, he ran back towards his master and was very aggressive towards him because he was mad he left him alone. They chained the dog up and then ended up killing him. I changed it to where the dog freed himself from the changes and the master tried to kill him but he escaped into the woods. It's a much happier ending compared to the dog dying. 

The Dog and the Corpse by W. R. S. Ralston.

Chained Dog. Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: The Warlock

There was once a moujik and he had three married sons. He lived a long time and was looked upon by the village as a Koldun or warlock.

When he was about to die, he gave orders that his sons' wives should keep watch over him after his death for three nights, one night for each one. He instructed his body should be placed in the outer chamber and that the wives should spin wool to make him a caftan and no cross should be placed upon him and none should be worn by his daughters-in-law.

The same night, the eldest daughter took her turn beside him and began spinning grey wool. At midnight, from his coffin the father-in-law says, "art thou there?' "I am" she answered frightened. "Art thou sitting?" he asked. "I sit" she replied. "Doust thou spin?" "I spin." "Grey wool?" "Grey." "For a caftan?" "For a caftan."

He moved toward her and asked again, "Daughter-in-law, art thou there?" "I am" “Art thou sitting?” “I sit.” “Dost thou spin?” “I spin.” “Grey wool?” “Grey.” “For a caftan?” “For a caftan.” She shrank into a corner as he kept moving closer. He strangled her and then lay back down in his coffin. The sons removed the body and the next night, the second daughter kept watch over him. The same thing happened. However, the third daughter was sharper than the others and said she had taken off her cross when she had not. Just as he was going to strangle her, she laid the cross upon him. He feel down and died.

She looked into the coffin and there was so much money. The father wanted to take it away with him but knew only someone smarter than him should have it.

The Warlock by W. R. S. Ralston.

The Cross. Source: Geograph

Reading Notes: The Dead Mother

In a village, there lived a husband and a wife. They lived happily and peacefully, and all of their neighbors envied them. The mistress bore a bon but died after it was born. The moujik was devastated. How was he to take care of it and raise it without its mother? He decided to hire an old woman to look after it. But the baby wouldn't take any food throughout the day and would do nothing but cry. However, it slept peacefully at night. "What is the meaning of this?" said the old woman. "If I stay awake all night, I might find out!"

The next night, the same thing happened and the night after that. She held a council with the kinsfolk and determined to stay awake one night to see who was taking care of the baby. So they lay on the floor next to the baby to see. At midnight, the cottage door opened and someone stepped to the cradle. The kinsfolk turned on the light and saw the dead mother in the same clothes she was buried in suckling the baby with her dead breast.

The moment the light shone in the cottage, she stood up, gazed over the baby and left the room without a sound. Those who saw her were terrified and next thing they knew, the baby was dead.

The Dead Mother by W. R. S. Ralston.

Death and the Child. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

Canvas notifications can really make your life easier! I personally chose to get emails when Canvas updates are posted so I can get all of the latest information! This allows me to still keep up with what my teachers are posting and updating without my phone constantly blowing up with display notifications. I highly recommend you find the type of notification update that works best for you because it can be really helpful for getting updates when your teachers post something! Happy notifying!!

Growth Mindset: SMILE

S.M.I.L.E.

S= Showing

M= Milestones

I= In 

L= Little 

E= Everythings

This acronym means that progress comes in little ways everyday with a little positivity. If you are doing something to improve yourself in tiny ways, you will make major steps in the right direction. Always keep moving forward! This acronym has a lot of meaning to me because sometimes I feel like I do a lot of things throughout my day that can seem pointless and not meaningful. However, those little things allow me to make a lot of progress towards all of my end goals! 

Smile quote. Source: Flickr

Week 14 Story: Puss in Boots

There was a miller who left no more estate to his sons other than the mill, his donkey, and his cat. The split it up this way: the eldest son had the mill, the second had the donkey and youngest received nothing but the cat. The youngest was upset about only gettin the cat and said, "my brothers may get their living handsomely enough by joining their stocks together, by for my part, when I have eaten up my cat, and made me a muff of his skin, I must die of hunger."

The cat heard all of it and said, "do not trouble yourself master. You don't have to give me anything but a bag and a pair of boots so that I can scamper through the dirt and brambles, and you will see I'm not as bad as you imagine."

The son was perplexed by what the cat said. He had seen the cat pull off cunning tricks to catch rats and mice. He was not opposed to having the cat help him through the misery. Once the cat got the bag and boots, he went into a warren with a great abundance of rabbits. He put bait into his bag and waited until naive rabbits to come and rummage through it.

He got some rabbits although not as many as he expected. A young a foolish rabbit hopped into his bag and the cat killed him instantly and without pity. He was very proud of his prey and went to the castle and asked to speak with his majesty.

He was shown up to the King's apartment and presented him with the rabbit he caught on his master's behalf. "Tell thy master that I thank him and that he does me a great deal of pleasure," replied the King.

Some time later, the cat hid himself in a cornfield and waited for a flock of partridges to fly in his bag. Once they did, he drew the strings to catch them in. He went and presented them to the King as he did with the rabbit. The king received the partridges with great pleasure. This carried on for a couple of months and one day, the master and his daughter went out for a walk by the river and the cat said to his master, "if you follow my advice, your fortune is made. You have nothing else to do but go and wash yourself in the river in that part I shall show you, and leave the rest to me." He did what the cat advised him to do what he was told and went washing in the river. The King walked by and the cat screamed, "Help! Help! My master is going to be drowned!" The King ordered his guards to immediately rush and help the master for he thought he had been the one catching his game. The guards pulled the master out of the water. The master turned to the King and said, "thank you your majesty. You saved my life. Although, I have to ask? Why did you think my live was worth saving? The King thanked him for catching game and having his cat bring him to share. The master obviously had no idea what the King was talking about, but as soon as they both turned to the cat, he had fled into the woods and was never seen again.


Author's Note: In the original story, the son is left with the cat and is mad but the cat shows him he is worthy to be saved. The cat catches lots of game in his bag and takes it with him to the King but says that his master caught it and wanted him to have it. One day when they were walking by the river, the son went to wash himself in the river and the cat called out that he was drowning. The King ordered his guards to save him. In the original story, the cat calls for the son to get a new wardrobe because thieves had taken his. I changed it to where the King finds out about the cat bringing him the game that the son didn't actually catch and the cat ends up fleeing in the woods.

The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots by Andrew Lang.

Puss in Boots. Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: The Goat's Ears of Emperor Trojan

Once upon a time, there was an emperor, Trojan, who had ears like a goat. Each morning when a barber shaved him, he asked if they noticed anything weird about him. They all replied that his ear's looked liked a goat. Each one was put to death. This occurred for a while and eventually there was hardly anyone left to shave the emperor. The Master of the Company of Barbers was set to go to the palace but suddenly fell ill so he sent one of his apprentices in his place. When the youth was taken to the emperor's room, he was asked why he was there and not the master. He explained the situation the emperor was impressed. The barber began his work. He noticed the emperor's ears but when he was asked about it, he said he didn't notice anything unusual. The emperor asked the barber to come back to shave him everyday.

The apprentice went up to the palace everyday and received twelve ducats as payment. After a while, he itched to tell someone about the emperor's ears. The master knew it was bothering him and asked him what was going on. "I will keep it to myself," the master assured him. He even said he will go dig a hole, say the secret three times, and bury it with the earth. The apprentice thought that was the best plan and went to a meadow outside the town to bury the secret himself.

After a few weeks, a tree sprang up where the hole was and had three straight stems. Some farmer's noticed the tree and cut off its branches to make flutes. When the flutes played, they sang, "The Emperor Trojan has goat ears." It wasn't long before the whole town knew of this secret. The emperor sent for the apprentice and asked him about it. He defended himself saying he never told anyone but the emperor didn't hesitate to bring out his sword. The apprentice got scared and told him about the hole and the tree.

The emperor and the apprentice drove to the tree and cut the last stem down to make a flute. The flute sang, "The Emperor Trojan and goat ears." The emperor knew it was the earth that gave up his secrets and spared the apprentices life but never allowed anyone to shave him again.

To Goat's Ears of Emperor Trojan by Andrew Lang.

Goat. Source: Pxhere

Reading Notes: The Dirty Shepherdess

Once upon a time, there was a King who had two daughters and loved them so much. When they grew up, he suddenly wanted to to know if they truly loved him back. He decided he would give his kingdom to the daughter who best proved her devotion to him.

He asked the oldest daughter how much she loved him. "As the apple of my eye!" she answered. "You are indeed a good daughter!" he responded.

He asked the youngest daughter how much she loved him. "I look upon you, my father as I look upon salt in my food," she answered. The king did not like her answer. He ordered her to quit the court and to never see him again. The princess went up to her room and started to cry. She grabbed her belongings and left the castle. She walked on the road and didn't know where she was going or what she would do. She didn't learn how to do anything except follow household rules and dishes. She was determined to make herself as ugly as possible in order to gain work.

She put on horrible rags covered in mud and smeared mud all over her body. She went around and offered herself to people but people turned her away because she was so dirty. After many days of this, she came across a farm where a shepherdess engaged her.

One day, she was keeping track of her sheep and missed dressing in fancy clothes. She washed herself and put on her old fancy clothes and transformed herself into a lady. The King's son, who got lost hunting, saw her and thought she was lost too. As soon as she saw him, she fled into the woods. The Prince ran after her but couldn't catch her.

When she was safe, she put on her rags again and smeared mud on her face. The Prince found his way to the farm tired and thirsty. He asked for the name of the beautiful shepherdess and everyone started laughing because the shepherdess was so ugly.

The Dirty Shepherdess by Andrew Lang.

Begger. Source: Pexels

Learning Challenge: The Benefits of Sleep!

I read the article "Why Sleeping May Be More Important Than Studying" by Katrina Schwartz because I'm a big advocate of getting a lot of sleep. The article makes great points about how sleep can hurt you in school by saying lack of sleep can have a negative effect on test scores and academic performance. This doesn't surprise me at all. I know when I don't get enough sleep, my attention span plummets. I try to get close to eight hours of sleep per night. That isn't always possible with my busy schedule but as long as I'm in bed at a certain time, I know I will have more energy the next day. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule can be difficult but is very possible once you're in a good routine and budget the time in the day wisely so you can relax at night. My next challenge is going to be trying to wake up at the same time each day to make my sleep schedule even more consistent and regular.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Week 13 Story: Sir Lancelot and the Five Hundred Knights

As Lancelot made his way through the forest, he met with many hermits and had an adventure with the Knight who stole his horse and his helm and got them back again. He learned from one of the hermits that Sir Galahad was his son and that it was he who at the Feast of Pentecost had sat in the Siege Perilous, which it was ordained by Merlin that no one should sit in it and save the best Knight in the world. All night, Sir Lancelot abode with the hermit and laid him to rest.

In the morning, he told the hermit goodbye and rode away. He came to a fair plain with a great castle. There were a full five hundred Knights on horseback, and those near the castle were mounted on black horses with black trappings, and white horses with white trappings. The two sides fought and Sir Lancelot looked on.

It seemed that the black Knights nearest to the castle were doing worse so Sir Lancelot rode to aid in the fight. He smote many white Knights but the white Knights did their best to tire him out. No Knight can fight forever so Lacelot eventually got so tired he could not even lift his arms. The white Knights took him away into the forest to let him rest.

"I was the best fighter, but now I am shamed and am more sinful than ever." said Sir Lancelot. Once we was rested, he rode his horse until he found a chapel with a nun. She asked him his name and what he was seeking.

"Ah Lancelot," said she, "you were the most wonderful man in the world and the most adventures, if you lost the tournament, that is no marvel. It was a sign and the black Knights were a sign of the sins they still hold. The white Knights were on their way to holiness and then the quest has already begun for them. You saw both sides: the sinners and the good men. When you saw the sinners overcome, you went in to help. That's what caused your misadventure. I beware that you will have everlasting pain for all white Knights have pity for you. Since you have chosen the wrong side and still carry all your sins, you shall be sent to hell," said the nun.

Sir Lancelot feared his fate for he was just trying to help the black Knights. For the rest of his life, he did everything in his power to rid his sins and prove to the nun that he did not deserve to go to hell for what he did.

Author's Note: The original story has Lancelot fighting with the black Nights and the white Knights taking him off into the woods once he gets tired. When he finds the nun, she only warns him that he saw both sides and that all earthly Knights have pity for him. I changed it to where Lancelot is punished for accidentally helping the black Knights so he can do everything in his power for the rest of his life to prove that he was not wrong. I just wanted to add in a little twist at the end instead of having the nun only warning Lancelot.

Sir Lancelot and the Five Hundred Knights by Andrew Lang.

Lancelot. Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: An Adventure of Sir Gawaine

Sir Gawaine rode long without meeting any adventure, and from Pentecost to Michaelmas, nothing pleased him. However, at Michaelmas, he met Sir Ector de Maris and rejoiced greatly. They started talking and they noticed a hand appeared before them showing only until the elbow covered with red samite and was holding a burning candle. The hand vanished into the chapel.

They next heard a voice that said, "Knights full of evil faith and poor belief, these two things have failed you, and therefore you may not come to the adventure of the Holy Graal." The same voice told them a holy man they confessed their sins to said, "you have failed in three things: charity, fasting, and truth, and have been great murderers. But sinful as Sir Lancelot was, since he went into the quest he never slew man, nor shall, till he come into Camelot again. For he has taken upon him to forsake sin. And were he not so unstable, he should be the next to achieve it, after Galahad his son. Yet shall he die a holy man, and in earthly sinful men he has no fellow."

"Sir, you words makes it seem that our sins will not let us labour in that quest?" asked Gawaine.

"Truly," answered the voice, "there be a hundred such as you whom it will bring naught but shame." So Gawaine departed and followed Sir Ector, who had ridden on before.

An Adventure of Sir Gawaine by Andrew Lang.

Sir Gawaine. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: The Sword Excalibur

King Arthur had fought a hard battle with the tallest Knight and although he fought hard, he would have done better had Merlin not enchanted the Knight and cast him into a deep sleep. The king went to a hermit who studied the art of healing and healed all his wounds in three days.

As they left, Arthur said, "I have no sword," but Merlin told him to have patience and he would get him one soon. They came to a large lake and in the middle an arm rose up out of the water holding a sword.

"Look!" said Merlin. "That is the sword I spoke of. The king looked again and a maiden stood on the water. "That is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin, "and she is coming to you, and if you ask her courteously she will give you the sword."

When the maiden got close Arthur saluted her and said, "Maiden, I pray you will tell me whose sword is that which an arm is holding out of the water? I wish it were mind, for I have lost my sword."

"That sword is mine, King Arthur," she answered, "and I will give it to you, if you in return will give me a gift when I ask you."

"By my faith," said the King, "I will give you whatever gift you ask."

"Well, get into the barge yonder and row yourself to the sword and take it with you. As for my gift, I will ask on my own time."

They got off their horses and went to the barge. They grabbed the sword and heading back toward land.

"I like the sword over the scabbard," said Arthur. "That is not wise to say, the scabbard is worth ten of the sword. If it is buckled on you, you will lose no blood but you may be wounded." said Merlin. They rode back into town and Arthur's Knights gave them a glad welcome saying it was a joy to serve under a King who risked his life as much as any other man.

The Sword Excalibur by Andrew Lang.

Sword Excalibur. Source: Pixabay

Week 12 Story: Why Deunant has the Front Door in the Back

The cattle of the farmer living at Deunant were affected with "short disease" which is also known as the black quarter. The farmer thought they were all bewitched.

Old Beti'r Bont, who had a questionable character, earned her living by stealing babies for the fairies. She called the farmer when they were feathering geese and begged for one but was refused. The farmer thought she was taking her revenge by harassing his stock.

He went to old Beti and threatened to tie her hands and feet and throw her into a river if he didn't take the charm off of the cattle. She denied having any magical powers and repeated the Lord's prayer to prove her innocence. He wasn't convinced and made her recite "Rhad Duw ar y da" which means "God's blessing be on the cattle." Usually if a herd is bewitched, they are freed from their disease after it is spoken. But the farmer's stock was no better and he was frustrated.

One night he was thinking about the cattle and absolutely couldn't understand why the cattle couldn't get any better.

"I will tell you why" said a voice by him. The farmer turned around and saw a tiny man looking very angry. "It is because your family keeps annoying mine so much." "How is that?" said the farmer.

"They are always throwing the slops from your house down my chimney" said the man.

"That can't be true; there is no house within a mile of here" replied the farmer.

The man asked the farmer to put his foot on his to show him. He saw all the slops down the man's chimney. "I am very sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?" said the farmer.

The tiny man was suprised by the farmer's apology and revealed himself to be old Beti! She had tricked him into thinking the slops were his and apologizing to her. She forced the farmer to wall up his house so the slops stopped coming down the chimney. She was tired of his slops and once he fixed his house, she took the charm off the cattle and they recovered.

Author's Note: The original story is the same up until the farmer apologizes to the old man. In the original version, the old man vanishes and the cattle get better. In my version, I wanted to bring the witch back into the story and have her be disguised as the old man and take the charm off of the cattle. It was only a minor change but I felt like the witch needed to end the story.

Why Deunant has the Front Door in the Back by W. Jenkyn Thomas

Black Cows. Source: Satire World

Reading Notes: Owen Goes a-Wooing

Owen, a servant at Nannau, was going to see his sweetheart, a milkmaid. He lost his way there because it was dark. He wandered around for some time and fell into Llyn Cynnwch. He could not swim and he sank down. His mind cleared and he realized sinking wasn't an unpleasant experience. He breathed freely like on land and the water became increasingly clearer.

He got to a level spot at the bottom and found a beautiful country with green fields and flowers and trees. An old man came up to him and asked him where he came from. Owen explained and the man responded, "you're welcome" and led him to his mansion.

Owen asked if the old man could show him to Dol y Clochydd because he was already late and was worried his sweetheart would give him up. The old man was hesitant of letting him go but decided to in the end. He took to along a level path which led him to Dol y Clochydd. The stone lifted Owen up when he went up to it and ended up in his sweetheart's kitchen. She was weeping for him and was scared when she saw him. She explained to him that he had been missing for over a month and not an hour or two like he had thought.

Owen Goes a-Wooing by W. Jenkyn Thomas

Ice Cave. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Helig's Hollow

Many ages ago, the country stretched from Gogarth to Bangor and from Llanfair Fechan to Ynys Seiriol, was ruled by Helig ad Glannach and was called Helig's Hollow.

Helig had a daughter, Gwendud and they said she "appeared lovliest at the Offering on the day of the Nativity, or at the feast of Easter" but her heart was evil, cruelty and deceit.

The son of one of the barons of Snowdon loved her and she loved him in return. Only she would not wed him because he had no golden collar.

Tathal (her suitor) tried for a long time to win, but failed. Gwendud wouldn't change her mind and was determined get a collar by any way possible.

Rhun led an expedition and brought back many prisoners where he held them to ransom. The first captive whose liberty was bought by his kinsmen was a young chieftain who had won a golden collar in the wars against the Picts. Tathal went to him and offered his services as guide.

He stabbed him in the back and brought back his golden collar. Gwendud now agreed to wed him and Helig made a great feast.

A harper, who was asked to play music for the revel, had to gift of second sight and asked the cupbearer to tell him if she saying anything unusual when he went down to the cellar. He came back and said, "a stream of water is flowing into the cellar, and hundreds of little fishies are swimming in it."

They decided to fly away. Everyone else screamed for their lives as water rushed around their feet. They reached Rhiwgyfylchi exhausted and out of breath and waited for morning. When morning came, an expanse of rippling water where Helig's Hollow had been lived. Some fishermen claim to see Helig's Palace down beneath the water's surface.


Helig's Hollow by W. Jenkyn Thomas

Helig's Hollow. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Growth Mindset: My Motto

YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT IN

I try to live my life by this motto every single day. We all do things in life that are very exciting, but some things aren't as fun and we can get a bad attitude about it. However, I always say, "you get out of it what you put in" because it's so true! If you put in a good attitude and mindset into what you're doing whether it's school, extra curricular or work, you're going to get a much better outcome that is so fulfilling! 

Rose the Riveter. Source: Wikipedia

Tech Tip: Canvas Dashboard

Even though the university switched over the Canvas just over a year ago, I still am navigating all the features Canvas has. In comparison to D2L, I like it much better because it has so much more organizing and navigation on the website. One thing that I just recently learned how to do is change the class names on the Canvas dashboard. It was hard trying to quickly find classes and I would have to look at each course number in order to find each class. If you hover over a class with your mouse you will see three dots in a line in the top right corner. If you click on it, you are able to customize the color of your class, change your class name to whatever you want it to be, and more! It's such a convenient tool to have because you can customize your dashboard into whatever will help you feel more organized and successful! If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend you try to customize your dashboard using this tool because it will help you tremendously.

Week 11 Story: How Raven Stole the Lake

Crows have always been white. That was until the Raven made them black after they had eaten his salmon. He was very angry and he came in contact with some beavers with feathers on their heads and gambling sticks on their backs. They asked him, "what's the matter?"

The Raven replied, "my father and mother are dead." The beavers decided to take him home and not go gambling. The next morning, the beavers strapped on their gambling sticks and set off again to go gambling. The Raven flew around and spotted a lake. "Lo, a lake lay there!" he shouted excitedly. He flew closer to see a creek flowing with a fish trap. The trap was filled with salmon. The Raven pulled out the fish trap, folded it together along with the lake and put both under his arm and flew to a tree that stood close by. It was not heavy and was like carrying a blanket.

The Raven looked upon the ground from the tree and noticed someone coming. The person's house and the lake were missing and he was confused. The person ordered the beavers to come and cut the tree down with their teeth in order to get his house and the lake back. The Raven kept jumping from tree to tree until finally the beavers cut down a tree he was in. The Raven lost the lake and it fell back to its original place. The fish trap broke and all of the salmon were freed. The Raven was so mad he flew away. The person was happy because he finally could relax about his house and could live there in peace again. The beavers went back to gambling and set up another trap to catch the salmon they had lost. The Raven never returned to the lake.

Author's Note: The original starts out the same; he sees the lake and all of the salmon and he takes the lake with him under his arm.  but when the beavers are cutting down the trees he flies away with the lake, the house, and the fish and flies far away. He found an open spot to roll out the lake to teach the mainland people a lesson. I changed the story so that the Raven was punished for taking the lake by leaving with nothing. He drops the lake and the house and the fish trap trying to escape and leaves with nothing and leaving everything in their original place.

How Raven Stole the Lake by Katharine Berry Judson

The Raven. Source: Google Play

Reading Notes: The First Woman

A long time ago, there were a lot of men living but far away, there was a woman. One young man traveled to the south where the woman was and married her. The son of the headsman started to travel to the home of the woman and heard the man talking to himself. He waited until everyone was asleep. The son of the headsman crept into the house and began to drag the woman away. The husband woke up and ran to get the woman and caught her by her feet. The two men pulled on the woman and eventually pulled her into two. The son of the headsman carried the body back north and used wood to carve to make each woman complete. Meaning, there were now two women.

The woman in the south was a good dancer, but she could not do fine needlework in sewing the furs because her hands were now wooden. The woman in the north was a poor dancer because her feet were wooden but could sew very well. All the women north are skillful with their hands but and the women in the south are good dancers still to this day.

The First Woman by Katharine Berry Judson

Wood Carving. Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: The Origin of the Tides

A long time ago, a man wandered down the Nass River. When he set up camp, he made rocks of curious shapes. His name was Qa meaning the Raven and he traveled all over the world. At the time, the sea was always high. Qa discovered a rock in the sea and he built a house under the rock. He did this by cutting a hole through it and fitted a lit to it. He put a man in charge of the whole and twice a day he opens the lid and twice each day he closes it. When the whole is open, the water rushes into it and then it's low tide. When the lid is closed, the water rises again and it's high tide.

Tael, a Tlingit chief was carried out to Qa's rock while hunting sea otters. He could not escape the strong current. He through his canoe line over the trees and was carried down by the water into the hole under the rock. He heard a noise, it was the the man putting the lid on the hole. The water began to rise and Tael paddled rapidly until the tide was low where he could get his canoe. Once the tide was high, Tael escaped.

The Origin of the Tides by Katharine Berry Judson

Beach tide. Source: Pxhere