H.E.A.R.T. Learning Challenges

I love the idea of H.E.A.R.T. and I am excited to try out the learning challenges. By creating a balanced life around the H.E.A.R.T. concepts, a well-rounded life should come easily.

Health/Happiness

Too often, mental health and happiness go unchecked. For many, it is normal to spend money on clothes and personal trainers yet some don't see counselors or guidance as "worth the money." Why does our society put so much emphasis on the exterior rather than what's inside?

I know that gratitude is a huge part of happiness so here is a quote that I took a picture of, which reminds me to always be grateful:

(personal photo)

Which reads:

"I have learned silence from the talkative, 

Toleration from the intolerant, 

And kindness from the unkind; 

Yet strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers."

Empathy

Empathy is essential to a happy society - we must be able to understand and feel what others are going through.

Attention

Especially in this age of distraction, focus and attention are challenges that I specifically face. 

Reading

I know the importance of reading for a sharp mind and vivid imagination yet it is rarely a priority for me. That is why my New Year’s resolution is to read more.

Time

I'll own up to it - I am a procrastinator! I try to get things done early but no matter what it seems like I am just finishing a task as soon as it is due. This causes me to be late often, something that I am trying to work on.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

Source: Wikipedia

I always loved this painting - it can be interpreted in so many different ways! For me, I see time slipping away and how the perception of time can vary from person to person, as from culture to culture. I prefer a more relaxed and non-western time orientation where everything isn't so rushed; however, timeliness is imperative in the United States. 

Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset

Although I didn’t recognize her name at first, I realized instantly that I have previously seen this TED Talk. Carol Dweck has so many great ideas! I actually feel that we have used growth mindset in Epics of India already. For me, the retelling of the story was challenging. I wouldn’t say that creative writing is my forte. Still, I enjoyed the assignment and challenge. 

Source: Twitter

As Carol Dweck mentions in “Make Challenge the New Comfort Zone”, it’s true that often we fret over challenges and hardships when we should be grateful for them! Yoga has especially helped me to train my mind to be grateful for challenges. 

One of my favorite books is Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf, who believes that by changing your mindset you can change your outcome. 

Source: Pixabay

Dr. Leaf's research is there: Positive thinking leads to growth, while negative thinking hinders growth. This idea is revolutionary and hopeful! I am definitely interested in learning more about the growth mindset this semester.

My Storybook Favorites

The idea of creating a Storybook and being able to build on to something that interests us as individuals really excited me. I am already considering building a story around Krishna but that may change as we dive into the next few weeks.

I was super impressed by Brittany Rodgers’ The Magic Map. First of all, I loved this title and thought it did an excellent job of hinting at what the story was about but at the same time hooking the reader into wanting to know more - this combination is key to writing a good story. Secondly, Brittany's writing was not only creative but detailed which made her story that much better, and now I can see why you encourage us to include images in our blog posts… it really makes all of the difference!

Two particular images stood out to me in The Magic Map.

1. A visual such as this majestic mountain sets the stage for the reader: 

The Magic Map

2. A map like this provides the reader with perspective for just how far the character must journey:

The Magic Map

Kate Carlton’s Delilah’s Radio Hour was much different from The Magic Map. For me, this difference was due to the fact that they had such different settings and time periods. Personally, I preferred those of The Magic Map, but I am happy to see that there is so much flexibility in the choices we can make while creating a Storybook.

I really enjoyed the Storybook Rama and Sita: Not So Happily Ever After because the author did a great job seamlessly turning a sacred story into a modern tale of love. I think that this could be hard to do without making it sound too corny or like you’re trying too hard to “make it work”, which I felt that I was doing a bit when retelling my nursery rhyme Moderation is Key, but I never sensed either of these feelings when reading Rama and Sita.    

The images in Rama and Sita showed me the value of eye-catching colors such as those in this image:

Rama and Sita

I could not believe just how many very impressive storybooks have been created by students in your Epics of India and Myth-Folklore class!!

Overview of My Thoughts Thus Far

One thing that interests me thus far in your class is just the meaning of the words such as Ramayana or Mahabharata, which I assume are Sanskrit. I think my interest in these words derives from my yoga training, where I have been familiarized with very similar words. For example, Pranayama means "breath control" and Ahamkara means "ego-self" to yogis. I would love to learn more about this fascinating and beautiful language in the context of Epics of India.

(Sanskrit)

What is your experience with Sanskrit?

Of the two reading options you provide for the upcoming weeks, I am leaning towards the public domain edition of the Ramayanas for the reason that I am looking forward to listen to the audio versions that you recorded.

Although I am not too keen on meditation due to my short attention span and wandering mind, it is a fundamental aspect of yoga and, for this reason, I am currently working on it.

Although I have not read them, I am familiar with 4 Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism, and the Upanishads, the foundational Hindu texts that embody the poem Bhagavad Gita. I have also begun the extensive process of studying the sacred texts of Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.

My exposure to Bhagavad Gita, a poem about a conversation between Arjuna (a man) and Krishna (a god), is why I included an image of Krishna holding up a mountain in my post:

Krishna Holds Up Mount Govardhan

Date: ca. 1590-95; present-day Pakistan, probably Lahore

Metropolitan Museum of Art

From what I have learned previously, I am drawn to Krishna because of His endless teachings about life, death, duty, non-attachment, the Self, love, spiritual practices, and the depth of reality. For these reasons, the above image depicts the powerful Krishna well as He is holding up a mountain. Not surprisingly, the name Krishna means "the all-attractive one", which can also be interpreted as all-knowing.

Last year, I took an Expository Writing Class with Dr. Robert Scafe on Violence and the Sacred, which included documents such as "Market Regulations in Muslim Seville", "The Legal Status of Jews and Muslims in Castile", and "Muslims and Christians in Valencia: Socializing and Violence on Corpus Christi Day", among other texts on the oppression on certain cultures, especially the historical violence on Muslims.

The closest place to India that I have ever been is Israel and I imagine them to both hold many cultural similarities, especially in their electicism. As I mentioned before, I have been dreaming of traveling to India for awhile now and hope to make this dream a reality as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Introduction to My Ever-Changing Life

My name is Ashlyn Colbert. I am from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

My family is very important to me! Here I am at my brother's football game with my mom and sister!

My labradoodle, Cali, is also very important to me!

I spent my freshman year of college at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California as I believed that I would be better suited at a smaller university. Unsatisfied with my experience there, I decided to try the University of Oklahoma during the fall of my sophomore year and I could not be more content or surprised by how much I love it here!

I especially missed OU football when in California!

I just recently changed my major from Human Resources Management to Accounting and am highly considering Price College of Business' 5-year BBA/MAcc Program. My favorite class that I took last semester was Managerial Accounting, simply because accounting is something I just recently developed a liking to! My biggest accomplishment last semester would have to be getting more involved on campus: I joined an academic fraternity where I served as Service Chair and became Fundraising Chair and also interned for an environmental sustainability non-profit. Even though I had many friends here already and made many new ones, it was still hard for me to get involved on campus just coming in as a transfer there aren't a lot of (obvious) opportunities. I had a very exciting winter break filled with family and friends! After being in Mexico for almost two weeks (see My Favorite Place post), I had a chance to spend a week in Crested Butte, Colorado skiing with friends.

Skiing in Crested Butte (I'm the one in pink pants)!

I am currently about half way through my training to become a yoga teacher. This weekend I actually have a two day intensive! I have grown to love yoga, especially hot yoga. I have embarked on this training to merely learn more about something I love, not to necessarily teach yoga... but who knows! Because of my passion for yoga, I hope to one day travel to India, so this is one more reason that I am very excited for this class. Finally, I consider volunteering and travel to be my two most favorite hobbies. I have been fortunate enough to have many opportunities to combine these two things in places around the United States as well as in Italy, Haiti, Belize, Tanzania, and Mexico.

While in Tanzania, my dad and I also hiked Mount Kilimanjaro! 

Community service is something I really enjoy and hope to someday incorporate into my career, whatever that may be.

Week 1 Storytelling: Moderation is Key

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean:

And so, betwixt them both, you see, 

They lick'd the platter clean.

(traditional nursery rhyme)

~~~

All of the people of Parcel saw the Sprat family as gluttonous and overindulging. Although, there was more to the Sprats’ excessive fanaticism… Centuries before, the Sprats were given a blessing (or a curse, as the Parcellites saw it) of utter devotion. This family could not avoid – nor understand – their extremities. 

Most people have heard of Old Jack Sprat who never ate a bit of fat in hopes to stay lean... 

(glass of water on plate)

... and also of his wife Julie who, on the other hand, ate nothing but fat in order to maintain her voluptuous figure. 

(desserts)

Likewise, Little Johnny Sprat desired to become a runner so he couldn’t help but run everywhere. All day he was running to and fro, no one understood how he had so much energy, but it was all in his head – he was devoted. 

(boy running)

Then there was Little Jenny Sprat who had always dreamed of becoming a singer so she sung everything – “Motheeeeerrrr, have you seen my shoes todayyyyyy?”. 

(singing child)

Not surprisingly, people found the Sprats annoying to say the least. Their superabundant personalities made it hard for them to function in normal situations. For example, little Johnny was always being sent to the principal’s office for running through the halls of Parcel School and little Jenny was constantly being asked not to sing. Their exorbitance grew out of control and Old Jack became so slender that he had very little strength while Julie found herself so large that she could hardly move. The Sprats grew more and more frustrated with their lack of self-control and decided that they had to do something about their situation so Old Jack, Julie, Little Johnny, and Little Jenny all dedicated their blessing of utter devotion to moderation. 

(balance)

The Sprats became functioning, even excelling, citizens of Parcel and, more importantly models of proportion to all – living proof that, indeed, moderation is key.

Author’s Note: I named the town Parcel, as it means portion, to contrast the lack of portion that the Sprats display. This story that I created is based on one of my favorite movies Ella Enchanted where she has a similar blessing/curse of obedience.

Bibliography: This story is based on the nursery rhyme "Jack Sprat could eat no fat" in The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897).