Boy did I mess up!

 

I host a YouTube channel (Aunt Ally's Storytime) where I upload videos of me reading stories mainly for my nephew and niece, but it has garnished some other interest and a few more children seem to enjoy the weekly storytime with "Aunt Ally".

As I scrolled through Amazon to purchase more books to read, I came across one that had a strange familiarity to me. Tikki Tikki Tembo. As soon as I saw the title, I immediately began to sing: "Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo". It is a catchy rhyming phrase that has a sing songy sound to it. So, I bought the book.

It arrived yesterday. I read it. I was embarrassed that I was so ignorant about the story. To be entirely honest, I couldn't remember the story and I still do not remember WHY that phrase is so sing songy in my head, but after reading the story, I decided I will NOT be using it in a weekly story telling session.

The book is touted as a Chinese folktale, but as I read the story, I quickly realized that the story seems to give off a rather stereotyped, negative impression of the Chinese culture and moreso, the family unit. I did some researching of some things presented in the 'folktale' and found them to be completely false and THAT made me sad. And while I don't think the author of the book, Arlene Mosel, meant for her story to be offensive, I just couldn't, in good conscience, use that children's book on my storytime.

Reading the story reminded me of an in-service training that we had to do about cultural sensitivity. Things that we grew up saying, things that seemed absolutely harmless in spoken words, were in fact, offensive phrases to some cultural groups. There was a lot of backlash to that in-service.

 

"We've ALWAYS said that."

"My goodness people need to lighten up."

"Watch me stop saying that just because some snowflakes were offended." (yup - that was really said.).

It stuck with me hearing people say these things. And while I, too, questioned how some of the things were offensive, once explained I could understand. When you grow up in a more privileged culture, there is no way you can totally understand the offensiveness of things to other cultures and in NO WAY should you be diminishing their being offended. With an open mind, you CAN begin to understand their point of view, their feelings.

I messed up. I took a sing songy phrase that I remember from somewhere in my childhood and thought nothing of it. It never even phased me that it MIGHT be derogatory in nature. I ordered the book and eagerly awaited its arrival, planning to use it next week on my channel. I failed to look it up more before diving in.

There is nothing wrong with admitting a mistake, admitting you've messed up. While there was no harm done with my mess up, but there could have been. If you believe you can never be wrong, you’re actually wrong - very wrong. We all make mistakes, and it’s okay. In fact, that’s what makes us human.

 

Until next time......Think Thankfully

 

Monday Musings

 

The thoughts that are rambling through my mind this Monday: 

Monday Musings

This morning was truly a Monday in the most Mondayest sense of the word! My hair just didn't end up the way I wanted them to, I forgot my tea in the garage after I set it down to put my school bag in my car, I realized I left my garage door open all weekend (after putting my car in it on Saturday), and my mind just feels like it is in a fog today. I'm attributing that to the fact that I started a new medication last week and yesterday was the first day of taking it twice a day. I was warned that this could be an effect of the meds until my body adjusts. It's not terrible, it's just different for me.

All that aside, I've decided to start working this blog again. I'm going to attempt to write more! I miss it. Writing has always been something I've enjoyed doing. It's always been easier to put my words down on paper (or a screen) rather than speak them. I guess I always thought that if I write what I'm thinking or feeling, I can hand those words off and walk away, not having to deal with the fallout, whatever it may be. If I say them to someone, I'm right there to read their faces or have to deal with whatever they do/say after hearing me. I don't like confrontation. I'm a people pleaser. I don't like being in uncomfortable situations. A lot of time, speaking to people leads to those uncomfortable situations. Writing. That's the ticket for me.

My dream (since I was in high school many moons ago), has been to write a novel. I was in a creative writing class in high school and I penned a wonderful teenage novella. I worked so hard on it, ON A TYPEWRITER, many evenings at my grandmother's house. It was such a good story! BUT.....there was a fire at my parents' house and it got tossed in the clean up. I remember the title, The Brightest Star. I was so proud of that little novella. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Perhaps that is the nudge I need in order to start penning something again.

In addition to some other medical diagnoses I've recently been given (nothing too Earth shattering), I diagnosed myself with atychiphobia - the fear of failure. I think this is why I never see any writing through to completion. I fear no one will read it. I fear no one will like it. I fear failure. I do know that failure propels you to success. So, that being said, I'm going to start small - blogging again - and then I will start framing out the ideas I have for a novel. Or maybe a children's book! Or....who knows!!! I just know I really want to write.

Mondays are a good day to refocus and set our intentions for the week, for a specific thing, for anything!!! Today, I'm setting my intention to get back in the writing game.

Until next time.....