"Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." -Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I wish this one would pop up every time a CEO, a politician, or a teenager had to make a decision! I've had this one posted on my fridge for the past month or so.
Besides doing a lot of reading, cooking, and getting out in nature this summer, my family and I watched all the Harry Potter movies. My children have read all of the books, but I haven't, so it really helped bring it all together to watch the films within a short time frame.
During this particular film, I started to think about how much the theme, tone, and characters all echo the state of the world right now (and throughout time, I'm sure). The fictional Voldemort may not be around anymore, but there's a real one who's very much alive.
The world is going to need more Harry Potters. Don't you think? We have the extraordinary JK Rowling to thank for clueing us all in.
Don't we all have to make choices between "what is right and what is easy" on a regular basis? Just think about how many times you do so on a daily basis. It could involve something simple, like choosing an apple over a candy bar. Or, it could be something complicated, like choosing to be there when a friend or relative needs you, or not.
As for me, it would be easy to keep blogging mainly about picture books and literacy. It comes naturally to me, and I sincerely enjoy it.
Is that what the world needs most from me, though? Is it the right thing for me to do?
After stumbling upon some extremely harsh and shocking truths about the food industry this summer, I suddenly felt like the child who was the only one who could see that the emperor had no clothes on.
There were books I read and videos and documentaries I watched that made me want to hop into a time machine so I could go back to the time before all the madness started. Or, maybe even to somehow stop it all before it started in the first place. Honestly, this is scary stuff.
My big dilemma: I've always tried to stay positive on this blog because really, the word "inspire" is in my title and tagline! BUT how do I get the information out without being negative at all? That's what I've been contemplating all this time...
Sometimes, it's not so much fun being an avid reader. Once you learn something that strikes a nerve, it becomes impossible to forget about it.
On the other hand, I'd venture to guess that most people avoid reading about certain issues because they're too busy or think they can't do anything about them.
Don't we all walk in both shoes from time to time? I mean really, no one can fix every problem. Not even Superman. So, why are we all waiting for one? Have we forgotten there's power in numbers?
There actually was a New York Times opinion piece written recently, called The Elusive Big Idea, about how people are so inundated with information that they're not taking time out to reflect on big ideas anymore.
The food industry is taking advantage of that BIG time, my friends. We can't afford to look the other way anymore. It's up to all of us to demand better. It's not going to happen if we look the other way and hope someone else will fix everything for us.
We all have to do something. And the first step is staying informed.
SO, I will find a way to share the information I've learned, while staying as positive and hopeful as possible that things can and will change.
I haven't decided if I will transition to a new site yet, but somehow the name of this one just doesn't make capture it all anymore. So, please bear with me as I head into uncharted territory for a while.
You need to know at least some of what I know in order to make the healthy and informed choices I know you want to make.
I hope you will stay tuned as we take a slight detour from our regularly scheduled picture books, if you haven't forgotten about me already!
Quick positive note:
Quotes can be fantastic teaching tools and sources of inspiration. So, if you're ever in the middle of a bad day, it might help to look a few up.
Here's another quote I love, again from the wise Professor Dumbledore:
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
Please feel free to comment on either of the above quotes, or share another favorite one from the Harry Potter series.
Let us pause now to remember how tragic poor choices can be, in memory of those who died on September 11, 2001. May they rest in peace.
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