All Around the World We ARE Unique Individuals

Most people in this class are older. Probably at least older then me. Then, I could be wrong about that. Don't mean to offend. What I am trying to say though is, I always find different people so interesting. We are all different ages, races, cultures no two people are the same--imagine a six billion unique persons in the world. I have a part of me that wants to interview everyone in our class and write a story about them. I think people are so interesting.

Something most may or may not know about me is I am a Hurricane Katrina survivor. I spent eight years of my life in New Orleans, Louisiana and so many exciting things are going on there that I am so proud. The NFL team there, the New Orleans Saints are unbeaten this season! Go Saints! Some of the exciting things aren't excited about, they are still struggling with murder rates out of this world. But I digress, there are so many films that are being filmed there two of them are coming out this holiday season.

One of them, which actually is an animated depiction of New Orleans, is Disney's The Princess and the Frog. It is Disney's first animated film featuring a Black charcter as a princess. Me and my girlfriends, who are Black, were all a little divided about the film. I was excited for two reasons: (1) I am a Black female (2) It's set in a place I lived! Wow, it's amazing how a place you have lived and breathed in can be so controversial, beautiful and popular at the same time. A part of me wants to move back. It's funny, how that goes. How someone can want to move away from a place and still be in love with it. I love New Orleans, a part of me will always be New Orleanian, most people probably wouldn't know that about me by just looking at me though. I can have an accent, but have lived in Texas before moving there so long, it evens it out. So that's why I like meeting new people. We all have a unique story and would be suprised to find how interesting all of our stories can be.

Going through the human

I wanted this to be a fun blog this week. As the saying goes down South: That ain't gonna happen. Do you ever feel like you can ever be good enough? Do you ever feel like mistakes you make are so bad you can't go through another day. Like something is always wrong?

Well, welcome to life as it is. I have been going through changes and facing tough moments lately in my life lately that I wish I didn't have to go through. Seems like there is something after something going on. I have learned throught these things, however you must forgive yourself. You have to learn how to do the best you can do with whatever the situation is and try to move on.

I have learned that dwelling on a situation after doing what you can do is rectify the situation with your higher power. I believe that is God. He knows your short comings and situations that maybe were so good. He also know you have to get through your situations. I think I have found my power in prayer. My power in devotion to God. I don't believe we as human beings have the capacity to do everything perfectly.

We weren't created to do that. I do think there is good news for all of us who have failed or done something we want to take back. We have hope. We still can strive to get through whatever we need to with help from above.

That is my belief. What do you all think?

Mispronouncation of my name and the latter

When my parents named me, I know they were trying to be creative. They named me after both of my dear grandmothers on my mother and father's side of the family. My name is Aloise, pronounced "a-Lois" by many say my name like Eloise except they say it's Aloise. This is beginning to be one of those things that can irk me to far lengths. So what do I do sit and be mad or assume these people are purposely mispronouncing my name? No. I am learning to be more assertive.

There are many times lately I have had to be vocal out of my comfort zone. I am a pretty laid back person. I don't mind chilling out and relaxing. I usually am easy to get along with. Lately, though, there have some problems in sitting back. I am realizing that communication is key for us all to be treated the way we want to be treated. We can't assume any one person is exempt from correctionn just because they are nice or pretty or handsome or have a lot of money. There are times when we all msut be "real" with each other and express how we really feel. Otherwise, we will go away feeling slighted and a little dehumanized.

My voice can be loud or soft. But lately I have had to use my louder more direct voice. Otherwise, many will not get the message otherwise.

Without assertiveness we wil be left feeling we have given power to others we didn't have to. Just think about and say what you have to say. You and I have nothing lose except maybe years of feeling bad about letting people walk all over you. There is a happy medium between passivity and assertiveness.