Welcome to Awakenings

Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit or White Rabbit?

Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit or White rabbit

What do you say first day of each month

To bring you luck?






Being unfamiliar with the white rabbit theory, a posting recently by poetreecreations.org captured my attention. Since we are nearing the beginning of a new month it connected with the theme of Awakenings which as one of its missions strives to embrace the past. Thus, without further ado, the initiation of my curious nature began.

In doing some additional research, which is typical for Awakenings, two basic theories surfaced with numerous variations surrounding the creation of good luck for the upcoming month. Learn more by clicking the link below Running Rabbit.



"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
~Alice in Wonderland

Whatever theory you believe,
  • First, are you going to say “Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit or White Rabbitfor good luck upon waking on the morning of Sept 1st? 
  • Second, will you be one to pledge loyalty to saying it beginning each month thereafter for the rest of the year?

 You know I love comments so let's hear what you have to say!
Remember. . .
I'm always hungry for your words of enlightenment!

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

This Day in History


August 31, 1997


Wikipedia.org
Tragedy struck at the heartstrings of young and old as news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales spread around the world. What a tragic end to such a gracious lady who will always be remembered for her charitable spirit.



Diana ~ The Princess of Hearts
Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, Great Britain
July 1, 1961 - August 31, 1997

The Smiles of Diana

 An icon of British royalty, the “People’s Princess”
smiled from within capturing the heart of America.
She mesmerized the world with her interest in fashion
and popular culture but is most remembered for her
compassion, a trait upon which she thrived.


For a small, wee child
With rosy cheeks aglow
An uncertain smile
Seemed quite apropos



A delightful young girl
Of hardly ten
With a hint of a smile
Let you in…

Inside her heart
Where warmth resided
Soothing comfort
Her smile provided




A fairytale wedding
Showered joy and pride
Within a blissful smile
She both laughed and cried


Empathy and devotion
Surpassed all mystical charms
Within the most loving smile
New life wiggled in her arms


Arms that opened wide
Even in times of dire distress
With a smile so big
Stayed strong as a mighty fortress

Graceful beauty
Her true legend rendered
Smiles within smiles
Always to be remembered


Diana, your smiles are deeply missed!

©2012 Awakenings
Sharla Lee Shults






Sunday, August 26, 2012

WAKE-UP, AMERICA!


Rescued animals are often thrown away or
end up at a shelter for some reason or other.


For this scene, there are many causes
But the number one underlying cause of homelessness is poverty.

Dear friends and readers,

Upon visiting Raani York, Author/Writer who publishes thoughts, subjects, experiences, etc., I was led to an article that definitely is worth "spreading the word" for it is a prevalent problem right here in America. The article addresses an area where helping hands are desperately needed. READ MORE. . .

To view/leave comments on Raani's site, click HERE. . . 
Be sure to leave a comment on Awakenings so I know you stopped by for a visit.





Saturday, August 25, 2012

Death of a Hero: He will be missed!

"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." ~Neil Armstrong


First moon landing, 1969


Astronaut Neil Armstrong dies at age 82.

Neil Armstrong was a quiet, self-described "nerdy" engineer who became a global hero when as a steely-nerved U.S. pilot he made "one giant leap for mankind" with the first step on the moon.
Read more. . .

Let's pause in a moment of silence for this great hero. . .


A Walk on the Moon
An event once only visualized in an episode of Star Trek
came to fruition when man stepped onto the surface of Earth’s moon.
One question still remains: How far is it possible to go?


Man on the moon?
Just myth, they say
'Til two in fact
Made it one day

“The Eagle has landed”
Rang loud and clear
As the astronauts said
“We’re safely here.”

Words of a hero
In history we’ll find
One small step for man,
One giant leap for mankind

Seeing Earth in the heavens
As no one had seen before
Led the men to venture out
Eager to seek and explore

What was it honestly like
On that monumental day?
Was it hot like the desert?
What role did gravity play?

Total absence of weather
Both cloudless and windless
Left so many conditions
Nothing short of mindless

Wildly shifting temperatures
Below Arctic cold in the shade
Rose to blistering in the sun
Often stagnating the crusade

Lack of atmosphere
Limited gravitational pull
Steps by leaps and bounds
Sprung upward noticeably in full

Weighing much less on the moon
Apollo astronauts had fun
Picture how far you could jump
If gravity’s force were undone!

© 2012
Sharla Lee Shults

Friday, August 24, 2012

Never Give Up - A Veteran's Story

Courage Faith Hope represent the founding of America!
Courage to overcomeFaith, the Christian cornerstaoneHope for an improved life
 
This is the foundation of Awakenings: the embracing of the past, empowerment of the present, enrichment of the future. Without the hardships and sacrifices made for America, we would not be enjoying the freedoms our country has to offer today.
 
Remember. . .
  
America FOUGHT, America WON!
Support Our Troops!  
   
    
Posted by OolaGuru on Tuesday, 21 August 2012

OolaGuru Comment: It is truly amazing what you can do when you have faith in yourself. I saw this video and couldn't help but share it with you guys. Anything is possible if you never, ever give up . . .
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Say it for America


Sorry about the blur:>(
The theme of my new book, Awakenings from Then 'til Now, is to Embrace the Past, Empower the Present, Enrich the Future. The rhymic character of the verses in this book is to add flair and flavor to what is sometimes considered dull reading. History by its very nature is extremely poignant, whether during times of sacrifice, hardships, war or peace.

Since its inception throughout the postings to Awakenings' blog, segments of poetry have connected the past to the present on into the future. Over the course of the next few weeks, a series of poems will be highlighted from the book.


The poem for today comes from chapter five, Synergy and Conflict, Twenty-First Century (2000Present). The focus is right after the turn of the new century.

Say It for America
The hope, faith, and courage on which our nation was founded are still alive today
as new challenges are faced in America and abroad.
While issues continue to revolve in a vicious circle,
their methods of resolution have now become of far greater concern.
 
The new era begins
Amid chaos and confusion
In the midst of despair
Is peace only a delusion?
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
As we look back
To our history's plights
Are we engaged
In much similar plights?
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
While not the fight for freedom
Knowing that campaign was won
But maintaining our freedom
Is the crusade now begun
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
In our homeland
And across the sea
Are constant threats
Against liberty
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
America values and beliefs
Are challenges of today
As a fight for home and dignity
Is steadily underway
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
Maintaining values
While instilling beliefs
Remains in the arms
Of our armies and chiefs
 
File:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gifFile:Tiny Star.gif
 
Whatever shall be said
Whatever that will be
Say it for America
In the name of liberty!
 
Connecting the past to the present...
 
"All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word:
freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope."
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Life = Risk

At the heart of awakenings is knowledge that identifies who we are, in other words, from whence we came. Our life's blood stems from our fathers whose fathers' fathers lived and died to make this country free. Then, there are also the mothers who endured pain and suffering unimaginable in today's era of modern technology.

Within the ancestry of each of us lies experience after experience deemed a success, as well as some considered a failure. With every walk of life comes a certain degree of risk plagued by the overarching question, "Will I make it this time?" Often this is even followed by "Why try?"

Why try, indeed? Because there is an overwhelming desire, a passion, to live a dream and the unyielding desire, the tenacity, to see it happen. Once the vision is established it takes a combination of passion and tenacity to keep the momentum going. The passion drives you to put more energy into achieving that vision than ever before, much more than is necessarily required. It goes beyond enthusiasm or excitement requiring commitment of heart, mind, body and soul. Of course, with every accompliment there are setbacks. The tenacity is that persistent detemination, even in the face of adversity, to never give up.

Are you willing to take the risk? What if you fail?
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
What if these famous failures had not gone on to fulfill their destinies?


“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.
I have lost almost 300 games.
On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed.
I have failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

NOTE: I was introduced to this video by the risqué Don in Massachusetts which led to this blog posting. I invite you to visit his blogsite for great quotes and pictures! Who knows, you may be inspired just like I was!


Tate Publishing
Coming Soon!

What failures have led to your successes?



Friday, August 17, 2012

Remember Paper Lace?

This day in history: August 17, 1974




"The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace tops the U.S. pop charts.


Presented as the Al Capone Story
are the
lyrics to the song fact or fiction?

Click HERE!




Thursday, August 16, 2012

UPDATE: End of Two American Icons

This Day in History: August 16, 1948


Associated Press Photo

One of the greatest sports heroes of American culture, Babe Ruth, died of cancer at the age of 53, August 16, 1948. Born February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland his birth parents, George Sr. and Kate, named him George Herman Ruth, Jr. During his baseball career, he would acquire different nicknames, such as "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat," but the one which would endure the sands of time was "Babe."

Click HERE!
You might be wondering why a man of such strong statue would acquire a nickname such as Babe. Having been discovered at the age of 19 by Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the then minor-league Baltimore Orioles, the other Oriole players dubbed Ruth "Jack Dunn's baby" thus prompting the nickname Babe, which would follow him the rest of his life.

The Roaring Twenties did more than roar as jazz music blossomed and the flapper monopolized the scene. The sports highlight of this gin-soaked, jazz-syncopated, frivolous time era was baseball and at the top of the list was Babe Ruth's career with the New York Yankees.

Many athletes have left their mark in baseball history but few as indelible as Babe Ruth. He will long be remembered and revered not only as a baseball champion but also a champion of hearts. His athletic prowess and fun-loving personality dominated the Jazz Age.



"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from coming up to bat. All that can be asked of you is to give it your best." ~Babe Ruth

Are you like the Babe? Do you give it your best?


*****************************************************************

This Day in History: August 16, 1977

Elvis Aaron Presley
(January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)  

Rock 'n' Roll legend Elvis Aaron Presley mesmorized fans of the 50s and 60s with his unconventional musical style. His gyrating hips and handsome looks made his debut provocative and followed him throughout his career, which spanned radio, television and the silver screen.

“Music should be something that makes you gotta move, inside or outside.”
~Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley's versions of existing songs exemplified a mixture of 'black' and 'white' sounds. They exhibited what was dubbed as rockabilly, an uptempo fusion of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat. As a result, this new sound became both popular and controversial.

"Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together, I guess.” ~Elvis Presley, 1956

To this day, Elvis continues to be one of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll. His music is widespread across the Internet and does not appear to have plans of wavering any time soon.

"Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over."
~ Elvis Presley

Long live Rock 'n' Roll!

Publicity photo for Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Wikipedia