Friday, October 1, 2010

I'm Literacy Builder Award

This week, I received a wonderful Award from two wonderful bloggers. If you asked me to pick one Award over all others, I would pick the Literacy Builder Award- literacy and education are two related issues that are very close to my heart, and if I had to choose one cause to dedicate my life to, it would be Literacy. Naturally, I feel privileged to be given this Award.

What makes receiving the Award even more wonderful is the fact that it was passed onto me by two ladies I am privileged to know and call my friends. Jan Morrison and Margot Kinberg are both knowledgeable people, talented writers, and great bloggers. But what makes they both so wonderful is that they are both wonderful human beings. Thank you Jan and Margot- you don't know how much it means for me to get the Award from you.

The rules for the Award are simple -

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Display the award logo on your blog site.
3. Tell us five of your favorite words and why you like them.
4. Pass the award on to three bloggers you feel are excellent literacy builders, and link to their sites.
5. Contact the bloggers you’ve chosen and let them know about the award.

It was really difficult to narrow down my list of favourite words to just five, but I managed ultimately-

Serendipity- I fell in love with the sound of the word- isn't there something intrinsically appealing about the sway of the waveforms as the word enters the airwaves- but over the years, it has come to become the leitmotif of my life. My life seems to be a necklace of serendipitous beads, and I am richer for it.

Inertia- often used with negative connotations to describe someone lazy or obdurate, I prefer to stick to the meaning vested on it by Newton. Of inner courage and strength of character, of courage of conviction, of not being swayed by empty arguments. Of a person continuing on a pre-destined path unless convinced to move from it by a convincing reason.
Juggernaut- there is nothing appealing about a destructive force that crushes everything that comes in its way, which is precisely why I like the word. Jagannath is a Hindu God, who's idol is taken out of the temple in an annual procession. Vast crowds take up to witness the procession, and legend has it that the chariot bearing the idol crushed all the people who came in its path. From the Divine to the destructive- would anyone but a word even attempt such a journey?

Universe- a word that embraces all that was, all that is, and all that would ever be. Everything we know is contained within the Universe. It is so vast, the human mind cannot even start to comprehend the vastness. And yet, each of us is an intrinsic part of the Universe, and are as vast as the Universe itself.

Mamma- when this word is uttered in a crowded place, dozens of heads will swivel to locate the source. Uttered in affection, in command, in exasperation, in pleading- it is the most beautiful word invented.

Nobody does more for the cause of Literacy than a Teacher, and I am passing on this Award to five* outstanding teachers  - 
Jemi @ Just Jemi
Shannon @ Book Dreaming
Stephanie @ Hatshepsut: The Writing of a Novel
Theresa @ Substitute Teacher's Saga

I know some of you may not like passing on Awards, but do pass this Award on. We cannot do enough to create Awareness about the need for Literacy/ Education, and this is just one more way of doing so.

* yes, I know it should have been three, but all rules are meant to be bent a bit

22 comments:

Jemi Fraser said...

Rayna - wow! Love this award!! Thank you so much - you're right - this is a great one to pass along!! Thanks so much :)

Theresa Milstein said...

I like your word choices.

Thanks for the award! I normally don't take awards where I have to do anything, but I may have to make an exception for this. I'm all about building literacy.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Rayna, the pictures you painted with your five words are as beautiful and moving as you photos.
You are right Literacy is very important and it it important to pass on our love of words.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's an excellent award! You are most deserving, Rayna.

Bast said...

You definitely deserve this. I think this award may be one of the best I've seen. I love the way you explain your word choices.

Anonymous said...

Rayna - Congratulations! You truly deserved this award and I was proud to pass it to you. And thank you for the very kind words. It is a privilege to be your friend.

Of all of your words, I think mamma is the best. What an emotion-laden, rich word with so many, many meanings associated with it...

Jules said...

Congrats, Rayna. I can think of no one more deserving. Your Drabbles spread much literacy with few words.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Debra She Who Seeks said...

This is the perfect award for you! And thanks for the history of the word "juggernaut" -- fascinating! You've improved my literacy today!

Unknown said...

Those are some great words! I love that you have Mamma and it's true, all head (female) turn. However, we usually know when it's our own offspring but we will check to make sure all other offspring is fairing well.

CD

Laura Eno said...

Congrats on the award! You are most deserving of it. *Of course rules are meant to be bent...even broken. ;)

Southpaw said...

I do love the sound of the word "inertia".

Jan Morrison said...

Yay! I'm so glad you like this award and you certainly more than deserve it - you use your drabbles to point out the power of the word to illuminate the shadowy aspects of life - that is brilliant! I like your words especially juggernaut - brilliant! Jan Morrison

Natasha said...

@ Jemi- and I know you will pass it along because you are as passionate about education as I am!

@ Theresa- too close to your heart, isn't it?

@ Mary- thank you. For a long time I looked for pictures for each of the words, then decided to go without.

@ Alex- thank you so much.

@ Quinn- thank you.

@ Margot- Mamma just had to be there. It means too much to me (and all the other mothers out there) for it not to make the list.

@ Jules- thank you.

@ Debra- thank you. I first heard the history of the word "juggernaut" when I was in my teens, and the word has never left me

@ Clarissa- thank you. Oh yes, we do. But we still react, don't we?

@ Laura- thank you.

@ Holly- I do too- wanted to name my younger one that, but ended up not :-(

Mason Canyon said...

Congratulations on the award. It is well deserved. You inspire, educate and entertain others with your drabbles.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Natasha said...

Awww Mason. Do you have to make me blush? Thank you.

Deb and Barbara said...

Rayna, I love your "cause" -- it is near and dear to my heart as well.

And I LOVE your words. Poetry and meaning together.

You sooooo deserve your award!!

xo B

L. Diane Wolfe said...

'Inner courage' - I like that description better, too.

RaShelle Workman said...

Rayna - What a great award! And I love the words you chose. Thanks for teaching me something today. =D

Stephanie Thornton said...

Thank you for the award, Rayna. This is one of my all-time favorites- so cool!

And serendipity is a fabulous word. It just sounds a little magical!

Carolyn Abiad said...

Congratulations on the award! And you know I love Serendipity ;)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Rayna on the award. I loved your choice of words, specially Juggernaut. And your explanation for why you like it.

Natasha said...

@ Barbara- thank you. They are lovely words, aren't they? Even if some are taken in a different context.

@ Diane- that is how I always look at inertia. Not in the negative sense in which it is normally used.

@ RaShelle- thank you. I love this Award too.

@ Stephanie- it is a great award, isn't it? For all that it symbolises.

@ Carolyn- thank you. And I was obviously thinking of you while typing that word out.

@ batulm- thank you. I've been in love with juggernaut since I first heard it as a child.

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