Who Was Harvey Milk? by Corinne Grinapol

 Who Was Harvey Milk? - one of the first openly gay men to run for and win an elected position in the US, and who advocated for gay rights in San Francisco, California.

Harvey Bernard Milk (1930-1978) was born on Long Island, New York. Both his parents came from Jewish families who came from Lithuania. Harvey’s father followed the traditional rules of their faith. His mother wasn’t as strict about the rules. What mattered to her was - tikkun olam – helping to fix the world. Thus, she volunteered in projects helping to feed the poor.

Harvey was outgoing, liked making people laugh, loved being the center of attention, full of energy, bit of a troublemaker.

He was proud of being Jewish but he didn’t like the religious rules. He believed in having a choice.

When he was eleven, he fell in love with opera while listening to it on the radio. He even pretended to be a conductor while listening to it.

At fourteen, he went to opera in NYC and discovered different kinds of people. He saw men being attracted to men but he wasn’t ready to reveal it.

He didn’t know what he wanted to study after High School, so he followed his parents’ advice to become a teacher. He kept himself busy during his college years. He wasn’t good enough in sports to join a team but he still practiced different disciplines, became a coach and joined the newspaper staff to write about sports. Later, he started writing about other subjects that mattered to him, like discrimination within fraternities and sororities.

He also liked the idea of having an important role at the college. So he ran for treasurer and tried to join one of the school’s honor societies. He lost in both, but this was a good practice for him to teach him about persistence with his determination.

After graduating from college, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to teach and it was a time of the Korean War. So he joined the navy.

He was sent to Officer Candidate School to learn how to become the navy’s future leaders. At school, he discovered that he liked deep-sea diving.

In 1953, he was sent to a naval base in San Diego, CA. During his free time, he visited gay bars, not that it was safe to do it.

In 1955, after four years in the navy, he was honorably discharged. When he returned to NY, at twenty-six, he got his first job as a teacher. Even though, he was a good teacher, he wasn’t sure he wanted to do this for the rest of his life.

After only one year in teaching, he left the position with his partner and moved to Dallas, Texas. Eventually, he got a job at an insurance company, but that got boring to him. This led him to moving to different places: Puerto Rico, Miami, then back to NY where he got a job at Wall Street. But the position at Wall Street wasn’t exciting for him.

He continuously searched for something he’d feel passionate about. Around 1964 when he met a theater director and composer named Tom O’Horgan, he spent the nights at the theater and sometimes on stage.

In 1972, he moved to San Francisco where he was introduced to a more open culture. People weren’t afraid to show who they were.

In 1973, he opened a store with his partner where they developed pictures. This led him to being pro-active in challenges that life was sending him. And that further led him to run for a city supervisor as he felt that there was still discrimination against gay people, and also against people of color.

He wasn’t elected but that didn’t discourage him from being proactive with challenges. He joined forces with Allan Baird who represented Teamsters worker union.

Allan wanted beer delivery businesses to join union. Harvey agreed to help in exchange for union hiring gay people. Harvey with his friends created a boycott and won all companies except one.

Harvey’s shop became a place to go if you were new to the city. Harvey helped people to find a place to live and work. He got a nickname the mayor of Castro Street (from the street where his shop was located at).

He decided to run for a city supervisor again and lost again, but with each attempt he was gaining support of other groups. At his third attempt in 1977, he won.

He wanted to make sure that there were affordable places to live. He saved a library in his district from being closed. He fought against Proposition 6, which wanted to prevent gay people from working in public schools in California, and won.

His life was cut short. On November twenty-seven, 1978 he was shot by a former colleague.

He spent less than a year in office, but people still remember him and what he was able to accomplish in such a short time.

This biography exemplifies a man who didn’t know what he wanted to do in life. Thus, he constantly tried different things to find out what he was passionate about. Nothing would hold him back, even a prestigious job at Wall Street. As soon as he felt that something was boring to him, he was gone to try something new. Eventually, he did find his passion. And even then, he still met many challenges, which again didn’t discourage him. He knew persistence well.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2020

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: “If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities – the finding of love – then life itself loses its meaning.” – Harvey Milk

 

 

 

“Hope will never be silent.” – Harvey Milk

“I have tasted freedom. I will not give up that which I have tasted.” – Harvey Milk

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From young age, he was taught to help others. It was engrained in him as part of tikkun process he was taught by his mother.

·         He was full of energy and throughout his life he used his energy well. As soon as he found something being boring to him, he’d move to his new venture which eventually led him to his passion – speaking out for human rights and taking action.

·         He was proud of being Jewish but he didn’t like the religious rules. He believed in having a choice. For him it was more important to be a good human being and of service to others rather than following some strict rules.

·         He kept himself busy during his college years. Even though, he wasn’t good in sports, he still practiced different disciplines, became a coach and joined the newspaper staff to write about sports. He used his college years well, not just studying theory but also finding out in practice what he liked to do.

·         He ran for treasurer and tried to join one of the school’s honor societies. He lost in both, but this was a good practice for him to teach him about persistence with his determination.

·         He joined the navy before getting his first job as a teacher at twenty-six. Even though, he was a good teacher, he wasn’t sure he wanted to do this for the rest of his life. So he quit.

·         He moved to a few different places and tried different vocations but none of them was exciting to him. Eventually, he moved to San Francisco where he opened a shop and became known as the mayor of Castro Street.

·         His college years gave him a good preparation for rejections he received when trying for political positions. His life was cut short as he was assassinated. He spent less than a year in office, but people still remember him and what he was able to accomplish in such a short time.

 

 

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION: 

 Tikkun Olam stands for “repairing the world,” and is a central Jewish concept emphasizing active human responsibility to improve the world.

If you’d like to get a better understanding what tikkun is about and use the wisdom of Kabbalah for personal growth and abundance, this is very well explained by David Ghiyam on his podcast under his name @DavidGhiyam

His courses of Your Infinite Soul (1,2,3) are excellent tools for understanding what Kabbalah is about or rather understanding yourself. Each course is based on pay what feels right. You can pay only $1 and get access that can have a profound change on your life. If it ends up being not right for you, you only lose $1 or $3 in total if you take all three courses, but at least you’ll know that you tried something new and different – something that Harvey Milk would embody. 

Also, Harvey Milk was full of energy and he naturally knew how to use his energy, so it wouldn’t become stagnant. Many people get stuck or feel blocked, it’s because the energy flow is stopped. Instead being a conduit of energy, letting it flow like a river.

Who Was E.B. White? by Gail Herman

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade fascinates with the story of E.B. White – a beloved American writer who wrote Stewart Little, Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan among other famous stories.

Elwyn Brooks White (1899-1985) was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He didn’t like his name so he went by Andy. They lived in the suburbs, half an hour from NYC. He liked having both worlds. But his siblings were older and he had no one to play with. So he filled his time with playing outdoors, and with animals. He used his imagination to engage him.

As a child, he had a tendency to worry, and lacked confidence. He was smart but he didn’t like school. He was afraid to read in front of everyone. Writing helped him through his school years. At Cornell University, he started to work on the school’s newspaper. He wrote news stories, poems, and humor pieces.

After college, he wasn’t sure what career to pick. He just knew that he liked writing. So in 1922, he took a road trip with his college friend. He hoped that by seeing different places it would give him ideas what to write about. After 18 months, he returned and wrote about his adventures for a magazine.

In 1925, he came across The New Yorker and liked it right away. Andy sent in samples of his articles and was recognized right away. People liked his articles about his funny misfortunes. He never took himself too seriously.

In 1929, he married Katherine Sergeant Angell who was the fiction editor at The New Yorker.

In 1933, they bought a farm in Maine.

With the rise of dictatorship in Europe, he started writing more political pieces, standing up for democracy.

Throughout his life he struggled with worry and depression. He took a few months off staying alone in Maine while Katherine was in NYC with children. He wanted to stay close to nature.

In 1937, he began to write a column for Harper’s Magazine. He continued to voice his opinion in regards to events in Europe. He stood up for freedom and wanted the US to join the war.

The family returned to NYC in 1943, and they both returned working for The New Yorker.

Meanwhile, he continued to struggle with some nervous break-down in 1943. He saw many doctors and eventually felt better.

He was afraid that he’d ran out of time with the story he began in 1926 – about the little mouse – Stewart. It was previously rejected. Now, another editor couldn’t understand how a mouse could be a part of a human family. Andy had faith in children and persisted. Stuart Little was published in October 1945. And he was right. Children loved it.

He continued to be outspoken about certain issues – environment, civil rights, democracy, and freedom – which are as important today as they were decades ago. A new collection of his political writings was published in 2019.

Meanwhile, he also continued to spin the stories with animals. In the late 1940s, it was about a spider. He studied spiders for a year. In 1953, Charlotte’s Web won a Newbery Honor, a top award in children’s books. It became the most popular book in children’s literature – ever.

In 1957, they moved back to Maine.

In 1970, Trumpeter Swan was published and became another best seller.

This biography illustrates a man who had tendency to worry and lacked confidence, but that actually led him to a space where he felt most comfortable - in nature and with animals. And that’s where he found his calling. He connected his love for writing with his observation of animals and span stories loved by both children and adults.

This illustrated biography for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences, and insightful inserts.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2022

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” – E.B. White

 

 

 

Traits:

·         As a child, he had a tendency to worry, lacked confidence, was afraid to read in front of everyone - writing helped him through his school years.

·         While at University, he used his time wisely as he worked on the school’s newspaper: writing news stories, poems, and humor pieces.

·         After college, he wasn’t sure what career to pick. He just knew that he liked writing. So he took a road trip with his college friend. Seeing different places gave him ideas what to write about. When he returned, he wrote about his adventures for a magazine.

·         People liked his articles about his funny misfortunes. He never took himself too seriously.

·         Throughout his life he struggled with worry and depression but he recognized that nature brought him solace.

·         He wasn’t afraid to stand up for democracy when dictatorship was on a rise in Europe.

·         His story about the little mouse – Stewart was previously rejected but he had faith in children and persisted. When it was published, it became a beloved story by all.

·         Before he wrote a story about a spider, he studied spiders for a year. Charlotte’s Web became the most popular book in children’s literature – ever.

·         When Trumpeter Swan was published, it became another best seller.

 

 

 

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” – E.B. White

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 

As E.B. White was torn with making decisions sometimes, it happens to all of us. The good thing is that there are many tools out there these days to give us guidance how to make better decisions by knowing ourselves better. Thus, not depleting or blocking our energies. When energy is blocked, then different issues appear.  

One of the tools is understanding energy which we’re made of and which surround us - The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter. The key is to live as conscious energy being. The codes are to help us to shift from Protective Personality to Soulful Self, which can also happen spontaneously. The seven Energy Codes are to help us achieve just that.

“For those ready and willing to build a new life, here are the tools. Powerful, incisive, extraordinary writing.” —Neale Donald Walsch, New York Times bestselling author of Conversations with God

Transform your life with this revolutionary and accessible seven-step guide—grounded in energy medicine, neurobiology, and quantum physics—to awaken your true health and potential through energy healing.

Eighteen years ago, health pioneer and practitioner Dr. Sue Morter had a remarkable and profound awakening. While meditating, she spontaneously accessed an energy field—a level of consciousness—beyond anything she had ever imagined. This dramatic experience changed her life, freeing her from years of struggle and pain.

It also set Dr. Morter on a mission to discover how to create such radical transformation for her patients. Through years of advanced study and research in energy healing and medicine, she developed the Energy Codes, a life-changing program that has now enabled thousands of people all over the world to overcome pain, disease, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and to awaken their innate creativity, intuition, and inner power.

Bridging ancient healing practices with cutting-edge science, The Energy Codes offers a detailed road map to help you experience deep healing in your life. Grounded in practical, accessible exercises, including yoga, breathwork, meditations, and Dr. Morter’s proprietary B.E.S.T. protocol, The Energy Codes will help you activate untapped energy and neurocircuitry in your body, empower your hidden potential, and become one with your true, essential self.

Prepare to change your life by changing your energy.

Charles Dickens – Scenes from an Extraordinary Life by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom

This graphic biography for middle grade heartens with the story of Charles Dickens – one of the greatest writers of all time who wrote Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist among many other famous stories.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was born in Portsmouth, England during the age of war and Industrial Revolution. He witnessed the poverty and abuse and sympathized with those less fortunate.

His father was the wages clerk for the Royal Navy, and his job moved him and his family from place to place. He inherited his comic voice from his mother, which he used with his talent for story telling from early age. He entertained grow-ups at local inns.

For a while, the family lived close to a small theatre where songs came through the thin walls and the whole family would often join in dancing. When the family moved to London and his father no longer could afford to pay for his education, Charles stayed home, reading books, including Robinson Crusoe.

In 1823, at eleven, Charles got lost in the bustling streets of London which were filled with pickpockets, rogues and other characters which later appeared in his stories.

Theatres were the cheap entertainment of the day. Charles had his own toy theatre. From early age, he wrote and acted in some of his own plays.

His father had no sense of managing money. Thus, leaving family in much debt. Charles was forced by his parents to work at factory at twelve.

His father was sent to debtor’s prison. After he paid his debt thanks to his small inheritance from his mother, Charles was sent back to school. But it was his father’s decision. His mother wanted him to stay and work at factory. Charles felt bitter about this throughout his life.

When his father’s money troubles continued, Charles left school for good in 1827 and became a lawyer’s office boy. In his spare time, with a fellow clerk, they performed at a local theatre.

At sixteen, in 1828, he got a position as a newspaper reporter. He also began to write short stories which began to be published regularly. He became friend of editor whose daughter enchanted Charles, and they got married in 1836.

At twenty-five, Charles wrote a news series for a magazine. He immersed himself into creating characters by mimicking them. He looked in the mirror and made facial contortions or talked rapidly in a low voice.

In 1838, he visited the infamous Yorkshire schools to which unwanted boys were sent and treated badly. This led him to writing Nicholas Nickleby.

In 1842, he visited the US and was treated like a superstar followed by a multitude.

In 1843, A Christmas Carol became favorite Christmas fairy tale.

In 1850, he wandered for miles at night, revisiting some old sites, including the factory and the place nearby where he stayed. This place continued to haunt him even when he was happy. This led him to write David Copperfield.

In 1851, his fascination for detectives inspired him to invent one of the first fictional police detectives.

In 1865, he narrowly escaped death while travelling by steam train. Only five years later, at fifty-eight, worn out by his hectic life-style and before completing The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens dies.

This is a graphic novel for ages 8-12. Thus, illustrations are big part of this storytelling, and both are beautiful and touching. Presented with fairly simple sentences, this story can be read by the target audience. Some painful memories that stayed with Dickens are well-dramatized so it touches human emotions. And it’s well-presented how Dickens used his painful experiences and observations as tool in his storytelling which touched multitude of people.

Source: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2011

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Dickens used his painful experiences and observations as tool in his storytelling which touched multitude of people.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         He grew up during the time of wars and Industrial Revolution. He witnessed the poverty and abuse and sympathized with those less fortunate. Those observations influenced his writing.

·         He used his comic voice with his talent for story telling from early age.

·         When his father no longer could afford to pay for his education, Charles stayed home, reading books.

·         When he got lost in the bustling streets of London which were filled with pickpockets, rogues and other characters, what he observed later appeared in his stories.

·         From early age, he wrote and acted in some of his own plays.

·         In his spare time, with a fellow clerk, they performed at a local theatre.

·         While working as a newspaper reporter, in his spare time, he started to write short stories which began to be published regularly.

·         When he wrote a news series for a magazine, he also immersed himself into creating characters by mimicking them.

·         His fascination for detectives inspired him to invent one of the first fictional police detectives.

·         Throughout his life, he found jobs that kept him close to what he loved to do and meanwhile was writing what was close to his heart.

 

 

 

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” – A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

“Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

 

 

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Discover Your Dharma – A Vedic Guide to Finding Your Purpose by Sahara Rose – host of Highest Self Podcast.

The dharma discovery journey talks about five stages: self-awareness, self-improvement, awakening, higher consciousness, stepping into your dharma. As you read those descriptions, you can identify at which stage you are.

It further explains, three paths to following dharma: leap – as it sounds, for example, quitting a job, investing all money, moving to a new country. Transition – for example, you keep your regular job and use your free time for what you love to do, but you have to be committed to do it on regular basis. Accidental discovery – for example you take a class that was required or someone asked you to do it with them, and you fell in love with what was done during that class and it becomes your passion and way of living.

Then, dharma is connected with three phases of dosha: vata – visionary who thinks outside the box; pitta – ambitious, driven individual; kapha – empathetic, generous soul.

Our life should be a cycle through those three phases of dosha, but some of us get stuck in one phase for life.

Thus, understanding ourselves and our actions, which comes down to consciousness/awareness, will make us move naturally through those phases.

This book gives a lot of practical examples, so it’s easy to grasp. Everything is encoded inside us. They key is to discover what it is. One of the ways of finding out is to pay attention what triggers us. Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, and you need to ask yourself what was the lesson to be learned. A lot of times, we assume or project things, which is a distortion, opposite of discovering the truth. When you feel being pulled towards something, then you should follow it. Keep exploring. Be curious. Those are directions of your dharma.

Who Was Joan of Arc? by Pam Pollack

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade encourages with the story of Joan of Arc – a poor peasant girl who after having visions became a warrior who led an army into battle.

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was born in the village of Domremy, France, where she cared for the family’s cattle and sheep.

In 1420, a treaty was signed that France would be ruled by Charles of England who was part French. But some French people felt betrayed by the French king, Charles VI. After his death, French people fought between themselves who should be the king of France.

During this turmoil time, in 1425, one day when Joan was working in the garden, she heard someone calling her name, but she only saw a bright light.

The third time, she heard the voice, she recognized the archangel Michael. In her time, visions from God didn’t seem so extraordinary.

When she was sixteen, she was told to be destined to help the dauphin become king. She didn’t know how she could do such thing but her faith was very strong and she kept praying.

In 1428, her village of Domremy was raided by the French soldiers who sided with England. She was able to make her way to the commander Robert de Baudricourt, but he didn’t believe her vision. She was so determined that he wrote to the dauphin about her. Charles agreed to the meeting.

Per saints’ request, she was to cut her hair and dress like a boy. She was given directions from saints each step of the way.

A letter was sent to the English commanders telling them to leave France on God’s orders. Her request was ignored.

On April 29, 1429, she arrived outside Orleans with two hundred soldiers. They won the battle but Charles had to be crowned at cathedral in order to be the king of France. Many cities were still occupied by the English. Joan and her army captured one town after another.

On July 16, 1429, they arrived in Reims, and a day later, the dauphin was crowned King Charles VII at the cathedral.

Many cities were still held by the English, including Paris, which Joan wanted to give back to the French people. There were a few attempts to approach the city, but Joan was failing for the first time. She grew impatient as she didn’t like waiting.

Over in England, in November 1429, the young son of Henry V was crowned king of France. Now, France had two kings.

In the spring of 1430, Joan was given permission to capture a French town from the English. She was captured and put on trial. She was nineteen. The Catholic Church tried to prove that she was a witch. And being dressed in men’s clothes was seen as crime. She was found guilty. When she faced a horrible death and was scared, she signed a note promising to stop wearing men’s clothes, to never fight in a war again, and the all voices she heard were lie.

Her head was shaved and she was sent back to the tower. Three days later, the saints told her that she had done a terrible thing by signing the false confession. She took it all back. She was burned at stakes.

In 1453, when the English were driven out of France, Charles VII finally came to her defense and reopened her case.

In 1456, the Church reversed its decision and declared Joan innocent.

In 1920, she was declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

This biography exemplifies a young girl who had incredible strength, was very courageous, and was strongly religious. Her faith led her to achieve what would seem unachievable for a peasant girl who couldn't read and write. The strong connection to the Higher Power is what creates miracles. 

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2016

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Spend time in nature in order to reconnect with natural instincts. In Joan of Arc’s time, visions from God seemed natural.  

 

 

 

Traits:

·         She was a poor peasant girl who didn’t know how to read and write yet showed incredible strength, courage and faith.

·         Without training or experience, she stood up to enemy soldiers, kings and the powerful Church.

·         Despite Charles VII not coming to her defense when she was captured, she still believed him to be the right king.

·         Despite so many powerful men holding power over her, she parted with the last words to forgive everyone who had hurt her.

·         She proved that even the most disadvantaged can accomplish great things, be part of something very meaningful.

·         Her impatience might have been the reason why she got captured. Patience is something that many of us have to work on.

“I am not afraid… I was born to do this.” – Joan of Arc

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 The story of Joan of Arc and the time that she lived in brought to my mind the ancient wisdom. How much of it reconfirms, for example, having visions as a natural thing, not some kind of phenomenon as it’s seen in modern time. 

Recently, I started reaching more and more for different sources of ancient wisdom. One of them is a podcast with Gregg Braden who has dedicated his life to studying native tribes and the ancient wisdom they hold, and making it accessible by bridging modern science, ancient wisdom, and human potential.

Podcast: @bestofGreggBraden and @GreggBradenOfficial

The God Code by Gregg Braden – A scholar and New York Times –bestselling author shares his shocking theory of an ancient language — found in the decoded elements of our DNA—that shines new light on the mysteries of existence.

What would it mean to discover an ancient language—a literal message—hidden within the DNA of life itself? What we once believed of our past is about to change.
 
A coded message has been found within the molecules of life, deep within the DNA in each cell of our bodies. Through a remarkable discovery linking Biblical alphabets to our genetic code, the “language of life” may now be read as the ancient letters of a timeless message. Regardless of race, religion, heritage, or lifestyle, the message is the same in each cell of every woman, child, and man, past and present.
 
Sharing all-new, fascinating research, Gregg Braden discusses the life-changing discovery that led him from a successful career in the aerospace and defense industries to an extensive 12-year study of the most sacred and honored traditions of humankind.

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne by Laura Alary

 The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne sheds light on this incredible woman who with her super curious mind found herself among men who told her she couldn’t be an astronomer and those who doubted her discovery, but she knew what she wanted and persisted even when she had moments of doubt.  

At the age of eight, Cecilia discovered bee orchid flower growing in England when her mother said it was impossible. But it turned out to be possible. From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in. This only increased her curiosity in the wonders of nature.

What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it.

Her teacher, seeing her inquisitiveness, encouraged her to read anything she wanted. So she did.

At twelve, she moved to London to study. She felt out of place like the bee orchid. Other children didn’t understand her interests, but she knew what she wanted.

Discoveries at Cambridge Observatory made her decide to be an astronomer. There, she began to explore the sky for herself. But often she was the only woman in her astronomy classes at Cambridge, even more not welcomed by some professors. Again, she felt isolated like the bee orchid.

This made her cross the ocean to study at Harvard where she was surrounded by other women studying the stars.

At the time, it was believed that stars were made of the same stuff as Earth, Cecilia reached a different conclusion. Others said it was impossible. As we grow and let others influence us, the same happened to Cecilia for the first time she doubted herself. She didn’t stay true to her natural instincts, but she was right in her discoveries, and it took a few years for others to catch up with her discovery.

When she became a professor at Harvard University, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

This biography is beautifully written with interesting illustrations supporting the text. I loved it how it began with her discovering a flower out of place and how the meaning of it followed her throughout her life. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in harsh circumstances. It’s a human nature to doubt oneself. Life is not about the falls (which stops many) but how you rise up and pivot. It’s a truly touching and inspiring biography for children, ages 7-14 years.

Source: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, January 2026

 

 

  

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Cecilia Payne as a child discovered bee orchid growing in England which was unusual. As the plant, she felt out of place throughout her life while pursuing her passion. It’s a symbolic reminder that if a flower can bloom in a place that it never did, then a human being can adapt as well, and flourish even in challenging circumstances.

 

 

 

Traits:

·         From young age, she had a natural instinct to trust in what she believed in, especially after finding bee orchid growing in England and being told it was impossible.

·         What other children saw as ordinary in nature, Cecilia saw something extraordinary in it. She was well connected with nature. Thus, understood her natural instincts better.

·         She was encouraged to nurture her unusual curiosity, and she constantly did.

·         Even if others didn’t understand her interests, she knew what she wanted. She stood steadfast in her believes.

·         As we mature, and let others influence us, we lose our natural instincts, and that’s what happened to Cecilia. When she made a new discovery at Harvard and others said it was impossible, for the first time she doubted herself.

·         When she became a professor at Harvard University, and after learning her lesson not to doubt herself again, she encouraged her students to look carefully, measure accurately, and to trust themselves even if someone doubted them.

 

 

 “No ideas should be suppressed. (…) We must not forget that some of the best ideas seemed like nonsense at first. The truth will prevail in the end.” – Cecilia Payne

 

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 Dear Universe 365 by Sarah Prout; each day presents a transformative force, showing how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. The core of this transformation is the Law of Attraction. We’re an integral part of the Universe. “By maintaining awareness of your energetic state and choosing to align with higher frequencies you create a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.”

February is dedicated to connection and relationships.

For example, February 3 brings a message of empathy. “You possess the incredible gift of empathy, a bridge that connects hearts and minds. Empathy allows you to walk in another’s shoes, to feel their joy, their pain, and their dreams. Embrace this gift, letting it guide you in your interactions with others. Show kindness and understanding for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. Through empathy, you create a ripple effect of compassion and love that touches lives in profound ways. Listen with your heart, offer your support, and be a source of comfort and strength. In practicing empathy, you not only uplift others but also elevate your own spirit, creating a world that is more connected, caring, and humane.”