by Diane Williams | Jan 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
This classic novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, was set in Eatonville, Florida in the ’30s. It chronicles African-American Janie Crawford’s quest for love, freedom and her voice. On her journey, she overcomes dependence, gender issues, and tragedies at the hand of three husbands. Janie is feisty, full of opinions and deeply desires the love of a man, which she equates with being independent.
Janie was raised by her slave-born grandmother, who wanted a prosperous life for her only grandchild, whom she loved more than she loved her own daughter. Grandma too believes that a man is Janie’s answer, but not just any man. It must be a man with means to a prosperous-filled life.
Her grandmother arranges for her to marry Logan Killicks. Janie has clear guidelines on the responsibilities of men and women in marriage: The man’s role is outside working the land, while the woman’s job is in the home. Logan, on the other hand, has very different ideas. He believes the woman’s role is to serve her husband in any task and whenever he requests.
As time passes, Janie claims she is repulsed by Logan, who acts as if he is her Master and she the slave. She is certain her dream of romance and love is not happening with Logan; she divorces him.
Soon after Janie leaps into the arms of charming, ambitious Joe Stalks. Quickly she becomes Mrs. Stalks, the wife of the mayor, owner of the town’s only general store, and the most successful and respected African-American man in Eatonville.
Unfortunately, Stalks the charmer quickly transforms into a controlling overbearing tyrant, denying Janie her independence. He demands that Janie covers her head and be submissive to him at all times. At a town event, Stalks has just given a speech, and someone from the audience requested Janie to speak. Without a flinch, Stalks unveils his true feelings: “She’s uh woman and her place is in de home.”’ Consequently, her love fades and she closes herself up like the petals on a flower, until his demise.
Janie meets Tea Cake, an attractive, seductive young man (about 12 years her junior. Tea Cake worked odd jobs and had an addiction to gambling. Though Tea Cake sparked her interest, she was a bit hesitant because of her past marriages and his status. One day on the porch with the townspeople, Tea Cake invited her to play checkers. When she told him she didn’t know how to play he offered to teach her. Janie, totally surprised, dashed to the table: “Somebody wanted her to play. Somebody thought it natural for her to play. That was even nice. She looked him over and got little thrills from every one of his good points.” Tea Cake taught her how to fish and how to shoot a gun and she began to express her opinions and make decisions. She felt worthy, independent and valued as a woman.
The title, Their Eyes Were Watching God, explains the book totally by metaphorically describing the way people tend to look to others for answers. Janie’s journey shows that when she listens to her grandmother about marrying her first husband and when she turns to her second husband to help her reach the horizon, she isn’t being true to herself. Janie explains, “Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh themselves . . . They got tuh go tuh God and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.” Consequently, after 24 years, three husbands and life’s tragedies, Janie finds her voice in the patriotic society, and she gives all the credit to Tea Cake.
Zora Neale Hurston was an acclaimed author folklorist, activist, and anthropologist during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Of Hurston’s four novels and more than 50 published articles, short stories, plays, and essays, she is best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God. In 1937 she won a Guggenheim fellowship. Hurston attended Barnard College and Howard University.
I highly recommend reading this book., It is written in rhythm, which is no surprise since Hurston was a folklorist. The author’s style is deceptively simple, and the book is predominantly written in dialogue. Hurston narrates her story in a vernacular speech, and she successfully uses southern dialect to capture the uniqueness of the vale of tears in which her characters reside. She allows her characters to use humor and storytelling to showcase their individuality. Hurston strongly depicts the language and culture; in the deep south. it almost feels as if one has been there.
by Diane Williams | Nov 11, 2018 | Uncategorized
At age 43, Diane Williams had fallen and didn’t want to get up. She wanted out of a life that placed so many limitations on her. After receiving a diagnosis of chronic crippling rheumatoid arthritis; the demise of her mother, her anchor; and her husband’s departure to do life without her and their two young daughters.
Williams soon realized that “giving up” was not an option. She forged ahead, with the assistance and support of her two daughters, who stepped into the role of her caregivers. In her memoir, The Invisible Child, she chronicles the first 10 years of “parenting on her back.”
This new reality disrupted the lives of her minor daughters, as they had to adjust to living with new demands, chaos, restraints, adult responsibilities, as well as the unimaginable life experiences of their mother’s special needs, and their absentee father.
Williams tells the story of her physical disabilities and the emotional avalanche she endured while learning to “parent on her back.” Williams learned to face her situation and accept what she could not control and focus instead on what she could. She captures the powerful uninvited restraints and pleasures that caregiving placed on her daughters. With a fierce determination to raise her daughters to be flourishing young ladies,. Williams turned inwards to develop an undeniable faith that moves mountains.
The Invisible Child is a story of triumph against all odds, and also a warm heartfelt, moving saga of unconditional love in a family that got past the turmoil to garner unfathomable strength, in the process carving out a life focused on solutions that leads to individual accomplishment, success, and peace.
In The Invisible Child, along with Williams’ debut book, Angels in Action, her speeches, and articles deliver the same message: ”Giving up is not an option…instead. “live life fearlessly, never giving up.”
by Diane Williams | Jun 21, 2018 | Uncategorized
The Positive Thinking Secret by Aaron Kennard. Author Kennard begins the first chapter telling us his secret: “We are truly amazing and every day is a good day, and every event in our lives is good. All things work together for good.” Kennard repeats those words throughout his book so often I am led to believe that this is not only this his secret, but his daily mantra.
His life is everything he ever wanted. He is a hardworking, loving devoted husband, father, worker and community leader who is happy and never encountered any personal hardships; life was good, his faith unshakable, his spirits high. He loved life and living.
Then life began to test Kennard’s faith. He triumphed over adversities: first, the unexpected painful breech birth of his fourth child, who took twenty-one seconds to release a resounding wail. After that victory, his faith continued to be tested. Kennard contracted a sudden traumatic illness: ulcerative colitis. Through it all, this author candidly narrates his inspiring story.
At the onset of Kennard’s illness, he remained steadfast in his faith. He believed he would be healed and he believed the illness was for a good reason, embracing the moment and seeking for the best possible message. As the scripture says: God works all things for good.
Kennard sets up each chapter taking his readers on his journey to recovery. He uses sensory words, vivid descriptions, and raw details to describe his battle with tragic illness. At times I was on the verge of puking. Yet I continued to read. To my amazement I was so invested in his story I almost forgot he was literally writing about his untamed waste. He sparks curiosity with his intriguing cliffhangers at the end of the chapters.
However, I understand why the author so graphically described his experiences. He did it to demonstrate that he could have chosen to see his situation as doomed and himself as a victim, or he could choose to see the circumstances as Napoleon Hill states, “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” And he chose the latter.
Kennard’s use of sensory words takes you to the edge of his experience and he pulls you back in with biblical scriptures and words of hope. The reaction to your adverse circumstances is yours. Kennard reminds the readers of this on almost every page and it appears so frequently it plays like a mantra, “You are truly amazing. It’s your choice to believe and receive it or not.” Kennard also supports his mantra in Romans 8:28 that all things work for goods to them that love the lord.
As the days passed, the gravity of his situation worsened. Then life handed him another situation over which he had very little or no control. His illness affected his son. The child displayed horrific emotional outbursts. Kennard confessed to feeling powerless and at one point he gave in. Kennard’s faith coupled with his confidence began to wane, and he even prayed for death. Instead, he received life…A full recovery.
Kennard believed that experiencing the devastating tragic disease provided him with passion, empathy, and understanding for others enduring a traumatic hardship in their lives.
Reading Kennard’s inspiring story, I don‘t doubt that readers will connect to his life: praying and rooting for his family and, in the end, rejoicing about his transformation. This book provides hope, faith, and motivation for people seeking a transformation.
by Diane Williams | Jun 21, 2018 | Uncategorized
Author Kennard begins the first chapter telling us his secret: “We are truly amazing and every day is a good day, and every event in our lives is good. All things work together for good.” Kennard repeats those words throughout his book so often I am led to believe that this is not only this his secret, but his daily mantra.
His life is everything he ever wanted. He is a hardworking, loving devoted husband, father, worker and community leader who is happy and never encountered any personal hardships; life was good, his faith unshakable, his spirits high. He loved life and living.
Then life began to test Kennard’s faith. He triumphed over adversities: first, the unexpected painful breech birth of his fourth child, who took twenty-one seconds to release a resounding wail. After that victory, his faith continued to be tested. Kennard contracted a sudden traumatic illness: ulcerative colitis. Through it all, this author candidly narrates his inspiring story.
At the onset of Kennard’s illness, he remained steadfast in his faith. He believed he would be healed and he believed the illness was for a good reason, embracing the moment and seeking for the best possible message. As the scripture says: God works all things for good.
Kennard sets up each chapter taking his readers on his journey to recovery. He uses sensory words, vivid descriptions, and raw details to describe his battle with tragic illness. At times I was on the verge of puking. Yet I continued to read. To my amazement I was so invested in his story I almost forgot he was literally writing about his untamed waste. He sparks curiosity with his intriguing cliffhangers at the end of the chapters.
However, I understand why the author so graphically described his experiences. He did it to demonstrate that he could have chosen to see his situation as doomed and himself as a victim, or he could choose to see the circumstances as Napoleon Hill states, “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” And he chose the latter.
Kennard’s use of sensory words takes you to the edge of his experience and he pulls you back in with biblical scriptures and words of hope. The reaction to your adverse circumstances are yours. Kennard reminds the readers of this on almost every page and it appears so frequently it plays like a mantra, “You are truly amazing. It’s your choice to believe and receive it or not.” Kennard also supports his mantra in Romans 8:28 that all things work for goods to them that love the lord.
As the days passed, the gravity of his situation worsened. Then life handed him another situation over which he had very little or no control. His illness affected his son. The child displayed horrific emotional outbursts. Kennard confessed to feeling powerless and at one point he gave in. Kennard’s faith coupled with his confidence began to wane, and he even prayed for death. Instead he received life…A full recovery.
Kennard believed that experiencing the devastating tragic disease provided him with passion, empathy, and understanding for others enduring a traumatic hardship in their lives.
Reading Kennard’s inspiring story, I don‘t doubt that readers will connect to his life: praying and rooting for his family and, in the end, rejoicing about his transformation. This book provides hope, faith and motivation for people seeking a transformation.
by M@sterWriter | May 22, 2018 | Uncategorized
Like many youngsters, Steve Nash, grew up wanting to be a professional basketball player. Nash made his dream known to his coach, who tried to dissuade him by telling him he was a “regular guy” — a strong player but not great. Nash at 6-foot-1 was considered short compared to the typical basketball player, and he lived in a remote area, Victoria, Canada, far away from where scouts recruited. (more…)
by M@sterWriter | May 15, 2018 | Uncategorized
Just as our experiences in life change, so do our perspectives. We want to ensure that our perspectives are always evolving, helping us to develop into amazing people, allowing us to practice living a life with an everlasting positive attitude, and abundantly increasing our prosperity.
Here are 5 proven keys to unlock the doors to new perspectives?
(more…)
At age 43, Diane Williams had fallen and didn’t want to get up. She wanted out of a life that placed so many limitations on her. After receiving a diagnosis of chronic crippling rheumatoid arthritis; the demise of her mother, her anchor; and her husband’s departure to do life without her and their two young daughters.
The Positive Thinking Secret by Aaron Kennard. Author Kennard begins the first chapter telling us his secret: “We are truly amazing and every day is a good day, and every event in our lives is good. All things work together for good.” Kennard repeats those words throughout his book so often I am led to believe that this is not only this his secret, but his daily mantra.
