58: What If the Life You’re Waiting For Is Already Happening? | Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh – Badass Books and Besties
Beautiful souls, I hope you had a wonderful three-day weekend and did something special to celebrate the incredible Martin Luther King, Jr. I am such a fan of his work, as I am sure we all are, or rather hopefully are! His impact using nonviolence and strong speeches truly made a difference in our world. When you think of him, the belief that one person can change the world resonates so perfectly.
I remember sharing his story when I was an elementary school librarian and the students so thoroughly enjoyed learning more about him – there’s such a fantastic variety of books to choose from to share with the students! I read to my children, “I am Martin Luther King, Jr” by Brad Meltzer. Meltzer does an incredible job of sharing his story in a way that is very accessible for young children. My daughter (4 years old) really enjoyed how it was told (and was especially shocked at some parts).
I most definitely recommend this one for #mlkday or any other moment you want your children to understand the beauty of loving one another, no matter the color of their skin.
If you’d like a copy of the book, find one on Amazon or on Bookshop.
I want to take a moment and share some of the powerful quotes that are still such an impactful reminder today:
- “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
- “The time is always right to do what is right.”
- “Keep feeling the need for being important. Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be the first in love. I want you to be the first in moral excellence. I want you to be the first in generosity.”
- “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
- “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
- “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
Ahh, the goal of true education – this one really hits home for me, as I believe this should be the true mission of schools. To help us think critically, understand the world & various cultures, appreciate & be grateful for one another, and also to build a strong moral compass. THIS is what education should be about – not sitting behind a desk constantly testing, stripping away our creative juices. School should be about empowering the students to explore their interests and hone their gifts, so as to truly flourish.
As you might be able to tell, I am ALL about quality education. After spending ten years in the public school system, I learned so much about how we shuffle so many of our kids through schools just to be push them out into the real world without the skills they need to be truly successful. Now, that’s not to say there aren’t some amazing schools out there, of course…I’ve just seen the inside and it’s not always pretty.
BUT – that is not the goal, or main idea as an educator would say, of today’s episode.
Femme Fire Books
Today I will be sharing an interview with you from Vanessa of Femme Fire Books! As we’ve been discussing so far – celebrating one another for our differences is essential for spreading love and empathy in our world today. Her goal is to “celebrate diversity in literature and encourage reading for all. Femme Fire Books offers a diverse range of books reflecting the incredible cultural melting pot of what America represents.” When you browse books in her online or brick & mortar store, you’ll find a variety of titles, topics, authors, and genres to choose from. She has EVERYTHING you might be looking for from adult fiction & non-fiction, self-help, feminism, children, thriller…you name it, she’s got it!
She also has this super fun idea called ‘Blind Date with a Book’ where she wraps the book up (to hide its title and cover that people often judge) and then puts a short summary on the front. This way, you can essentially – go on a blind date with a book! If you’re like me, I absolutely love a great cover, so this one seemed like such a fun idea to read something you might have walked on past.
If you’re a small business owner (or wish to be) and/or you have a love of books, this is a must listen! She shares some tangible advice you can make TODAY to get started on your journey.
She has created an incredible online business, which led to her opening her own brick and mortar store, but it hasn’t always been easy. The road to her success has been paved with supportive friends & family, but there were still moments she needed to push through to reach her desired level of success.
I hope you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one, as much as I loved chatting with her!
There is so much goodness to be heard and I hope you find some motivation to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. You can achieve anything, girlfriend, I believe in you!
Follow her online on Instagram at Femme Fire Books or check it out at her online store Femme Books Website.
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Keep embracing diversity and chasing your dreams, besties! Your unique story adds richness to our shared journey. 🌈📖💪