Cupid and Psyche - a beautiful MYTH turned into a Sleep Story

For over a year now, I've been having trouble sleeping at night. Doing some research online I found out this outstanding website (also a mobile app) called CALM which not only has helped me sleep much better every night but also it has instilled in me a new found love for meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques to ease my anxiety levels at times.

There is a section in this website/app designed exclusively for SLEEP STORIES. They go from well-known fairy tales, to travel stories and even myths all of which are adapted to make anyone go to sleep. It has worked WONDERS for me ever since I started listening to these.

Such is my fascination with them that I've already listened to all of them more than once and I can now share with you, on a regular basis, some of my favourites:

Today's favourite is a Greek MYTH called "Cupid and Psyche" written by Apuleius in his book "The Golden Ass". Being five pages long, it would be very long for a single blog post so I share the PDF which you can easily read online, download or even print.

I hope you like it as much as I do. Pretty soon, I'll be sharing some other favourite sleep stories from this fantastic website.

Give it a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

See you soon!

Stay safe :)

Do people have FREE WILL?

It's been a while since my latest blog post but here I am again with a new essay I've written for a course in NEUROECONOMICS (Introduction To Neuroeconomics: How The Brain Makes Decisions) I'm currently working on using COURSERA

One of the peer-graded assignments I had to do was to write about the topic of FREE WILL with the prompt: Do people have free will or is it an illusion? Is neuroeconomics the death of free will? The word limit was 500 so this is it. I hope you like it and feel free to leave a comment and share it with other people.

These views are my own. No copyright infringement. Sources are cited at the end of the essay.

We are made to believe that for those of us who live in a democracy we have such freedoms as  freedom of speech or freedom of religion to name a few but the real question to discuss here is whether or not we have free will.

When I started thinking how to approach this question I thought of more than one perspective to consider it from. Two of these will be taken into account: the religious/moral perspective and the psychological perspective.

To begin with, some people who believe in God and Catholicism have no second thoughts when stating “God gave you FREE WILL” meaning, in my opinion, that you are free to choose what you want to do. Nonetheless, digging deeper into this notion can lead to further inquiries such as: how free any individual can be to choose what they want to do without feeling guilty, remorseful or selfish in religious terms right? There is plenty to be said about this concept in religion but I will leave you with this excerpt I took from Wikipedia discussing the concept of FREE WILL in the Roman Catholic Church:

The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church asserts that "Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will".[1] It goes on to say that "God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. God willed that man should be 'left in the hand of his own counsel,' so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.""[2]

Secondly, psychology being a science which studies people and their behaviours brings a new light to religion not being the only field capable of explaining choices. Considering this matter, there are professionals in the field who try to explain the way in which the brain functions when faced with a decision to make. Doctor Danil Razeev made a compelling argument discussing this topic. This is his lecture on it: "Can Neuroscience Measure Free Will?". Another opinion on the subject matter wrote an editorial on the web and this is an excerpt I found to be quite interesting:

“How can a person make self-determined choices, make sense of the world, and even self-actualize when neuroscientific evidence seems to indicate that our brains are making decisions before we even realize it? Are we claiming responsibility for events that have little or nothing to do with conscious intention?” [3]

All things being considered, it is my personal opinion that the notion of free will is subjective to the person and the place where they live, the governments they have and the desire each of them have to do what they feel is right for them as long as it does not forfeit another individual’s right to do and act the same way.

Citations:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will_in_theology “Roman Catholic” third paragraph , end of quotation 34

[2] ] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will_in_theology “Roman Catholic” third paragraph , end of quotation 34

[3] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/proceed-your-own-risk/201311/do-we-have-free-will Paragraph 10 - Editorial written by Seth Schwartz Ph.D.

Why is justice boring and useless and stupid?

The following is an OUTSTANDING explanation from Professor John Holbo on the Coursera Online Course about Reason and Persuasion regarding Plato's Republic. One of the Dialogues refers to Thrasymachus and the way in which he perceives and explains the notion of JUSTICE.

Below, you'll read Holbo's down-to-earth terrific explanation:

1) Justice is politically and socially non-explanatory. Studying justice doesn't help you understand how things work around the place. Because they don’t work justly. Life is unfair, kid! Thus, if you want to understand life, study not-fair.

2) Justice is personally undesirable. Practising justice is no way to get ahead in business or anywhere else. It’s a risky, thankless pain.

By contrast, injustice is interesting, useful and smart. Which brings us the flip-sides to 1 and 2.

3) Injustice is politically explanatory. Most of what happens in politics and society, in life, happens because someone is taking unfair advantage of someone else. This is the norm, not the exception.

4) Injustice is personally desirable. Pursuing injustice gets you what you want.

This is complicated because 2) and 4) are more like rules of thumb. (Think about why that is.)

But really this is complicated because of

5), make sure to call it 'justice' when you are pursuing injustice. And call what the just people are doing 'unjust', for good measure. (It's safer that way!)

Consistent with 5, you should label this theory of injustice 'a theory of justice'. And I think that's pretty much what Thrasymachus does.

Personality is an illusion

Throughout generations, people have always found various ways to generate, maintain, or even break personal relationships. Attitudes, behaviour and personality traits are all synonyms to define one individual in relation to another. Whether these attributes are fictitious is still to be revealed.

To begin with, the first social circle toddlers are introduced to is family. They are nurtured not only with basic needs such as food, clothing and hygene but also with values which involve behaving accordingly in certain situations with different social groups. These characteristics will accompany them during their early elementary school years when they are exposed to diverse personality types and start to be influenced by some more than others.

Furthermore, children continue growing up both physically and emotionally and, as a result, their bodies as well as their feelings change - wat they used to feel and how they used to behave at an early age are no longer a reality. This is the time when they develop into teenagers and as such they experience a wide range of emotions that they had not been aware of before - the interaction with parents changes dramatically whereas the close-knit group of friends becomes sacrosanct.

Finally, with the coming-of-age, young adults begin a new challenge when they step out of high school, and delve into university life and, in some cases, working life as well. While their basic feelings and personal traits remain, society at large makes these individuals adapt to a rapidly-evolving world where major fluctuations occur in their attitudes towards their families, friends or peers.

To sum up, even if we as individuals carry a set of traits with us from our early years, our social surroundings will inevitably force us to decide how we need to behave which, in turn, will create, preserve or destroy who we are supposed to be.

The use of technology in current relationships

Following the sequence of Essays being written for the IELTS course I attended in London last January, I give you my... third one?  Or is it the fourth one? I've lost count already. I hope you enjoy it. Share it, like it, comment on it or just let it be... LOL

Nowadays, the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the type of relationships people make? Has this become a positive or negative development?

The introduction of technology in our everyday lives has deeply influenced not only how the world is seen but also how individuals affect one another.

One way in which people have been changed is by the use of personal computers, smartboards and even mobile phones in the classroom. The number of schools implementing these devices as learning tools is growing exponentially. This means that, more and more, teachers and students are both becoming active participants in the classroom, giving the opportunity for students to debate or even challenge sources regarding a specific area of knowledge.

Another way in which these developments have modified people's behaviour towards each other is in the field of family relationships. Even though technological devices such as mobile phones can bring families together, they can sometimes cause family feuds which may result in drastic outcomes such as leaving the family home. What's more, online gaming has been gaining adepts at such a young age that it makes it even more complex for parents to have a simple day-to-day conversation.

Finally, students at university or even young adults who are beginning to become more independent find, in the use of smartphone applications, an outlet to socialise and, eventually, on some occasions, to find a life partner.

Overall, considering the dangers that technology may pose in people's lives, the benefits outweigh the limitations.

Being involved in the Arts makes people feel better.

As promised, my beloved blog readers, here I am (come and take me... LOL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OVIPgbFh6M) giving you my second Essay Assignment while attending the preparatory course for Cambridge IELTS Exam.

Nowadays, people get too stressed trying to make ends meet every month. The opportunity for participating in activities outside work creates a sense of fulfillment that changes people's mindsets. Art can be said to have amazing effects on most people. What needs to be considered is  "the remaining few".

Let's start by stating that any kind of artistic expression is always welcome when the need to release energy is present in any individual. Examples can be found in several famous people such as Van Gogh, Poe, Da Vinci, to name a few. They didn't have an easy life so they discovered that channeling their emotions through Art would help them feel better.

Conversely, the constant criticism, being in the spotlight, or even having the feeling that it is never enough, makes other people feel frustrated or even depressed leading, in some unfortunate cases, to fatal outcomes. Such are the cases of famous celebrities either on TV or in films.

All being said, given the fact that Art is considered a positive outlet for expressing feelings and boosting self-esteem in people, there are still some issues that need to be taken into consideration as well. Nonetheless, I still encourage the promotion of Art as a means to develop people's confidence and a sense of bliss.

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF SINGLE SEX EDUCATION. HOW YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE EDUCATED IN THIS CONTEXT?

Beginning with this post  - and through the following 3 posts - you, my beloved blog readers, will read a series of first-draft essays on various topics as a result of my preparatory course for the IELTS Exam in London this last January. I will not include my professor's comments because you might get bored but you are DEFINITELY free to comment on anything you want. Thank you very much in advance.

DRAFT 1.

We live in a world where gender differentiation is still controversial. Even though, equality has been achieved in education for both men and women, there are still schools which foster single-sex education. This can have advantages and disadvantages.

To begin with, one of the advantages of single-sex education is that children at a very young age may find it easier to interact with their classmates. This means that they will build more self-confidence, which, in turn, will result in better communication skills with others. Another mentionable benefit is less distraction in the classroom. This refers to the idea of feeling less anxious to know what the opposite sex is all about, to say it vaguely.

Nevertheless, there are some drawbacks to this type of instruction. One limitation is the struggle they may have t face when they finish school and go out into the world. The coexistence of men and women is out there and this type of segregation means a new adjustment for both sexes to live together. Another disadvantage is the type of curriculum both genders learn at school. Considering the fact that women tend to mature faster than men, it is difficult to create equality in this area.

All in all, young people, in my opinion, should have the opportunity to develop as many skills as possible no matter the gender. They should be given the same academic knowledge together with tools that might help them cope with the opposite sex.

A Harrowing Evening

This is the first draft of a short story I'm starting to write as a result of a Course in Writing Fiction I'm currently working on. There is still much to work on and more details and editing need to be given but I wanted to give it away anyway. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

"I dragged her as if I were carrying a chair around" the TV news anchor reported from interviewing HIM.

Those words resonated in my mind for hours. Awful images popping in my head. The utter horror of it all. The desperate screaming for help. The excrutiating anguish - but, most importantly - the bitter feeling of complete paralysis not knowing what to do next. It was him - a middle.aged man with a hoarse voice - and me - a woman in her thirties, struggling to survive. I remember that dreadful evening very vividly now.

It was late. I was coming back from work feeling knackered. I took the subway, as I always did at that time, and managed to sit for the whole journey home. What followed next changed my life completely... forever.

I got off the train and was heading towards the escalator when I suddenly felt someone grabbing my bag from behind. I froze... five seconds. It only took him five endless seconds to pull me down and drag me to a dark alley. I finally came to. I shouted. I kicked. I punched. Nothing. No use. He was in charge. He grabbed my wrists and tied me to a lamp post. I couldn't find strength within me anymore.  

"This is it", I thought. "This is how I'm going to go".

Feeling helpless and with nothing else to hope for, I gave in...


WAIT. HOLD ON. HELP IS ON THE WAY. Whispers everywhere. HOPE. Life was filling my bones again.

A month latet - while still in shock - I can honestly say: PEOPLE STILL CARE. HUMANITY IS NOT LOST TO VIOLENCE, NOT LOST TO CRUELTY, NOT LOST TO HATE.

The writer, the speaker and the giver of ideas

The following is an incomplete first draft for a short story derived from many teaching workshops two colleagues and I attended a few years ago. I wrote it a couple of years ago as a result of an inside joke the three of us used to share. 

It was a hot Friday afternoon in November. A group of English teachers were gathering to discuss the latest trends in Education and how to bring technology into the classroom.

Patty, Connie and Charlotte were not only great colleagues but also good friends. They went to all meetings together, sat in all meetings together and left all meetings together. They were well-organised and ellaborated about every little topic they were given. They had specific roles in each meeting without even thinking beforehand what each one of them would do or how they would participate. They managed to keep the same tasks every time they attended the workshops.

Connie, the writer, was the one who always brought a notebook with a pen and jotted down everything the lecturer explained; Charlotte, the speaker, always willing to express loud and clear what they had been discussing earlier in the assignment; and, finally, Patty, the one who had the right thing to say and knew exactly how to say it and when to do so. 

They worked at the same school with different age groups sharing both passion for teaching as well as disdain for misbehaving children.

Una storia d'amore semplice e triste

Racconto scritto da mia alunna, Lara :)

Mi piaceva il suo sorriso. Sembrava sorridere con tutto il  suo viso. 

Quando l'ho conosciuto, ho trovato un bellissimo ragazzo.

Lo ricordo como cordiale, loquace... Lui sapeva tanto di libri ed anche politica. 

Inoltre era molto divertente, aveva quest'abitudine d'imitare gente e lo fece con istrionismo che pochi conoscevano.

Quando abbiamo fatto l'amore, ho visutto la notte più appassionata della mia vita.

Alla fine, alcuni mesi dopo, lui mi ha spezzato il cuore.

Non l'ho visto mai più.

Oggi ho paura di non poterlo mai più baciarlo, mai più stringerlo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU43Dc9KZbE

Love (is blind) and Madness (walks with it)

My beloved bloggers,

It's been a while since I last wrote. I haven't had any kind of inspiration or even randomness to share with the Universe... I mean, with you, my readers... wait? Are you MY readers? Do you follow ME? Hmmm, maybe I'm wrong (or Maybe I'm Amazed ;)

Anyway, for a few weeks now, I've been willing to share this well-known fable, legend, beautiful story from an unknown (?) author (psst, if you know the author, let me know in the comments below, please :) ). It's about the most complex human emotion ever created... LOVE (and all the others)

I don't remember when it was the first time I ever read or heard this story, but it's come up again in a recent discussion with a student of mine while dealing with the topic of LOVE and RELATIONSHIPS.

Enjoy it, comment it, share it. SPREAD LOVE. LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED.

Love and Madness....why love is blind....

A long time ago, before the world was created and humans set foot on it for the first time, the virtues and vices wandered bored, not knowing what to do.

As Tedium yawned for the third time in a row, Ingenious came up with an idea: “Let’s play hide and seek!”

Cabal raised her eyebrow and Curiosity couldn’t help but ask: “Hide and seek? What’s that supposed to be?”

“It’s a game” replied Ingenious. “One of us will start counting. From 1 to 1000 000.In the meantime all the others will hide. When the one counting is done he’ll start looking for us and the last one to be discovered wins.”

All of them liked the idea immediately. Excitement and Euphoria started dancing with joy.

And Joy was cutting capors in such an enthusiastic way that even Doubt and Indifference wanted to take part. Only some of them couldn’t be convinced: Truth preferred not to hide at all, why so? In the end she’d be discovered anyway. Pride thought it was a dumb game (really he was just angry because it hadn’t been his idea) and Cowardice didn’t want to risk too much.

Then Madness shouted: “I want to count, I want to count!”

And since nobody was crazy enough to want to seek Madness, all the others agreed.

Madness leaned against a tree and started to count: “One, two, three…”

As Madness counted, the vices and virtues went hiding. Laziness was the quickest to find a hiding place, he just dropped down behind the nearest stone. Faith rose up to the sky and Envy hid in the shadow of Triumph who had managed to climb all the way up to the top of the tallest tree. Generosity had difficulty to find a place to hide in because each spot seemed to be the perfect hideout for one of her friends.

A crystal clear lake… a wonderful hiding-place for Beauty.

A dark cave… perfect to hide Fear.

On the back of a butterfly… the best spot for Lust.

A gentle breeze… brilliant for Freedom.

Egoism had found the right place from the start, airy and cosy… and just for himself.

Lie said that she would hide behind the rainbow, but hid at the bottom of the sea.

Passion and Desire were hiding in the centre of a volcano and Forgetfullness… well, I forgot where Forgetfullness hid, but that’s unimportant.

As Madness counted: “Nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine…”, Love still hadn’t found a place to hide. Every spot seemed to be already taken.

But then her eyes fell on a rose bush and she decided to hide between its branches.

“One million!” counted Madness and he started to search for the others.

First to be discovered was Laziness, just three paces away from the nearest stone.

Then one could hear Faith arguing with God about theology.

Passion and Desire could be heard vibrating inside the volcano.

At a lucky moment Madness found Envy lurking in the shadow of Triumph and thus discovered Triumph too. Lie was found hiding at the bottom of the sea, no wait she was behind the rainbow. Egoism turned up all by himself because his hidey-hole turned out to be a wasps’ nest.

All the running and seeking made Madness quite thirsty and when he approached the lake he found Beauty. Doubt had been easy enough to find too for he was sitting on a fence unable to decide on which side he should hide. Thus madness discovered one after the other. Talent lying in the lush grass; Fear cowering in a dark cave.

Only Love was nowhere to be seen. Madness looked everywhere. He sought in every nook and cranny. And just as he wanted to give up he saw the rose bush. He picked up a little branch and started stabbing wildly at the rose bush. He stabbed and stabbed until a heart-breaking cry made him stop. Love emerged from the bush covering her face with

her hands.

Madness, so anxious to find Love, had stabbed out Love’s eyes. “What have I done! What have I done” Madness shouted. “I have left you blind!” and he started crying and he apologised and promised her to be her guide forever more.

And so it came about that from that day on, since the first game of hide and seek was played on this earth, Love was blind and was always accompanied by Madness