Have you guys heard about the new CBS twist on their reality show, Survivor. Basically they'll be dividing the competing groups along ethnic lines (African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic and Caucasian). I don't know what to think. At first I was concerned that it was just a publicity stunt and that the race card would once again be played. But if it's true that as the competition goes on that the different groups will indeed have to interact with each other then I guess it's OK.

But still one fact really bothers me. If my littlest cub qualified and wanted to enter which team would they put him on? Being biracial he wouldn't qualify for the African-American or Caucasian team and then there's his Native American heritage? Perhaps they need a mixed team.

But there are even further categories of people who wouldn't "fit" on certain teams for one reason or the other. For instance, while I'm African American I grew up in an all white neighborhood so as I've been told many times that I don't "act" black. A comment which always ceases to amaze me but oh well. I've stopped letting it bother me because I've come to the conclusion that I act like myself and defy any type of labeling. I think I'd have to be on the mixed team also. For some reason I just don't think it's all about skin color. But I digress.



Anywhere, here's a bit of what CBS had to say about the show...

According to Survivor host Jeff Probst, the Cook Islands' segregated tribes concept is the end result of the show's attempt to respond to longstanding criticism that Survivor's casts needed more diversity. "The idea for this actually came from the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough because, for whatever reason, we've always had a low number of minority applicants apply to the show. So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show," Probst explained. "It wasn't until we got to casting and started noticing this theme of ethnic pride that you're alluding to that we started thinking, wow, if culture is still playing such a big part in these people’s lives, that’s our idea -- let's divide them based on ethnicity."

Accordingly the castaways had "mixed" reactions to the news that their tribes would be divided by race. One of the cast members was concerned that it was going to turn it into something that would show stereotypes and reinforce them. Another member said they didn't really care how the tribes were divided because they knew that they needed a certain amount of people to be on their side to help them get through the competition. Ultimately, to win this game, you're voting people out that are then on the jury that have to come back and vote for you. So, the person who wins is actually going to do the best job of merging with all different ethnicities." Despite the focus on casting a diverse cast, Burnett, the show's producer, insisted that the initial Cook Islands tribal divisions (the tribes will merge "in a later episode") was not about exploring racism or bigotry. "We're smart enough to not make it negative," Burnett told Entertainment Weekly. "We're smart enough to have gotten rid of every racist person in casting."

A group of New York City officials blasted CBS a day after the network announced that the teams on the new season of the reality show will be divided by race. Saying that the setup will promote divisiveness, the officials called on CBS to reconsider its plans. "The idea of having a battle of the races is preposterous," said City Councilman John Liu. "How could anybody be so desperate for ratings?" Liu, who is Asian-American, said he was launching a campaign urging CBS to pull the show because it could encourage racial division and promote negative typecasts. He and a coalition of officials, including the council's black, Latino and Asian caucus, planned to rally at City Hall on Friday.

Anyway, all of this is a great intro for me to tell you about one of the core beliefs of the Bahai Faith. That is the principle of the oneness of mankind is the pivot round which all of our teachings revolve. Baha'u'llah taught that humanity, after a long and turbulent adolescence, is at long last reaching its stage of maturity, when its organic unity in a global and just society can finally be established. To this end, the Baha'i Faith prescribes laws of personal morality and behavior, as well as social laws and principles to establish the oneness of humanity

THE ONENESS OF MANKIND

~A fundamental teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing mankind He says, "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch." By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and blossoms thereof.

Funny, how the cast of Survivor looks just like this group of Bahais. I wonder if we really need anyone to divide us in such ways?

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility."

~ Baha'u'llah

Welcome to week #3 of Self Esteem Sunday. Today I'm simply going to pass on a couple of practical techniques that were suggested to me by two very well known and kind bloggers here in the Stream to a question that I posted. I use both techniques as they have been very very helpful as I've worked on building my self esteem level up to a healthy and workable level.

The question I asked was:

What does it mean to fall in love with oneself? And how do you do it?

That day I got lots of great advice, lots of love from my friends here in Blogstream. Thank you each and everyone of you for being there. Your comments were inspiring, motivating, and loving. I truly felt the magic of the Stream on that day and I love you all.



The first technique came from my dear friend SixFootBlonde, author of Vexus Vexed and Needs More Cowbells.
Funny, in her current post she mentions how important it is for us to be kind to each other. She's been that and more to me as I attempted to kick start my self esteem. As a result of her suggestion I have a permanent folder in my email account that I use to record my self inventory as different things occur to me.

Here's what Six said...

Hi MaryElizabeth... this might sound silly, but ask a close friend "What good do you see in me?".. and be prepared for answers that will probably bring tears to your eyes. Your friends see the goodness you don't feel right now... but that doesn't mean it's not there!!

Make your own inventory about what is good to love about you. That might seem silly at first too... but start with the small things like, I make a great cake, or I can guess the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune... or I keep a clean house... you get the idea. Pretty soon your list will grow bigger and you will add to that list "I am smart"... "I am a very good woman"... "I am a good friend".. "I am a great mom"... and there is no reason why you are not loveable! Even if you won't believe it right now...

I will start out under the (cyber) friends part and say what is good about you is that you have a huge heart and you are a very loving woman. Do you realize so many people can't even claim that? You have tons of good things you can claim and own about yourself, girlfriend!



The second technique that has helped tremendously was passed onto me by Attitude-engineer, author of the non-religious Christian Challenge. I do this every day. To help me to remember to do the affirmation I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a few of those rubber band bracelets that say "Love", "Strength", "Faith", etc. Then depending on how I'm feeling on a particular day I put that bracelet on to remind me of where my focus needs to be. But always, I have my "Love" bracelet on.

Here's what Attitude-engineer said...

Here is a simple tool that really works. Repeat the words: "I like myself," to yourself. Do at least 20 repetitions before your fall asleep as you are in bed. And another 20 before you get out of bed in the morning. And through out the day throw in a few "I like myself," statements. Keep it up for 3 weeks and it will become a habit. After a few months you will one day realize you really do like yourself. Try it.


With all of my heart thank you Six and Attitude-engineer for being there.

The cubs have had a pretty busy summer...camp...summer school...day care. And the one common thread for all of them is complaining.

"I don't want to go mom!"

I'm amazed, they have no idea how fortunate they are. Oh well, you know what they say...youth is wasted on the young. But you know as the one who drops them off I wish one day I could drop myself off. Of course I have a fantasy about an adult version of all three combined...camp...summer school...day care.

Warning: the hedonistic level on this one is pretty high!!!

I guess one adult version of a day camp would be a day spa. But never mind dropping myself off. After all this is a fantasy...limo all the way baby!!! Picks me up the night before so that I can sleep in a luxury room with a large king size bed, pillows, and linens of the finest quality and vases of my favorite flowers all over the place. Of course, the room has a private balcony that opens onto a private beach.

I wake up to a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, whipped cream, waffles, eggs, bacon, coffee, juice...hmmm...prepared by a top chef and laid out on my balcony table. Of course it's a beautiful beach morning...warm with a gentle breeze wafting into my room. Meal over I think I'll shamelessly jump back into bed. Perhaps watch one of my favorite movies.

In enough time I'll get up and head to the gym for a kick ass workout. OMG...you mean I don't have to rush through it and I can get my entire routine it? Heaven...Hmmmm.
Pictures of fresh water throughout the gym to quench my thirst. Cool beans!!! Workout over...time for a massage. Wow, I haven't felt this good in ages. Back to bed for a bit. Again? Yes indeed. Plate of fresh fruit and cheese to snack on.

You know in day care they takes naps everyday. I love naps. I think that they're awesome!!! I wake up feeling refreshed emotionally and physically. Taking a few minutes before I fully wake up to experience the ocean. Laying in bed listening to the surf...watching the bright sun stream through the windows.

Next I'd probably pick up a book and do some reading or maybe write a little more on my Kresh story. Summer school? Ha, can you imagine having time to learn? With the 3 cubs I barely have enough time to learn on the fly...the thought of devoted time to read makes me giggle. Couple of hours should do...no doubt I'd have a stack of books to get through. Then back to the gym for a bit of Pilates and Yoga. Leave feeling like a new woman. Now it's off to the salon for hair, skin, and nails. Heck, at this point I hardly recognize myself.
I leave looking like a million bucks. Now, on to a bit of extracurricular activity. Shopping...enough said!!!

Find an amazing outfit and shoes that remind me of one of Hallie Berry's numbers.

Next stop...dinner. Fresh seafood of all kinds...fine wine...dessert to die for. Prepared by that top chef again and served on the balcony as the sun sets. But ya know by now I've had enough alone time. I think I'll have some company join me. Who? You have to ask? Dave and the boys.
Not for some groupie thing but to just sit down and talk to about life. A conversation that I know would stretch into the early morning...those guys are deep! Finally, crawl back to bed perhaps surprised that a certain special someone who has stopped by to surprise me with his company. The perfect end to a perfect day. As I get a few hours sleep before it's time to turn back into a pumpkin. Perhaps, if I'm lucky we wake up early to share a sunrise over the beach.

Now, that's a fantasy...ha ha I guess I've gone too far with the self esteem and just taken myself off for a romantic vacation!!! Oh well, if I don't love me who will, right? I love dreaming.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

~Helen Keller