I am woman....hear me roar.....
9 years ago
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
His parents
"My father was like a broom, sweeping me out into the world, while my mother was the dustpan, constantly gathering up the shattered pieces and putting me back together again". How do Erik's parents play complementary roles in his early life?
Fitting in
Erik says, "Being included was more important than the fear of getting hurt". How is this statement true for all middle school students, not only blind ones?
perceptions
How do others' perceptions of Erik's blindness limit him? How do our false perceptions of other people limit our ability to truly see them? What kinds of false perceptions can affect all people, not merely the blind? When have you overcome a negative or limiting stereotype?
Leadership
What is leadership? Erik says, "perhaps leadership was not so much a matter of raw talent, as raw courage". What does he mean by this statement? Do you think he is correct? Whom do you see as true leaders? Are leaders born or can leadership be learned and developed?
It sure is cold.. but at least it's windy
How does Chris's attitude of "positive pessimism" help the climbers deal with a harsh environment? Can you think of areas of your life that you could use it?
Failure
Jeff tells Erik, "When you try big things.. you gotta expect to fail sometimes." Is Jeff right? Can failure, ironically, be a crucial ingredient of success?
Life
Discuss Erik's belief that "life is never meant to be easy; exciting, challenging maybe, rewarding from time to time, but never easy." Is this true for the sighted as well as the blind?
True Summit
"A summit isn't just a place on a mountain. A summit exists in our hearts and minds. It is a tiny scrap of a dream made real, indisputable proof that our lives have meaning. A summit is a symbol that with our force of will and the power of our legs, our backs, and our two hands, we can transform our lives into whatever we choose them to be, whatever our hands our strong enough to create."
Do you believe this? Do you have summits in your heart and mind?
teamwork
" A mountain was such a huge and awesome force compared to the minuscule life of a human, to have a chance of standing on top, we combined our strengths and talents to become a more powerful force than we ever could have been as individuals."
In what ways do the members of Erik's team contribute to each other's success?
Parameters
Erik ends by admitting that part of his pleasure comes from "taking other people's very narrow parameters of what's possible and what's not, and shattering them into a million pieces."
Has reading Erik's life story changed your understanding of the "parameters of what's possible"?
Ellen's will
"He's going to a normal school, with normal children, and even if I have to go to school with him, he's going to learn."
"He's blind. He's not stupid, and he can do better work than this."
"He doesn't need self-esteem... He needs to know how to spell."
How does Ellen Baker Weihenmayer's fierce will influence her son's development?
Carrying our share
"I would carry my share. I would contribute as any team member. I would not be carried up the mountain and spiked on top like a football. If I were to reach the summit, I would reach it with dignity."
When has carrying your share given you a feeling of dignity? Do you agree with him?
Things we can and can't do
"The things I could not do, I would let go; but the things I could do, I would learn to do well."
Have you let yourself do this in your own life? Do you hold on to things you can't do because you want to be able to do everything? Are you able to let go?
Fear
"All my life, fear had paralyzed me."
"The greatest fear is in the reaching."
"A delicate strand of hope balanced by fear, each keeping the other in its place."
What do you fear?
When is reaching frightening?
In what ways do human beings use hope to balance their fears?
What did you learn about fear from reading this book?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
