ISSUE 11 - November 2021

”GRIEF DOESN’T DO MATH” YOU CAN’T PUT A TIMELINE OF GRIEF…

“LET MY VOICE STAY IRANIAN”

REDISCOVERING HERSELF WHEN THE WORLD TRIED TO QUIET HER ROOTS.

ONENESS NOVEMBER 2021

JACKSON NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY

“A NORMAL GUY THAT LIKES THE NIGHT & THE POWER OF CONTRAST, SHADES OF GREY AND WHITE.”

@BAYLENHAY

04 “Let my voice stay Iranian” 09 Mimo Miyagi 10 “Oh, the places you’ll go…”

15 Joanna Barbolla 16 Building Self-Motivation

HELLO I S S U E

11 24 Grief Doesn’t Do Math 28 “Love Actually Is…” 29 Oneness in Nature 31 Ryan Jackson 32 Around The World…

38 Veganism, Feminism & Theatre 41 Overcoming Adversity 46 Hidden Meaning Behind Movies

E D I T O R ' S

L E T T E R

Dear Reader, Welcome to Oneness Magazine - we are thrilled you’re here! Our mission is to bring people together, showcase greatness, and always inspire. This quarter, we have curated some INCREDIBLE collaborators. Writing this now, I am excited for you to finally see what all we have in store.

This is our BIGGEST ISSUE EVER. We have more collaborators than ever and we’ve never had this many pages for you to enjoy!

It has been an absolute pleasure carefully piecing together this magazine, I hope you love it as much as I do.

With all my gratuitude,

G

P fa e i c ra

ff

Gracie Pfaff Founder + Editor-in-Chief, Oneness Magazine

@ONENESSMAG / ONENESSMAG.COM

“ L E T

M Y

V O I C E

S T A Y

I R A N I A N ”

WRITTEN BY RANA GHIASSI

W

When I was 7-years-old, I made up a game in front of my grandmother’s vanity called “American Girl”. We lived in Iran at the time—right in the thick of my parents divorce, where emotions of worry and confusion were brought up by experience. To keep me out of the drama and sound, my mom would drop me off at her parents place. I didn’t mind being there—the fragrance of the home-cooked meals, sound of her and my grandfather’s optimism, unwatched Television blasted in every room, and the usual late-night ice cream runs, kept me distracted from the storm back home. My grandmother would put on a big Disney-like smile at each drop off with arms wide open to assure I’m safe so long as I am with her.

JACKSON NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY

And because of the turmoil I was under, she’d let me go through her stuff—specifically her makeup. After enough drop offs, my happy place, the place I’d play a different part, a part far from the sore sight of my parents yelling at each other became that vanity—a gold-rimmed oval mirror hanging above a white wooden table. On the table lived an antique perfume bottle, the ones where you pump a ball for a sprinkle of scent, a golden brush, and loads of vintage lipsticks.

What I loved most was her prized possession in the top left drawer— a straight-haired long blonde wig. For the game, I’d put on the wig, and apply lipstick in the fashion that a 7-year-old would, and speak fake English to myself.

“ L E T M Y V O I C E S T A Y I R A N I A N ” WRITTEN BY RANA GHIASSI

I’D HEARD WHAT THE LANGUAGE SOUNDED LIKE FROM MOVIES, SO I'D EMULATE FROM MEMORY. With the wig on, the girl in the mirror was no longer an Iranian girl—so I named her Britney after the famous pop-star. Britney let me live in a pretty place far from the unbearable truth that I would never see my parents in the same room again.

One night, 6 years after the invention of Britney, I had a nightmare that I was mute. However frantically I waved my arms, opened my throat to make a gasping sound, no one understood me. I did everything in my power to express myself; still nothing. This dream became my reality when I moved to America at age 13—right at the tip of teenage angst and hormonal warfare.

The difference between the two countries was stark, everything from language to lifestyle, drastic time change, newfound perception of diurnal activities, reinvented foundation of cultural norms, different aromas of food circulating the streets, more regulations, greater opportunities, the whole jazz. I was terrified, of course, but I had no other choice than to adapt.

Yet I walked with my head held high, internalizing the scares, knowing I wasn’t alone.

Even though I left the wig back in that drawer in Iran, Britney lived within me. A few weeks in school and the guts began to wear off.

JACKSON NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY

The expression “stutter muffin,” used by my peers to mock my broken English, was the first shock that snapped me out of Euphoria and regenerated fear. I no longer could go back to the happy place where Britney was my voice and I didn’t have a wig to match the their natural head of hair.

That insult was the first bullet. Shots were fired time and time again after that: “Towel head, Camel Jockey, Terrorist, unibrow girl.”

Although, in the heat of the moment my 13-year old self felt belittled and embarrassed, my despair was redirected to my father’s advice: “Stop trying to be liked by everyone—just be you.” Two months into following father’s words, I was shoved in a corner of a cul-de-sac and told that: ‘if I don’t go back to my country, America will get ugly.’

After that day, I stopped following my dad’s reminder and I lost myself in the affair. In return, I made a ton of friends.

“Stop trying to be liked by everyone—just be you.” Two months into following father’s words, I was shoved in a corner of a cul-de-sac and told that: ‘if I don’t go back to my country, America will get ugly.’ After that day, I stopped following my dad’s reminder and I lost myself in the affair.

In return, I made a ton of friends.

My father laughed because I hadn’t done anything wrong to be punished so I snuck out and went to a party that got rolled by the cops. 6 AM the following day my disappointed father got a call from a parent to come pick me up.

I remember the tense car ride home and can still taste my dad’s anger. Unfortunately, instead of grounding me, he made me switch schools.

JACKSON NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY

WRITTEN BY RANA GHIASSI

On one end, it was great news to be able to start fresh with new faces that don’t know the fob behind the facade. On the other end, I lost the friends I had worked so hard to make. Lost in translation, my parents thought it was a phase.

Every word said to me in Farsi got an English response. I’d even pretend that I had forgotten words in Farsi to truly wipe any residual of Iran out of me.

Even though it was bad to drift from the real me, and somewhere deep in the pit of my stomach I was aware of that, I had gained this contentment that made it all worth it. I felt like I belong. I adapted to their world. I became one of them. I even fell in love with a white boy. I fell for his crystal blue eyes, his bleach blonde hair, and his perfect American life. Dating him felt like a permanent stamp of living Britney full-time.

On Christmas Day, 6-months into my relationship with Lucas, I got a call from my mother that I decided to take on speaker—my mom’s every word was in Farsi, and my responses entirely in English. The moment I put that phone down, I could tell something was wrong. Lucas looked at me differently—like he’d lost interest. With a pounding heart I sat beside him and he scooted away. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you speak a different language?” He finally spoke. I felt exposed.

In seconds everything was ripped off of me, and I froze naked in spotlight. I said nothing.

I couldn’t. I felt like a lie—like a made-up person. It was that very second that made all the work of trying to fit in feel like a complete waste of time. Then he said: “I think it’s cool that you speak another language, and such a beautiful one too.” And finally, the intensity, weight, shame, guilt, remorse, and anxiety I had carried for so long, was pulled off of me like dead skin. Right in the deep of relief, he said: “will you teach me how to speak your language?” I let out the pent up stale air and began to fly.

I saw my feet lift off the ground, my body breaking through his roof, and into the sky. The lightness inside felt like a floaty in a pool on a beautiful summer day - drifting solo from one end to the other.

My eyelids closed pushing streams of black tears wiping away the face I had put on over the years.

I recalled the insults of that nameless bully and smiled. For the first time ever I felt beautiful.

I still think about Britney —the American girl that looked back at me in my grandmother’s mirror.

Only now, when I picture her, I see her dark brown eyes, her olive brown skin, her bushy eyebrows that unite at the top of her nose, and even her little black stands of hair sticking out from under the wig.

I replay her fake English and catch her Iranian accent popping out every now and then. I see her smiling back at me— more distinguishable than before. Britney didn’t take over my identity. She kept me company through my parents divorce.

A R T I S T

f e a t u r i n g

M i m o

M i y a g i

@ m i m o m i y a g i

“My name is Mimo Miyagi, I’m 25 years old, I live in London but I was born and raised in west Africa, Sierra Leone. I’m originally Lebanese.”

Welcome to my WORLD Mimo Miyagi a custom design artist expressing herself through art, music and fashion.

A safe space where you can experiment with your style exploring the MIYAGI WORLD.

“OH, THE PLACES YOU CAN GO: THE BEAUTIFUL BENEFITS OF READING” From the time I was a child, some of my fondest memories involved books and reading. I can remember as a young toddler, visiting our local Brentano’s Book store and picking out a new favorite book to add to my home library. My parents were avid readers and were always reading the newspaper or a paperback book, in a variety of genres. As I grew older my interest in reading grew and you would always find me with a book; in my hand, purse, or tote bag.

As an educator, reading has been an integral part of my job for the past 26 years, but my love of books has also sustained and encouraged me through some very difficult periods of my life. Most people that I have encountered view books as an ever growing obsolete path to knowledge, that they basically don’t have time for. I contend, that the benefits of reading extend far beyond our wildest imaginations.

Written by Angelique Diggs

WRITTEN BY ANGELIQUE DIGGS

I have discovered so many wonderful

The second benefit of reading is that is

benefits of reading, and have compiled my

helps to improve your ability to focus. How

top five favorites.

many times have you been a meeting and realized after a brief period of time that

First, reading every day exercises your

your mind has begun to wander? You

brain. Physical exercise is important

begin to think about tasks you need to

because it helps to ensure that our bodies

complete, lunch or even what you plan to

are healthy and strong. Our brains need

do over the weekend. I have been there !

exercise too, and reading gives your brain

Reading daily has been one way that has

the robust workout that it needs. The brain

helped me to improve my ability to focus

has a “use it or lose it” policy, just like your

significantly.

body. Reading helps us to remember, refine, and refresh the congnitive skills

Being able to concentrate and focuas for

that we have acquired over the course of

long periods of time is essential to our

our life time and ensures that we will be

success and wellbeing personally, as well as

able to utilize them for years to come.

professionally. One of the key benefits of reading is that it requires you to practice

Research has shown that reading

concentrating on just one idea, topic, or

stimulates a complex network of signals in

concept at a time, depending on what you

our brains and the more we read, the

are reading.

stronger and more sophisticated these networks become. These sophisticated

A third great benefit of reading is that it is

skills help to ensure that we can continue

an expensive source of entertainment.

to utilitize reading in all areas of our lives.

Steven King says that “Books are a uniquely

“OH THE PLACES YOU CAN GO…” WRITTEN BY ANGELIQUE DIGGS

portable magic”. The Covid-19 pandemic brought many of our usual forms of entertainment to a screeching halt. Movie theaters were shut down, live music events were cancelled ,and restaurants resorted to utilizing carry out and delivery services such as Door Dash and Uber Eats.

According to a recent Washington Post article, reading rates soared during the pandemic.

Many household budgets were slashed and reading became the inexpensive go to activity that kept households engaged and excited about life in general. While the world was grappling with the pandemic and economic recession, reading became a needed escape for many (including me) who had planned to travel.

DAVID AMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY

There are millions of books that are available in print and electronic form. There is also a perfect reading genre for everyone, from fantasy novels, classical literature and self-help motivational books. Given that we are still in a pandemic, books are a safe way to learn about and explore new places and concepts.

Libraries now offer online checkout ,and services such as Amazon Kindle Unlimited have special monthly rates for unlimited ebooks.

DAVID AMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY

I was able to catch up on my reading

A close friend recommended a great book

during the pandemic and finally finished

of daily affirmations to start the day and

several books by James Patterson, who is

the minute I began to read one daily, my

one of my favorite mystery writers. There

mood and outlook began to improve.

were many days when I did not cut on the television or access social media, because I

Research has proven that as little as 30

was so engrossed in the who, what, where,

minutes of reading a day, can lower your

why and how, of the book that I was

blood pressure, heart rate, and

reading!

psychological distress. In addition, just 6 minutes of reading can be enough to

The current pandemic has had a

reduce your stress levels by more than 2/3.

significant impact on the mental health of

Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate

many people. Unfortunately, this impact

relaxation. So, the next time that you are

has not been positive. Doctors and

feeling stressed, remember the benefits of

therapists have reported that they are

reading and let your tension just melt

treating more patients than ever due to

away!

increases in depression, anxiousness, and stress. I was one of those persons, who

Do you want to live a long and fulfilling life?

experienced the depression, feelings of

I know I do, and am sure that you do also.

anxiousness, and stress, due to the deaths

One of the most interesting and exciting

of family/friends from Covid-19, and fear of

benefits of reading is that, it has been

the unknown as it related to the

proven to help us live longer. A recent

pandemic. One of the ways that I was able

study on health and retirement that I read,

to bounce back and to become more

found that seniors who read for at least 30

motivated to see the positive in each day,

minutes a day, were 23% more likely to

was by reading.

outlive those who did not read at all.

“OH THE PLACES YOU CAN GO…” WRITTEN BY ANGELIQUE DIGGS

In addition, the study discovered that older adults who read regularly were two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. I personally witnessed a dramatic difference in my father’s cognition during his retirement years, as compared with a family friend’s cognition due to the fact that my father continued to read well into his 80’s, while the family friend preferred to watch television, as opposed to reading. The United States National Institute on Aging encourages avid reading for seniors, in order to help them retain their mental abilities and to live longer and more productive lives.

In closing, why is reading good for you?

Reading exercises your brain, helps to improve your focus, reduces your stress level while improving your mental health, provides you with portable and affordable entertainment ,and helps to prolong your life.

There are so many things distracting us these days and social media is one of the biggest culprits. We are constantly checking our email, posting on Facebook, or viewing live events on Instagram. The next time you are looking for a way to escape the social media circus and decompress , remember that you can find magic and joy wherever you look, all you have to do is just pick up a book and read, read, read!

A R T I S T

f e a t u r i n g

J o a n n a

B a r b o l l a

ART REFLECTIONS DESIGNS BY JOANNA “I am a self-taught Abstract Expressionist who creates eclectic, vibrant & emotional pieces as an extension to my inner soul. I have been painting for several years and am continually inspired by the experiences of my daily meanderings.”

I utilize various sized palette knives in conjunction with mixed mediums such as acrylic, paste, varnish, and spackle applied to stretched canvas, mostly all pieces are 16x20 and 18x24.

In addition to my paintings, I now feature my One-Of-A-Kind original designs on home products and accessories including tapestries, yoga mats, blankets, throw pillows, weekend bags, phone cases, women’s dress pumps and matching purses.

h t t p s : / / a r t r e f l e c t i o n s d e s i g n s . t h r e a d l e s s . c o m

BUILDING SELF-MOTIVATION GET WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE. WRITTEN BY TONYA L. FRANKLIN

Self-Motivation is the force that makes

Intrinsic motivation is doing something

you do something; self-Motivation

simply because you enjoy it. Self-

involves higher levels of personal

motivation is the fuel that drives those

involvement that motivates us beyond

actions. We must have personal drive,

contracts and or expectations of

commitment, take initiative and be

others.

optimistic to ensure we are self-motivated most of the time, and to realize when we

Self-motivation is a daily asset you can

are not motivated and get back on track.

apply to all aspects of your life. Habits

(Daniel Goldman).

typically form in 21 days, so the goal is to have a transition from the conflict to the

We all know how easy it can be to

solution in that time.

procrastinate or put things off. It can be harder at first to get in the swing of things

What’s always mandatory is that you

and consistently push yourself to be

know that you are capable of change.

motivated. By having these five thoughts in

Self-motivation will push you through on

the back of your mind each day, you’ll

hard days and is what will help you

begin to pinpoint triggers easily, stay

maintain your goals and hold yourself

focused on the goal more, and eventually it

accountable. Whenever you get off track

will become second nature. Remember:

remember why you are doing this, for

we are all motivated in some way to do

you! Self-motivation and intrinsic

something, always remember to use what

motivation are similar because they’re

you enjoy most as an example of why you

both internal and personal.

want that motivation to cross over into other areas of your life.

This is not supposed to happen

trigger would be not being able to

overnight, you are making a life change.

overcome an obstacle that you want a

Have patience with yourself and embrace

different result of. What could you have

the small steps because it will eventually

done different? What made you feel that

get you the result. Let’s ask ourselves the

way? Once we are aware of what we

following questions:

want to change, we can apply it daily to get the desired outcome.

- Is your goal worth consistent motivation?

Daily change is key, small changes yield

- How can you remind yourself to stay

big results. Apply what you can, take

motivated?

accountability for what you cannot, and

- How can u push yourself to be

have a solution for if it was to happen

motivated when it is harder than usual?

again. With writing down what we are

- You are motivated because?

conscious of and what we want we are

- You are not motivated because?

manifesting our future and goals. We may realize that we enjoy more than we

Track your progress! So much happens in

realize. We may notice we can apply

our lives daily. We should make it a point

some of those positive aspects to our

to pinpoint any pros and cons we have

goals now. For example, I write out my

for the day. For example, getting your

manifestations three times daily.

first client or customer would be a pro for you. How did you feel? What led to the

I state that I am thankful for what I have,

new customer? Networking? A social

I am open to what I am receiving and

BUILDING MOTIVATION WRITTEN BY TONYA L. FRANKLIN

is meant for me will find me. I talk in present tense because what is for me is mines already whether I physically have it or not.

This is the same for everyone. By writing down what we want to achieve we are setting the foundation for the change to occur. Our thoughts can make or break us, let your mind work for you, not you working for your mind. Do not let what you cannot change consume you, and simply put, change what you can. In the words of the late activist, entrepreneur, and rapper Nipsey Hussle,” this is not a race, it’s a marathon” keep your eyes on the end result, not how long it takes to get there.

Diligence is something we should strive to have within. It is careful and persistent work or effort. Diligence can be developed, get up early, exercise, and have a goal that you will accomplish for the day. Practicing being a good planner can help you with this. Write down what your goals are for the week, have one for each day, rest on Sunday and write your goals for the following week.

Be inspired, believe in yourself, believe in others.

BUILDING SELF-MOTIVATION GET WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE. WRITTEN BY TONYA L. FRANKLIN

We are human, we are going to have not so nice days, remember that this is ok.

You will make it through, and tomorrow is a

Focus on your goal. By being able to

new day to reset and start fresh. Overcome

focus and refocus on the light at the end

procrastination, make it a point to start

of the tunnel. Learn to say no to

tackling things you procrastinate with,

temptation if you haven’t finished a task,

doesn’t have to be huge, it could be

by planning, we can prevent this from

washing the dishes at night instead of using

even happening, do not complain if you

the dishwasher. Or washing your clothes

fall short, we are flawed, your diligence is

weekly instead of letting it pile up for a

perseverance and being able to get

month’s time. It could be putting out more

through obstacles is what's important.

content for your podcast or looking for pop

Your time is of the essence each day we

up shops for your new t-shirt line.

live is a blessing, we are alive, we are breathing.

Any progress is progress baby steps will eventually become a mile. Create small

Every day there is someone that did not

things you must do to hold you accountable

get to do this, be thankful, be grateful,

for your daily goals. For instance, if you were

be appreciative, DO NOT COMPLAIN. If

supposed to write out your weekly goals on

there is a problem, there is likely a

Sunday by 10pm, if you don’t do it you

solution. If you give your best in all you

would get up earlier to do so, and you

do there is nothing to think about. You

would complete next week’s list, and

did your best, the outcome does not

actually get up early to do so. By finishing

matter, you did the best that YOU could.

task ahead of time, you are more likely to

Remember, you have come a long way,

tackle them and to less likely to feel like it’s

be present, live in your moment, be

a burden.

thankful for all you’ve done, be thankful for all you’ve accomplished. You are

FOCUS on the prize, focus on your task.

worthy, you are capable, you are enough.

TONYA L. FRANKLIN

Self-motivation derives from Intrinsic

ourselves up the most. We are our own

motivation and is seen as belonging

best friend and worst enemy (Fred Durst).

naturally; essential. We have all seen that

We run things over and over in our head

neighbor running in rain, sleet, snow, or

of the different outcomes and

100degree weather, the weather does not

possibilities, instead of just letting it be.

waiver their routine or motivation to run.

When we can change our way of thinking,

The neighbor has instilled intrinsic

we can change said way of thinking,

motivation to run, they would likely feel

influence our perception, and create the

“off” if they skipped this part of their

change to get the results you want in

routine. They crave the need to run,

your life.

release of endorphins which increase feelings of pleasure may play a factor in

Thinking intrinsically may seem

that. We all have some sort of intrinsic

overwhelming at first but remember as

motivation already, its whatever you do in

babies we didn’t know how to walk or

your spare time simply because you enjoy

talk, it was all learned. Our hobbies are an

it. It could be your favorite tv show,

example of this, we do it simply because

restaurant, or pastime.

we want to have patience and give yourself credit for wanting to make

For me, it may be watching

changes where you see fit to better

documentaries or horror stories, or

yourself and those around you. Let’s begin

networking with friends and others. All the

to think of goals or changes we would like

things we do intrinsically can be used as a

to make. Think of the result of

guide to incorporate new things and

accomplishing this goaL, …envision how

remove old ones.

you will feel when this goal is reached. If there is not intrinsic value, there will likely

First, let’s start off with motivation in

be no intrinsic motivation, remember

BUILDING SELF-MOTIVATION WRITTEN BY TONYA L. FRANKLIN

We must be able to engage in our personal

constant effort to be conscious of doing our

optimal level of challenge, that may not be

best no matter what day in and day out.

easy, but not so hard that it is unattainable.

The questions are simple, write down what

For instance, if the goal is to cut out your

brings you joy, in contrast write down what

favorite latte, do not beat yourself up if you

does not. With this you can get more

happen to buy one in a week’s time. Think

specific later.

of your accomplishment, you went 7 days

- How can we do more of what we love and

buying one latte when you usually buy

less of what we don’t?

them daily.

- Where do we want to be as a result of this?

Let’s take a moment to think of what's

- What is our goal?

missing. Why did you decide to take this

- What makes you happy?

step? What is motivating you to implement

- What makes you unhappy?

change? You can have more than one, list

- What can you change?

them in order of priority. After you tackle

- How can you change it?

one you can always come back and do the next. Acknowledging that you want to

Of course, we all want to know how long

challenge yourself and be the best you is

will this take? We can’t put at time limit on

intrinsic in itself. Pure pleasure of wantingto

something that will literally change our

accelerate fueled your decision to act. Let’s

lives in all aspects. Instilling intrinsic

continue to do so repeatedly. Ask yourself

motivation is something we should strive

this question to get your gears turning,

for daily. By doing this, it will begin to

what’s missing, what is your challenge?

become habit. We may not be able to

Remember your goal is just that, yours!

control everything, and that’s ok. The point

When we develop the skill of intrinsic

is we control what we CAN! We may not

motivation, we can literally use it in all

enjoy everything, but if we counteract that

facets of our life. That’s the great thing

with something we enjoy, it will bring the

about instrinsic motivation, consistent

attention back to what’s most important…

YOU!

Try to do stuff that brings you joy,

Personally, these last 5 years I

favorite movie, meal, or pastime.

decide to work on myself and I

These little things are something to

manifested what I want through

look forward to, nothing drastic, but

vision boards and way of thinking. I

something we can enjoy while letting

set out to become a motivational

go of said stress and moving forward

coach/speaker, writer, voice over

with our intrinsic thinking. Recording

talent, and podcaster. I started

your journey will help you keep track

several businesses and even

and on task with what you want to

dabbled in modeling and acting. I

achieve. You are the director,

said what I wanted and simply

narrator, commentator, main

went for it. You deserve whatever

attraction and fan of your life.

you want out of life, all you have to

Consistently try to do your best, if it is

do is go get it.

your best, it is worthwhile.

BUILDING SELF-MOTIVATION / TONYA L. FRANKLIN

UNITY DOES NOT MEAN SAMENESS. IT MEANS ONENESS OF PURPOSE. - PRISCILLA SHIRER ART BY JESS BROOKS

GRIEF DOESN’T DO MATH. “ENVISIONING A WIDER LENS FOR GRIEF BEYOND THE FIVE STAGES” WRITTEN BY HEATHER H. BURWELL, M.DIV.

To say our world is experiencing collective grief is an understatement.

With ongoing crises that permeate our lives, how do we rise above for a sense of peace? We have sustained impossible losses as a whole, as a world community. The notion of taking the five stages of grief to worldwide pain sounds immediately futile.

And yet, we must continue to live, really live. I wrote a book called Grief Doesn’t Do Math, based on my Vanderbilt master’s thesis. The premise is personal grief journeys, yet now I recognize the across-the-board relatability in our current time. While the stage theory certainly holds benefit, as mentioned in the book, I envision a more compassionate way.

The idea of working a system for achievement may not coalesce so well for something as personal and private as grief.

It’s complicated; no two people have the same grief walk.

DAVID AMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY

WWW.GRIEFDOESNTDOMATH.COM

When my husband passed away suddenly at age forty, I found myself struggling to just maintain our son’s and my emotional health. I could not possibly work any type of systematic approach to the pain. This made me ponder “Is there a better way?” My hope is to return the grieving process back to the griever. A sense of agency can provide a foundational bolstering of self. By letting each person sojourn through their own process on their own time, personal power is restored.

There is no dependency upon outside forces; it is truly an inside job.

How do we do this? My approach is holistic, openended and empathetic.

Many grievers are doing the arduous task of functioning.

And functioning is enough some days when under the typhoon of grief waves. A new vision can become a griever’s inspiration for the formidable task of daily moving-on, securing one foot in front of the other along treacherous emotional terrain. Pastoral theologian Carrie Doehring suggests, “Building such spiritual practices into daily life can help establish a rhythm more likely to sustain a sense of the goodness of life throughout the day.”

“MANY GRIEVERS ARE DOING THE ARDUOUS TASK OF FUNCTIONING.”

WWW.GRIEFDOESNTDOMATH.COM

GRIEF DOESN’T DO MATH. WRITTEN BY HEATHER H. BURWELL, M.DIV.

That being said, the duty lies on the griever to locate and implement such practices. If a counselor, pastor or chaplain is there to assist the individual, they can direct the griever to potentially helpful practices. There may be local support groups and recommended readings to offer.

Oftentimes just locating the internal initiative to connect to anything is taxing, albeit a likely helpful venture.

For one immersed inside a cavern of grief, just making that move from their safe comfort zone into such an unknown scenario like a support group can be anxiety-producing.

When I did finally force myself to make the call to visit a support group, my sadness was actually compounded as I was the only griever in my age bracket, the lone non-elderly representative. It was a cold winter’s evening, and not only in the outdoor atmosphere. For some, groups and/or intensive counseling are a rock to stand upon. For others, a great deal of time spent in nature is the ultimate balm of healing. Still for others a community of friends provides foundational roots. The answer rests only with the griever.

DAVID AMMONS PHOTOGRAPHY

WWW.GRIEFDOESNTDOMATH.COM

The fruitful practice of meaning-making can also have profound positive effects.

Such is a component of a prominent hospice community in Nashville. Alive Hospice sponsors a summer camp for children who have lost close loved ones.

Activities include creating posters with characteristics and drawings, and painting souvenir boxes for mementos. Tangible objects help to connect to the loss.

Similarly, placing photographs of the deceased around the house helps keep memories alive.

As painful as it is to be reminded daily of the loss, the presence of tangible objects helps fuse the lifelong presence of heart connection. To be reminded often that love never dies is a powerful concept. By keeping such sacred items in the immediate environment, a provision is made for instilling memories. A sanctuary of remembrances is a healing, ritualized space that is pragmatic in nature.

Finally, caregivers can invite a “search in the soul” or a trust or reliance on forces, divine and otherwise, beyond ourselves.

While all of these examples of healing assistance are sincere and honorable in nature, they may be beyond the griever’s reach. This is precisely where one’s higher power and clarity can intervene, into the individual’s own journey. If grief is incapable of systemic stages, then grief is capable of its own flow. Let’s give the grieving process back to grief and the griever. The search into the soul is the only dimension where authentic healing can be birthed. Nothing looks the same after loss. The light that once streamed through the window with a cheery glow is now blinding. Only the griever can attest to what specific components have revived their sense of hope. The long walk through the shadows ends in a field of daylight only when the griever is able to grasp that light. www.griefdoesntdomath.com

“LOVE ACTUALLY IS…” BY LULAMA MATIRINGE

ART BY JESS BROOKS

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WRITTEN BY CHRIS FERGESON

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I have found through my lifetime that the distractions of this world keep us from some or all of our potential. The young child we once were hides or dissipates.

Nothing around me is a constant forever. Everything around us is constantly changing. Our jobs, homes, relationships, life and death.

Except I have found my constant, my One and I see I celebrate life with the life I witness. Nature stays the same. From a lion to a sparrow they remain the same.

There are billions of different forms of life on earth and all coexist except for humankind.

So, as I sit upon my porch/perch I close my eyes and listen for the first bird to speak. That first bird song brings my mind from the world of us/shadows to the world of Oneness with now multiple birds are sings. I feed a hundred different birds and some

My head feels massaged my just the sound of the beautiful birds song. It needs out the stiffness and suddenly I am a peace that brings to light my charisma, uniqueness, bold nerve and my creativity. I write lyrics and song in my head that I have been able to match with the different voices of by friends of the air.

I have had birds land on my fingers without food. I name all my friends of the air. They come to me when I sit on my porch and focus on which bird and whistle and within minutes I have had birds, bunnies, squirrels come to me all my life. I have been building the creative outlet, but until now I have hidden my creativity and creations. I also paint, draw, write stories and have always been willing to “try anything

Even the air speaks to my body. It caresses my flesh; as the song of the birds fill my soul with a story, song or green friendly solutions for a better planet.

After morning meditation with my birds and two dogs, I feel clearer, and prepared for my day. My “self” is ready to start the day with the All “Self”. Nature and humanity must come together to rise above the destruction of our global “selfishness “. As our bond deepens with our natural environment; the meditation becomes easier and quicker.

The global Oneness I encounter as I push past the barriers of distractions is so Amazing. The flow of energy is almost electrifying. The hair all over my begins to tingle and stand on end.

There are so many answers for our problems if we just take the time and listen.

Silence means you should hear the answers. Once I merge into my Oneness with nature I can release a concern or frustration into the AllSelf and just ask only why or how. Then be silent and listen. Ask the Allself for knowledge /mana as many ancients have in history.

I have seen glimpses of a fixed world, not just a nation or state but the All inclusive AllSelf. Where homelessness is gone and everything and everyone communes in harmony.

These eyes have seen.

As I go about my days; I have bits of nature around me to give/take from. The energy from my Oneness with my nature makes me a happier person. I use my creativity, but also this brings me joy that I want to share with others so that they can find a piece of peace for themselves.

A R T I S T

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AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK A VIEW INTO THE CULTURE BY AMALIE HOLM SKJOLDAA

Denmark is one of the countries that

When the flag had come into the

makes up Scandinavia. It is a small

possession of the Danes, the Danish

country that not many people know

King Valdemar II defeated the

about, but has a long history, and even

Estonians.

to this day, danish made products can be found in all countries.

The Monarchy The Danish Monarchy is also one of the

“Danneborg” The oldest flag in the world still in use, is the Danish Flag. The red and white flag, also called “Danneborg” dates back to the 13th century A.D, has been in existence since June 15, 1219, and was recognized as the national flag in 1625.

The legend of the flag is that the flag came into Danish possession during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219. The Danes were on a crusade in Estonia, a crusade which they were failing, so they decided to pray to God, asking for help.

God heard their prayers and let the flag fall from the sky.

oldest in the world. It is the 8 oldest monarchy, and it was founded in 935 A.D, with the first Monarch being Gorm the Old (Gorm den gamle). Today Denmark has a Queen who is sitting on the throne, the second Queen in Denmark, since the first was Margrethe I who ruled in 1375-1412. The current Queen is Queen Margrethe II and she ascended the throne in 1972. Queen Margrethe II has said that she does not want to abdicate the throne, so the next heir will not be before she dies.

After her reign, her son Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark will take on the role as King of Denmark, with his wife Crown Princess Mary, born in Australia.

AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK

A VIEW INTO THE CULTURE BY AMALIE HOLM SKJOLDAA

The Danish Welfare State

school or boarding school. In Denmark they

In Denmark, the society is constructed as a

want everyone to be given the opportunity

welfare state. Being a welfare state it

to get a proper education, and when

means that Denmark is one of the

students turn 18, the state will pay the

countries where you have two pay the

student for attending school, as that is also

highest taxes, and the more money you

the time where most young people move

earn, the more you have to pay to support

out of their family homes. These grants we

the welfare state. With these high taxes, it

call student grans (or SU). If both of your

covers the expenses on certain human

parents are together, have a stable income,

rights, which in a lot of other countries

and you live close to the school, you get

costs money. For starters health care is

less money than if you only have one

given for free. Do you have to go to the

parent who provides for you and you live

hospital - either for a normal check-up or

far away from the school. Denmark.

for something bigger like a surgery - you

Denmark is also one of the countries with

do not have to pay for it, the taxes covers

the best education systems in the world,

the medical bill, so no one will stress about

ranking in at number 7, and never leaving

going to the doctor.

top 10. It is also the second happiest

School is also free, unless you attend

country in the world as of 2021, where Finland takes the number 1 spot.

AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK

A VIEW INTO THE CULTURE BY AMALIE HOLM SKJOLDAA

The welfare system also supports you if/when the time comes that you are without a job. If you can provide proof that you are actively applying for jobs and consulting with job centers, the state will give you money grants, so that you would never become poor, and still be able to have a somewhat stable way of living. While there has been cases of people taking advantage of the system, it’s generally a good one. And do not simply take my word for it, but all of the graphs and documents that exists, showing just that.

Christmas and New Year traditions Since Denmark is a nordic country located in Scandinavia, snow will usually fall in November or December, making it a white Christmas. During the month of December, from December 1st-24, a televised Christmas calendar will be shown on almost all of the channels. Most of them are made for kids/family friendly, while a few others are created for a grown audience. Ever Sunday leading up to December 24th, is an advent day, and stockings are put up in homes, for Santa Clause (or Julemanden as we call him) to leave small gifts in. A candle with 24 numbers on are lit every day, and a card box calendar is in every household, usually with candy inside, where you open one number each day leading up to Christmas. On

AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK A VIEW INTO THE CULTURE BY AMALIE HOLM SKJOLDAA

It usually starts with families going to

and December 24th ends with a lot of happy

church, before getting home to watch

people.

the Disney Christmas Show that runs from 16-17, followed by the last episodes of the televised Christmas calendar. At 18 you usually eat Christmas dinner, and the last dish, the dessert is called (Risalamande), a porridge kind of thing, where one almond is hiding in the big bowl. The person who gets the almond, gets the present. If it is a grown up who gets the almond, they usually give it to one of the smaller kids.

In my family we have a Christmas tradition on December 23, the so-called ‘fake Christmas’. It is for grown ups (18+), and if you have done or said something stupid during the year, you will get a gift that represents just that. I for example one accidentally got my little nephew’s toy animal with me home, the toy animal he needed to be able to sleep when he was younger. One of the gifts I got on December 23 was therefore a replica of the toy animal so I didn’t feel the need to

When dinner is over, you go to the living

‘steal his’.

room and dance around the Christmas

During New Year, we do not have that many

tree and sing Christmas songs, the

traditions, but at 17h we listen to the prime

youngest picks the first song, the oldest

minister’s New Year speech, and at 18h it is

AROUND THE WORLD: DENMARK

A VIEW INTO THE CULTURE

BY AMALIE HOLM SKJOLDAA The Queen always ends her speech by saying “Gud bevare Danmark” (God bless Denmark).

Then the famous skit “90 year birthday” (90 års fødselsdag) is shown, featuring a woman turning 90, all of her friends are gone, so she has her butler act as the guests, which means he drinks for 4 other people and he quickly becomes drunk. A glass of champagne will usually be given to each person in the family while they watch the television, children champagne (non-alcoholic) or cola/juice will be given to the youngest. When the television has been turned off it is time for dinner. Dinner will usually be some kind of fish. When dinner is done you go out to light fireworks and before the clock strikes 12, you stand up on furniture (sofas, chairs, etc), and jump into the new year at midnight.

Oneness is the secret of everything - SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

ART BY LULAMA MATIRINGE

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It was 5am sometime in August 2020 and I was drunk and awake, seemingly my usual state throughout the whole pandemic.

Six hours prior, I had been in my cousin’s garden, drinking wine and talking about a vegan theatre event she wanted to put on (socially distanced of course), and how I should write something for it.

Considering my writing had only ever sat in a document named ‘PRIVATE’ on my laptop, I almost half scoffed at the idea, assuming it would be one of those things where you say ‘I’ll think about it’ and then never actually do it. But as I lay there in my inebriated state, my mind wouldn’t stop racing with ideas. ‘Write what you know’, they say. And what did I know? How to turn a man vegan. Hilarious, trite, ridiculous, how could I let this story go to waste? I turned around to lay on my stomach and started frantically writing in my notes app.

A year and a half later (and copious amounts of glasses of wine), my cousin and I had a one hour, Offienominated, five-star show on our

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V VE EG GA AN N II S SM M ,, F FE EM M II N N II S SM M A AN ND D T TH HE EA AT TR RE E BIBI LUCILLE

‘Meat Cute’ (the name of the show) is

There’s a real sense of denial when you hear

probably the most important thing I’ve

information that contradicts everything you

done in my seven-year career. It is

were raised to believe. I know I went

everything I have wanted to bring light to

through this, struggling to process the

surrounding veganism, feminism and

simple fact that we really don’t need milk

sexuality. Coincidentally, I’ve been vegan

to have healthy bones. But the health

for seven years now and every year the

aspect isn’t what turned me to veganism.

message becomes more and more

Even if a plant-based diet was proved

urgent. The meat and dairy industry has

unhealthy, I think I still would have gone

dominated a huge part of western life,

through with it due to the sheer horror

convincing us for years that we need

farm animals have to endure. I was about

animal products to be healthy and to

fourteen when being vegan started to

thrive. I had succumbed to this tale too

become a more wide-spread thing. I was

until more research came to light and it

scrolling around on Tumblr when graphic

was making less and less sense. Ian

videos of pigs being beaten and chicks

Sample, the science correspondent at the

being ground alive flashed up on my

Guardian states; ‘A diet rich in meat, eggs,

screen. It was like watching a scene out of a

milk and cheese could be as harmful to

horror film, but it was real life.

health as smoking, according to a study

Then, of course, after a plethora of research

into the impact of protein consumption

and finding out the devastating impact

on longevity. High levels of dietary animal

these industries have on the environment

protein in people under 65 years of age

and how the workers are underpaid,

was linked to a fourfold increase in their

exploited and traumatised… that was more

risk of death from cancer or diabetes, and

than enough to convince me. For a long

almost double the risk of dying from any

time, I didn’t understand why people felt

cause over an 18-year period, researchers

veganism was extreme.

VEGANISM, FEMINISM AND THEATRE

BIBI LUCILLE

What felt extreme to me was the fact that we were funding these industries, that we were disassociating animal with food, turning them into sandwiches and shoes.

Then we were ignoring the impact it was having on the only planet we have to live on and for what? A few minutes of pleasure?

For about two years after leaving school, I started going on protests. I would stand outside Canada Goose, begging customers not to go inside and then being sworn at or being told off by the police. I would scream at marches and stand outside McDonalds, horrified that the people sitting inside just… didn’t care. It was weighing heavily on my mental health and got to a point where I just had to stop, otherwise I feared I might go insane.

With every boyfriend or guy I dated, it would always get to a point in the early stages where I would warn them about how passionate I am for this cause. That I would typically be labelled as one of those ‘crazy vegans’ and that if we wanted to have a long lasting relationship, I couldn’t be with someone who contributed to those industries. As my dating life continued through my late teens and early twenties, through no conscious means, I was turning men vegan.

It became a running joke between friends that this is my true form of activism; if I couldn’t handle the marches and the rallies, then I could just turn the world vegan through dating.

Flashback to that drunken night in August last year, as I was lying in bed writing the play, that’s what I started to write about.

Turning men vegan. It’s hilarious and ridiculous and slightly surreal. But there it was, a story that combined everything I was passionate about; comedy, veganism, feminism and theatre. Was this some grand feminist act, that I had taken ahold of my sexuality and ‘used’ it to change the world?

Or was I just some crazy vegan that has tried everything to spread the word, nearly gone insane in the process and was using this as my last resort? Maybe I was both.

Either way, go vegan and use your sexiness to change the world in the process.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @bibi_lucille and keep up to date with the play at @meatcute2021.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY Joseph Patrick Fair and Marcus LaPointe Being alive motivates a person to think and act in a pro-survival way. The decisions we make can be at odds with other people's belief systems. Conflict is the evidence that life is complicated. The complication of life creates adversity to overcome.

Adversity is more difficult than “hard times”. We sometimes lament with sentiment for the hard times of life. Often after a difficult period of life we cast an imagination back in time to analyze some experience of the past. When we do we can generate strength or weakness depending on our psychological personal motive. If your motive is to understand all the truth. The experience thought process works like this. No one and everyone is to blame to some minor degree. If your motive is to escape responsibility, The thought process works like this. It’s all their fault.

Sometimes blaming an adversity on others around us helps make a person feel better. Shame and guilt is one way to shield us from the pain and suffering of our decisions. When we take all the blame it feels real, but often we are trying to sell the idea that we are more powerful than we are. When we shift blame to others it feels fake and empty.

Acceptance and forgiveness of all situations is a vital human behavior necessary for happiness.

OVERCOMING ADSVERSITY

BY JOSEPH FAIR & MARCUS LAPOINTE

The problem in life is not how to overcome adversity. The problem in life is how to live in a manner that accepts that life must contain some level of Adversity. To overcome the proper percentage is a necessary mission of living. Also taking ownership of one’s life, the good and the bad is a necessary component of a resilient life.

If adversity is coded as an opportunity to grow as a person then facing adversity is a good life experience. If adversity is coded as trouble then facing adversity is a bad life experience. If we choose to face adversity with fearless courage, we come around to the idea that life must have some ups and downs. The process of fault finding has unsatisfactory resolve. The elevator of life must have a purpose?

If we choose to face adversity with fearless courage, we come around to the idea that life must have some ups and downs. The process of fault finding has unsatisfactory resolve. The elevator of life must have a purpose?

If humans are the clay and God is the sculpture then life must possess some change and change can be difficult. If we resist change then we are not participating in life with fearless courage. If we face and overcome adversity with courage then we are living life from a dynamic that surrenders creativity of our life experience to God. If a person accepts that God created all then the power of creativity is in the correct actor/observer balance.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

BY JOSEPH FAIR & MARCUS LAPOINTE

If humans are the clay and God is the sculpture then life must possess some change and change can be difficult. If we resist change then we are not participating in life with fearless courage.

If we face and overcome adversity with courage then we are living life from a dynamic that surrenders creativity of our life experience to God. If a person accepts that God created all then the power of creativity is in the correct actor/observer balance.

During a struggle with a heavy period of adversity most people feel like they're at rock bottom in life. This new perspective seeds the growth necessary for the next journey of their soul. Many journeys of the soul are cyclical in nature with similarity of structure.

With different truths to learn with broader definitions of clarity. Most people would like to learn a lesson then put that on a shelf.

God’s plan involves the cyclical process of reinvestment of depth and width necessary to make a person the champion of their destiny.

The problem in life is not how to overcome adversity. The problem in life is how to live in a manner that accepts that life must contain some level of Adversity. To overcome the proper percentage is a necessary mission of living. Also taking ownership of one’s life, the good and the bad is a necessary component of a resilient life.

Much like progression from 1st Grade to 2nd Grade, the next lesson is just a little more complex than the last lesson. As we go through the process of life. We must trust in the process to proceed to the next grade.

Much like grade school we must complete assignments to process to the next Grade.

If adversity is coded as an opportunity to grow as a person then facing adversity is a good life experience. If adversity is coded as trouble then facing adversity is a bad life experience. If overcoming adversity is a sign of strength then by definition running for adversity must be a sign of weakness. If the only path to strength and greatness is through adversity then the engagement of the battle with adversity is the beginning of a new success.

God is a teacher and he is on our side. Also, cooperating with the assignment is evidence that we believe the teacher's lesson is good for us.

Adversity is not failure, adversity is a sign that God is in the process of educating and growing our fortitude. Human Potential is strengthened by war and conflict not rest and ease.

Victory over adversity has many faces, for some victory is finishing the marathon.

Someone else finishing first is victory over adversity.

OVERCOMING

BY JOSEPH FAIR & MARCUS LAPOINTE

ADVERSITY To others victory is to win the Boston marathon.

The subjective root of victory is to weigh and know one’s limits and challenges measured to the current best result. The journey of life is an individual's perception based on their life circumstances and challenges to overcome. No else can live your life for you or run your race.

The best way to measure overcoming adversity is to compare one’s self to the actual version of one’s self from a month or so ago. If you have 2 things to overcome and complete. Next month you should set the goal of 3 things. Periodic resolve to adversity is the goal to achieve not complete mastery. If a person could totally complete their mastery of adversity their soul’s journey would lack meaning and purpose and growth. Trials and suffering are the result of facing adversity and not accepting the mission for what it is. Accepting what it is requires the strength to admit that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. If we die during struggle the end is victorious. Victory over adversity is complicated by the fact that during periods of adversity our mind can be overwhelmed with feelings of Depression. Depression is a sign that an individual is processing loss.

Offen while processing loss the human mind gets caught in compulsive thought patterns. Some of these thoughts are connected to a psychological theory called emotional indebtedness.

The subconscious mind is trying to process the experience in a rational but theoretical logographic composite summary. If the person processing the event is conditioned to see fear the event is coded in fear. The other side of the coin is if the person is conditioned to see love the event is coded in the dynamic of human growth potential.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY Joseph Patrick Fair and Marcus LaPointe

The cyclical nature of emotional indebtedness is self replicating its structure and action. Breaking free from this process involves some soul searching and meditation. After one breaks free some human potential to tolerate adversity is increased.

Overcoming adversity and tolerating some aspects of adversity is the sign of a healthy human psychological makeup.

This healthy makeup can be affected by the Myers-Briggs personality types.

If someone is high in creativity they are also high in introversion. This type of person has a big inner life and smaller outer life. This type sees more adversity and experiences more chos in their life.

For this type of person they must formulate a plan to process adversity and growth from the pain. If they don’t proactively process the losses in life their mind becomes filled with anxiety.

What most people are looking for in life when facing adversity is a road map to traverse to a new beginning. The best way to find the road map is to find a trusted friend to have an honest and deep conversion. If the person you choose has been down the same road of adversity many times this person is your journey to a new beginning.

How does a person overcome adversity?

Often the best way is to reframe the problem in a positive way. Catch any negative self-talk and replace it with empowering beliefs.

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Film is an immersive form of art in which it takes the audience through a rollercoaster of many emotions. It can range from tragedy to comedy, but what audiences don’t necessarily see is the meaning behind films. Yes, it is a form of entertainment, but it is also a form of art, so why not let your curiosity take lead into asking if there is more than what is on the screen.

As many recent films are bringing modern issues to life, film is now being used as a great way of expression. For example, the 2020 movie, “Promising Young Women” is a thriller that talks about sexual assault and how it is usually disregarded just because of social status and misogyny. Another notable film that presents modern issues is “Moonlight”. This is a film made in 2016 that shows a young man finding himself in Miami. The film touches on the issues of racism and homophobia in modern society.

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THE HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND MOVIES… JORDAN FARRIS

These films are great examples of

Throughout this film, a determined cop

issues being brought to light; but what

bunny and a reckless fox work together

about movies that are not always clear

to solve a mysterious case. Judy the Cop

about what issues they are trying to

rabbit is new in the law force and is

discuss? Hiddin meanings in movies

never taken seriously because she is a

can have a greater impact on a viewer

small bunny. Nick the fox is a rebellious

then most think. They can change an

fox that everyone always stereotypes.

audience's depiction of a subject just

They both get different feedback based

by showing a story that involves it. Do

on the places in society they stand.

audiences realize what’s under the surface of their favorite movies?

This is an obvious conflict that creates

The 2016 Movie Zootopia for example

characterization, but also has much

may seem like an innocent children's

more meaning behind it then shown.

movie, but in reality, there is much

Throughout the film, we see different

more behind it then what is seen.

stereotypes created in the community based on what type of animal they are;

The movie shows a world with animals

what ends up happening is the animals

living together in an environment that

realize they all are more similar than

somewhat resembles our humanity

they think and want in life the same

but shows more of an animal society.

thing: to be happy about who they are.

THE HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND MOVIES… JORDAN FARRIS

Judy the fox and Nick the fox ends up coming to this realization which impacts their characters as a whole. These “stereotypes” are connected to modern day racism. These characters are stereotyped just because of what animal they are and realize this throughout the movie. It puts them in a set place of where they stand in society. This connects to modern day racism and economic status in society. A person’s status is almost determined by where they stand economically and the color of their skin.

While that is not a written ideal, it is quite obvious based on racism, systemic economic paths and much more.

Our country has put rich, white men on a pedestal and this stereotype has sadly lasted throughout America’s history. This movie almost breaks that ideal and shows it very clearly that Zootopia’s main issue was the placement of people’s statuses based on stereotypes. It is amazing how a simple kid’s movie could represent so much more than just a basic story of animals. Next time you watch a casual movie, rethink what the movie’s them and message is trying to

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NOVEMBER 2021