Like many other people around the world, last week, I was crushed to hear the news that the Titan submersible had imploded on its way to view the skeletal remains of the Titanic, 13,000 feet below the sea. For days, people fretted about the 5 passengers running out of oxygen, only to discover that the sub imploded before reaching its destination. Much has been made of the price tag to see the Titanic "up close and personal", and I certainly am not a person that has an extra $250,000 in my bank account to spend on a lark, but even if I did have the money, I would not have gone. Would I like to see the Titanic underwater? Absolutely. But, I would have been too afraid. I am afraid of water, I am claustrophobic, and I do not do well in pitch dark, and darkness is what you find at the bottom of the ocean. I lack the courage to do such a trip, even though the idea is immensely interesting and appealing. I am the person who would be content to see the pictures taken by others who are braver than I.
Thinking about this made me ponder the idea of the early explorers and the many unknowns of exploration. What if others were too scared to take the chance to explore? Christopher Columbus did not believe the world was flat, but he didn't know for sure. When he began his trek, he did not know if he would sail off the edge of the earth. When Lewis and Clark set out, they did not know what kinds of beasts and weather conditions they would find, nor did they have a map to help them on their way out and back. They were the ones making the map - and what if they were wrong? How overwhelmingly frightening that must have been! Think about those who were first in outer space. Such courage to be squashed into that tiny capsule while circling the earth, hoping and praying that NASA had the right calculations to bring the capsule back for a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean! I think of Pittsburgh's own Jonas Salk, injecting himself with an experimental vaccine, trying to eradicate polio. Indeed, we are surrounded by men and women whose bravery changed the course of our own lives forever.
Without these kinds of brave people - explorers, mathematicians, doctors, engineers, scientists, astronauts, inventors, and so many others - our world would not have made the strides toward progress that we enjoy. I appreciate their courage, but I will never be able to count myself among those brave souls. Some men are called to greatness, and they must fulfill their destiny to discover the secrets of the earth and the sky and the sea, then share those secrets with the world.
Here is a link to a brief but interesting article about 15 explorers who changed the world:
https://www.historyhit.com/most-important-explorers-of-the-world/
"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." Christopher Columbus
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Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics.
I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books. Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self. However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37
Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book. I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading. Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!
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