International Literacy Day: A Celebration

We celebrate many different things out here in the big ole’ world of blogging – in our case, the beauty and wonder of literature: short stories, flash fiction, essays, poetry – the list goes on and on; without not only the ability, but also the freedom, to read and write, we wouldn’t have the means to celebrate any of those things.

Wednesday is International Literacy Day. Malcolm Forbes, [second] publisher of Forbes Magazine, said “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” That is the essence of what education means to me.

“More than 780 million of the world’s adults do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to public education.”¹

Being literate is not something we should take lightly, nor something we should take for granted. Yet, we all do. I write something every single day, even if it’s nothing more than: “This is a blank sheet of paper I need to fill” and I don’t give a second thought to the reason I write, or how I came to have the ability to write.

Now is the time to reflect on those blessings.

I am able to read and write now because I was blessed with many special people early in my life – my parents, grandmothers, my teachers, aunts, uncles, cousins – many, who took the time to read to me, to show me how to write each letter of the alphabet, to sprinkle new words on me like fairy dust. Without them, I never would’ve formed such an intense love of words, such an overwhelming desire to rejoice in the feel of a heavy book in my hands, or a free-flowing pen. I only hope that by sharing my love of words that I’m helping to contribute to the growth of that love, and that International Literacy Day will still be here for my great-great-great-great….grandchildren to celebrate.

To share this love of words I’ve created a new award: Deanna’s “I’m A Literacy Builder” Blog Award.

I am passing this award along to some of the greatest word-weavers on the www. Of course I admire many more than are listed here – check out my blog roll to the right. I hope you’ll visit these incredibly talented writers and let them know how much you appreciate them.

Deanna’s “I’m A Literacy Builder” Blog Award goes to:

• Linda Simoni-Wastila of LEFTBRAINWRITE 
• Laura Eno of A Shift in Dimensions
• Anne Tyler Lord of Don’t Fence Me In
• Sam Adamson of Future; nostalgic
• Marisa Birns of Out of Order Alice 

Thank you all so much for the pleasure of your words!

Now, I’m not going to lay a bunch of heavy rules of acceptance on y’all, just a couple small ones:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Display the award logo on your blog site.
3. Tell us five of your favorite words and why you like them, (add as many as you like).
4. Pass the award on to three bloggers you feel are excellent literacy builders, and link to their sites – Yes, only three!
5. Contact the bloggers you’ve chosen and let them know about the award.

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A few of my favorite words: (all definition links via Merriam-Webster)

• Crush – for its many connotations
• Ersatz – because it is as crazy as it sounds
• Plethora - for the way it rolls off the tongue, and because it means so much (literally)
• Evanescence - also for the way it rolls off the tongue, and for its many uses
• Quagmire - for the way it makes your lip curl when you say it
• Epitome - because it sounds romantic to me, and it can be used in many different ways
• Tickle – because it is as fun as it sounds
• Lickety-split - another one that feels good rolling off the tongue
• CHOCOLATE! Do you really need an explanation for that one? 

You don’t have to be an award recipient to share your favorite words – let’s hear ‘em! After all, it’s the sharing of our knowledge that builds that literacy.

I hope you’ll stop in and check out my bookshelf, on The Life of a Working Writer Mommy, where I rate and review most of the books I read. Let’s talk about the wonderful experience of reading!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY!

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Click here to visit my sister site, The Life of a Working Writer Mommy, where you’ll find everything from my family recipes, essays, articles about autism and fibromyalgia, to the crazy things that happen in our everyday lives.

Click here to subscribe to The Other Side of Deanna.

*Many thanks to The Graphics Fairy for the images used to create the award logo.

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¹Bristol Public Library via Bristol Herald Courier

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