| Sticks and Stones |
Whoever said "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me," was way off base. People are harmed by words every day, and with the constant need to fill gossip magazines and websites, the problem has become epidemic.
Since 2001, Words Can Heal has been determined to reverse that trend with a national media and educational campaign designed to reduce verbal violence and gossip. Honorary Chairpeople and Board Members of this important, bi-partisan project include a who's who of politicians, celebrities and business leaders, including Joe Biden, John McCain, Tom Cruise, Goldie Hawn and Barry Diller.
 The actual pledge drive may be over, but it's never too late for you and your family to take the pledge to use your words responsibly and always opt for the ones that will encourage, engage and enrich.
Will this really help make the world a better place? In a word, yes. |
| On our Soul Radar: |
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We've got to spread the word about an important - and fascinating - book that is literally a gift to the women still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
 "Submerged: Tales From the Basin" is a labor of love from thirty female writers who contributed stories, memoirs and artwork all related to one of the most controversial subjects in a woman's life - hair! This pairing makes perfect sense when you read editor Lauren Gonzalez' in-depth introduction from New Orleans, which turns the title into a zinger of a metaphor.
A percentage of the book's proceeds will help support charities with ongoing relief efforts. Immerse yourself in these stories, which are likely to bring back a flood of your own hair memories. And when you have a bad hair day, remember lines like Rebecca O. Johnson's "A permanent is in no way so, as nothing in this life is or ever can be."
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by the brilliant Charlie Kaufman -- who wrote "Adaptation," "Being John Malkovich" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" - and stars the equally brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman. It also features a powerhouse list of actresses, including Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton, Dianne Wiest, Emily Watson, Hope Davis and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
The movie is definitely out there but it's so well-written, well-acted and, well, unique, that you should add it to your NetFlix queue. Click here to watch the trailer. ________________________________________
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We love to give you great new products in our Style and Substance emails, but in our Soul e-mail, we give you the opportunity to do the giving.
There's nothing more satisfying than being able to use your words to express your feelings, and WriteGirl is a stunning example of how to do that the write way.
Helping to empower girls through mentorship and self-expressionship, this Los Angeles-based non-profit organization is comprised of a community of professional female writers who work with teenagers who would otherwise have no access to creative writing or mentoring programs. They introduce the girls to a wide variety of genres, hold writing and career seminars, spend one-on-one time with them and help them make the right choices - in both their writing and their lives.
What's most exciting about WriteGirl's success is not just the impact it's made on the girls themselves - all of whom have gone on to college after the program -- but the talent it's introducing to the literary world. These girls just may become their generation's Virginia Woolfs, Jane Austens and Emily Dickinsons.
Every year since WriteGirl launched in 2001, it's published an anthology of its young members' work. The latest volume, "Lines of Velocity," is a powerful collection of words which has already garnered seven book awards.
Do yourself a favor and pick up one of these thought-provoking anthologies. It may give you a better understanding of your own daughter - and will definitely give you hope for our future. |
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