Thoughts on Jewish American Heritage Month

The best way to combat prejudice and hatred is education and knowledge.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAMH). Given the recent and scary rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes following the latest skirmish in the Middle East, perhaps this month will open the door to conversations and create opportunity for further co-existence.

My family has been in this country for over a century. I am proud of what I can say that those I love have accomplished and what my fellow American Jews have given to this nation. We are only 2% of the population, but what we have done is much more than what the census says.

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The Worst Part of Depression is Exhaustion

There is no part of depression that is cheerful or pleasant. It is debilitating, physically and mentally. Whatever joy or pleasure you take from life, it destroys, leaving emptiness and darkness in their places.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

The worst part is the complete and utter exhaustion.

I can do everything right and it never feels like I never get enough sleep. Eat right, limiting caffeine intake, try to keep a regular sleep schedule, work out regularly, etc. Nothing works. At this point, crashing into my couch and napping for 3ish hours on top of the sleep I get a night is normal. It used to be that if I took anything more than a catnap, getting a good night’s sleep would have been difficult. But not recently.

The worst part is the loss of precious writing time I lose almost daily. Writing is my release from the day and the sometimes difficult aspects of my job. Instead of turning on my computer and doing the thing I love to do, I lay down after work and before I know it, its dinner time. I may get some of my work done, but not as much as I would have, had I not felt like I had no energy.

So yeah, depression sucks.

The Secret World of Delia and Mingli Book Review

Learning to conquer our fears is never easy. It requires guts, confidence, and the innate knowledge that we are on the right path.

In the new children’s book, The Secret World of Delia and Mingli, by Harley West, seven-year-old Delia’s newest toy is a stuffed elephant named Mingli. Plagued by bad dreams, she is unable to sleep. Opening her eyes, Delia discovers that Mingli has come to life. He tells her that the only way to make the nightmares disappear is to go to the land of Imagine Nation and receive a crown from King Jesper and Queen Freya. Only then will she be able to have a good night’s sleep. On the journey to meet the King and Queen, they will encounter creatures they never expected and learn about friendship, courage, and looking beyond first impressions.

This book is utterly adorable. Delia is a relatable little girl that I am sure will resonate well with young readers. The imagery and language are absolutely perfect for the world that exists within the book. it’s the kind of book that I wish I had read at that age. What struck me as an adult is that though the message is targeted toward children, the lesson is timeless and ageless.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

This review was initially written for Discovery. The original review can be read here.