Week 8 Growth Mindset

As I sit here and contemplate about the last 8 weeks I can't help but think what an odd semester it has been for me. At this point in the semester I usually have my groove my down, my schedule is on lock and I'm comfortable (stressed but comfortable I would like to add).

I told myself when I was readmitted into OU I would push myself more than I ever had. I don't want to say I have reached my goal because there is oh so much I have not even done yet; but I knew I was on the right track when today I had to pull out my agenda and double check what time my class started. You see as I mentioned before, I ALWAYS have had my schedule memorized from week 2 of school. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and have so much going on I am in week 8 and still do not know when my classes start. For some this is no big deal but for me it's an indicator that I am taking risks and stepping out of my comfort zones.

I really enjoy learning about growth mindsets and growing my own mind with these exercises. Unfortunately I overloaded myself so much I barely have time to finish by required assignments. The thing I enjoy most about this course is having the freedom of when you get to turn in the course work (to an extent). You set us up for success by being very upfront and laying it all out for us to see.

Prioritizing seems to be my next growth to tackle. I always thought I was good at this one until recently. I realized I was not. Not just prioritizing which class assignment should I do first but what should I put first. School, work, friends, family, sleep, undergrad research opportunity, healthy lifestyle??? So much prioritizing in that last sentence it almost stressed me out to type it. Hopefully I can prioritize some more time to do some growth mindset exercises in these last 8 weeks!

(Inspirational Focus Quote)

Week 8 Reflexions

As I look back on the Ramayana and Mahabharata reading assignments and think about which one I enjoyed the most I can't help and think about the first weeks assignment. We had to choose a random story and wright about it, now I can see it was to prepare us for the semester. It took me a while to finally choose a story and read but when I did I landed on The Mountains in Labor.
For some this is still my favorite story; though short it was fun for me to read. So I am looking forward to the last 8 weeks of our course as we are given a bit more freedom!

So far out of the Ramayana readings and Mahabharata readings I have enjoyed Narayan's Ramayana the most. I enjoyed the story of Sita and Rama and of their adventures. I also enjoyed Ravana and how he was portrayed, he might actually have been my favorite character out of them all.
I also found myself enjoying the thought process of writing a story post for the Ramayana more enjoyable. As I was reading and even taking notes I would be drawn to one specific part and had it in my mind that, that is what I wanted to write a story over even before I finished the reading assignment.
I also ready Narayan's version of the Mahabharata, wanting to compare the two stories with a similar writing style. It was very difficult for me to follow which character was what and did what. It was also very soap opera-ish to me. I can see how in India they can make an entire television series over it.

My reading notes for the Mahabharata came in very handy, as did the detailed reading guides. My schedule turned out to be a little different so I found myself writing a story long after I did the readings so it was very useful in that situation for a refresher. I also ended up putting page numbers or  highlighting in my notes so I knew what to look at if I decided I wanted to write about something specific. This seemed to help my story telling the most.

I am also enjoying the portfolio. It is really giving me the opportunity to fine tune my writing and literature skills, something I am not good at. So I actually really enjoy when my peers leave critical (but in a nice way) comments and point something out I need to change or should think about more. I hope my comments I leave on the stories I have read help my peers out as well! I have gotten good ideas from reading other stories as well, as far as type of stories to write (i.e. journal entires).

Here is a cool picture of a Trilobite Fossil

They went extinct in the Permian (252 Million yrs. ago)

Thank you

Candace Johnston

Reading Notes: The Indian Heroes, Part B

Notes: 

• This version of the Mahabharata does not focus on the Pandava's 12 years of exile but say's, "Many adventures came to the Pandava Princes in the forest." 

         - An entire series of stories could be written about their adventures!

• The 13th year is the one in concealment in one of the cities

         - they decide to live in Biratnagar, the capital town of Virata
            --> the King of the Matsyas
            Yudhishthira = Kanka (gambler)
             Bhima = Ballaba (cook)
             Arjuna = Vrihannala (dancer & Singer)
            Nakula = Granthika (groomer for horses)
             Sahadev = Tantripala (cowherd)
             Princess Draupadi = Sairandhri (waitingmaid)

• They hid their weapons in a thorn tree on the outskirts of town. 
• They all entered the town at different times speaking to King Virata (he had no clue who they were) 

              - they did their jobs for 12 months

• Then Queen Sudeshna's brother had to show up, Prince Kichaka. 

             - he forced himself on Princess Draupadai (Sairandhir) and almost ruined their disguise when Bhima killed him with his bare hands.

• The King ordered Draupadai to be burned on Kickaka's pyre. 

          - Bhima heard of this and went and killed all the soldiers trying to kill Draupadai

• Now everyone is afraid of Draupadai and wants her to leave but she convinces them to let her stay
• Now that Kickaka is dead all the neighboring cities want to overtake Virata, including evil Prince Duryodhan.

            - karna and Arjuna got into it because Karna recognized Arjuna in the carrot.

• Yudhishthira admits to King Virata they are the Pandava brothers. 
• I could write a story about how King Dhritarashtra is his sons, Prince Duryodhan, puppet.  pg 113
• The Pandava's decide on war!

          - I could write a story about their decision

• Most of the support was on Duryodhan's side because they were afraid of him. 
• They feared 3 main people:

              --> Prince Bhishma, uncle of King Dhritarashtra
             --> Drona, taught Duryodhan archery
             --> Karna, sun gods son and a great bowman

• The trick arjuna pulled to kill Bhishma is very interesting, it would be fun to write about! pg. 116
• I could write a story about the death of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna
• I could write a story about the wizards palace at the bottom of the lake pg. 121
• Bhima and Duryodhan have a final battle

             - Duryodhan dies

(Final Battle Between Bhima & Duryodhana) 

• King Dhritarashtra almost killed Bhima with his grip but tore down a statue instead. 

           - but King Dhritarshra still ruled till the day he died
           - Yudhishthira was crowned king of Hastnapura

• Krishna was killed by a hunter

         - I could write a story about how his city was not allowed to drink wine. pg 132
           -Arjuna was losing his strength
         - Yudhishthira knew death was coming so he stepped down from the throne and him and his brothers accepted death

• They walked into the forest where the fire- god commanded them to throw their weapons into the sea (Bay of Bengal) 

          - They then walked to the Himalaya's where one by one they died off
          - The house of Bharata were all reunited in heaven, even Duryodhan.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata- The princess of Elephant City by C.A. Kincaid.

Story: The Football King

"There is NO WAY we are winning the game this week!"

"Bhima! Calm down. Saying it isn't going to help anything."

"Well, you know it's true, Arjuna! Yudhishthira is our only quarterback on the team and now he's hurt. Who's going to quarterback in Friday's game?? You?!?"

"You know I'm a receiver, Bhima. Just calm down; I have a plan."

"Please enlighten me then because if we don't win this game it's over for us."

"Bhima, for crying out loud. I understand the situation we're in! That is why I'm going to do something I never thought I would have to do..."

Bhima gave Arjuna an incredulous look and Arjuna began to explain his plan.

"You see, I'm kinda adopted. I never met my biological father and my mom got remarried when I was really young so I always just called him dad."

"Arjuna... I'm sorry about your biological father not being in your life and everything but how is this story going to help us win.... The game is in two days!!!"

"Hear me out! Gosh, you're so impatient, Bhima. Every time I ask my mom about him she just says he was some kind of "Football King" and that he lives at the top of Mount Scott now."

"You're father was the Football King and you are just now mentioning this?!?!"

"Well... yeah. I didn't think it was that important or true actually."

"Arjuna! Everyone knows about the stories of the Football King and how he would save teams even if no one had them favored to win. No one has heard from him for about eighteen years, which makes sense because he must have disappeared about the time you were born! He owes you, Arjuna- for walking out on you."

"Okay, I'll go check it out. Pray I'm back in time for the game Friday night or we really will have a big problem."

"Good luck, Arjuna! Be safe."

(Football Field by Daniel X. O'Neil)

Arjuna set out towards Mount Scott hoping to make it by sunset. By the time he reached the bottom of the mountain he was already tired from the day's activities but knew he needed to trudge on because his team was depending on him.

In the first thirty minutes of the climb Arjuna ran into multiple people hiking and camping. As the mountain became more and more steep he began to see less and less people until he had not seen anyone for at least an hour.
Arjuna noticed a few yards ahead the steep incline began to level off and he knew he must be nearing the crest. As he climbed over the final giant boulder in order to get to a clearing at the crest, he spotted a man in a fishing hat, sitting in a chair leaning back next to a pond like he hadn't moved for hours. It was a peculiar scene, seeing a pond so large a top of such a steep mountain but Arjuna did not question what he saw.

(Pond)

"Oy!" Arjuna shouted. "I do not wish to disturb you, but I am in search of the Football King. Do you know where I can find him?"

"I'll tell you this, boy," The fisherman started, "if you can catch the fifty- pound bass from this here pond I will tell you all you want to know about the Football King."

"You have yourself a deal." Arjuna was an experienced fisherman since his step-dad had been taking him fishing since his earliest memory and knew he would be able to complete the task given the right tools.... just hopefully the fish were biting today.

No more than twenty minutes later, Arjuna had his first bite and pulled in the fifty-pound bass on his first attempt.

The fisherman was amazed by what he just witnessed and asked, "What do you wish to know about the Football King?"

"Where can I find this so called Football King?" Arjuna asked. "I am his son who he left before even having a chance to meet and now he owes me."

"It is me, son. I am the Football King and your father," the fisherman proclaimed. "I wanted so badly to be a part of your life but I was cursed and if I had stayed you would never have been able to play football. Not until the day you would come looking for me is the day the curse would be lifted. Now everyone will know you achieved your skill yourself and not because your father is the Football King."

"Father, I have made the trip to find you because my team is in trouble. Our quarterback, Yudhishthira, got hurt in practice and he is our only chance of winning so we can go to Nationals."

"I see. Tell Yudhishthira to wear these pads on Friday night and he will be stronger, have more agility and most of all be healed of his wounds."

The Football King produced shining, golden shoulder pads from thin air that were light as a feather but stronger than the weight of a thousand- pound man.

"Thank you, father." And with that Arjuna rushed back to his home field just minutes before the Friday night game began.

"Yudhishthira! Come here! I have something for you from the Football King."

Yudhishthira slowly lifted the shoulder pads over his head and his throwing arm was miraculously without pain. He could feel his strength and agility racing through his veins as he stood up and shouted, "This is our stadium, boys! Let's send them packing!" and with that the team rushed the field.

Authors Note: 
In the original version of the Indian Epic, Yudhishthira is worried about defeating Prince Duryodhan without the help of any of the gods. This is when a sage by the name Vyasa tells Yudhishthira to tell his brother Arjuna to visit his father, the god Indra. Arjuna gladly takes on this quest to find Indra to get celestial armor from him. In light of football season I thought it would be fun to make the Pandava brothers in the original story into a different kind of brothers and put them as star players on a high school football team (think of small town, football is life kind of brotherhood). In the original tale, Arjuna is also gone for a very, very long time (long enough for his brothers to think he died on his journey). I shortened his journey substantially to only about two days and instead of Arjuna physically fighting to talk to his father I liked the idea of a fishing challenge.
Of course I kept to the football theme and instead of golden armor like in the original epic, Arjuna was presented with golden shoulder pads.
One more thing to point out is that in the original story Arjuna kept the armor for himself but in my version Arjuna gave the shoulder pads to Yuhdhishthira.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata- The Princes of Elephant City by C.A. Kincaid.

Reading Notes: The Indian Heroes- Mahabharata, Part A

Notes: 

• Could write a story about the moon god (would need to do some research)

            - or about Sun god (but that's from the Ramayana) 
           - maybe do a story about both Sun and Moon god

(The sun god)

• Hastinapura = Elephant City
• People whispered that Prince Yudhishthira's father was Dharma, the god of justice. He was also the wisest and eldest bring

                                               Prince Bhima's father was Wayu, god of the winds. most cunning with
                                                     mace
                                              Prince Arjuna's father was Indra, who rules over the broad sky. the best
                                                        Archer.

• King Drupada hates the Pandavas because they helped their teacher Drona defeat him.

               - King Drupada wished the Bharata line be destroyed
              - a young girl, Krishna, rose from the flames and King Drupada raised her as his own.
                I could write a story about how King Drupada raised Krishna. People called her Draupadi.

• I could write a story about the house Prince Duryodhan had built for the Pandavas and their mother, Queen Kunti, burnt down.
• I could write a story about the Pandava brothers and Queen Kunti about when they made it to the shores of the Ganges, queen of rivers.
• I could write a story about how Prince Bhima went looking for water
• I could write a story about Prince Bhima and his conversation with Hidimvi (the monsters sister)

                        - or about the fight with Prince Bhima and the monster Hidimva.

• I could write a story about how Prince Bhima and Hidimvi wandered in the forest together

                 - eventually Bhima wanted to see his mom and brother again so they sadly parted ways

• Bhima's family had been living as beggars in the town Ekachakra ruled by the evil Vaka

                - Bhima shows up just in time and kills Vaka

• I could write a story about how King Drupada's archery contest to win his daughter Draupadi. 

                      -gigantic crowds
                      - at first Karna went to shoot the bow but Princess Draupadi said no
                     --> I could write a story about how that angered him and where he is really from pg 60

• Prince Arjuna wins Princess Draupadi. 
• King Dhritarashtra learned that the Pandava's were not dead 

           - Prince Bhishma (his uncle) was on his council
            - his mom, the mighty ganges river
          -Bhishma thought the pandavas should be invited back to the Elephant city

• I could write a story about Arjuna and how he was banished 

              - The Ganges river and Ulupi the water- nymph pg. 66
             - The alligators and nymphs
            - the fire- god Agni asks for Arjuna's help in burning down the Khandava forest pg. 69
               - he married the maiden of Panchala, King Krishna's sister

• Bhima and jarasandha have a wrestling match 

              - Bhima kills Jarasandha

• I could write a story about how Prince Duryodhan fell into a tank of water because he could not tell where the floor ended and the water began.
• King Shakuni challenges Yudhishthira to a dice game

            - Yudhishthira lost everything including himself, brothers and Princess Draupadi.
            - The curse from King Drupada called down on the Bharatas came true
            - Draupadi, as an Aryan Princess had wishes and she wished her husbands be freed and they
                gain their wealth back

• Second dice game

            - Prince Yudhishthira lost again this time they are exiled for 12 years
            - most of the town followed them into exile but there was to enough food to eat
            - I could write a story about how Prince Yudhishthira prayed to the sun- god and was given
              a warrior clad in golden armour, a copper pot (endless food supply)

• Vyasa told Yudhishthria to send Arjuna to the god, Indra (his father) and he would give him celestial armor. 

            - He walked to the highest summit of the Himalayas
            - met a Brahman who turns out to be god Shiva who he needs to meet face to face into order
                to see Indra.
            - I could write a story about how Arjuna got into a fight with a young man on the mountain
               over a bour. Turns out it was an immortal.  pg. 92

• Brim doesn't come back from a hunting trip so Yudhishthira goes and looks for him. He finds him in a cave with a snake wrapped around him

             - Yudhishthira must answer questions to free Bhima or both of them will get devoured
              This is like the pond form Narayan's version
            - The snake is really King Nahusha who had been cursed by an ancient sage to become a
               snake

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes: Mahabharata- The Princes of Elephant City by C.A. Kincaid.

Story: Duryodhana's Final Fight

"It's over Duryodhana! Come out, come out wherever you are!", sang Yudhistira.

"It despairs me that you acted so greedy cousin; and have gotten your friends and family killed in this unnecessary war."

Yudhistira and his brothers had all gathered near an old abandoned house where they knew Duryodhana fled to after his uncle had been killed in battle. At that moment Duryodhana knew he had lost not just a battle but the war.

Inside the old, dilapidated house Duryodhana was pacing back and forth in front of a crumbling fireplace. "This did not turn out as I foresaw. After I lost Bhishma nothing seemed to play in my favor. Maybe I should have listened to my father and just gave my cousins the small parcel of land they requested..... Who am I kidding?! They did not and still do not deserve any of my kingdom!"

After a few minutes of waiting for Duryodhana to come out of the dilapidated house, Yudhistira and his brothers became impatient.

"You can hide no more Duryodhana", shouted Yudhistira, "The war is over and your time has come!"

Duryodhana went bursting through the front door making it fly off its hinges. He bursted out, "How dare you disgrace me by saying I am hiding! I simply needed to collect my thoughts and figure out what I have to fight or live for anymore. You, the Padavas have taken everything from me. Not an ounce of desire runs through my bones to have my kingdom anymore."

"You brought this upon yourself!", Yudhistira exclaimed, "I even sent Krishna for a final attempt at peace days before the war began! You are an arrogant one though and refused my offer."

"No the matter!" Duryodhana shouted, "This war is not over for me. I will fight you one by one. Right here, right now, toe-to-toe."

"My track record for betting with you is not very good but I will make one final offer to you,Duryodhana. Pick one of my brothers or I to fight and if you win we will give you a parcel of land to live on, unbothered. If you lose, you will die and we will let Yama do with you what he pleases."

(Final battle between Duryodhana and Bhima)

Duryodhana chose the youngest of the brothers, Bhima to battle.

"I finally get to test my skills on others besides the soldiers  who we just slayed in battle." Bhima eagerly waited for Duryodhana to put on his armor and the fight began.

The fight was evenly matched and what seemed like days later Bhima finally outwitted Duryodhana. In an arrogant moment, Duryodhana got distracted for just a few seconds and Bhima sent his sword crashing down on him.

In that moment, with Bhima still panting over him, Yama descended down from a cloud where he had been watching and waiting to take his next guest to the after world.

Authors Note:
My story begins after Duryodhana has lost the war and everything worth living for.
I kept it very close to the original in that the Pandava brothers find Duryodhana hiding after the war. In the original epic they find Duryodhana under water in a lake where he "Needed the water to cool the fire that is still raging within [him]." Similarly he also has a final battle with Bhima. In the original epic story though Bhima smashes him in the thigh and fatally wounds him.
I wanted to still portray Duryodhana's stubborn attitude even in his moment of death in  my story. That is when I decided to keep to the more original story line instead of completely twisting the story around. The gods still intrigue me so I even made Yama a small role even though he is not in the original story.

(Duryodhana found in the lake)

Bibliography: Narayan's The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.

Reading Notes: Narayan's Mahabharata, Part D

Notes:

• Yudhistira really does not want to go to war but keep peace within the family.

             - Krishna is going to Duryodhana to make one last plea for Yudhistira.

• Out of the 4 brothers, Sahadeva wants war and tell Krishna to provoke the Kauravas. 
• It would be fun to write a song like the 14 days of christmas but instead have the days of Krishna on his way to Hastinapura. page 136
• I could write a story about Duryodhana and a moral of the story is you are not alway right.
• I could write a story about a family fight at like the Christmas table or Easter dinner or just a family gathering

              - one crazy cousin causes all this drama by taking all the turkey legs and not sharing then
                takes all the pecan pie and whip cream. At this point the family is fed up but the dad just
                sits there and does nothing.  page 140

• I could write a story about he preparations for the war. How they chose Dhrishtadyumna as Supreme Commander. page 146
• Arjuna see's his kinsmen on the other side of the war line and losses heart.

              - He cannot kill his kin folk he admits to Krishna his chariot pilot.
              - It was just a lapse of judgement. Krishna gives him a pep talk
               - maybe I can write my story of Krishna's pep talk but this time it would be to the whole
                   army...... or maybe football team.

• War raged for 18 days

         - at sunset each side retreated and recouped, I could write a story about what the troops did in
           the evenings between battles page 148-149

• Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, targeted his great- grandfather, Bhishma. 

            - Arjuna pierced him with arrows. So many when he fell down he laid in a bed of arrows
              - Bhisma was able to decide when to die. Its kind of grim but I could write a story about
                being able to choose when to die. Like some deadly ill people are allowed to do in a few
                states

Bhisma dying pierced with many arrows from Wikimedia

• Duryodhana thought now that he could have victory if Yudhistira was captured alive

           - I could write a story about how two cousins got in a fight and they never meant any harm but
            someone always gets hurt in the end. page 156

• Arjuna cuts off karna's head with an arrow. 
• Duryodhana has lost everything and goes to a lake with his mystic powers

         - Duryodhana fights Bhima to try to be a King a gain
          - I would like to write a story about this fight and his thought process on choosing who to fight.
              --> kind of like pick your poison page 165
        - Duryodhana lost

• i could write a story about Narada and Vyasa visiting the Pandavas after war

Bibliography: Narayan's Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic