As we get closer to Thanksgiving my mind shifts to the young girl from Ohio who inspired me to take a closer look at those who might be sitting next to me at the dinner table. Her full name is Emilie Grace Olsen. I’d never met her in person but for the past two years I’ve been thinking about Emilie a lot. Sadly, her life story seems like a microcosm of our somewhat split personality here in America. An American couple graciously open their hearts and home to a young Chinese girl abroad, giving her a new life in America. That’s the beautiful side. Unfortunately, when young Emilie went to school (in Fairfield Township, Ohio) she experienced the ugly side of our American society.
Nearly two years ago, on a cold mid-December day, Emilie Grace Olsen ended her life with a gunshot to her head. She was only 13 years old. The bullying by some of her classmates and peers was too overwhelming for Emilie. Made to feel unwanted in your school is a terrible feeling for any kid. I think that Emilie’s story stays on my mind more so than other bullying-to-suicide cases because of her young age and because of the method she used. Statistically, we usually don’t hear about girls using guns to end their life. When I first got wind of Emilie’s story, near Christmas 2014, I was in New York working on the manuscript for my upcoming novel and was stopped cold by the news. I remember just sitting in the chair, shaking my head in disbelief. And then I began to feel so useless and helpless, as if I could’ve somehow made some type of difference in Emilie’s tormented life.
Emilie’s story will always be on my mind. The way I look at Thanksgiving and Christmas now is different. Unbeknownst to us sometimes, those who partake in bullying others (kids and adults) throughout the year maybe one of those who sits at our Thanksgiving table. They may receive expensive and thoughtful Christmas gifts from us. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that bullying goes for beyond our school system. As we get older, we tend to give things a new name…but bullying is bullying, regardless of age.
For Emilie’s sake, let’s talk to one another and have a real conversation about bullying (in all of its different forms.) On this Thanksgiving and all days forward, for Emilie’s sake and for America’s sake, I hope and wish that we will start treating one another a little better than before. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Everyone. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
Our young people need us more than ever right now. The recent election gave a true snapshot of the real America. All of our hidden, dark secrets and thoughts are now exposed to the world. Those who’ve harbored hatred and quietly belittled others at the dinner table or behind closed doors seemingly have been given the green light to carry these twisted, backward thoughts and ideas to another level.
So many people in America are feeling disenfranchised right now. It’s a terrible thing to feel uncomfortable in your own home, at your workplace, and it’s even worst when you feel uncomfortable and unwanted in your own country.
Already, we have a big problem in America dealing with the rising number of teen runaways and the issue of teen homelessness. It’s a growing issue that I feel passionate about but it hardly ever gets serious attention, especially at the national level. (See TEEN HOMELESSNESS by Justine Pedroza at https://prezi.com/gcen4hk_twcv/teen-homelessness/) Personally, I’m very concerned now about the negative impact that this recent election will have on our young people in America who already feel uncomfortable where they are due to their race or possibly due to their sexual orientation.
Due to the uncertainty of projected policies and the seemingly uncompassionate heart of our future leaders, this election will cause more anxiety among those who no longer feel welcome in their own home and in their own country, especially our young people who are still struggling to find their own identity. Within the next four years in America, youth homelessness will rise and we have to do whatever we can to try to curb it.
What can we do to help? If you have a teen drop-in center or a homeless shelter in your city or town, see if they need volunteers. Some cities may have a soup kitchen that feeds the homeless of all ages. If you can, lend them a hand or donate whatever you can, your time, food or clothing. Your compassion is greatly needed and will be greatly appreciated. If compassion is not flowing from our leaders, then we must make up for it in our own little ways. Let’s help the disenfranchised, especially our young people. Thank you. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
Many of us have spent the last 18 months following the latest developments of the primaries, presidential campaigns, and debates, all leading up to the grand finale, which was last night’s election results. It’s just amazing how much time we’ve devoted to following the lives and the news surrounding the candidates. And now that the election is over, what will we do with all of that extra time?
Can you imagine if we spent 18 months devoted to our own lives. What if we spent a year and a half enriching ourselves? Maybe we could spend some time on building our job skills to ask for a long, overdue raise. Why do we spend so much time following the lives of others, especially those who are making 6-figure paychecks while we’re fighting to earn every dime above minimum wage?
Now that the election is over, make a commitment to spend the next 18 months enriching yourself. You deserve it. It’s your time now. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
In response to my recent piece ‘Finding Happiness’, one of my readers sent me an email yesterday explaining that she’s having trouble finding her true passion because she feels “stuck”. I understand where Janice is coming from because I’ve been there as well. Janice went on to explain that she lives in a small town with limited job opportunities, and most of those jobs are low-level entry types.
One of my favorite quotes is ” Don’t let others define you — You define yourself.” Too often, we let our current job define us. We have to learn to remove these labels because we are much greater than our current job title. About a year ago, I wrote a piece entitled ‘A Janitor’s Dream’. Janice’s email gave me the notion to re-post it. Janice, and anyone feeling ‘stuck’, this is for you:
A Janitor’s Dream:
Regardless of what job you’re currently doing to pay your bills, support your family and yourself, always make sure that you’re also taking some time to nurture and cater to your own personal dreams and goals as well. Every day, in some form or another, we work and do things to make other people rich or happy, especially those who work within the service industry. What are you doing to make yourself happy?
Every day, we devote approximately eight hours toward someone else’s business or dream, indirectly making their dream a reality. How many hours (or minutes) per day are you devoting to your own dreams or goals?
Don’t let your day job define you. I understand that you must clean the toilets or bus the tables in order to pay the rent, but don’t let the designer in you, the artist in you, the executive in you, the inventor in you, or the store owner in you wither away or tire you out due to your devotion to someone else’s dream. Be the person you want to be. Define yourself! Empower yourself!
In my own personal life, I’ve cleaned many toilets, and I’ve been on various factory floors working on the assembly line. However, while I was cleaning the toilets or mindlessly checking the parts and products as they traveled along the conveyor belt, in my head I was simultaneously working out my characters’ dialogue for my manuscript, which I tirelessly typed up in the wee hours of the night, sometimes two or three pages on a good night.
No, everyone doesn’t know my name, but this janitor’s dream has come true. Today, I’m so very grateful to all of my fans, followers, and readers from around the world who have bought my books, read my articles, and recently made ‘False Dandelions’ one of my bestselling novels. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp
Writers are told and often reminded not to create one
dimensional characters. In real life we all have different sides and
layers. I’ve always loved music and I use songs and pop bands as helpful
tools when I’m trying to give extra depth to my characters. If you’re
an aspiring writer and you’re having trouble developing one of your
characters then give this a shot: Try to figure out what type of music
that particular character likes, which may lead to something interesting
and surprisingly deeper about that character. For instance, your
readers may discover, as your story unfolds, that the reason this
particular character quietly cries every time she hears a gospel song is
because the church music reminds her of her childhood before she became
a professional escort.
Keep writing and don’t forget to add another dimension to your characters. – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp
