Her ship sank at sea, continued...

Photo of Pam on ship.

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

Pamela Bitterman shared an insert from her book, Sailing To The Far Horizon; The Restless Journey and Tragic Sinking of a Tall Ship:
“Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that we are expected to accomplish in this life arrives in the aftermath of such a dreadful ordeal. Be it a war, act of violence, illness, accident, profound personal loss, or disaster at sea, we must then shoulder the awesome burden of how to incorporate this reality-altering experience in our lives. If we convince ourselves that we must be better human beings for having endured, do we search for new meaning? If we dare ask “Why me?” do we commit ourselves to finding an answer? If, during the course of our traumatic experience, we attain a heightened level of consciousness, must we forever after engage in an earnest struggle to regain that elevated state of being? And should we attempt to share the details of the ordeal? Because far too often, language is so piteously inadequate to convey the true depth of emotion that we feel that we end up trivializing it. We are then left with the sick empty sensation of having betrayed something vitally personal. In the final analysis many of us who survive such a test feel bilked. We realize that we may not have survived because we were chosen, and we therefore should not expect to experience some cosmic rebirth. We are only mortal. We are flawed. And for a time we are hopelessly lost and desperately alone.” It has been more than a quarter century since the disaster. I have moved on, and life has filled up the spaces left in the wake of the Sofia. I expect it has been so for us all.
We are today as we existed then – separate beings who once combined on a magical stage to form one fantastic, albeit temporary, ensemble.” And I will feel an imperishable connection to that time; the people, the places, and the incomparable adventures. Perhaps I will always be looking to recreate the enchantment of an era and a world now long gone, but never forgotten.”

Her book is published by Terrace Books, a trade imprint of The University of Wisconsin Press, 2004.

Pamela and her husband honor and memorialized this time through the names of their children, Rigel and Hallie.

In Pamela’s words, “Our children were given proud names that honor our sailing adventure and memorialize the events. Our son is named for a prominent navigational star, the brightest star in the universe. Our daughter’s name means lover of the sea. They are both amazing human beings.”

Click here to visit Pamela’s website where you can learn more about her and her work.

Limitations you must overcome, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

I have a lot of self imposed limitations or to be more honest fears. I have also overcome many in the past. I overcome and persevere and then look forward and discover more. My life has been a winding path of challenges and pain that I have climbed over, stomped on and found victory within. It will become a great book someday. I'm already working on it.

I've always feared living the life as an artist, which is my passion. Today, I'm doing it. Each day is filled with anxiety but each day I figure out a new way, embrace another idea and push forward mostly in baby steps. Many times I feel like I'm standing still and going no where fast. Then someone writes me about a line in my book that touched them or comments on my column or piece of art and I suddenly feel warm and appreciated. You see, I know I am a creative and compassionate person. I have always made success at any project I ultimately embrace with my mind, body and spirt. Many of the people who know me, think I am a very courageous individual. This is not true. I am actually quite fearful and weak inside.

I just don't let my fears hold me back. I battle the fear most everyday. Some days, it wins but most of the time, I eventually kick its butt. In my business, Lifetime Art Impressions, LLC., I have just begun my quest to help others heal through art. I have many limitations and one by one, I'm pushing through them. My passion to reach others and help them heal through creativity and art is a necessity. I am making the world a better place one creative piece at a time.

How are you fueling your passion? Leave me a comment.

Enlightenment, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

Gaining spiritual enlightenment is the ultimate high. If only all of the drug and alcoholics truly understood this, the world would be such a better and more loving place to live. If you understand that your energy connects to the greater good and this engages the universe, this thought alone makes the trivial stuff dissolve. This realization validates that you are never alone and that you really do matter. You have a place and a purpose in the universe. And, you can find the answer to all of this within.

It is pretty amazing stuff.

What are your thoughts about spiritual enlightenment? Enlighten me!

Sailing the seas, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Photo of Pamela Bitterman (provided by Pam Bitterman)

Examiner article

Pamela talked about the loss of the ship, “Although I had been a newbie know-nothing swabbie myself when I initially boarded the Sofia in Boston Harbor nearly four years earlier, I had earned my sea legs over time and nautical miles. When the ship went down, and a life was lost while sixteen others were put in mortal danger, I was Acting First Mate, second in command. This fact changed forever the impact of the event in my life. I knew I would miss the Sofia for as long as I lived. I would dream of her, romanticize about her, grieve for her, and ponder my part in her life and her loss.”

Instead of denying her passion, Pamela preserved through the adversity she suffered and continued to push forward embracing her love for the water. As detailed in the article, she and her husband incorporated their passion in the upbringing of their children.

Are you neglecting a passion because you feel there isn’t a fit for it in your life? I hope Pamela’s story inspires you to better prioritize the love of your life into your daily path.

Click here to purchase a copy of Pamela’s book, Sailing To The Far Horizon; The Restless Journey and Tragic Sinking of a Tall Ship. She shares her story at sea in great detail in this book.

Teen emotional immaturity and drugs, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

Their are 4 teenagers in my household and I am working diligently to educate and make sure they are continually saying no to drugs. As they have communicated to me, drugs are everywhere in their world especially Marijuana. This horrifies me. I spoke to a Michigan State police officer and he told me that in many local schools Heroin is the drug of choice. This scares me. I can't imagine these kids justifying such drug use.

I think today it is very difficult to keep a handle on teen interface considering technology. There are so many on-line avenues; cell phones, x-box, computers and so on. They have a lot of time on their hands and if you're not working to keep this focused in a positive direction, peer pressure and other factors will step in.

As I said before, many teens communicate they would never drink and drive but they won't think twice about getting behind the wheel after smoking a joint. This is really crazy to me. They can justify the influence of marijuana in a belief they're able to control its influence.

I think we just keep reinforcing the truth, work to keep them in-line and hope they make healthy decisions when they are young adults and have the freedom to choose.

What are your thoughts?

Broken, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner article

Yesterday I wrote about being in a fragile state which I admit I enter a lot of the time. I also said that I am a very strong person. In today's article I wanted to take it one step further, I wrote about feeling broken. I am a survivor of a lot of hardship from an early age in life. I have always had a will to live. Suicide has not been an option for me. I find my way through hardship by embracing my will to live through and endure anything thus far. But, even considering this, I have to admit, I have been broken a few times in my life.

When I chose to pursue a divorce, this broke me. I so believed in the vows "Until death do we part" although circumstances that were out of my control caused an unhealthy environment in my marriage. I'm sure it was the right decision for me but it did change me. It hurt me to force myself through the disruption and betrayal I suffered.

When I lost my father I felt broken. My spirit was lost in this process. Of course, since then, I've found health and happiness but suffering through bereavement changed me forever.

There is life after being broken. You can mend your spirit and rejuvenate your soul. This is the message of my article.

Leave me your thoughts about this emotional state. I want to hear from you.

Fragile times, continued...

Click on the below article link to obtain background information to this blog post:

Examiner

Wow, fragile moments are common in my life. At the same time, I believe I am a very strong person. For many, these 2 sentences might seem contradictory. This concept is what had inspired the article. It seems like, especially as women, we have to hide our fragility. We think we have to be strong always or we are portrayed as weak. This isn't true. The article communicates how common it is to feel fragile. It discusses this weakness and how it can overpower. It also discusses what we gain as it comes and goes in our lives. We gain a resilience to live.

What are your thoughts about fragility and life? Leave me a note!