"YOU CAN DO IT!"
One of the most interesting and potentially life-changing books to come out this year is Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas' You Can Do It!: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls (NEW 646.7008 GRA). Begun by the late Ms. Grandcolas--a passenger on the ill-fated UAL Flight 93 on September 11, 2001--and finished by her two sisters, Vaughn and Dara, and Yvette Bozzini, the book encourages women to "Dare to Dream--Learn Something New--Do Something Just for You".
Many of us remember earning badges in Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls or Boys, Indian Princesses or Guides, Boy Scouts, and the like (yes, men can use the book, too!). We learned new things by following a list of activities to earn the specific badge--i.e., say, "World Cultures", where one might eat foods from other countries, learn folk dances and games, learn some phrases in another language, and make a craft or art project from another culture. Besides becoming informed, we got a physical reward, a little embroidered badge to sew on a sash or vest. We can still take out those sashes or vests today and be amazed at what we learned then.
Lauren Grandcolas' idea was to encourage women to quit saying, "I always wanted to do...", and to actually do "..." (whatever they dream of doing). By arranging the book into short sections with a few steps to accomplish each "dream", she hoped to make it relatively easy for readers to accomplish a dream or to, at least, get started on one--no more excuses!--just as we did as children. And, there is a reward when a section is finished--a "badge" (in sticker form) specific to the accomplishment. Do you want to be a rock star?, or write a book?, or fly a plane?, or make a film?, or start investing?, or play billiards?, or learn to knit?--there's a Badge here for you!
There are 60 different "Badges" to earn, divided into 6 main sections: Dare, Create, Learn, Play, Deal, and Connect. Some of the sections contain rather disparate badge activities (i.e., "Deal" has activities for nutrition and fitness as well as for money matters and car maintenance), while other sections are more cohesive (i.e., "Play" has all sports or exercise badges). For each badge there is a "Mentor", a woman who is an expert on the particular activity who adds comments and resources. The basic format for each badge begins with a paragraph expressing a fulfilled dream of the activity, "Imagine That...", followed by a list of 4 potential "Payoffs"--results that might come from accomplishing the activity. After learning about the Mentor, a list of from 3 to 7 getting-started steps are presented, concluding with a space to record one's name and the date the activity was finished. Sidebars and inserts include extra information (i.e., a glossary or a list of prominent women in the badge's field), "Expert Tips", and personal pro & con sides of the activity. For most of the badges there is also a "Beyond the Badge" section that takes the "Dream" a bit further, perhaps becoming a professional in that activity. Then there is a resource page of books, magazines, websites, films, etc., suggested by the mentor for the badge. For a few of the Badges, there is an "Extra Credit" section, i.e., "Stand-up Comedy" for the "Acting" Badge. The final badge in the book is one the readers can create themselves, using the format of the previous 59 badges.
Would a reader do all the activities? Probably not. But most of us would be willing to try at least one. Some are probably less attainable than others--not much surfing in the Midwest--, some are more expensive--though the mentors suggest saving up money specifically for activities like the travel and aviation badges--, some are too wierd for the average person--Firewalking(!)--, and some are attainable by everyone--Volunteering. Often the reader is encouraged to take a class in the activity, though it might not be available where the reader lives (online classes could be used instead, perhaps). Groups of women are encouraged to do badges together (just like we did in Scouts) in "You Can Do It! Clubs".
Proceeds from the book's sales go to the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation, which donates to various charitable causes, i.e., scholarships and neonatal units. It is also helping to build a 9/11 Memorial garden in Houston, Lauren's Garden.
There is a related website, You Can Do It Book, that has its own forum and e-newsletter.
So, don't just "Dream" about doing something--"DO IT!"
Many of us remember earning badges in Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls or Boys, Indian Princesses or Guides, Boy Scouts, and the like (yes, men can use the book, too!). We learned new things by following a list of activities to earn the specific badge--i.e., say, "World Cultures", where one might eat foods from other countries, learn folk dances and games, learn some phrases in another language, and make a craft or art project from another culture. Besides becoming informed, we got a physical reward, a little embroidered badge to sew on a sash or vest. We can still take out those sashes or vests today and be amazed at what we learned then.
Lauren Grandcolas' idea was to encourage women to quit saying, "I always wanted to do...", and to actually do "..." (whatever they dream of doing). By arranging the book into short sections with a few steps to accomplish each "dream", she hoped to make it relatively easy for readers to accomplish a dream or to, at least, get started on one--no more excuses!--just as we did as children. And, there is a reward when a section is finished--a "badge" (in sticker form) specific to the accomplishment. Do you want to be a rock star?, or write a book?, or fly a plane?, or make a film?, or start investing?, or play billiards?, or learn to knit?--there's a Badge here for you!
There are 60 different "Badges" to earn, divided into 6 main sections: Dare, Create, Learn, Play, Deal, and Connect. Some of the sections contain rather disparate badge activities (i.e., "Deal" has activities for nutrition and fitness as well as for money matters and car maintenance), while other sections are more cohesive (i.e., "Play" has all sports or exercise badges). For each badge there is a "Mentor", a woman who is an expert on the particular activity who adds comments and resources. The basic format for each badge begins with a paragraph expressing a fulfilled dream of the activity, "Imagine That...", followed by a list of 4 potential "Payoffs"--results that might come from accomplishing the activity. After learning about the Mentor, a list of from 3 to 7 getting-started steps are presented, concluding with a space to record one's name and the date the activity was finished. Sidebars and inserts include extra information (i.e., a glossary or a list of prominent women in the badge's field), "Expert Tips", and personal pro & con sides of the activity. For most of the badges there is also a "Beyond the Badge" section that takes the "Dream" a bit further, perhaps becoming a professional in that activity. Then there is a resource page of books, magazines, websites, films, etc., suggested by the mentor for the badge. For a few of the Badges, there is an "Extra Credit" section, i.e., "Stand-up Comedy" for the "Acting" Badge. The final badge in the book is one the readers can create themselves, using the format of the previous 59 badges.
Would a reader do all the activities? Probably not. But most of us would be willing to try at least one. Some are probably less attainable than others--not much surfing in the Midwest--, some are more expensive--though the mentors suggest saving up money specifically for activities like the travel and aviation badges--, some are too wierd for the average person--Firewalking(!)--, and some are attainable by everyone--Volunteering. Often the reader is encouraged to take a class in the activity, though it might not be available where the reader lives (online classes could be used instead, perhaps). Groups of women are encouraged to do badges together (just like we did in Scouts) in "You Can Do It! Clubs".
Proceeds from the book's sales go to the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation, which donates to various charitable causes, i.e., scholarships and neonatal units. It is also helping to build a 9/11 Memorial garden in Houston, Lauren's Garden.
There is a related website, You Can Do It Book, that has its own forum and e-newsletter.
So, don't just "Dream" about doing something--"DO IT!"
posted by Liz E. at 8:30 PM
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