Freshly Pressed: Friday Faves

We’re continually blown away by the posts published on WordPress.com. Week after week, we discover content that’s original. Bold. Honest. The most notable posts make us stop and think.

Looking for something to read? Consider these recent posts:

Today We Mourn

Last night I got an email informing me, “you lost a follower.” That’s when I found out that Dawn Hochsprung followed me on Twitter; she followed only 70 people. I was shaken.

Many readers, from educators to parents, responded to Diane Ravitch’s post on the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The professor, educator, and mother takes a moment here to reflect and encourage others to mourn. In the end, she writes: “We have a lot of thinking to do. I don’t have the answers. I just think it’s time to start asking the right questions.”

Coming Out Bipolar, Round 1

So I survived Round 1 of disclosure at work, but I know there are many more to come. I hope that as I slowly tell people who matter to me, they will see how much trust and vulnerability it signifies. For a perfectionist like me, it’s excruciating to reveal something so flawed behind the curtains.

At Disorderly Chickadee, “DeeDee” shares stories of her “secret life as a certifiable nutcase” and discusses topics of mental illness, ADD/ADHD, therapy, and medication management. We were struck by DeeDee’s voice and engaging storytelling in this post, in which she tells her work supervisor that she has bipolar disorder.

To America from a Teacher

Dear America,

It feels strange to hear your voice praising teachers for their selflessness, dedication, and love for their students. We’re listening to what you’re saying, but we must admit that we are listening with tilted head and quizzical eye. Why? Because we’ve become accustomed to hearing a very different voice from you.

In this letter to America in response to the Newtown school shooting, English teacher Lisa describes the nation’s collective praise for teachers over the past week as “puzzling.” She writes: “We are the same people we were last Friday morning, doing the same job we’ve diligently done since choosing our career.” She states that the brave acts of the teachers at Sandy Hook were a “natural outpouring of what they were already practicing” — a dedication of their lives to children.

The problem with 12/12/12, 12/25/12, and etc.

 I suddenly realized something. December 12, 2012 is just like any other day. They all won’t ever happen again. 

December 12, 2012. It’s a special date that we’ll never see on the calendar again! True, but isn’t every day unique? Each day that comes and goes is a day to do great things and to better ourselves, right? So why is it that people choose to be more loving on Valentine’s Day, more grateful on Thanksgiving, or more kind during the holidays? Kathryn asks: “Why can’t we just be kinder and more loving period?” We appreciate the simple and positive tone of this post, and think you will as well.

To read all of the latest editorial picks on WordPress.com, visit Freshly Pressed. You can also tweet links you love to us @freshly_pressed.

For more inspiration, check out our writing challenges, photo challenges, and other blogging tips at the Daily Post; visit our Recommended Blogs; and browse the most popular topics in the Reader. For editorial guidelines for Freshly Pressed, read: So You Want To Be Freshly Pressed.

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