Articles written by John Cargile

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About me - John Cargile

I am a professional writer, having spent 38 years in newspaper and magazine publishing. I am semi-retired and write weekly columns for two newspapers in Alabama and free lance as a news and sports reporter. I am writing my first novel "The Cry of the Cuckoos."

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Religion & Spirituality > New Age Concepts Reflections: Reincarnation experiences: 2 of 17

As I sit in my office, looking out my window, the redbird is perched on a limb outside, its head bobbing and weaving, looking for the next place to land. It has been constant in my yard for several months. It flies to my window sill, stays just long enough to peep inside. I guess it can see me because it flies away about as ...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Coping with hardship in today's society: 2 of 15

As adults we tend to look fondly on our high school years, occasionally musing "what if" in relation to academics, athletics, social activities, and friendships. Or we ponder what high school is like now for students. For some students, high school is a battlefield they must survive every day. With a granddaughter graduating...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Suspense: 31 of 168

An excerpt from my new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, to be published by Eloquent Books Anne asked the wedding planner to pipe music and the words from the ceremony into Donald's room where his comatose body lay, hoping any sound would arouse him. She spent hours reading to him. She had not given up hope he would awaken one ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Styles (Other) How to teach your children to respect you: 3 of 15

I recently attended a meeting where respect was the subject. Respecting others, respecting oneself set the tone for the meeting. It was an educational setting attended mostly by adult Caucasians. In Birmingham, Alabama last weekend, sponsors had a R.E.S.P.E.C.T Rally for children going back-to-school. It was held in a park. ...
Education > Education (Other) Are our schools preparing our children for the future?: 16 of 73

Recently while visiting a school in our area I watched teachers and students interact with one another. I couldn't help notice those students who appeared to have plenty of self-esteem and those who appeared to have low self-esteem. Building self-esteem is a slippery slope. Some people are born with it as part of their genet...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Earthquake experiences: 3 of 13

The April 18, 2008 earthquake in southern Illinois certainly got my attention. I was sitting at my computer last Friday morning and, at approximately 4:40 a.m., I felt a small jolt. My head was resting on the back of my high-back chair when the stirring occurred. "What was that!" I thought. Being that I had been suffering th...
Arts & Humanities > Philosophical Concepts Exploring the concept of time: 9 of 36

My son was perplexed by the idea of time when a co-worker asked him, "What is time?" "I didn't know how to answer because we were on the job," he said. "I thought for a moment and answered, 'Time is money.' But that wasn"t exactly the answer he was searching for." It seems his co-worker was asking more about the philosophica...
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Struggles associated with an invisible disability: 8 of 32

Most everyone in today's society has gotten the feeling of being out of control, panicky or anxious about a situation. Sometimes those feelings become full blown attacks. Remember Bob in the movie, "What About Bob"? Movie producers have jumped on the bandwagon showing how serious panic or anxiety attacks affect one"s life. W...
Health & Fitness > Emotional Health & Wellbeing Emotional health: Healing the mind: 1 of 4

Ancient medical science told us our minds and bodies are one. So did philosophers of old. Now, modern science and research are helping us to understand these connections. Bill Moyers, in his book and PBS series, "Healing and the Mind," explored how modern science and research are coming to similar conclusions about the Mind ...
Education > Educational Philosophy The missing ingredient in education: 12 of 47

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alabama filed a complaint in a class-action lawsuit last week charging Monroe County school officials with subjecting African American students at Monroeville Junior High School to the widespread use of racial epithets and slurs, racially-motivated discipline, and racially s...