How to become a somebody? Everyone aspires for that appreciation, admiration, and open praise from other people to help boost their self-esteem. People aspire to be a “somebody” that people can look up to, a “somebody” who makes their own mark that can set them apart from ordinary people and be recognized for who they really are and what they are capable of.
Dr. Sandra C. Birchfield’s Nobody is Somebody is an excellent example of a book that talks about the courage and desire to become that somebody. Primarily a book about on primary and middle school children, Dr. Birchfield levels the playing field that sets the tone of the book that everyone and anyone of any age and in any walk of life can relate to. The author also highlighted the importance of having healthy self-esteem, self-esteem that should be developed and nourished from childhood and maintained throughout adult life.
What is the book about?
Nobody is Somebody shares the story about a boy named “Nobody.” Nobody is described as an introverted boy, disheartened by his failures in the activities he initially participated in, not to mention feeling a bit of an outcast. And when he found the courage and took up the challenge to join their school’s spelling bee contest and won the competition, Nobody not only discovered something that he is good at – he found his true identity in the process.
Who are the Nobody and the Somebody in Life?
Nobody represents the actual human reaction that people go through when they experience failure after failure. People usually feel stressed and depressed, feeling that all their effort has gone to waste and is not worth it. They devalued themselves, thereby affecting their self-esteem. Other emotions representing Nobody are embarrassment, anger, shame, and sadness.
When Nobody became a Somebody in the book, a miracle took place. Dr. Birchfield’s Somebody is the exact embodiment of the real-life opposite of Nobody. A somebody is someone who is confident. They respect themselves and their feelings. They have a high value of their worth as an individual. They are the happier and more contented group of people.
The lessons that readers learned
This fantastic book contains a lot of lessons that can be learned by both children and adults. First off, the book teaches the readers the importance of self-awareness. Self-awareness is akin to mindfulness, meaning being mindful of one’s thoughts, feelings, and their environment, or to be actually present in the moment.
Second, the book also imparts the message of self-love and self-esteem. Self-esteem is the acceptance of one’s value, while self-love boosts this concept of acceptance through self-love practices such as taking care of oneself, living a healthier lifestyle, being surrounded by positivity, etc. Hence, we can say that for self-esteem to be effective, self-love needs to co-exist.
Last but not least, the universal lesson of don’t judge a book by its cover. Who would have known that a shy and timid boy such as Nobody has excellent qualities to him and is good at spelling words? The book tells how the other students make fun of Nobody, poking jokes at him for not doing well in school. People tend to do that in real life. People have often judged others by how they look and act, forgetting that true talent and character lie deep within. And that talent and character should be pushed to come out in the open.
Takeaway
Nobody is Somebody is a book for everybody! An excellent read, full of lessons that anyone can relate to, Dr. Birchfield’s literary masterpiece opened its readers to life’s realities, the realities of a child’s progress and development, and the overall individual’s mental health. And that these realities should not be ignored and must be urgently addressed.
Find out more about Nobody’s story in Nobody is Somebody. Grab a copy now on Amazon, or visit the author’s website at www.sandrachapmanbirchfield.com.
