Tag: NaBloPoMo

Well, If You Must…

Cleaning is a tedious task. I hate cleaning and setting things in order. My room in particular. Chaos is peace; when everything’s in order, I just lose myself.
Besides, who’d clean, instead of all the other things you can do? I’d rather sit and stare into space, or procrastinate, or sleep, or listen to some music. Anything to get away from the chore.

So you can imagine my thrill when I stumbled upon this little poem.

Dust If You Must — Kassie Webb

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there’s not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Such a simple thought — spend time doing what matters — yet so full of meaning.

What do you guys think of this poem?

 National Blog Posting Month – #Day12

Change is Good

Lazy bones. That’s what people used to call me. My life happened mostly after sun down — no, I’m not the party kind. I’m more of a solo act. I read, write, watch movies or just lie awake in bed way past midnight.

Now though, I have trouble staying awake past 10 pm.

That’s because I awake at 4 am everyday. And despite people telling me repeatedly that I’m crazy, I continue to wake up early, and go to work — see that’s why people call me nuts, because I go to work at 6 am when the rest of my colleagues don’t show up until after 10.

I don’t care though. Ever since I started waking up early, I’ve been experiencing the subtleties of nature that the rest of the world sadly misses.

I’ve been there — I’ve lived in that precise moment that it takes for the light to appear in the sky. It only takes about 5 minutes to go from darkness to bright, and it’s amazing how quickly it all happens.

And all the while, the moon sits majestically on the clouds surveying the world, preparing to sink back into the sky. I’ve seen the moonrise countless times to say that the moonset is equally beautiful, particularly the night after a full moon.

And the sunrise — how can I forget that? In as little at 15 minutes, the sun and the sky around it change rapidly. The entire process lasts for about an hour — wherein every 5 minutes, the sun’s position, color and grandeur are so beautifully diverse. I try taking photos, but I’m nowhere a match to nature’s design — I simply can’t share the beauty with those who are asleep when the sun shows up.

Sunrises
The sunrise on three different days and times

Just knowing that I enjoy both the moon and the sun within an interval of 1 to 1 1/2 hours — is a joy beyond words. It’s bliss.

Who’d feel like sleeping after seeing what I’ve seen? That’s what motivates me to wake up early everyday. Knowing what I’m about to see during my walk to work, and thereafter is an impetus I can’t resist.

P.S — Even while writing this, I could feel my lips widening in a smile. Here I am at work, typing away and smiling at my screen like a nutter, when everyone else I know is snoozing!

 National Blog Posting Month – #Day11

Play Terms

“That’s it — we’re done.”
“No, we’re not,” — Defiance, the only solace of the weak.
“Yes we are. I’m leaving and I’m taking her. Goodbye.” She turned to leave.
“No — wait. Please, give me another chance. Please?”
“You do this every day — I can’t take it anymore.” She folded her hands across her chest, waiting to hear the apology again.
“I won’t do it again!” — The hysterical plea. “I promise, don’t go.”
Heaving dramatically, she sternly added, “Alright. But if you pull out my doll’s hairs again, I’m taking her away, and we’ll never be friends again.”

Dialogues are fun; you hardly know where you’re going until you’ve read it whole. Just over a year ago, there was a Weekly Writing Challenge for dialogue. I liked the idea but couldn’t think of anything to write then — I suddenly remembered it and took it up for today.

National Blog Posting Month — #Day10

The Beauty in Simplicity

Minimalism

I’ve always loved silhouettes – how simple they can be, and yet so mysterious and full of wonder.

My response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist. | I’ve combined this Week’s Photo Challenge with Blogging University’s Photography 101 prompt: Solitude. |  National Blog Posting Month – #Day9.

The Best Advice

Here’s the thing about advice: it’s best recieved from an inanimate object. I meant a book. Because the worst you can do to a book is rip it to pieces, and what it says isn’t going to change. It’s much better than taking advice from friends or family where at the end of the day, the relationship might be hanging on a noose.

Anyway, books — they have the best advice. A few quotes always help me so much on a bad day. Here are a few of my favourite quotes.

“First sign of madness, talking to your own head,”

~Harry Potter

I talk to myself a lot. Random ramblings to conversation replays — it all happens in my head. And I smile each time I think about that line. Sheer madness!

“Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it’s actually quite common. The real courage is in living and suffering for what you believe.”

~ Christopher Paolini, Eragon

Dare to believe in what is worth believing and worth dying for — a great advice. This book surprised me, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Pity the others in the series weren’t as interesting.

““We’’re fighting.”

~Harry Potter

If an imaginary character can fight for something he believes in, why can’t I? Motivation in its purest form. Someone says something like that to me when I’m distressed, I’d probably punch them — but it’s just a quote, so it’s fine.

“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”

~Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

This is where I fell for Paulo Coelho’s writing. Raw truth, not to mention bitter. I know this feeling only too well — when I wish people would stop telling me what to do and leave me alone. Been there?

“I am not worried…I am with you.”

~Harry Potter

An incredible teacher — student conversation in a life threatening situation! How would it be if teachers trust students with their lives? What would students do? Endless possibilities; endless entertainment.

“Truth doesn’t have to be liked. It only has to be spoken. Speak it out. The truth may hurt you, but it will set you free.”

~ Amish Tripathi, The Secret of the Nagas

Well, Amish has said it all, and I have nothing better to add.

Any thoughts? You know what they say, “Spit it out!”

National Blog Posting Month – #Day8