The fine lines

When signing our name on anything, we’re often advised from a very young age to read every single word that precedes it carefully, sometimes even twice. But we’re mostly urged to read the fine print. Because that’s where the catch is hidden. Where you can hardly see or notice it. It is a paradox that the most important terms are often written in a font size that you can barely see. But sometimes that too shows how shady certain requisites are. It’s like trading something illicit; you need to do it out of sight.

In everyday life we constantly deal with situations that entail a fine script. From the contract terms you sign with a telecommunications company that seeks to restrict you for a certain time period, to the mere fact that the furniture you purchased will be delivered only onto the pavement of your building no matter how bulky or fragile they may be. Sometimes those fine prints are so small they are inapprehensible even to those who wrote them.

But you have to deal with it all. Because it’s more difficult to prove you’re right than simply play along and get the job done. Wearingly, we learn to acknowledge that some things are not worth the hassle, the torment and the psychological nerve-wrecking war that we alone implore on ourselves.

We too have a fine line we push ourselves to the limit of. With everything we experience, we extend that line a bit further and train our minds to be more prepared for the concealed clauses that reign our routines.

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An overture worthwhile

Remember when we used to go to theatres or movies; we never really paid attention to the soundtrack that dressed the entire story with a musical essence. But the truth is, the overture was the part were the entire progress of the plot could be read. It’s usually one setting the pace or feeling of what is to follow. And it’s often one that sticks in your head long after the end.

With certain people it is also like that. They may be slow to open up, but once you get closer, you realise you wonderful they are. And when you look back on how you met them and how their friendship has evolved into an integral part of your life, you realise that the overture was simply a beautiful prelude to what was coming.

Also part of Your Daily Word Prompt

Truth in snow

©Dale Rogerson

They met in a snowstorm. Or rather, they truly saw each other in one. Because you never really know a person until you experience something challenging together. Until you witness a side that is not usually seen. The weaknesses and genuine personality. Things you often try to hide to the outer world.

The snowstorm was that crisis. But it was also the opportunity to come closer. It was when they acknowledged they had more in common that originally believed.

It wasn’t just friendship that joined them.

It was something deeper.

It took a white cloud for them to see it.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Speaking out or not at all

When you’ve reached a peak of psychological exhaustion, you often come to wonder if it’s worth speaking out or not at all.

You don’t have to be a rebel to chase after what you’re entitled to, what should be done, what is logical. But like we’ve so blatantly realised during the past year, logic has no reason, and in some case, no existence either.

We speak out because we believe that’s right, and because, deep down, we hope our message will get through and help get things done.

At first, you use diplomacy, but when politeness finds no end, irritation sets in, strictness, and words begin to scathe.

But in the end, we realise that neither has any effect. You can’t force another to do your will.

Perhaps that is what we mostly need to realise: the borders of our own capabilities – how far we can impose change.

Some things don’t happen because we yearn them to.

They depend on the essence of another human being.

And sometimes that is the most difficult thing to control.

Also part of Your Daily Word Prompt

An endless world

There is a world out there
Waiting to be explored,
Anticipating our emotions and laughter,
Opening up endless possibilities,
Offering chances and opportunities.

There is a universe out there
Laid out with stars for our dreams,
Paving the way for our desires,
Shining the light for us to create,
Proposing a myriad of ideas for us to thrive.

There is a whole planet
Expecting to be lived,
To be tasted,
To be heard,
To be conversed,
To be enjoyed.

Yet we are obstructed by the world we create in our heads,
The one that makes us linger on the edge of impossible,
The one that holds us back from everything we can see, be and do.
We create our own borders and stop ourselves from living life as it should.

There is an entire world out there
Waiting for us;
All we have to do
Is move.

The 1001st

Eight years and eight months (or 104 months) after I started this very blog, I achieved a milestone of 1000 posts. I was never really good at numbers – or getting too personal in a post – but sometimes statistics offer a perspective. It’s easy to spill your soul on paper because you don’t visualise all those people reading it. You only see yourself as the steering wheel guiding the pen that scribbles down the words you feel.

Like Barbara Kingsolver said: “Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer”.

And just like that, you make writing a habit, you go on with life and suddenly you realise that…well, life happens. Milestones come and go like a rising sun, and it is only when you stop to reflect on the time that has passed that you acknowledge the changes you’ve undergone and how your reality has altered.

This 1001st post coincides with a process of moving – in all senses and on all levels.

Moving on to a new neighbourhood, a new home, a new environment. Moving on to new work opportunities, levelling-up, moving forward in order to evolve.

It is said that after the grieving of loss or separation, moving is the third most stressful thing we endure. Because that too entails the breaking of ties. Beginning life anew is both difficult, but also exciting. It is a chance to start over, to rediscover the world, to open up new windows and doors both literally and metaphorically.

As always, though, things don’t always happen as smoothly and seamlessly as we plan. Some transitions don’t occur without conflict; in this Covid-19 era, the virus gets hold of a friend you relied on for help; bureaucracy makes the world spin much slower; and technocrats don’t seem to be able to communicate effectively. There are all sorts of challenges we need to cope with that test our patience more than anything.

But that’s how circumstances make us stronger. How they teach us to be bolder and more resilient.

That’s how we move on; how we persist to make things work; how we survive.

That’s how we live. And in keeping ourselves busy, we (instinctively) power through.

How we truly grow

©CEAyr

“You know how we truly grow? When we learn to face the challenges that constantly appear with the maturity required to avoid panicking”.

It took a while to sink in. But he was right.

He stood there motionless, gazing across the ocean, allowing his mind to wander somewhere else.

But it was true.

Problems always come. When you least expect them to. And all at the same time.

The key is how you deal with them. How you can train your mind and soul to be prepared to act, not react. To keep yourself calm, rational and, above all, sane.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

*This is my 1000th blog post

Pristine state

You know that feeling when you walk into somewhere new, where everything is pristine clean, and you’re washed over with a sense of freshness and purity? That sensation that everything is untouched, sparkling clean?

That excitement may be short- or, more rarely, long-lived, but the reality is that it doesn’t last.

With usage, comes the wear and tear of whatever initially seems brand new.

The same is true for the human spirit at times.

When we’re young, we’re often naïve, full of life, passion, optimism and idealism. All virtues which slowly deteriorate as we realise how the world truly works, how people try to exploit each other to the utmost, how most don’t really care about your wellbeing, how personal interests outweigh compassion.

As we grow older and mature, we acknowledge that the pristine cover doesn’t really last. But we’re lucky if we can keep our souls intact in the process.

Also part of Your Daily Word Prompt

The most important element

There are four natural elements: air, fire, water and earth. They are mentioned from the zodiac signs, to the Planeteers.

What we tend to forget is that these are within us – our thoughts, passion, emotions, life, but most important of all is our heart; our desire.

Also part of Weekend Writing Prompt #199

Keeping the wheels in motion

What is it that keeps us going? When everything seems so futile; when you don’t even want to get up in the morning because you already know how difficult and arduous the day ahead will be; when you don’t want to speak to anyone because you can’t handle the high possibility of encountering some stupid situation. What is it that can keep the wheels of our life in motion? Because we’ve all been there. At that brim when we want to simply give up.

The truth is, we’re the only ones that can talk ourselves up. No matter how many pep talks you receive from people around you. Or how harshly they tell you ugly truths so that you can ground yourself back to reality. It is only our own minds that can truly lift us out of the darkness we plunge ourselves into.

It takes assiduous and constant effort to encourage and inspire yourself. To remind you that there are more important problems than the ones you’re facing. And that things will find their solution, there is always a way. It somehow always appears.

Most often we need to rekindle in us the motivation we give to others. It’s harder to inspire yourself. But it’s the thing we need most. Simply to keep us going.

Also part of Your Daily Word Prompt