Hello there. Just in case you’re wondering how I got here, well, that makes the two of us. I’ve been trying to figure it out myself too, but all I can think of is that my deepest desire to write and share my experiences with everyone is what brought me here. It was a childhood dream, and I am still chasing it.
I indulge myself in daydreaming immensely. Who doesn’t? I feel better hopping into my fantasy world and be the person I wished I was and be in a place where nobody had been before. It sounds crazy, but that’s where I derived my intense feeling of wanting or wishing for something. Most of the time, they are all stored away in the corner of my mind.
I wrote my first poem when I was fifteen which I submitted to our school competition. It took second place and was later published. It was hard to describe the feeling of seeing my name in print, and I believed this was what inspired me to keep on writing. I did not read a lot of books when I started. I just went ahead and wrote endlessly.
My writing is always inspired by decades of experience as a woman, a wife, a mother, and a friend. After years of simultaneously studying and working, I got married and had two children. Since then, I did a lot of catching up with my writing. I’m older now, but I haven’t stopped chasing my dream. I wrote my first romance novel in 2008 but hesitated to let anybody read my book. It wasn’t good enough, I thought. I was quite embarrassed to tell anybody about it. I hid my manuscript at the bottom of my drawer for so many years. I love a good romance, but I also love watching action-packed mysteries. It keeps me at the edge of my seat.
I experimented with various forms of writing such as poetry, short story, and novel. I love collecting inspirational and motivational quotations too. I even wrote my own quotes. Don’t worry, I will let you read some of them.
My latest work is writing for young children. I completed this book and is now ready for everyone to read. I write under the name Ninagracia.
I am also proud of my involvement with my community as a volunteer tutor.
Remember the novel that I kept in the bottom of my drawer? I don’t know what got me to do it, but I finally took it out, dusted it, and I am now ready to put my heart and soul into this project. No other job will make me happy except becoming a published author, writing nothing but novels and see my debut romance novel out there ready for everyone to read.
We all play a significant role in protecting our homes from disasters and imminent dangers by ensuring they are safe, clean, and beautiful. But what about our real home?
HE posted an ad — Urgent! — “For sale: The Blue Marble.” It is surprisingly cheap; it’s a steal, so be quick.
Take a tour of the Earth and drift through distant space. Its location is brilliant — the third rock from the sun. This fantastic planet is simple and elegant; It’s divine, it’s heavenly — only five billion years.
Do you see the clouds rolling across the bright, clear sky? The ocean is blue, like a soft, early-morning hue. The open land is vast and deeply mysterious; Like a naked soul, it dazzles and remains noble.
The vast continents are mountainous and mightier; Like a strange, distant lover, they’re farther and higher. The landscapes of the islands are deeply melodic; Like timeless classic music — perfect and exquisite.
The grand and picturesque streams flow into waterfalls, Dancing like ballerinas in rhythmic motion. Whilst the chilled, romantic rivers meander softly Beneath the sunset’s fiery red and orange glint.
The owner will sell to a conscientious buyer. The wealth is unlimited — a gift beyond measure. There are complex challenges for the new owner: To bring unity to future generations.
The tenants have lived here for a million years or more. A great number will come, and a great many will go. The Earth has endured through humanity’s ambition, But the tenants seem unconcerned — it isn’t kind, it’s torn.
The climate is changing, and Earth is getting hotter. It’s your home — it’s precious — it needs care and protection.
–Ninagracia
Till next time,
Cheers
References
Blue Marble – Image of the Earth from Apollo 17. (2007, November 30). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov
Following the “Writing Exercises” section of Chapter 8, Burroway, J., Stuckey-French, E., and Stuckey-French, N. (2015) suggest that, based on the idea of writing a false statement about yourself and allowing the “I” character to develop, you can create a character unlike yourself, giving you the freedom to practise voice, reliability, and audience awareness.
Here’s what I came up with.
This post is an assignment I submitted on August 10, 2021, for CWG210 Writing Short Fiction at Curtin University. I have adapted it into a blog post to share it with a broader audience.
Which is Witch?
I’m a witch, and that’s the truth. My friends at school don’t believe me, and even my bestie laughs at me. I’m talking in front of this camera to prove to everyone that I truly am a witch. So, watch me.
First, I like everything black. Why? Because I am a witch. I wear black skirts, shorts, jeans, dresses, T-shirts, and hoodies. Believe me, my undies are black, too. Uh-uh! I can’t show it. It’s against the witch’s protocol.
My nail polish is black. Have a look, it looks great on my long, pointy fingernails. Black eyeshadows bring out the best of my big, dark brown eyes. My lips look luscious with black lipstick. Mwah! Of course, my long hair looks fantastic in black. That’s why I dye it black. I hate my blond hair. My mum is blond, you know. Shh!
A few months ago, I went to an Asian store and bought this broomstick. It’s not cheap, you know. I am still trying to figure out how to make this thing fly. But don’t worry, I’ll have a wild ride with this broomstick someday. I’ll fly towards and on the other side of the moon. Oh well, before that happens, I need to lose 10 kilos first. Can’t take chances of crashing.
Whenever I want to do something, I check my horoscope. We can’t be too careful these days. The moon behaves very unpredictably. Sometimes, I use my tarot cards for guidance.
And whoever says that witches are middle-aged or older women is lying. Hey, look at me. I am a sweet sixteen-year-old witch. I possess endless powers within me that I have not discovered yet. Don’t worry, I’m working on it. All I must do is unleash all my hidden power for the world to see.
Witches use magical tools. I don’t have one, so I took our old wooden spoon. I am just hoping my mum will not notice that it is gone. Also, I can perform spells using herbs. I tried to use it on my sister to make her sick. She never believed me. She yelled at me and said that it was not my power that made her sick. She said I was stupid to mix too much sage and chamomile herbs in her pasta. Gosh, I hate her!
Just a word of warning to all. Don’t make me angry… because I can turn someone into something. I have a spell that can do that. Perhaps I can start with my sister. I hate cockroaches, so I could turn her into a cockroach and spray her with Bygone insect killer. Yay, she would be gone forever.
Ouch! What was that about?
“You can’t do that to her. You’re not good at spelling.”
That was my older brother. He smacked the back of my head. See that? He didn’t know he would be on TikTok. He thinks he is good at spelling because he can spell brioche and croissant. Why wouldn’t he? He’d been working at the bakery section at Woollies.
I don’t understand why no one believes me. Even my name—Ophelia Addams—says it all. Isn’t that enough proof?
“Ouch! Not again.”
“That was a coincidence.” My dad smacked the back of my head. He will be on TikTok, too. Shh!
“My surname is Addams, and you were named after my mother.”
Dad repeatedly told me a long time ago that the Addams Family was not related to us or real. Why not? I could feel some connections with them.
“I must go out for a while. I need worms for bait.”
“Dad, I have a spell for that. I can give you a bucket of worms if you want.”
“You’d better stop all this nonsense, will you! I would turn you into a giant worm if you don’t.”
I don’t believe it. My very, very own dad? How could he do that to his daughter without showing it to me first? Gosh people!
Till next, Cheers!
References
Burroway, J., Stuckey-French, E., & Stuckey-French, N. (2015). Writing Fiction: A guide to narrative craft (9th ed.). Pearson.
Burroway, J., Stuckey-French, E., & Stuckey-French, N. (2015). Call me Ishmael: Point of view. In Writing fiction: A guide to narrative craft (9th ed., p. 315). Pearson.
Oops! That was the most extended coffee break ever!
I didn’t mean for the break to last this long, but sometimes we just need to sit down with a good cuppa to enjoy the sweet moments and unwind a bit. And of course, while I’ve been jotting down notes and collecting sparks of inspiration, I’ll share a few with you today.
Stan Lee
Marvel Superhero Stock Photos by Vecteezy
He said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In his comics, he signed off with his catchphrase, “Excelsior,” and shouted “Excelsior” at a convention. He doesn’t need an introduction because he created unique but imperfect characters whose flaws, personal struggles, and feelings, like real people, make them very different from the ideal heroes of the past. He showed that even superheroes have flaws, and that anyone, even ordinary folks, can be extraordinary. If you know Spider-Man,The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, to name a few, among the hundreds of characters he created, then you would know that Stan Lee was the creator of these iconic superheroes and one of the most influential figures in the world of popular culture that we all know and love.
Born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, in Manhattan, New York City, Lee was the eldest of two sons of Jack Lieber and Celia Solomon Lieber, Jewish immigrants from Romania. Lee grew up during the Great Depression and faced financial struggles with his family. His father was a tailor working in Manhattan’s Garment District. Lee’s younger brother, Larry Lieber, became a Marvel comic writer and artist.
Stan Lee used a pseudonym to hide his real name. He explained that he wanted to keep his real name for writing serious literature. He loved reading and dreamed of creating stories. However, as we now know, his dream of becoming a novelist never came true; he became a comic book writer, editor, and publisher.
He finished school at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, and at 16, he got his first job in the comic book industry through his cousin, who was married to Martin Goodman. Stan Lee worked as an errand boy at Timely Comics, a company owned by Martin Goodman, which later became known as Marvel Comics. Initially, he earned just eight dollars a week doing simple tasks like making sure the artists had ink, picking lunches, sharpening pencils, making coffee, proofreading, and erasing pencil marks from finished pages.
In May 1941, his first credited work was the story “Captain America Foils the Traitor’s Revenge,” which appeared in the third issue of the Captain America series. He signed the name “Stan Lee”. He split his first name into two parts (Stan-Lee). It was the first time he used his pen name, and then, in the 1970s, he officially changed his surname from Lieber to Lee, which became his legal name. Here, Stan Lee worked with artist Jack Kirby and writing partner Joe Simon. Then, in August that year, he created his first superhero, The Destroyer.
When the rival DC Comics made Justice League of America popular in the late 1950s, Marvel Comics asked Stan Lee to create a new superhero team. Taking his wife’s advice, Joan Clayton Boocock, whom he married in 1947, he developed heroes with flaws and real-life problems. Alongside artist Jack Kirby, the success of TheFantastic Four encouraged them to create more heroes. He became a co-creator of Marvel Comics’ most famous superheroes, such as the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, and Black Panther. After that, he created Daredevil with Bill Everett, Doctor Strange with Steve Ditko, and Marvel’s iconic Spider-Man. Lee, Kirby, and Ditko used a technique that gave artists more input on story outlines to develop new content. The artists handled the drawings, and Lee added dialogue and captions afterwards. Working with artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Stan Lee revolutionised the comic book industry in the 20th century.
When Jack Kirby and Joe Simon left the company after a dispute with Goodman, Lee was only 19 when he was appointed assistant editor. Soon after, in 1972, Marvel Group appointed Stan Lee as publisher and editorial director.
Pinpointing the exact number of books Stan Lee authored over his lifetime is challenging—mainly because he wrote and co-wrote hundreds across various formats like novels, memoirs, instructional art books, collections, reissues, and even comic adaptations. Fiction DB lists a surprising 436 books under Stan Lee’s name—although this probably includes reprints, anthologies, collections, and graphic novel entries. Given the variation, it’s safe to say that at least 400 titles are attributed to him. Regarding superhero characters, while precise counting is difficult due to co-creation credits and minor character entries, Stan Lee is widely credited with co-creating over 300 Marvel characters—including about 60 major superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, X-Men, and others.
Stan Lee received numerous awards, but the highest honour for artists in the United States was President George W. Bush’s National Medal of Arts in 2008.
His wife, Joan Boocock, passed away in 2017. They had one daughter, Joan Celia (J.C.) Lee. The following year, on November 12, 2018, Stan Lee died at the age of 95.
With a shout of “Excelsior!” Stan Lee filled comic books with heroes who made readers believe that adventure could be found anywhere—even in everyday life.
Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated in many countries worldwide on March 8 to honour all women and celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.
Today, I would like to share a beautiful poem by Maya Angelou. “Phenomenal Woman” is one of Angelou’s most famous poems, and it celebrates the most remarkable beauty and female strength, freshness, and vigour. The poem addresses the traditional expectation that the ideal feminine beauty was fashion models. But first, here’s a little bit about Maya Angelou.
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, was born on April 4, 1928. Her nickname “Maya” was given to her by her older brother, Bailey. Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, writer, actor, director, and producer. She published several autobiographies, books of essays, and several books of poetries. Angelou had a distinguished career as a singer and dancer and performed professionally in the US, Europe, and northern Africa. She was a civil rights activist working with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X (Poetry Foundation, n.d.).
Angelou lived with her paternal grandmother when she was young after her parents divorced. Four years later, Angelou returned to her mother briefly but was raped by her mother’s boyfriend when she was seven. He went to jail and got killed after being released from prison. She believed her confession led to the man’s death because she said his name. Angelou refrained from speaking and became temporarily speechless for six years. During this period of silence, Angelou developed her love for books and literature. She returned to her grandmother’s care in Arkansas.
Before the start of World War II, Angelou moved back in with her mother in California and went to George Washington High School, and attended dance and drama courses at California Labor School. When the war broke out, Angelou worked as a streetcar conductor. She worked for a while but decided to return to school, graduated from Mission High School in 1944 and gave birth to her only child, Clyde Bailey Johnson. In 1949, Angelou married Tosh Angelos, an electrician in the US Navy. They divorced in 1952, and she kept his surname throughout her life.
In 1981, she became a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, despite her lack of a college education. The Wake Forest University Writers Hall of Fame inducted Angelou in 2012. She composed and delivered a poem, “On the Pulse of Morning”, for the inauguration of US President Bill Clinton in 1993. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Arts. In 2011, President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour (Spring, 2017), for her outstanding and inspiring career in the arts. She was awarded 50 honorary degrees in her lifetime. Maya Angelou died on May 28, 2014.
Phenomenal Woman
By Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
It is hard to write and stay focused when there is so much noise around us. News of war, fights, and disasters are pretty overwhelming, taking our attention away from our writing activities. Sometimes, we just don’t know what to write, or we are experiencing a slowdown in our writing process.
Many of us are constantly improving our craft, and the only way to improve our writing is to write regularly. If we don’t know what to write, or if it feels like we are stuck in the writing process, good writing prompts can unlock some new ideas and stimulate all kinds of writing.
Have you tried visual writing prompts? I personally like looking at drawings or pictures to stir my imagination. So, if you love animals, let’s start with them. Do you have any idea what goes inside their heads?
The Bookworm
“So, where are the worms? I’ve already checked all the pages.”
Write something funny about this picture.
Small but Smart
“Are we there yet? If my day gets worse than this, I’m going home.”
This guinea pig is getting bored. Continue this story.
Speed Reading
“So, how much faster do you want me to read? I don’t even know what I’m reading.”
Some people say women are difficult to understand. But I say women are strong and confident. There are women who are complex and mysterious, but sophisticated and independent. Some women are strong-willed and compassionate, and some are sweet and quite brilliant. Some are mothers, daughters, or sisters, but some are leaders or protectors. But women, most of all, are fascinating and inspirational.
The world celebrates International Women’s Day every year on March 8. It is a global movement for women and girls celebrating women’s lives and achievements. The day reflects on the courage and determination of ordinary women to raise international awareness and encourage other members of society to advocate gender equality.
To mark the celebration of International Women’s Day, I have collected quotes from famous and inspirational women in our world today and women in the past who made a difference. There are some funny quotes from some prominent women and men that will make us smile.
Famous and Inspirational Women Who Made a Difference
Generally speaking, men are held in great esteem in all parts of the world, so why shouldn’t women have their share? Soldiers and war heroes are honored and commemorated, explorers are granted immortal fame, martyrs are revered, but how many people look upon women too as soldiers?
Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.
I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquillity will return once more.
Whoever doesn’t know it must learn and find by experience that ‘a quiet conscience makes one strong!’
Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.
––Anne Frank (1929-45) (The Diary of Anne Frank) A young Jewish girl who kept a diary of her experiences of the Holocaust.
A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.
You can never really live anyone else’s life, not even your child’s. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you’ve become yourself.
––Eleonor Roosevelt (1884–1962) First Lady of the United States (1933-1945) Delegate to the UN General Assembly and advocate for human and civil rights
If we do not lift up women and families, everyone will fall short.
I do not believe that government should be in the business of telling women what they should do with their bodies.
We don’t want to promote any system that treats the fact that an individual is LGBT as a personality disorder. And anything that perpetuates that perception is harmful – not only to that member of the community but the entire community.
What’s important for my daughter to know is that… if you are fortunate to have opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other people have those opportunities as well.
You have to see and smell and feel the circumstances of people to really understand them.
––Kamala Harris 49th Vice President of the United States First female Vice-President and first African-American and first Asian-American Vice-President of the United States
I don’t cover my face because I want to show my identity.
Once I had asked God for one or two extra inches in height, but instead, he made me as tall as the sky, so high that I could not measure myself… By giving me this height to reach people, he has also given me great responsibilities.
There are so many figures in our history that did not believe they could make a change, and they did.
We women are going to bring change. We are speaking up for girls’ rights, but we must not behave like men, like they have done in the past.
When God created man and woman, he was thinking, ‘Who shall I give the power to, to give birth to the next human being?’ And God chose woman. And this is the big evidence that women are powerful.
––Malala Yousafzai (1997- ) Advocate for women’s rights especially the right to education.
Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.
Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.
If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.
Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.
To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.
––Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) First Female Prime Minister of Great Britain
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
It’s good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a while their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.
Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans – because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings. That’s why we paint, that’s why we dare to love someone – because we have the impulse to explain who we are.
––Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) An African-American woman Poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist
I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.
Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.
You don’t have to be somebody different to be important. You’re important in your own right.
You see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still ‘mom-in-chief.’ My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.
You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.
––Michelle Obama American First Lady (2009–17) First African American First Lady.
Funny Quotes for Women
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it’s safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.
––Alexei Sayle British Comedian
If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.
You can tell the strength of a nation by the women behind its men.
––Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) Prime Minister of United Kingdom (1874-1880)
Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
––Jim Carrey Canadian Comedian
I think women have a unique talent for being able to see the forest and the trees at the same time.
––Bozoma Saint John American Businesswoman Marketing Executive at Netflix
There are only three things women need in life: food, water, and compliments.
––Chris Rock American Comedian
In politics women type the letters, lick the stamps, distribute the pamphlets and get out the vote. Men get elected.
––Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) American author, politician, U.S. Ambassador
When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It’s a whole different way of thinking.
––Elayne Boosler American Comedian
There are two kinds of women, those who want power in the world and those who want power in bed.
––Jackie Kennedy (1929-1994) First Lady of the United States (1961-1963)
Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
––Judy Garland (1922-1969 American Actress
The reason women don’t play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public.
––Phyllis Diller (1917-2012) American Comedian
There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness and the nerve to never take no for an answer.
––Rihanna American Musician
You can be whatever size you are, and you can be beautiful both inside and out. We’re always told what’s beautiful and what’s not, and that’s not right.
––Serena Williams American Professional Tennis Player
Women don’t like advice. They don’t want you to fix their problems, they just want you to listen.
––Shawn Wayans American Actor
Women lie about their age; men lie about their income.
William Feather (1889-1981) American Publisher and Author
I hear so much anger all about me When a scarlet glow burns me to a crisp A strong cyclone crushes my glorious land Then a severe drought shed leaves in stress.
When a fierce earthquake shakes my restless core The avenging floods purge out the debris To the half-conscious, guilt is deep-seated But to a hungry child, nothing matters.
It’s hard to imagine when hope is lost When the justice system is colour-blind Your abstract knowledge could destroy my home Like a roaring landslide of earth and stones.
A once green meadow now dried and barren I ask the nimbus clouds to block the sun Then the mighty ocean yells in despair Those toxic wastes are poison to my gut!
My quest for love, peace, and equality It is like a river, sluggish and stagnant I call the storms to clean the air and skies But the wild tsunami engulfs the land.
The breadth of the sea under the ocean Is a paradise with a velvet view Don’t use me as a weapon for your gain My home is Xanadu, where dreams are real.
It is your home yearning for unity To reach its zenith is a distant dream.
–Ninagracia–
Till next time. Stay safe and take care of each other.
A few, many days at home and no place to go. Regardless of whether our mood to write has been pretty good or not, let us rev up our writing activities to lift our spirits once more.
These pictures may bring about stories in our minds or stir up memories of an event or emotion. The drawings are cheery, sweet, and somewhat silly, but funny. Along with this is a poem that may help us energise our writing activities. The quirky humour in the poetry may tickle our funny bones and spark our creative writing. You know, it’s like that sudden flash of light.
So here we go. Let’s all get started.
Caroline lives in a beautiful house
in a lovely street close to the doghouse.
She is too stingy to buy a clothesline
she’d rather dine with wine than pay a dime.
She hangs her washing every single day
at the backyard fence for the entire day.
Come hail and storm, or a drizzle of rain,
she whined and wailed, but she never refrained.
One stormy day, her jeans got blown away
flying, floating, trying to get away.
A dog chased the jeans to the nearby park
up high on the tree, he aimed for his mark.
Caroline cried, and she screamed at the dog
“Leave my jeans alone,” she ordered the dog.
“The cops are coming; you’ll be thrown in jail
for stealing my jeans; they’ll cut your toenail.”
A good Sergeant Woof promised Caroline.
“Let me take care of this, Miss Caroline.
I will handle your case with utmost care
I’ll make the dog pay, or I’ll shave his hair.”
“Why did you put me in jail, Sergeant Woof?
I didn’t steal the jeans; it’s mine, Sergeant Woof.
I paid for it, but I lost my receipt
I bought it at the shop on Kanine Street.
It’s true, it’s true; my name is Caroline.
And once again, my name is Caroline,
That pair of jeans is mine and truly mine.
I did not steal the jeans from Calvin Klein.”
Ninagracia
Have fun writing. Till next time. Stay safe and take care of each other.
This year, we are celebrating the 107th year of Mother’s Day to honour all mothers and motherhood worldwide. At the initiative and tireless devotion of Anna Jarvis, the modern Mother’s Day began in the United States. US President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed in 1914 the second Sunday in May as the day of celebration to honour the memories and the sacrifices of mothers made for their children.
Today, I would like to share with everyone a beautiful poem by Bruce Lansky for this occasion. Bruce Lansky is from Minnesota and America’s bestselling author of children’s poetry books. His poems are funny, hilarious, and something that will make you smile.
So, here it is…
On Mother's DayBy Bruce Lansky
On Mother's Day it isn't smart
To give your mom a broken heart.
So here are things you shouldn't say
To dear old mom on Mother's Day:
Don't tell her that you'll never eat
A carrot, celery, bean, or beet.
Don't tell her you think smoking's cool.
Don't tell her you've dropped out of school.
Don't tell her that you've drowned the cat.
Don't tell her that she looks too fat.
Don’t tell her when you're grown you'll be
A starving poet—just like me.
As we reached the first quarter of 2021, let us acknowledge that we all have changed, in a big or small way. We have changed our ability to think, our perspectives in life, and our capacity to understand someone or something.
The year 2020 seemed to be very long, but we survived. Looking back, 2020 presented us with so many challenges beyond our grip. It tested our ability to withstand pressure and stress. It tested our strength and vitality to handle and recover from financial hardship.
We learned so many things from the past, and this is the time we could sit down, look back, and reflect. What have we learned from 2020, and what are we prepared to change in 2021?
With the past, I have nothing to do, nor with the future. I live now.
We help our communityWe protect ourselves and other peopleWe lost our job We bought more than we need We were worried for the safety of our loved onesWe stayed at home We kept a distanceWe got bored
TODAY,
We bounce back.
***
We move forward.
***
AND
We surround ourselves with little things like:
LoveJoyBooksExercise Learning new hobbySaving moneyStaying in touch with friends and familiesHand washing
TOMORROW…
We will celebrate what we have learned and accomplished
Embrace lifeLearn new skillsSpend time with people we loveEnjoy new challengesFind your passion Develop compassionPlayTravelWork hard on your dream
ninagracia.com 
