Insights and Inspiration / Ninagracia

There is Truly Nothing Like Life

March 11, 2026September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

It’s a journey to cherish small moments, forging meaning through connections, growth, and learning.

From Other Voices
Collected quotations from writers I return to
Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/life-quotes

Benjamin Franklin

One of the foremost Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an author, inventor, scientist, printer,

publisher, and diplomat.

Born: January 17, 1706, Boston, Massachusetts

Died: April 17, 1790 (aged 84), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Bob Marley

Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician, regarded as one of the pioneers of reggae.

He helped popularise the genre worldwide.

Born: February 6, 1945, Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica

Died: May 11, 1981 (aged 36), Miami, Florida, USA

George Burns

American comedian, actor, singer and published author. He wrote ‘Gracie: A Love Story’ (1988)

and ‘All My Best Friends’ (1989), among other books, earning him the title of best-selling author.

Born: Nathan Birnbaum (Original Name), January 20, 1896, New York, New York, USA

Died: March 9, 1996 (aged 100), Beverly Hills, California

John Wooden

American basketball coach for the UCLA Bruins. Under Wooden’s coaching and support, the UCLA Bruins

secured the Pacific Conference titles in 1952, 1956, 1962, and 1963, and claimed the NCAA

Championship in 1964. In 1976, the American Academy of Achievement awarded Wooden

the Golden Plate Award, recognising him as a UCLA coaching legend and an icon of American sport.

Meister Eckhart

German mystic, Catholic priest, theologian, and philosopher. Born as Johannes Eckhart, commonly

known as Master Eckhart. His mystical experiences and spiritual philosophies made him popular.

However, in 1326, he was charged and found guilty by the Archbishop of Cologne for violating and

misusing a sacred, established religious belief, which tarnished his reputation. Some of his writings

were criticised and denounced by the Pope.

Oliver Goldsmith

An Anglo-Irish author, essayist, poet, and dramatist. He was renowned for his works, including the series

of essays The Citizen of the World (1762), his poem The Deserted Village (1770), the novel The Vicar

of Wakefield (1766), and the play She Stoops to Conquer (1773).

Born: 10 November 1730, Kilkenny West, County Westmeath, Ireland.

Died: 4 April 1774 (aged 43), London

Oscar Wilde

An Irish author, playwright, dramatist, poet, novelist and short story writer. He was known

for his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Grey (1891), and his comic masterpieces,

Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).

Born: October 16, 1854, Dublin, Ireland

Died: November 30, 1900, Paris, France

Reba McEntire

An American country singer-songwriter and actress, known as The Queen of Country Music.

She was awarded seven gold and five platinum albums and two Grammy Awards.

Born: Reba Nell McEntire, March 28, 1955, McAlester, Oklahoma, USA

Steve Jobs

American businessman and inventor, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Inc.

As CEO of the company, Steve Jobs fostered the development of the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and iPad

as well as the company’s Apple Retail Stores, iTunes Store, and App Store, which helped Apple become

the world’s most valuable publicly listed company in 2011.

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel, known as Dr Seuss, was an American children’s author, illustrator, poet,

political cartoonist, and filmmaker. His published works include The Cat in the Hat,

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Horton Hears a Who, and Green Eggs and Ham.

Born: March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts

Died: September 24, 1991 (aged 87) in La Jolla, California

Walter Bagehot

British journalist, political analyst, and economist. He gained considerable influence through his

editorship of The Economist. He authored three books: The English Constitution (1867),

Physics and Politics (1872), and Lombard Street (1873).

Born: February 3, 1826, in Langport, Somerset, England

Died: March 24, 1877 (aged 51) in Langport, Somerset, England

William Barclay

A Scottish author, radio and television presenter, and who served as a Minister of the Church of Scotland in 1933.

He lectured on New Testament language and literature in 1947 and later became Professor of Divinity and

Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow in 1963.

Born on December 5, 1907, in Wick, Scotland, he passed away on January 24, 1978, at the age of 70 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Till next time.

Cheers!

References

Benjamin Franklin – Printer, junto, experiments on electricity. (1999, August 9). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Franklin/Achievements-and-inventions

George Burns, American comedian. (2024, November 21). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Burns

John Wooden. (2024, February 26). Academy of Achievement. https://achievement.org/achiever/john-wooden/

Life quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote. https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/life-quotes

Looking back: This man Barclay. (n.d.). Life and Work. https://www.lifeandwork.org/features/looking-back-this-man-barclay

Meister Eckhart biography |. (2019, March 6). Biography Online. https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/meister-eckhart.html

Oliver Goldsmith. (n.d.). Research Begins Here – New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Oliver_Goldsmith

Oscar Wilde. (n.d.). Research Begins Here – New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Oscar_Wilde

Reba McEntire. (2007, September 6). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reba-McEntire

Steve Jobs. (n.d.). Research Begins Here – New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Steve_Jobs

Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss). (n.d.). Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/theodor-geisel

Thomas, T., & White, A. (1999, December 2). Bob Marley, Jamaican Musician. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Marley

Walter Bagehot. (n.d.). Research Begins Here – New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Walter_Bagehot

Ikigai

February 28, 2026September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration, Shush! We're Reading

Shush! We’re Reading
A book read-view

ikigai

What Kind of Book is Ikigai?

Ikigai is a non-fiction, self-help book that emphasises personal growth, psychology, wellness, and living a more meaningful life. Authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles explore topics related to Japanese culture, health, and lifestyle. The content offers practical advice on diet, exercise, stress management, and maintaining community bonds. It provides insights into Japanese traditions to help readers find purpose in life. The book aims to reveal the secrets of Japan’s centenarians and guide readers in discovering their own Ikigai.

This post reflects my interpretation of the book and what motivated me to respond to specific ideas and the events around me. It contains messages that are broad, intense, and meaningful. It’s vibrant and honest because we all have experienced these feelings. It prompted me to rethink our approach to life, relationships, ageing, longevity, and discovering our purpose for a long, joyful life.

What does Ikigai mean?

From books to casual chats, or even movies, we constantly pick up new words, and this one recently caught my attention. “Ikigai” – a word I had never come across before. So, I checked with dictionary.com, which states: “One’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation” (“IKIGAI definition & meaning,” n.d.). However, yourdictionary.com defines it as a Japanese concept relating to having a reason and a sense of purpose in life, based on a person’s interests and talents (“Ikigai definition,” n.d.), which suggests that both meanings share the same core theme – something that makes life worth living. So, is the word Ikigai difficult or impossible to understand? The book identifies Ikigai as the reason we get out of bed in the morning.

The overall idea of Ikigai is what makes life worthwhile, or finding one’s purpose in life, which is linked to longevity.

Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy derived from two Japanese words: “IKI” meaning life or being alive, and “GAI” meaning worth. Together, it signifies life’s purpose or reason for waking up in the morning.

Here are some passages I felt particularly connected to.

(1) Give your brain a workout. The brain creates new connections and is revitalised. This is why it is important to expose yourself to change, even if stepping outside your comfort zone means feeling a bit of anxiety. (García & Miralles, 2017, p. 21)

Our brain needs ongoing stimulation and mental exercises. When the brain forms deep-rooted habits, it clings to routines and no longer needs to think, which diminishes our ability to respond to our surroundings.

(2) Modern societies do what they are told to do, or what others do, rather than what they want to do. They often try to fill the gap between what is expected of them and what they want for themselves with economic power or physical pleasure, or by numbing their senses. (García & Miralles, 2017, p. 41)

We behave according to social expectations, such as being a good worker, believing we have no choice but to follow orders. We often tell ourselves that it is only a temporary measure to gain experience, pay the bills, or secure a better future, which aligns with our personal sense of family responsibility. Sometimes, when we feel an emptiness inside, we seek approval for everything we do, hoping it will fill the void. Still, in truth, it only fills the gap of what is expected of us. Until we discover our purpose in life, we will never truly experience or demonstrate that we have lived for something.

(3) Flow is the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it. (García & Miralles, 2017, p. 57)

When we enjoy what we’re doing, we lose focus on the task because the experience is pleasurable and rewarding, making nothing else seem important. Time appears to fly, and the hours pass quickly as we feel in control of what we’re doing.

(4) Changes in the world around us are not accidental but rather form part of the essence of the universe. Everything we have and all the people we love will disappear at some point. Being aware of the impermanence of things does not have to make us sad; it should help us love the present moment and those who surround us.(García & Miralles, 2017, p. 171)

Nothing is permanent in this world. Since we are not in control of the universe, we should enjoy the moment with friends and family and not worry about the past or the future.

(5) Life is pure imperfection, and the passage of time shows us that everything is fleeting, but if you have a clear sense of your Ikigai, each moment will hold so many possibilities that it will seem almost like an eternity.(García & Miralles, 2017, p. 179)

Life passes quickly and lasts only for a short time. This reminds us that in those fleeting moments, we should share our lives with others to fill the empty pages when the world isn’t slowing down.

Do you know what ignites your spirit? It’s your Ikigai, waiting to be discovered by you.

Till next time,

Cheers!

References

Dayman, L. (2025, July 8). Ikigai in 2025: The Japanese concept of finding purpose in life. Savvy Tokyo. https://savvytokyo.com/ikigai-japanese-concept-finding-purpose-life/

García, H., & Miralles, F. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life. Random House.

IKIGAI definition & meaning. (n.d.). In Meanings & definitions of English words | Dictionary.com.https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ikigai

Ikigai definition. (n.d.). YourDictionary: Definitions and Meanings From Over a Dozen Trusted Dictionary Sources. https://www.yourdictionary.com/ikigai

Love Hums a Familiar Tune

February 13, 2026September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

Small moments and quiet observations

Music offers solace, love, passion, and a sense of belonging with someone where connection feels natural and calming. With Valentine’s Day drawing near, music can make any moment feel more romantic and meaningful.

When it comes to love and romance, soul music enhances intimacy and creates the perfect atmosphere. Its slow tempo encourages a sensual, relaxed, and intimate setting. The lyrics linger, poetic and heartfelt. Some lyrics don’t just pass through us-they stay with you, not because they are loud or dramatic, but because they feel genuine. It expresses deep affection, strengthening the bonds between couples and sparking shared memories.

I’ve been listening to soul music to bring me some joy, peace, and contentment, and I find myself drawn to phrases about love growing in places lit by gentle and borrowed spaces. This line suggests that love doesn’t thrive on grand declarations but grows from borrowed everyday moments, shared memories, past tenderness, and even vulnerability. There are phrases about stories needing a place, where they are held gently—not hidden but kept safely, and the soft corners of the heart, where we keep what matters most—where emotions don’t ask to be explained but only understood.

Valentine’s Day has a way of stirring everything, and soul music doesn’t rush the feeling. It allows you to breathe, relax, and reflect, filling a void without pretending it isn’t there.

I’ll be playing my music again, but here are a few that match your Valentine’s Day vibe:

Al Green: “Let’s Stay Together” (gentle, not showy—pure warmth)
Bill Withers: “Just the Two of Us” (gentle hope without pressure)
Etta James: “At Last” (that deep, genuine longing)
Sade: “No Ordinary Love” (subtle intensity, deeply heartfelt)
Sam Cooke: “Nothing Can Change This Love” (soft certainty)

And a few of Marvin Gaye’s moments that will stay in those gentle corners of your heart:

“Let’s Get It On” (often misunderstood—there’s genuine vulnerability in it)
“I Want You” (intimate, nearly whispered)
“Come Live with Me Angel” (slow, yearning, deeply romantic)
“Mercy Mercy Me” (reflective, tender, human)

Enjoy your music and peaceful moments.

Till next time,

Cheers

References

60’s Soul Classic – I Can’t Walk Away – Marvin Gaye , Sam Cooke Inspired Vintage Soul Chamber [Video]. (n.d.). Music YouTube. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2800PLveY_8

Marvin Gaye. Anthology: The best of Marvin Gaye. (1995). YouTube. https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=RDCLAK5uy_np73jIFPVcePvIrUCUCkC7nUIZ1VRT-fc

Matthews, W. (2021, August 21). Soul music as the Soundtrack to love — TILTED HOUSE. TILTED HOUSE. https://www.tiltedhouse.org/nonfiction/2021/8/20/soul-music-as-the-soundtrack-to-love

YouTube. (n.d.). Chicago soul sessions/Marvin Gaye Inspired – City Lovers (Unreleased album)[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fIAP8TwiLg&list=RD4fIAP8TwiLg&start_radio=1

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One

November 13, 2025September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

A Movie Review

While many moviegoers have already seen the eighth and final chapter of Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning in May 2025, I decided to revisit the 2023 Dead Reckoning Part One, because something is captivating about this seventh instalment. I’ve seen both, but this is one of the franchise’s most daring and entertaining entries. It links Ethan Hunt’s past and future while setting up for a compelling grand finale.

Taking a closer look at the mission: The impossible spy genre that spans seven films over three decades.

Only one person can save the entire universe when the world is in great danger. It took him only two hours and forty-three minutes to save the world, simply by his death-defying motorcycle ride off a cliff in the Alps, the car chase in Rome that went a bit too long, skydiving over jagged mountain terrain, and fighting the wrong guy atop the Orient Express train through the Alps.

If you choose to accept your mission, Tom Cruise will deliver more action scenes—scene after scene—as the superhero agent Ethan Hunt.

The seventh instalment of Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One took the global box office hit after its release on July 12, 2023, intensifying 20^th-century technology. Dead Reckoning is impossibly full of action and surprises. But what surprises me the most is that the title is unclear and difficult to interpret and understand. So, what does Dead Reckoning mean, anyway? “Dead Reckoning” is a subheader that adds an ominous feeling of great fear or apprehension, a little threatening, and thoroughly moving. So, if you reckon the bad guys are dead, it’s not what it means. That is why I consulted the Cambridge Dictionary, which says, “Dead Reckoning is a way of calculating the position of a ship or aircraft using only information about the direction and distance it has travelled from a known point.”

Since “Dead Reckoning” is a navigational term, the thrilling opening scene set aboard the Russian submarine is a great way to start the movie. With vision and directorial style, it pushes the boundaries of action and suspense slightly more. However, Christopher McQuarrie explained that aside from its true meaning, the title stands for something else. It represents a direct similarity between the words, not only for Ethan Hunt but also for a few other characters. Their past lives are beginning to catch up with them, and they must deal with their choices to stay alive. In other words, so many things are coming to the surface from Ethan and the members of his crew’s past lives that they must deal with to complete their dangerous missions and save the world from various threats.

Bruce Geller created the series Mission: Impossible, a group of government secret agents known as the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) from September 1966 to March 1973 on the CBS network for seven seasons, then returned to television for another season on ABC from 1988 to 1990. The Cold War, with American and Soviet tensions, provided a backdraft, leading to the 1950s’ severe suffering after the war. The series had no action. It was all about those precision moves, spy games that you could barely follow what was going on until the plot put together the puzzles, and you began to feel the rush.

Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One movie is the seventh entry in the franchise and has a two-part finale, both of which are timely reminiscences on the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In Part One, Ethan Hunt and the IMF team embark on the most dangerous mission to track down a terrifying form of artificial intelligence known as “The Entity” that is everywhere, has a mind of its own and endangers the world if it falls into the wrong hands. Once slotted together, two pieces of figures with a cross give a person access to The Entity. Ethan Hunt’s mission is to stop it from slipping into the wrong hands.

The movie delivers an endless rollercoaster of action, perfectly blending jaw-dropping stunts with a plot that keeps you guessing constantly. Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is at his best, running unstoppably with his upper body held upright. At 61 years old, his trim and compact physique showed no signs of slowing down. His endurance outsized his magnificent stunts, and the ensemble cast added depth to the powerful thrills. The pulse-pounding sequences and unexpected twists reaffirm the franchise’s mastery of the spy genre.

Producers Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and Leifur B. Dagfinnsson showcase their expertise by perfectly integrating heart-stopping action sequences with a well-crafted storyline. It kept viewers engaged with its electrifying action and heart-stirring stunts. Although opinions from the public on the movie may vary, the film put together an entirely different plot that adds depth to the characters, delivering a unique blend of suspense and scenes that keep the audience guessing.

The film touches on fears and challenges by engaging the subjects of technological warfare and global uncertainty and reflecting each period’s evolving zeitgeist. It is a thrilling action movie that mirrors present-day concerns.

Till next time

Cheers

References:

Black, A. J. (2023, July 10). Mission impossible revisited: Brian de Palma’s mission impossible. Film Stories. https://filmstories.co.uk/features/mission-impossible-revisited-brian-de-palmas-mission-impossible/

Dead reckoning. (n.d.). Cambridge Dictionary | English Dictionary, Translations & Thesaurus. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dead-reckoning

May, N. (2023) A2Review [unpublished paper]. Curtin University.

Mission: Impossible 7 director discusses dead reckoning title meaning. (2022, November 23). Digital Spy. https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a42048916/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-meaning/

Mission: Impossible – Dead reckoning part one (2023). (n.d.). Gateway Film Center. https://gatewayfilmcenter.org/movies/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023/

Paramount Pictures – https://www.missionimpossible.com/home/, Public Domain,. (n.d.). https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13498926

Which is Witch

October 3, 2025September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

What’s your point of view? I write in a specific way and favour the First-Person Point of View. In literature, it refers to the writer or narrator’s perspective from which the story is told, and the “I” narrator’s viewpoint filters and frames the story. It feels more natural and allows me to explore my character’s complex emotions. Some parts of writing are more enjoyable, and playing with words while writing can be liberating.

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.

First, second and third person explained. (2022, September 26). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/point-of-view-first-second-third-person-difference

May, N. (2021). A2 Writers’ journal [unpublished paper]. Curtin University.

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2020September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

The year 2020 has been tough. People around the world will celebrate Christmas filled with new hopes and dreams, and for the first time in a while, it will give us new strength to build our goals and calm us down from all the fears that have taken over our lives.

If we could only smile, just think of all the happiness it will bring into our lives.

Let us not forget too, the people who were with us on this journey.

It has been a long and challenging one year.

To all my followers, I genuinely thank you for your support.

Ninagracia.com made it through its first year.

Let’s get into the spirit of Christmas and celebrate.

Created By: https://nathanmayartist.wixsite.com/nathanmayfine-arts

A special acknowledgment to Nathan May for creating this video clip.

From all of us, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Take care and enjoy the pleasures of life.

Ninagracia

Music by: https://www.youtube.com/
Song: Michael Bublé – White Christmas

Let’s Celebrate

December 16, 2020September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

25 BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS QUOTES

The year 2020 rolled out so many challenges beyond our grip. It put us through severe tests, and we faced a series of trials. It stripped us of our privileges to enjoy life, to earn a living, and to be with the company of our friends and families.

The year froze to a stand-still. Our mental and emotional strengths were put into the spotlight – how courageous we are and how strong we are.

There are so many of us who might find no reason to celebrate Christmas because deep in our hearts, we carry so much pain and hurt. We think there is nothing to be thankful for.

Let us not look what is in front of us but look at a greater distance farther away. It will make things visible to us and illuminate the dark year that crippled our hopes and dreams.

There is always something to be thankful for, no matter how big or small it is.

Hopefully, if we could all look back, the new year that is just on its way here would be easy to welcome.

Let us all think of the true meaning of Christmas.

These quotations I collected might bring new hope for the new year and give us heaps of reasons to celebrate with our friends loved ones.

Don’t forget too that no one should never be alone on Christmas.

“Good news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven.”
– Martin Luther

“I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.”
– Taylor Caldwell

“Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries.”
– George W Truett

“All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.”
– David Jeremiah

Source: https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/meaning-of-christmas.html

“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.”
-Mother Teresa

“You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.”
– John R. Rice

“Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.”
– George Whitefield

Source:https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/25-quotes-about-christ-for-your-christmas.html

“Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.”
– Ronald Reagan

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
– Hamilton Wright Mabie

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”

– Charles M. Schulz

Source:https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/christmas

“Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.”
– Helen Steiner Rice

“Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
– Oren Arnold

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.
– Eva K. Logue

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
– Burton Hillis

“There is no name so sweet on earth, no name so sweet in heaven, The name, before His wondrous birth, to Christ the Savior given.”
– George W. Bethune

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”
– G.K. Chesterton, Brave New Family

Source: https://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/quotations.htm

“There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.”
– Bill Mckibben, Hundred Dollar Holiday

“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”
– Eric Sevareid, attributed, Opening the Gifts of Christmas

“Much of the beauty of Christmas lies in its challenge to look further, deeper, until we find its secret in the heart of God. But we never find that unless we look beyond the presents under the tree.”
– Dale Evans, A Happy Trails Christmas

“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”
-Janice Maeditere

Source: http://www.notable-quotes.com/c/christmas_quotes_vi.html

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”
– by Andy Rooney

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.”
– Marjorie Holmes

“Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.”
– Pope Francis

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”
– Peg Bracken

Source: https://pixelsquote.net/christmas-quotes/

Till next time, Merry Christmas.

See the good in people and enjoy the pleasures of life.

Ninagracia

Images by: https://www.nicepng.com/

The Power of Words: Shall We Sing?

December 2, 2020September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

Let’s admit it. When we hear dance music, it is hard to ignore the beat. So, we tap our feet, snap our fingers, tilt our heads to the left and to the right, and we sing along with it. That rush of excitement made us dance (when there’s no one watching) or if you are brave enough, grab someone to dance along with you.

Okay, that is how I imagined we would typically do it. But what about if we read song lyrics? What would you do aside from singing it to yourself?

This is your writing prompt number 5.

You can sing the song, or you can do something with it.

When we listen to music, it grabs our attention, and we momentarily get lost in the tune, beat and melody of the song. Sometimes we don’t even realise that every word or phrase on those songs convey some thoughts and emotions.

Because every song has a story behind it.

Reading song lyrics can make our minds wander around. The words in the song can inhibit new ideas, images, unlock memories and emotions.

We can create something new or write a new story, poem, or even a new song based on the song lyrics. The possibilities are endless.

Okay, let’s begin. Let’s do it one bite-size at a time.

For those who love the “Blues”, here are a few lines that would be great to start with.

GIVE ME ONE REASON (By Tracy Chapman)

Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I’ll turn right back around

Said I don’t wanna leave you lonely
You got to make me change my mind

MISTY BLUE (By Dorothy Moore)

Oh, it’s been such a long, long time
Look like I’d get you off of my mind
But I can’t
Just the thought of you (just the thought of you)
Turns my whole world misty blue (misty blue)

Oh honey, just the mention of your name (just your name)
Turns the flicker to a flame
Listen to me good, baby
I think of the things we used to do
And my whole world turns (misty blue) misty blue

For the lovers of “Country Music”, I got these for you…

HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT
(By Kris Kristofferson, Lorrie Morgan)

Take the ribbon from your hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Laying’ soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall
Come and lay down by my side
Till the early morning’ light
All I’m takin’ is your time
Help me make it through the night

SUSPICIOUS MINDS (By Elvis Presley)

We’re caught in a trap
I can’t walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds (suspicious minds)
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Feel like “Dancing”? I got that covered too…

HAPPY (By Pharrell Williams)

It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way
Huh, because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

MAN IN THE MIRROR (By Michael Jackson)

I’m gonna make a change,
For once I’m my life
It’s gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
A summer disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya’ know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah

You don’t have to be old to like “Jazz”. Raise your hand if you are…

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD (By Louis Armstrong)

I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you”

DON’T KNOW WHY (By Nora Jones)

I waited ’til I saw the sun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
I left you by the house of fun
I don’t know why I didn’t come
I don’t know why I didn’t come
When I saw the break of day
I wished that I could fly away
Instead of kneeling in the sand
Catching teardrops in my hand
My heart is drenched in wine
But you’ll be on my mind
Forever

When we hear the name Michael Jackson, what comes to mind is “Rhythm and Blues“.

ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE (By Michael Jackson)

One day in your life
You’ll remember a place
Someone touching your face
You’ll come back and you’ll look around, you’ll

One day in your life
You’ll remember the love you found here
You’ll remember me somehow
Though you don’t need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You’ll remember one day

END OF THE ROAD (By Boyz II Men)

Girl you know we belong together
I don’t have no time for you to be playing with my heart like this
You’ll be mine forever baby
You just wait

We belong together
And you know that I am right
Why do you play with my heart?
Why do you play with my mind?
Said we’d be forever
Said it’d never die

How could you love me and leave me and never
Say goodbye?

If you want fantastic music that “Rock”, I got you covered too…

MEMORIES (Elvis Presley)

Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories

BLOWING IN THE WIND (By Bob Dylan)

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Some people say music is good for the “Soul” …

LEAN ON ME (By Bill Withers)

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART (By Al Green)

I can think of younger days when living for my life
Was everything a man could want to do
I could never see tomorrow, but I was never told about the sorrow
And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?How can you mend this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again

Had enough?

Music can lift our spirit and mood. It encourages us to seek inspiration to create something new.

Pen a story, a poem, a new song, or new characters for your story.

Use the power of words. Use those lyrics to inspire your creativity.

Till next time, remember – “Music eases the mind and puts all worries behind”.

And oh – as long as you don’t ask me to sing, we’ll be best friends forever.

See ya!

Ninagracia

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
Lyrics: https://www.music.youtube.com/

Read-view: Way of the Peaceful Warrior

November 5, 2020September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR
A Book that Changes Lives

By: Dan Millman

The book says it would change lives, but I don’t think it changed mine.

Here’s why…

Way of the Peaceful Warrior is a real-life story of a world-champion athlete, Dan Millman, the author himself. He spoke about his spiritual journey and his search for true happiness.

The author describes his close relationship with his friend Socrates and how they develop a teacher-student relationship where trust and loyalty existed between them.

The story is partly fictional and partly autobiographical; hence it was written as a novel.

The author incorporated some made-up events, which made me agonise over the validity of the story and regarded that such events were real.

The author didn’t say why Socrates was given a job to educate him to be a warrior. I struggled to believe that out of the billions of people here on earth, he was hand-picked by some unknown universal power to learn about the ways and life of a warrior.

There were some excellent passages in the story that I genuinely love. Still, I found it very difficult to put my faith into those teachings. First, it only tells you what to do, but it never tells you how to do it. Second, I believe that to apply it to your life, you will need someone to give more detailed information and perhaps dig deeper into the meaning of those passages. Reading it alone would not help that much.

The story goes into astonishing levels of details and unnecessary amount of information.

The ending of the story was not something I anticipated. I was expecting for that BIG ending – the big lesson in life like the ultimate discovery of true happiness.

I was hoping for something I could take with me as a gift of enlightenment or searching for my soul to find my true calling. But I guess, this book is only for pure entertainment, and not a “How-to” manual.

And yes, I believe that Socrates was real. He was a living, breathing human being who suffered from a heart attack.

And no, I don’t believe that he had some kind of magic or mystical power. I am not convinced that he can transport himself to different places and can read and manipulate your mind. I am not convinced either that he glows and can make himself disappear without a trace, which by the way, it seemed like it did not bother the author.

It seemed odd too that Joy (or Joyce) was also part of Socrates mystical adventure. Through his intervention, she met Dan. And then he sent her to “dreamland”, made her disappear and re-appear again and then back into Dan’s real world and then get married.

It would have been a nice fiction-fantasy story if it was intended to entertain. If the purpose of the story is to help change lives as initially claimed, then a real and accurate account of every event would perhaps speak highly for the integrity of the story.

You may and may not agree with me, and I would love to know your thoughts on this book.

All in all, there was some light humour that put a smile on my face.

So, next time you stop at the gas station, watch out for an old man with shiny hair. You never know, you could be his next student.

Till next time, enjoy the pleasures of life.

Ninagracia

Quotes By Oscar Wilde

October 21, 2020September 21, 2026 by Ninagracia, posted in Insights and Inspiration

Motivational and inspirational quotes can boost our moods and change the way we feel about our life, surroundings, and even our feelings at that very moment.

Some quotes can make you smile, and some can lift your spirit.

But first, here’s a little bit about Oscar Wilde…

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms, he became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He was born on October 16, 1854 at Dublin, Ireland. He was known for his works “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Oscar Wilde passed away on November 30, 1900 at Paris, France.

Here are a few of the quotes by Oscar Wilde.

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

For me, the essence of this quote is about self-love. Loving oneself is accepting who you are. It means recognising your strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. When you learn to trust, love, and respect yourself, you feel happy and motivated to believe in yourself to go after what you want.

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

My personal take on this quote is: Some people bring joy and happiness whenever they are around. Their joyful personality, even their smile brings warmth to someone’s heart. Whereas some people make others happy whenever they leave because they bear judgement and criticism, and their presence leaves an everlasting trail of hatred and bitterness.

“Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.”

My personal view on this quote is: It is not easy to forgive someone who did something terrible to us. It takes so much time to lift the burden that is residing deep our heart. But once we allow for healing, forgiving someone becomes easy. It annoys the person who offended us because it shows that our body may be weak, but our hearts are stronger and can take any pain that is thrown at us.

“Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.”

They said laughter is the best medicine. We laugh because we are happy, which make people get drawn to us because of our fun-loving attitude. But, laughing at someone’s misfortune or misery because we think it’s funny, cause others to resent us.

“Between men and women, there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship.”

My personal view on this quote is that friendship between a man and a woman is possible. The foundation of a good friendship is based on mutual respect. It is not easy to maintain and keep the friendship. Still, if a strong bond between two friends is formed, it gives greater happiness and comfort, just like having a brother or a sister standing next to you all the time.

So, what do you think? Do you agree?

“Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

Sometimes, it is a good icebreaker. Don’t we all do that?

“The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.”

We are all given a role to play in this world. How we perform is entirely up to us. Our “award” for best performance comes at the end of that play.

“A critic should be taught to criticise a work of art without making any reference to the personality of the author.”

Sometimes, the author or the artist’s personality is what makes the critic notice the art.

“There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.“

My personal view on this quote is: We all have junks or unwanted stuff lying around here or there or kept in our cupboards collecting dust. We hesitate to throw them away because of personal attachment we have on those objects. Others did not want to throw them because of the value or amount they paid for those items, and that someone else might take them for free.

Catch up with you next time. Enjoy the pleasures of life.

Ninagracia

References:

Oscar Wilde Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/oscar_wilde_103614.

Images By: https://www.nicepng.com/

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