It is the beginning of the working week in 2026. Some of us are still feeling tired and lazy.
Some are busy making plans and believing that something good might happen this year. Of course, it’s New Year – a fresh idea, new hope, and a new start.
We all seek a fresh start. That’s what the new year signifies for us all. It signals a new beginning — a chance to restart and improve.
The holiday season is a welcome break for us all, but for others, it can disrupt their daily routine.
There is only a one-week gap between Christmas and New Year, yet it felt like a long holiday.
We allowed ourselves to indulge in all the things we’d never do in our usual daily routines. We drank too much alcohol. We ate junk food, heaps of chocolate, cakes, and sweets, stayed up late at night, and the list could go on and on.
Then, we all must face reality. Going back to work and picking up where we left off is tough. It’s hard to return to our desks, once cluttered with notes and papers, where we never turned off all our electronic devices. We’ve lost our momentum with writing. No matter how much we shake our heads, nothing comes out—no words or ideas.
It’s tough when we are still feeling nostalgic about our holiday and wishing it had never finished.
It’s hard, too, when all we can think about is checking our social media for photos and messages from friends and family.
There were good laughs and memorable moments we shared with them. We reminisced about those times when we acted crazy, ridiculous, and funny, and it was perfectly okay with them. Wiping that smile off our faces was hard because that was the only time we let ourselves go and be vulnerable.
And that should have been sufficient.
Instead, we couldn’t get them out of our heads. We run out of steam and grow weary in front of that bright screen on our computer. Our minds are like film reels showing flashbacks of the best Christmas break we had.
Our daily writing routine will gradually return. We may already have thought of a better way to make our working schedules more manageable. Our writing should always find a place in our busy calendar. It will take a little time, but whatever we do, make sure it doesn’t take us that long.
We had our breaks, our time out from the daily grind in our lives.
So, it’s time to head back to work; otherwise, we will never write again.
In a few hours, 2025 will come to a close. Some of us go through the usual rituals of reflecting on our achievements, setbacks, and regrets. We don’t just look back; we consider the lessons we’ve learned, the habits, and the beliefs that no longer serve us.
As we wait for the dust to settle and the year comes to a close, I softly bid farewell to 2025, without drama or resentment. I find myself looking back not with urgency but to recognise what it taught me, what I got wrong or messed up, what I got right, and what I experienced.
Dear 2025
You didn’t arrive with fireworks or a dramatic shift. Instead, you fitted into the background of our everyday life, quietly through familiar routines, sharing meals, having small chats, and the presence of family. At that time, it seemed ordinary, but as I stand on the brink of a new year, I understand your purpose. You came without shouting your lessons, which were hidden in its stillness. You taught me a lesson about being patient, about learning to wait for things to open up without force, because growth is sometimes about staying, enduring, and being at ease where you are.
As I leave and finally say goodbye, I am not taking everything with me. I will go with gratitude for what you have offered, and for what you withheld, and quiet hope for what lies ahead. Some burdens have been carried long enough — they can now be laid down. What I will bring forward is gratitude for those ordinary days that quietly wove themselves into something steady and reassuring. For a year that asked little of me yet gave me space to breathe.
This isn’t a dramatic farewell, but a gentle closing of a chapter—an appreciation for a year that offered quiet grace instead. I move into what’s next, not reinvented, but softly realigned, lighter than before, and quietly hopeful.
I’m not starting over—just carrying on, a bit lighter and a little wiser.
The holidays are a time for laughter, warmth, and those little moments that make family life wonderfully chaotic. In this poem, I’ve captured the joy, the chaos, and the tenderness of these special days— from bumpy bus rides and overfed children going astray. I remembered that even before our holiday started, my parents were already arguing about one thing—food. The bus trip would be long, the stops brief, and according to Mum, hunger was simply not allowed.
Wishing you all a holiday season filled with laughter, love, and happy memories with friends and families.
Till next time
Reference:
May, N. (2021, August 10). A2 poetry portfolio and reflection: CWG100 creative writing, Curtin University [Unpublished paper]. Curtin University.
Some quotes and sayings help us see familiar things fresh, inspiring us to rethink, feel, and dream. These reflections are gentle reminders to live more fully, love more deeply, and listen more closely to the quiet wisdom within.
A perfect kiss happens when two hearts take control.
A perfect kiss is more than just a touch or passion; it is a promise, a whisper of souls, and two hearts connecting in mutual love, trust, and surrender.
Be the person you want to be.
You are the artist holding the brush, painting yourself with courage and shaping your destiny until the reflection you see is the one you have long dreamed of and the best version of yourself, instead of waiting for a change to happen.
Dance under the stars and enjoy the silence of the night.
Live the moment and cherish nature’s beauty, calmness, and simplicity. Let the night be your stage and the stars your audience, in the quiet darkness, twirling freely, unburdened and alive.
Don’t ask how long love will last, nor doubt if love is less.
Love is a living, breathing force—timeless, tender, and true, cherishing what exists now, without measure, and comparing its sparkle to the past.
Each step is worthwhile even though it takes a mile.
Every small step carries a dream, and each footprint marks your courage to keep moving, even when progress feels slow; every effort adds to a meaningful journey.
Give your life every reason to live.
Fill your days with joy and laughter, and your nights with wonder and peace. Embody it with purpose and passion. It’s a garden where you can savour the air and enjoy everything surrounding you.
Music eases the mind and puts all worries behind.
When music wraps around the heart, it whispers what words cannot—it comforts restless souls and helps weary thoughts find peace.
Take time to listen when someone’s heart is in misery.
The kindest gift we can offer someone is to listen and allow another heart to breathe its pain.
Think like you are the boss when sending your message across.
Let your words stand tall, not in pride but with self-assurance and clarity. What comes from conviction carries its own quiet power.
When two souls are united, a new journey begins.
Love is like a sunrise, bringing a new start beneath their mutual light. It’s a partnership between two people creating something together, sharing growth, discovery, and mutual transformation.
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.
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.
ninagracia.com 
