My Blog

Holiday Magic

A Poem for Laughter, Warmth, and Cheer

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 A2 poetry portfolio and reflection: CWG100 creative writing, Curtin University [Unpublished paper].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.

Where’s the Popcorn?

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 20th-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

Reflections of the Heart

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.

By: Ninagracia



Till Next Time

Cheers


Images By:

https://www.nicepng.com

The Blue Marble

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? 

Figure 1
The Blue Marble

The Blue Marble

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

Blue Marble – Image of the Earth from Apollo 17 [Photograph]. (2007). https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/blue-marble-image-of-earth-from-apollo-17/

United Nations. (n.d.). ClimateChangehttps://www.un.org/en/climatechange

United Nations. (n.d.). What is climate change? https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

Which is Witch

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.

The Man Who Brought Marvel Comics’ Greatest Superheroes

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 The Fantastic 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-ManThe Fantastic FourIron 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.

References

Kodweis, M. (2020). Excelsior!: Stan Lee’s philosophy for Liberty and Justice for All. History | Senior Theses. 3, 1-38. https://doi.org/10.33015/dominican.edu/2020.HIST.ST.06

“Lee, Stan (1922—) .” St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. (n.d.). Encyclopedia.com | Free Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lee-stan-1922

Malik, E. (2023, November 8). Stan Lee Timeline. Office Timeline. https://www.officetimeline.com/stan-lee-timeline

Murrian, S. R. (2024, November 16). Excelsior! 100 Stan Lee Quotes About Courage, Optimism and Success. Parade. https://parade.com/1113871/samuelmurrian/stan-lee-quotes

Rizzuto, M. (2024, November 10). Thoughts on Stan Lee by Matthew Rizzuto. Comic Book Historians. https://comicbookhistorians.com/thoughts-on-stan-lee-by-matthew-rizzuto/

Stan Lee Legacy. (n.d.). confinity.com. https://www.confinity.com/legacies/stan-lee

Stan Lee stock photos, images and backgrounds for free download. (n.d.). Vecteezy. https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/stan-lee

Stan Lee. (2009, December 4). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stan-Lee

Stan Lee. (n.d.). FictionDB – Your Guide to Fiction Books and Series. https://www.fictiondb.com/author/author.php?authorid=21283&ltyp=3&sort=da

Universe, S. L. (2022, July 8). Stan Lee’s San Diego comic con. The Real Stan Lee. https://therealstanlee.com/life-of-an-icon/stan-lees-san-diego-comic-con/

Phenomenal Woman

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

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Till next time, enjoy the pleasures of life.




Ninagracia
__________

References

Angelou, M. (n.d.). Phenomenal Woman. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48985/phenomenal-woman

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. (2023, January 5). Maya Angelou. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maya-Angelou

Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). Maya Angelou. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou

Spring, K. A. (2017). Maya Angelou. National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/maya-angelou

Visual Writing Prompts: What do they really think?

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.”

Continue this dialogue.

Hide and Seek

‘Hello. Where’s everybody? Are we still playing?”

Continue this story. What happened?

Follow the Leader

“This is a classic example of a blind spot.”

Explain what is going on in this picture.

Have fun writing. Till next time.

Ninagracia

Artwork and Photograph by: Nathan May

Some Women are…

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 Britai
n

  • 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 activis
t

  • 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.

––Aristotle Onassis (1906-1975)
Greek Shipping Magnate

  • 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 Netfl
ix

  • 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. Ambassado
r

  • 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

Ninagracia


References:

Barrientos, S., & Avendano, K. (2022, February 15). 28 Incredible and empowering International Women’s Day quotes. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g26326977/international-womens-day-quotes/

Biography Online. (n.d.). 70 famous women who changed the world. https://www.biographyonline.net/. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.biographyonline.net/people/women-who-changed-world.html

Brainy Quote. (n.d.). Women Quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/. https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/women-quotes

Haddrick, M. (2021, March 23). 12 of the most famous women in history. https://www.marieclaire.com.au/. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.marieclaire.com.au/famous-women-in-history

Tiwari, A. (2021, December 8). Meet the world’s 10 most powerful women 2021, Roshni Nadar & Falguni Nayar also feature on this list. https://www.indiatimes.com/. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/forbes-100-most-powerful-women-list-2021-556249.html

Images by:

https://www.nicepng.com/ourpic/u2t4t4r5o0o0e6a9_celebration-of-womens-day/

Rhythm and Rhymes: The Earth on its Knees

The Earth on its Knees

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.

Ninagracia