My Blog

There is a Writer in You

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

We were all storytellers once upon a time. Why? Because we were children once upon a time.

Children are good storytellers. If you haven’t noticed, well let me tell you something.

Children use different behaviour and tactics to get your attention, to make you listen to them, and most of all, to get what they want from you.

They don’t hesitate to tell you what they think they know.

They are not afraid to say what they have on their minds.

And most importantly, they have vivid imaginations.

They spin and weave stories from what they heard, saw, or even just their imaginations.

NicePng_children-png_219696

Clipart Images by nicepng.com

 

And here’s how:

  • They know that Grandma would be happy to hear about their day at school so, they sit on Grandma’s lap and tell their story in detail.
  • Their eager eyes had never missed noticing their sister’s side glances on that particular boy. So, they sensed that their sister would be anxious to listen to them about the girl they saw the boy was kissing.
  • And of course, who would believe that they saw a ghost. Still, they made you believe them because they described it to you candidly and believably.

You and I were those kinds of children once before. We told stories without fear, hesitation, boundaries, or limitations.

Our stories appealed to children of our ages and to people older than us.

YOU were that child. You have a keen interest in everything around you. You are filled with energy and spirit, and nothing is enough.

You were simply a child telling a story without being judged for accuracy or quality of your account.

And you humbly took the stand to be a storyteller, the way you knew how.

So, what happened to this child?

You have become older, and suddenly, that little voice inside you had stopped telling stories.

You began to fear limitations – the set of rules, the do’s, and don’ts of writing effectively.

You feel inadequate with limited knowledge of your craft because you continually compare yourself to the young and more accomplished writers out there.

Perhaps, you put your desires and dreams on hold or delaying it for another day.

Perhaps, you created a life based on what others are expecting you to do.

And maybe, you worked hard and drained your life and energy for the approval of your family, friends, or peers.

So now, you became entrapped with FEAR – fear of failure, rejection, and fear of being judge by the same people you tried to please.

You sacrificed what matters to you the most, and that is to let that little voice inside you tell great stories, just like you used to do.

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Clipart Images by nicepng.com

 

Press your Re-start Button

It’s not too late in life to re-visit your dream or create a new goal. You only need to know what you want in life.

The problem with dreams, it becomes impossible to reach because you lost the patience and the perseverance to learn new things.

You continually told yourself that you are not good at it, and you talked yourself out of it.

You stopped to progress, improve, and develop yourself, simply because you don’t want to be disappointed if what you were hoping for may NOT turn out the way you want it.

But, doing nothing is already a decision you made for yourself. It is a failure itself.

Just like you, it scares me to death to imagine failing to achieve my dream and that strong desire that remains unfulfilled.

My fears of disappointment, failing, and being rejected, led me to put aside and postpone my writing. I have this idea that I could write or have a better idea tomorrow or next week, maybe next month.

I put aside for tomorrow what I could do today. I was hoping it would be a different day until I realised that what I put off for tomorrow remained the same and that tomorrow becomes today.

Whether it was your writing or chores that needed your attention, breaking free from the habit of postponing things was a real challenge.

It would only rob you the ability to focus on what is possible for you to do.

It may sound crazy, but what makes me get up every morning and turn my laptop on was this quote from Paulo Coelho. It always hits me on the head like a ton of bricks (Ouch!).

Paulo Coelho said, “Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life. There is just one thing that makes your dream impossible: the fear of failure.”

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Clipart Images by nicepng.com

 

I don’t know so much about Paulo Coelho, except that he is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He is known for his novel The Alchemist. When he was 17 years old, his parents committed him to a mental institution because he told his mother that he wanted to be a writer. He abandoned his dream of becoming a writer and enrolled in law school at his parents’ wishes. A year later, he left school and lived a life as a hippie, and he turned to drugs. Despite his success as an actor, journalist, and theatre director, his life seemed incomplete because he never achieved his dream of becoming a writer. He continually pursued it and published his books. One of them was The Alchemist which became an international bestseller.

There is one thing for sure: You don’t have to be perfect to achieve what you want in life.

You were a different person ten, twenty, thirty, or forty years ago. You are not that same person anymore. You grew up, and you learned new things.

You succeeded in one area of your life but maybe failed in another.

You fell down, but you got up and moved on and tackled the day ahead of you.

As long as you find the courage to keep going, and not to be too concerned too much about failing, you can achieve your dream.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to realise your dream as long as you don’t stop. So, take your journey at your own pace.

I am here as a friend to encourage you and once in a while, nudge you with my elbow each time to you stop.

Do not let anybody say NO to your dreams. It’s yours. Own it!

Always remember: Dream big and make it happen.

Hey, next time I come back, put your kettle on. I’ve got some stories to tell you.

See yah!

Ninagracia

 

Sources:

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/paulo_coelho_620614
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Coelho

 

Stop Dreaming, and Start Writing

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

Is there someone in your life that whenever you see or hear this person’s name makes you boil inside and makes you strive harder to be a better person?

I am not talking about our ex-es. I am referring to those people who think you are too old to begin a new journey in your life. In other words, you’re in your 40’s or 50’s, and worst of all, because you’re hitting the high 60’s.

There are also people in our lives who we look up to as mentor or role model who believes in you and push you a little bit harder to achieve your goal.

Today, I told myself that I am merely a friend who will encourage or get your attention to act NOW – write or finish your book.

A dream is good for our soul, but if it stays as a dream only, then it becomes an unfinished business for you.

This dream is always in your head. You think about it all the time. You tell your friends and your family even to yourself, promising to get on to it one day.

But that one day never came.

When this scenario happens, that dream becomes like a bad smell lingering around and following you everywhere you go. Then, you begin to struggle to prove to everyone that you can do it. You want to show that you are good at something, like everybody else, regardless of your age.

We all have unfinished business in our life. It could be anything, not only writing your book. But the only thing that was stopping you from taking that leap is your age. You think you are too old to do anything challenging. Perhaps you worked so hard during the early years in your life, and now you think it’s time to put your feet up and relax and enjoy your life.

According to Walt Disney, “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It”. Funny, because I only look up to Walt Disney as the icon for animated cartoon films and creator of cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse. But never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would inspire me to do what I have dreamt of for many, many, years.

 

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT (Transparent Small)[2857]

Picture and Quotes From: PictureQuotes.com

 

I still clearly remember when I was very young, I was told off by my parents for something I have done, which they made a big deal out of it. I was upset and went to bed, crying. I let out my frustrations by writing it on a piece of paper, in the dark. The only light I had was from the moon shining directly on my window and from the reflection from the street light. I penned a short poem out of anger and gave it to my teacher for our school newspaper. Weeks after that, my poem was published but only occupied a tiny space in the corner of the page. But, the sheer joy of seeing my name in print even though my name was misspelt gave me a different feeling, which up to this time was hard to describe.

I knew right at that time that it’s what I want to do – just write and be an author.

It was a struggle, especially always dreaming and thinking about it, and keeping that dream to myself, for a simple reason that I don’t want to be laughed at or ridiculed.

It took me decades to have the strength to start writing just to prove something, not to anybody but only to myself that if I can dream, I can make it happen too.

And so, I did.

I completed a 39-page children’s book, have it published, and gave away copies to friends and family. It was a celebration of an accomplishment. A tiny children’s book where my name is written gave me a sense of achievement and an assurance that I can do it, regardless of my age.

This time, I am finishing a romance novel. Quite ambitious, but I know I can do it again.

So, what if you are 40, 50, or 60 years old? You reached your golden years. You have so much to talk about. Write it down and let everyone read it because your readers would not even care how old you are.

They only want what your book is all about. Is your story going to inspire your readers? Is it going to make them laugh or cry, or would it make their heart race? What about making them fall in love again?

That’s all they want from you.

Your age doesn’t matter to them.

There is no more significant pain than not being able to write that story you’ve been keeping inside you.

Write like you are an author to send your message across. You are writing for your readers, so enjoy every minute of it.

So, come on, put your thinking cap and let those creative juices flow. You will be surprised to see that you have the talent and the skill to create something out of nothing, but only from pure imagination.

Here’s a thing. There are so many great authors out there who were published after they were in their 40’s. Just to name a few that I gathered from the internet:

  • Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, was 41 years old when he published his first novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
  • If the name J. R. R. Tolkien is familiar to you, he was 45 years old when he published his first novel, The Hobbit.
  • And who will forget Laura Ingalls Wilder? She was 65 years old when the first book in her “Little House” series, Little House in the Big Woods, was published. She was 76 years old when she finished her last book.

The good thing about writing is, we learn so many things along the way. It enriches our knowledge with different facts and information that we never knew before.

It is constant learning and education. It broadens our knowledge and our way of thinking and most importantly, our approach to life.

We write to inspire or teach our readers and at the same time, we prepare ourselves too, to be that kind of person that they can look up to as an inspiration or a role model. And that is something – a significant achievement and no one can take away from you.

Learning and perfecting your craft is not easy. Still, there are so many accomplished authors out there who are very generous in providing some helpful tips to help you with your writing.

That’s how I learned, and I am still learning.

As I said, I will be here as a friend, and I can share with you what I learned from them.

Till next time. We’ll have a chat again.

Dream big and make it happen!

 

Ninagracia

 

Sources:
http://www.picturequotes.com/walt-disney-quotes
https://writingcooperative.com

Anzac Day

by Ninagracia, posted in Quiet Verses, Writing

Every year on April 25, we observe ANZAC Day as a national day to honour the members of the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in the first world war.

It is time to reflect and remember the harsh reality of war and the lives that were destroyed and lost serving our country.

And, what does it mean for someone if you happened to have your birthday on April 25?

“Every year on my birthday, I have that kind of feeling that makes me feel lucky and proud that I was born on an extraordinary day.

I also feel that today, alongside with the men and women who served and died for our country, we should also honour everyone working in the front line fighting a different battle during this challenging time in our country in order to keep us all safe from the horror that COVID-19 has brought us.”

—Chenoa

Social I-soul-ation

by Ninagracia, posted in Once, Briefly, Writing

Social distancing is daunting, disheartening, and sometimes horrifying. The thought of being alone is unsettling, and loneliness could strike anytime. Being confined in your home for an uncertain time could result in depressive emotion as a result of being alone.

There will be days when we can’t fake our feelings and say we are perfectly okay, and we are coping. That horrible feeling must come out one way or another.

I don’t know but, to many, this is what they exactly feel…

Hiding from coronavirus


Hmm, I haven’t seen the postie lately. Who am I going to chase now?



Oh great! I have already watched everything on Netflix. What am I going to do now?


Diet? No one is going to see me anyway!


Quarantine will never keep us apart

Till next time. Take care of each other. CHEERS!

Happy Face in the Sky

by Ninagracia, posted in Quiet Verses, Writing

Amid all the noise and fear happening around us, let us remember that the grass is always green where the sun shines.

Let us take a break to breathe in some air, drop our shoulders to relax, and let us celebrate the little moments that make our lives glitter and colourful.

Today, a beautiful lady close to my heart is celebrating her birthday.

This is the milestone in her life and being with friends and family that she adores would complete her day. But today, she chose to celebrate it at home with her children.

From all of us, here’s a gift of poetry specially written for you…



HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUSIN

R I C A

See the World at its Worst

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

I remember when I was young when I could barely reach the kitchen sink. I would stand on my toes, reaching for the soap and water to wash my hands. This is the first thing I learned in my childhood-washing my hands properly.

Now, we seemed to have forgotten how to wash our hands properly. The fundamental necessity to save our lives and others is a simple act of washing hands.

I don’t remember anymore the number of times I have washed my hands in a day. It is beginning to dry my skin. Sooner or later, our pharmaceutical companies will need to produce hand lotions or hand creams to treat skin dermatitis.

But that is the least of our problem now.

We are facing challenging times right now.  We are scared, confused and angry.

When I used the slogan on my website, “We exist to rise up and grow” as the central theme of what all my writing is going to be,  I didn’t think that one day I would be asking myself why I used this theme.

Our existence into this world is put into test. How we respond to adversity and challenges are being tested right now.

If we rise to the occasion or we crumble into pieces, we will never be able to hide it anymore. It will show who we are and what we are made of.

Some will show their real colours, and the good and the bad in all of us will appear.

Leaders will exhibit their leadership ability, and unwilling followers will display their individualistic behaviour. The others will fully cooperate and sometimes offer to help, while, there would be those who will exaggerate and push their own opinion.

We are confused because we hear different stories, and we are continually being told numerous instructions on what to do.

We are scared because we do not know how long it will last and we are afraid for our own safety and the safety of our loved ones.

Our livelihood is being threatened. We are scared to lose what we worked so hard for so many years, and then be taken away from us.

We are angry about why it must happen, and we are mad with the world.

Illustration By: Nathan May

Our anger should not be focused on others who are trying to live their lives to the best of their abilities. It is not our place to question their faith if it is the only thing that gives them strength and hope, and a feeling of security. Just like you and me and everyone else, it is their right to have faith and belief in a Devine power, which is the only thing that will give them the will to survive.

It is okay not to believe. It is perfectly understandable to put one’s faith to a Supreme power to lift your spirit and strengthen your hope and your will to survive. Let us respect everyone’s faith and belief. That is all we’ve got now.

We are not alone, and we all have dreams and purpose of living. Let us serve our purpose in life and do our best all the time.

We become prisoners in our own home, and we spent a lot of time being alone.

We dreaded going to work, and now, we lost what provides for our living.

There will be days when our hopes would be shattered. We lose focus on allowing ourselves to have the emotion and at the same time, to be supportive to our friends and family.

We exist to learn.

There is so much noise around us. It’s everywhere, and all over the place, it’s the whole world.

It is not a noise of conflict or war. It’s a cry for help to be together as one and fight this disease that is crippling the universe.

Suddenly, the unpleasant noise of conflict and war silenced us. Every nation in the world had forgotten what they were fighting for before it all happened.

We learned to forgo arrogance, the race to power, who is reliable and who is not. It’s all because we are fighting one and the same war – the war to eradicate coronavirus, immediately and for good.

Our life became a tight race. This disease knows no boundaries. It doesn’t discriminate, and it has no time limits.

We learned that human activities have contributed to this problem. There is no need to blame each other now or point the finger at anybody. We are all accountable, directly or indirectly.

We learned that the Earth doesn’t belong to us. It is our home and home for every living creatures – in land, water and air.

But for us, human beings forgot all of that. Instead, we crossed the boundaries. Dictated by greed and selfishness, those that should be left alone were disturbed and taken away from their habitat and food supply.

We disturbed what is in the air, the land and in water.

We will get through this. We will survive, and we will get better, but it will leave a mark that will reside in the deepest core of our hearts. It will heal, but it will always be sore to touch. It will become a constant reminder of outlining our journey.

We exist to learn and grow. Part of growing up is learning to co-exist with every living thing here on Earth. A million pieces of lives will cover the distance to get us to the finish line. Yet, the race may be just beginning.

What is important now and what counts the most is our attitude and our behaviour towards one another.

Give due respect and help those who need it most. We all deserve a place here on Earth, big or small, and every living thing.

For regardless of today, there will always be tomorrow to look forward to.

Till next time. Take care of each other and love one another.

Cheers!

We Will Prevail, The World Will Survive

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

I would like to take a short break from my usual routine of posting articles on writing and instead focus on what is happening around us.

I understand it is hard to concentrate on your writing when there are so many things going on around you. I, for one, is also getting distracted by so many news that is taking place right now.

It is alright to get scared. That is normal. When you are afraid, you become more cautious, alert with your surroundings, and protective not only of yourself but also of your loved ones.

We fear the invisible things. It is hard to fight and eradicate what is not visible to the naked eyes. So, here we are, trapped and tortured with fear, hysteria, negativity, and judgement.

Do not let these crush our spirit. We are better than that. Our prospect of survival depends on our ability and our behaviour towards one another.

Our government and the media have bombarded us endless news and discussions about the coronavirus that is taking over our lives now.

A great American leader, Thomas Jefferson, once said, “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”

We looked up to our politicians governing our country for guidance, for protection, for good health, and financial security. They are also human like us with a family that needs protection and security. And, they would do everything what they think is best for everyone.

The call for a national emergency has put us all in a state of fear. To overcome that level of anxiety, we must be resilient and strong in spirit.

We are dependent on one another for survival, yet, we ignored the cry for extreme precaution and social or physical distancing.

We can no longer go to work, but it is not an opportunity to go around places and seek fun and adventure. We are not on a holiday break, not anymore.

We must think of our safety, our total well-being, and the safety of the people around us and our community. Our only hope is for our society to act as one family looking after each other, caring for one another and providing help who need it most.

We have that induced fear and anxiety of missing out or not having anything that will provide us for our daily maintenance.

This fear led us to greed and selfishness. We behaved like animals fighting for a mere piece of item that we could share with everyone.

Selfishness dictated our behaviour to take more than what we need and what we can swallow. Still, we instead have it all for fear of not having anything at all.

Let us all get reminded what Mahatma Gandhi said…

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not every man’s greed.”

Let this challenging experience become our teacher about life.

We learned the value of life when it diminished right before our eyes. We don’t own it. What is left of it will be taken away anytime, whether we are ready or not.

We learned to slow down, to take a deep breath, and to go home.

We move in a fast lane where the nights are no longer welcome; when the power never gets turned off, and technologies dictate everything we do, what to say and even what to eat.

We found time to sit down and have meals with our family.

We listened to music, read a good book and wrote a poem, and spent time with the people in our household.

And, for the first time, we felt that fear that we might lose what we love.

Keep your faith grounded and don’t be ashamed to pray. We will survive this horror. We will fight it, and we will pass the test.

Let us renew and cherish what is left on Earth. It is our home. It is our responsibility to take care of it.

Till next time. Take care of each other.

Sources: brainyquote.com; quotetab.com

Does Age Really Matter?

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

The house is clean, dishes are done, dinner is cooked, so what’s next?

Over the years, you have accustomed yourself doing these routines daily. This is your weekend, but you are stuck with household chores.

You thought about the years – those years you put in towards working to make a living. It was a job that you dreaded sometimes, but you have to get up in the morning and go to work. No matter what your job is about, it paid your bills, your mortgage, and sent your children to school.

You found it hard to balance your priorities between work, family, and doing the job you like to do.

Just like everybody else, you chose family first, and you got yourself doing something you never enjoyed.

Your children are all grown-ups now, but sometimes you feel like you are too old to do anything anymore.

So, what if you are now in your 40’s, 50’s, or in your 60’s. Does it really matter how old you are when it comes to pursuing that dream of writing a book one day?

Are you still stuck on that chair contemplating what it would have been like if you pursued that dream?

Or, perhaps you are still wrapped up with the idea that the right time and opportunity will come. One day maybe, but not today!

That day is NOW.

You reached the prime of your life, your golden years. Everybody deserves something better – YOU, me, and the entire human race.

The opportunity that you have been waiting for has come. Right NOW, TODAY. It wouldn’t knock on your door. It is already there waiting. You need to take the necessary action and do what you have been waiting for a very long time.

This is the moment in your life to be the person you wanted to be and what you always wanted to do.

Write that book. You have so much wisdom to share.

Peel off the old YOU because it’s time for you to shine.

Do not focus on your age. It is just a number and be proud of it. The higher the number goes, the greater the experience and maturity you have within you.

You have so much to offer because your experiences are your lessons. You passed those lessons, and you learned from it, so it’s time to share it and let everyone learn from you.

So, till next time. Dream big and make it happen.

 

Gracie is Finally Here

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

Yes, Gracie made it to the finish line, and she’s here to tell you her story.

“Gracie…Shhh!” is a chapter book for children between 9 and 12 years old.

It is a story about friendship and the quest for the truth about magic and mythical creature.

The characters in the story are believable and behave in ways that are consistent with their age and background.

It has a light humour, gentle, and it is written informally like a friend telling the story to another friend.

“…as always, I was blamed for the storm. I created the storm, according to the little children.

I began to think about whether they believed that I have the power to cast destruction in our school.”

Get Creative With Me: Valentine Poetry/Love Letters

by Ninagracia, posted in Quiet Verses, Writing


Let’s talk about love

There is no other special day to talk about love except today, February 14, Valentine’s Day.

Every year we celebrate Valentine’s Day around the world. It is a romantic symbol of love and it is traditionally associated with symbols of heart, red roses, cards, and pictures of cupid.

We attribute love to romantic love or a secret love and admiration for someone.

Valentine’s Day is known for gift giving, and there is no better way of expressing your affection and admiration for your loved one except through poetry.

Poetry, in a grand manner is romantic and captivating.

On my Facebook Page, I invited everyone to join me celebrate Valentines Day by sending in your original creations of poetry or love letters to someone you love.

So, here’s a few of my own.

 

CRAZY FOR YOU (edited)

 

KISS ME! KISS ME! (edited)

 

PROMISE ME A ROMANCE.edited

 

MY TWIN SOUL (edited)

A PROMISE OF AFFECTION (edited)

……and what about the good old fashioned love letters? It’s romantic, captivating, and straight from the heart.

Here’s a beautiful love letter from Adam to her new fiance…