Tag: life

As You Go Through Life

by Ninagracia, posted in In Conversation with the Poems, Reading and Watching

In conversation with the poems

Poems by others, read closely and answered in reflection.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem “As You Go Through Life” is a gentle reminder and an invitation to reflect on how we respond to life’s inadequacies, challenges, and purpose. Reading it today, I was struck by how relevant its message is in a world that often encourages complaint rather than compassion.

Picture by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox,_1896.jpg

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“A Life Shaped by Hard-won Wisdom”

            Isabella Wheeler, also known as Ella Wheeler, was born in Johnstown, Wisconsin, USA, on November 5, 1850. She was an American poet, journalist, and novelist whose work in the 19th and 20th centuries provided insightful reflections on life, love, and perseverance. Her style and themes often relate to and carefully blend her personal experiences with ideas of change, suffering, sentiments, and human emotions.

            Wilcox’s personal experiences shaped her writing, including financial struggles, a near-fatal bout with typhoid fever, and the intricacies of her 1884 marriage to Robert Wilcox.

            She died in 1919, leaving behind a body of memorable work that established her as a captivating figure in American literature.

As You Go Through Life
By
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Don't look for the flaws as you go through life;
And even when you find them,
It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
And look for the virtue behind them.
For the cloudiest night has a hint of light
Somewhere in its shadows hiding;
It is better by far to hunt for a star,
Than the spots on the sun abiding.

The current of life runs ever away
To the bosom of God's great ocean.
Don't set your force 'gainst the river's course
And think to alter its motion.
Don't waste a curse on the universe—
Remember it lived before you.
Don't butt at the storm with your puny form,
But bend and let it go o'er you.

The world will never adjust itself
To suit your whims to the letter.
Some things must go wrong your whole life long,
And the sooner you know it the better.
It is folly to fight with the Infinite,
And go under at last in the wrestle;
The wiser man shapes into God's plan
As water shapes into a vessel.

Poem Interpretation

“As You Go Through Life” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is composed of three stanzas of eight lines each, employing simple, direct language to convey timeless moral and spiritual truths.

In the first stanza, Wilcox acknowledges human faults and imperfections. Rather than encouraging judgment, she gently reminds us to look beyond shortcomings and recognise the goodness within people. This perspective calls for compassion—an attitude that reflects both emotional maturity and spiritual grace.

The second stanza highlights our tendency to complain when life gets tough. The line “Don’t waste a curse on the universe” acts as a reminder that resentment and blame hardly change our situation. Instead, challenges become opportunities—times that can build character, increase understanding, and teach patience if we let them.

In the final stanza, the poem offers a humbling realisation: the world does not exist to conform to our wishes. We are, instead, shaped by life’s experiences to fulfil a greater purpose. There is comfort in this idea—that even hardship may serve a sovereign design leading us towards meaning and growth.

Overall, Wilcox encourages readers to face life with humility and faith, trusting that what they encounter is not a coincidence. When seen this way, life’s trials become less heavy and more like blessings—quietly guiding us toward a greater sense of purpose aligned with God’s plan.

Till next time,

Cheers

References:

As you go through life by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (n.d.). All Poetry – The world’s largest poetry site : All Poetry. https://allpoetry.com/As-You-Go-Through-Life

Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (1999, July 2). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ella-Wheeler-Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox [Photographic Portrait]. (2016, January 15). commons.wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox,_1896.jpg

Ella Wheeler Wilcox. (2025, November 18). Literary Devices. https://literarydevices.net/ella-wheeler-wilcox/#google_vignette

Ellan Wheeler Wilcox. (n.d.). Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ella-wheeler-wilcox

Overcoming Post-Holiday Slump: Get Back on Track

by Ninagracia, posted in In the Margins, Writing

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.

 

Till next time

Cheers!

Reference

https://www.nicepng.com/downpng/u2q8y3a9u2i1q8t4_computer-drives-me-crazy/

Reflections of the Heart

by Ninagracia, posted in Quiet Verses, Writing

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


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https://www.nicepng.com