THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Tuesday 24 October 2023

Mama, can you spray the perfume?

“Mama, can you spray the perfume?” (author unknown)

Each and every morning, with tears In her eyes, she would ever so quietly ask for a spray of my perfume. Her favourite perfume of mine.

As she slowly got dressed for school each morning, the struggle was encroaching her and becoming more and more real.

The struggle was enveloping her and making her chest tighten, while fighting so hard with the ever impending monster consuming her…

anxiety.

The subtle spray of my perfume, embedded within one of my scarves, would carry her through the day. The long arduous day of school for this little girl was overwhelming.

But the simplicity of spraying perfume on her wrist or on a scarf eased her mind for just a moment.

We had the same ritual each morning.

She would ask for a spritz and I would spray the perfume on her, then on me, and reassure her we would be thinking of one another. And each time she was having a hard time or missing me to simply smell her wrist or snuggle into the scarf.

She could rest her weary head on the cotton and breathe in my scent to transcend to a place far away from where her anxiety would take her.

Years of perfume, years of scarves, years of worry each morning and many years of her big sister walking her to the classroom.

As her small foot crossed the threshold into the colourful room filled with charts and inspirational posters, she entered a world which caused her fear.

A fear she had to face for seven long hours…

A fear of not seeing her mama.

A fear of not seeing her twin who was in the room next to her.

As anxiety took hold of my little girl, within the building up the road, my mama heart ached.

Now, years later, each time I get a gentle whiff of the particular perfume, which soothed her soul, I am transported back to that chapter of her life.

As I gaze at her now, I’m in awe. I see a young woman filled with strength and resilience, composure and a profound ability to calm down others when their anxiety peaks.

Her strength and determination is remarkable and she knows deep in her soul a little piece of home is always available carry her through the day and lots and lots of mama’s perfume.

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Monday 23 October 2023

A Loving Spell by John Anthony Elliott

"A Loving Spell"
by John Anthony Elliott revised 2023

Cast your cloak around me,
Keep me in your spell,
The power of love surrounds me,
For all the world to tell.

Take me on the roller-coaster,
Let me feel the rush,
My heart beating ever faster,
Side by side we crush.

On the twister swirling fast,
As out of breath we kissed,
You've cast your loving spell,
Not a moment can be missed.

Haunted house awaits us next,
Darkened rooms with cobbled floor,
Huddled close I felt you sighing
We kissed again, then kissed some more.

Your spells of love make me spin faster,
Love is like a fairground ride,
Heart a pounding, feeling giddy,
I'll be forever by your side.

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A ROBOTIC SLAVE FOR THE MAN

"A ROBOTIC SLAVE FOR THE MAN"

(author unknown)

A man once bought a very expensive robot for his home. He wanted the robot to be a slave to perform household chores such as preparing food, mopping the floors, cleaning the toilets, washing the dishes, taking out the garbage and watering the plants in the garden. His purpose was to make life easier and less stressful for his family.

On the day the brand new robot was delivered to him, he happily invited his neighbour over to look at it with admiration.

However, when the neighbour saw the robot, he showed a great disdain and disapproval towards it. Unable to stand the sight of it, he spoke in a serious tone.

"Why would you buy this for such an amount of money? You just wasted your money... it's too expensive and unnecessary. You have a wife and three children who can do the household chores. Buying a robot for your home will make your children lazy, surly, pompous and extremely rude. Children who are not allowed to work may become irresponsible in the future. What on earth made you think that buying a robot would help your family in any way?".

The man suddenly felt a bit of a fool. He thought and thought for a while, then asked.

"Tell me, what should I do now?"

The neighbour replied.

"Take it back to the robot store and ask for a refund of your money. Tell them you changed your mind and decided you don't need the product anymore".

The man immediately contacted the online retailer and told them he didn't like the product and that he wanted a refund of his money. In that moment, he made a vow to himself that he would never buy a needless machine for such an amount of money.

Two years later, the man visited his neighbour and he was shocked to find out that he had just recently bought a robot for his home. Surprised, he asked him.

"Why did you buy a robot?"

The neighbour replied.

"It's to make life easier and less stressful for my family".

Baffled, the man whistled.

"Didn't you tell me it's a bad idea to buy a robot for domestic tasks? You hated it with a passion and you made me return the one I bought".

The neighbour replied at once.

"Well, you should know that people usually hate and criticize expensive things because they can't afford them. The truth is, I was greatly in love with your idea, but because I was poor and couldn't afford a robot, I had to condemn it. I'm sorry, but that's the nature of so many people".

Many times, we feel bad when people hate and reject us. Just like the robot, they find faults in us. We begin to think less of ourselves and start seeing ourselves through the eyes of those who don't value us. Don't let others' opinions deprive you of knowing your worth. Understand that you are unique and of precious worth, so you don't have to care when they hate.

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UNDER PRESSURE by Becky Hemsley

"UNDER PRESSURE"
by Becky Hemsley 2022

Mountains can't rise without earthquakes

And rainbows can't form without rain

A match can't ignite 'til you strike it

'Cause its friction produces the flame

Diamonds are formed under pressure

Stars shine brighter when they explode

And volcanoes can't rise from the ashes

Until cracks are beginning to show

So I know that you feel like you're breaking

That the rain never seems to subside

That your world has been thoroughly shaken

And you're not sure how you will survive

But when all that pressure keeps building

And you find yourself struggling to breathe

Just trust that you're going to get through this

'Cause you are a diamond you see

******

Becky Hemsley 2022

Artwork by Bettina Baldassari - BettiPigna

'Under Pressure' is from my second collection

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I'M OKAY REALLY by Shiori X

"I'M OKAY REALLY"
by Shiori X

I completely understand those people who are scared to express their feelings. Some people don't give importance to what people say when they are hurt and sad, without knowing that it takes everything in them to express what they truly feel. Not everyone can understand how heavy it feels, and not everyone will ever realize that sharing what people feel inside their chest is like giving a part of them.

Just like everyone else, I am also afraid to express my thoughts and feelings. It's like telling my secrets that are buried deep in my heart, and I am afraid that they will just be judged or invalidated. I am afraid to be labelled as "too emotional" or "too sensitive" for something that really matters to me. That's why I keep everything to myself instead of telling someone that I am not okay. I get sad alone. I deal with my pain alone. I suffer alone. And I think it will always be better not to be a burden for somebody.

I hope one day everyone will stop invalidating someone's feelings and learn to understand them. Maybe that way, people like me will finally have the strength to say whatever we feel, and we will no longer have to fake ourselves every time we say, "I'm okay."

— Shiori X

Art: hessah._.art

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AFTER AUTUMN WHAT THEN

"AFTER AUTUMN WHAT THEN"
(author unknown)

WELL, AND THEN IT IS WINTER MY FRIENDS, You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. Like stop the world I want to get off.

It seems like only yesterday that I was young, only yesterday I was married and embarking on my new life with the one I loved so dearly. Yet in a way, it also seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! Taking my growing mountain of tablets each day, just to keep me going...

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's NOT over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

"Life" is a gift to you, that's why they call it the present. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

REMEMBER:....

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

"LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR!

LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

~Your kids are becoming you.......

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!

~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..

~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... "what?" . ???

~Now that you can afford expensive jewellery, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

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The secret that lasts a lifetime by Cody Bret

"The secret that lasts a lifetime" by Cody Bret

I interviewed a couple a few weeks ago that just had their 60th wedding anniversary and I asked them one question.

"How does a beautiful couple like yourself keep such a healthy marriage for over 60 years?"

She told me, "Wait right here young man" and she went back to their bedroom and pulled something from a weathered roll top desk.

It was an old worn out Bible.

She said "This right here is what has got us through everything life has thrown at us for the past 60 years".

She went on about how it completely changed their lives and it taught them numerous things that should be a staple in all relationships this day and age, no matter how long you and your significant other have been together.

She said.....

We learned how to forgive each other.

We rebuilt trust when it was broken.

We always listened to one another.

We apologized for things when we were wrong.

We always made time for each other.

We learned how to communicate.

We always put one another first no matter the circumstance.

We never stopped dating each other.

We always told each other "I love you" before we went to bed.

We always prayed for each other daily.

We never made permanent decisions based on our temporary emotions.

She said... "This is just a few things the Bible has taught us".

I decided to ask her one last question.

I said, "After 60 years, are you worried about what tomorrow brings?"

She said something I'll never forget.

She said, "I trust the next chapter of our love story, because I know the author.

—Cody Bret,

Illustration Art by.

93.minho

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Sunday 22 October 2023

IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIFE

"IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIFE"
(author unknown)

A lot of us are in the last quarter of life and I share without politics, religion, race cards. Just gentle thoughts:

You know, time has a way of catching you off-guard about how quickly it travels.

It feels like just yesterday that I was young and ready to start adult-life. And in a way it feels like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone.

I know I lived them all.

I remember all my hopes and dreams. I remember the plans I made.

And suddenly, here I am in the last quarter.

How did I get here so fast?

Where have the years gone and where did my youth go?

I can recall looking at older people, thinking how long it will take for me to get where they are. That I am still in my youth, that I have many years ahead. At that time I could not even think of being where I am now.

And yet, here I am

My friends are retired, they all have grey hair, they move much slower than they did and when I look at them, I see older people. Some are in a better and some a worse condition than me. But I see the big difference. They are no longer the youthful, carefree, full-of-life friends.

Just like me, age shows. And we are now the older people we used to look at and thought it was still a long way off.

I find that these days, taking a shower takes its toll on my breath and energy levels. And an afternoon nap is not just a treat, it’s become a necessity. And if I don’t, I find myself sleeping in the same chair I started reading or watching television in.

Now I have entered this new season of my life, totally unprepared for the discomfort, aches and pains, loss of energy and strength and ability to do what I could, yet sometimes didn’t. At least I know that, even though I am in the last quarter and I have no idea how long this quarter will be, when my time on earth is over, a new adventure awaits too.

Yes, I do have things I wish I I had never done. Yet so thankful for those I did. It is all in a lifetime.

And if you are not in the last quarter yet, I want to remind you that it comes faster than you could anticipate. Do the things you still want to do as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate. Life runs on fast legs.

Do today what you can.

There is no promise that we will all see the seasons of life. Live for today. For now.

Say the words to the ones you love. Often.

Hopefully some will appreciate the things you did for them. And if they don’t, it is also okay.

Life is truly a gift. Just be happy. It is after all your choice.

And remember that health is a treasure, not wealth, gold and silver, property or your bank balance.

You may think that going out is the best, but believe me – coming home is better.

You may forget names and that is okay, because some have already forgotten that they knew you.

The things you cared about previously, you may lose interest in.

If you fall asleep in your favourite chair, stay there.

Growing older is wonderful. It is comfortable. It is loaded with memories that you never grow tired of. It is an absolute treasure.

Look after yourself.

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