THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Monday 5 February 2024

YOU ARE NOT

"YOU ARE NOT"
(author unknown)

You are not your age,

Nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight,

Or the colour of your hair.

You are not your name,

Or the dimples in your cheeks,

You are all the books you read,

And all the words you speak,

You are your croaky morning voice,

And the smiles you try to hide,

You’re the sweetness in your laughter,

And every tear you’ve cried,

You’re the songs you sing so loudly,

When you know you’re all alone,

You’re the places that you’ve been to,

And the one that you call home,

You’re the things that you believe in,

And the people that you love,

You’re the photos in your bedroom,

And the future you dream of,

You’re made of so much beauty,

But it seems that you forgot,

When you decided that you were defined,

By all the things you’re not

Artwork by Carl Wilhelm Wilhelmson - In the Studio, 1912

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GIVE IT SPACE TO BLOSSOM by Tahlia Hunter

"GIVE IT SPACE TO BLOSSOM"
by Tahlia Hunter

"When you plant a seed in the ground,

you trust that it will grow.

You do not go digging it up

over and over again,

or spend your days

watching it constantly and obsessively,

wondering whether or not it will eventually sprout.

Instead, you take care of it,

but give it space to blossom

in its own time

and at its own pace.

In the same way,

trust that when you are on the path

of being committed to healing and self-growth

you too will fully blossom

when the time is right

through giving yourself enough space, love and patience to grow into your full potential."

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Artwork by Christian Schloe Digital Artwork

THE POWER OF ONE by Becky Hemsley 2022

"THE POWER OF ONE"
by Becky Hemsley 2022

One leaf can disrupt a whole army of ants

And can leave them all scared and confused

And it takes just one word, even one from a stranger

To render our self-esteem bruised

It takes just one flick of a switch in a light room

To promptly turn everything black

And it only takes one hand to push us too far

Just one straw to break our camel’s back

It takes just a moment when all is aligned

For the sunshine to blot out the moon

And it takes just one foot to kick us whilst we’re down

Just one sprinkle of salt in the wound

And yet when we think of ourselves as the one

Then we think we’ve no power at all

That we won’t make a difference when this world’s so big

And we feel so incredibly small

But it takes just one leaf to announce spring is coming

One seed for a flower to grow

And it takes just one hand to stop someone from falling

Which might mean far more than you know

It takes just a word to make somebody’s day

Just one switch to turn dark into light

And it takes just one foot to stand up for someone,

Just one sunrise to soften the night

So harness the power of one for yourself

It’s a power you’ve held all along

Yes, I know that you think you can’t change the whole world

But you can change the world for someone

******

Becky Hemsley 2022

Gorgeous image by @eliienkind via Instagram

'The Power of One' is from the book What the Wild Replied

https://a.co/d/dyQRzqb

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Sunday 4 February 2024

THE SCIENTIST'S WIFE by Chima_Dickson Official

"THE SCIENTIST'S WIFE"

A Short Moral Story by Chima_Dickson Official

A scientist and a lawyer lived next to each other. One day, the lawyer said to his wife, Lucy.

"Look how hardworking Kate, the scientist's wife is. You don't work as much as she does. She wakes up as early as 4:30 a.m. every morning. She prepares meals for her husband before he leaves for work. She irons his clothes. She does the dishes after each meal. She attends to all the washing and cleaning. She removes her husband's shoes when he enters the home. She still waters the plants. She can work for up to 15 hours a day. But you can't even spend 5 hours working"

Lucy spoke very gently.

"I may not be of the same standard as Kate... but you do know that I'm doing my best everyday to be a good wife to you"

The lawyer snapped.

"Well, your best isn't good enough! I deserve better than a wife who does very little. You are supposed to be as hardworking as the scientist's wife. You should extend your working hours in a day"

From that point on, the lawyer set rules for his wife. He made Lucy wake up very early in the morning to begin the household chores. He made her scrub all sinks and drains, take out the trash, do the grocery shopping, water the plants, weed the garden and more. She worked all day and had very little time to rest. Somewhere along the line, she became utterly worn out.

One evening, the lawyer returned home from work and found Lucy lying lifeless on the ground. He rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead by the doctor. She died from a heart attack caused by chronic stress.

The lawyer was overwhelmed with grief and guilt. He couldn't deal with the pain he felt in his heart. Then, he went to his neighbour, the scientist. He said to him.

"My wife died because I made her do all the household chores all by herself. I compared her to your wife and wanted her to be as hardworking as she is. But tell me, how does your wife do all that and never suffers a breakdown?"

The scientist paused for a moment. What he said next was a total surprise.

"I don't have a wife. The lady who lives with me is a human-like robot called Kate. I created her to do all the household chores such as cleaning, cooking, ironing, etc. How could you have compared your wife to a robot? Lucy was a human with blood in her veins but Kate is a machine that works with a battery. Do you realize what you have done?"

The lawyer stood frozen in shock and disbelief. Then, the scientist continued.

"You had a good wife who was caring and compassionate. A wife who loved and respected you. Did you even know how lucky you were to have her as a wife? But you killed her due to your dissatisfaction and baseless comparison. Now you've lost her forever. What a shame!"

Many of us have the habit of comparing our life to others. We are fascinated and intrigued by the things others have. We lose value for what we own since what others have might look better, newer or prettier in some way. We often think that our body isn't good enough, our house isn't big enough, we aren't talented enough, our family don't do their best enough. But one thing we fail to realize is that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Comparison can kill a man very easily. It leaves us with negative feelings of envy, low self-esteem, low self-confidence and isolation. Know in your head and heart that you are different from others and not just only in appearance but also everything. Be happy with yourself and find satisfaction in your work. Stop comparing your life to others and be who you are.

Author: Chima_Dickson Official

I let my stories teach the life lessons.

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Saturday 3 February 2024

BAGGAGE by Becky Hemsley

"BAGGAGE"
by Becky Hemsley 2021

She opens up her suitcase

And it’s loaded to the brim

She simply doesn’t have the room

To squeeze more baggage in

Her hold-all’s filled with years and years

Of things she has endured

But you think she has no hold-all

‘Cause she acts so self-assured

But just because she’s confident

And acts like she’s alright

It doesn’t mean her baggage

Is inconsequentially light

For though her life looks rosy

It doesn’t mean to say

That she doesn’t carry burdens

That weigh her down each day

She’s fought off many monsters

Often swam up from the depths

She’s walked through many fires

And pulled herself back from the edge

So never think she walks on air

When she’s actually walked through hell

You just don’t know her load is heavy

Because she carries it so well

******

It's ok to put a few things down sometimes

Becky Hemsley 2021

Artwork by Magic Art Photography by Kasia Derwinska

Baggage is from Talking to the Wild https://a.co/d/57xLeCX

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

BLOWING MEMORIES IN THE AIR by Joanne Boyle

"BLOWING MEMORIES IN THE AIR"
by Joanne Boyle

One of the jobs in heaven,

is to blow memories through the air,

like confetti from the sky, that

lands in hearts everywhere.

If you are lucky enough to catch it,

then tend to it with love

as with it comes a memory,

that has fallen from above.

Watch it like a movie,

and watch the characters again,

dancing with your memories,

washing away the pain.

You can put it on repeat,

but when day turns in to night,

but your confetti in your heart,

and whisper, Goodnight.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Art by Steffi Krenzek

AND WHEN THEY LEAVE by Tahlia Hunter

"AND WHEN THEY LEAVE"
by Tahlia Hunter

"I cannot control whether or not another person chooses to stay or leave. I can only control how I choose to show up each day and work towards becoming the best version of myself. And so I trust that this person is entering my life for the reason they are meant to at this time and I will treasure their company and let this connection unfold in the way that it is meant to, whether it lasts for a day, a month or a lifetime.

And it matters not whether they leave, as I have learned to love my own company and not need another and I will never leave myself. For this is the foundation for all positive relationships.

And if I truly love another person, then I will want what is best for them, and if that is for them to not be with me, then I will let them go with love, knowing that if they are ever meant to return, they will, and if not, them leaving makes space for those who are still meant to come.

And if I ever find myself missing them, I will remind myself that what I love and admire most in them also exists within me and I can be that for myself now. And every positive emotion I experienced in their presence, I created within myself and can experience just as strongly in their absence.

And when they leave, it is not a reflection of my worth,

it is simply that our paths are no longer aligned

as we are travelling in different directions.

And if I feel that they failed to truly see me or appreciate me,

I will never take their actions personally

and remind myself

that it wasn't that they didn't love me,

but they loved me

from the level from which they could love."

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Artwork by Christian Schloe Digital Artwork

YOU ARE A DIAMOND by Tahlia Hunter

"YOU ARE A DIAMOND"
by Tahlia Hunter

"You are a diamond.

A diamond has many facets

reflecting light in different directions.

Each facet represents

a different fragment of yourself

at one age, one time, and one point along your path.

Each person you encounter

sees only one fragment of you

based on what they have heard about you or seen of you

at one stage of your life,

and is never able to fully glimpse who you are.

And so if you should find yourself

feeling ashamed of your past self

or broken or shattered at times,

may you remind yourself of the truth

that each facet of you

no matter how fractured it may appear individually

contributes to the precious jewel that you are;

for the light that you are shines beneath all

and you are never defined

by only one fragment of who you are."

Words by Tahlia Hunter

https://www.facebook.com/TahliaHunterBlog

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Artwork by Catrin Welz-Stein

I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT FRIEND by Joanne Boyle

"I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT FRIEND"
by Joanne Boyle

The Friend that's Not

I don't ever want to be that friend,

the one that's really not.

The one that never checks in,

the one that's just 'forgot'

I don't want to take the side,

of others I don't know

or to run and gossip,

or to just go with the flow.

I don't want to be that friend,

that doesn't care about the truth,

or doesnt take the time to listen,

and doesn't ask for proof.

I don't want to be that friend,

who doesn't ask what for,

when they see a change of behaviour,

and know there's something more.

I don't want to be that friend,

the one that's just like you,

so instead ill take the time,

to ask what you are going through.

Joanne Boyle

https://www.facebook.com/poeminabottlle

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html

Art by Steffi Krenzek