THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Wednesday, 5 June 2024

TOMORROW by Joanne Boyle

"TOMORROW" by Joanne Boyle

Don't walk into tomorrow

with what you fear today.

Don't let yesterday's emotions

take the present ones away.

Don't dwell on past mistakes

or hope for tomorrow's dreams.

Just enjoy each moments ripple.

Step over negative streams.

Don't open your morning eyes

with your nighttime vision.

Don't waste your time longing

to complete tomorrow's mission.

Don't think about what's gone,

or even what's to come.

Just enjoy living in the moment

and watch who you become.

********

Heartfelt by joanne boyle

art by Steffi Krenzek

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I don’t look like the women in the magazines by Becky Hemsley

“I don’t look like the women in the magazines”

by Becky Hemsley

Oh but my darling, you’re not supposed to. They are a two-dimensional snapshot in time. A work of art that has been practised and posed and styled and edited over and over again.

Your hair is not supposed to look like theirs because it moves with you. It bounces with every step you take, it tickles your child’s shoulder as you kiss them goodnight and it curls upon your pillow as you dream.

Your skin is not supposed to look like theirs because it has lived each day of your life with you. It has laughed until it’s lined and cried until it’s creased.

Your clothes are not supposed to look like theirs because they are along for this ride with you. They are holding meetings and walking the dog and having lunch with friends.

You are not supposed to look like the people in the magazines because you are not one. You are a living, breathing work of art.

And wouldn’t it be a shame if a two-dimensional image stopped you living? If you took all the angles and facets of what makes you you, and wished they were smoother or softer or still. If you sanded them down until they were indistinguishable. Until you were no longer you.

Because surely living is what we are here to do? In all its messy hair or crumpled clothes or wrinkled skin glory.

A picture can’t hug a friend or walk the dog or laugh until it cries.

A picture can’t dream.

So it isn’t that you don’t look like the women in the magazines my darling. It’s that they don’t look like you.

And you know what?

Maybe they wish they did.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Artwork by Monika Luniak

This is from 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/c6dL84z

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

"IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE"
(author unknown)

In the blink of an eye another day is gone,

In the blink of an eye another week is gone.

In the blink of an eye another month is gone,

In the blink of an eye another year is gone.

And in the blink of an eye I'll be gone too,

And not just me but also you.

So maybe we should be wishing and hoping,

That we could just keep our eyes open.

And see and appreciate all that we can see,

And learn how we can be, the best that we can be,

Before it's too late,

Time flies, so let's not wait.

Whether we have just one life or many, one thing is true,

We should try to enjoy every moment we can; it's the wisest thing to do.

TRADING PLACES by Becky Hemsley

"TRADING PLACES"
by Becky Hemsley

If one day we swapped places -

I was you and you were me

I wonder what it is that both of us

Would actually see

I wonder if you’d notice

How your smile lights up your face

How when you walk into a room

You brighten up the place

I wonder if you’d see the way

You always make the time

For those who seek you out because

You’re patient and you’re kind

And maybe I would notice

How I always stand my ground

And how I lift up those I love

When they are lost or down

Perhaps I’d notice how

I’m quite content all by myself

And how I’m always there for others

When they ask for help

And if you felt your patience

And if you could see your smile

If I could help myself

And feel my kindness for a while

Then maybe we would understand

We cannot be defined

By all that we fixate on

In our mirrors and our minds

Yes, if we both swapped places

And had someone else to be

Perhaps we’d come to realise

There’s so much we cannot see

And maybe in the moments

You were me and I was you

We would see why people love us

And we’d learn to love us too

*****

Becky Hemsley 2023

https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild

Beautiful artwork by Sascalia

'Trading Places' is from 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/cX3wuDC

and is also on my website as a free downloadable print

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

THE ELDERLY COUPLE

"THE ELDERLY COUPLE"
(author unknown)

An elderly couple was having dinner one evening when the husband reached across the table, took his wife's hand in his and said, "Martha, soon we will be married 50 years, and there's something I have to know. In all of these 50 years, have you ever been unfaithful to me?"

Martha replied, "Well Henry, I have to be honest with you. Yes, I've been unfaithful to you three times during these 50 years, but always for a good reason.

Henry was obviously hurt by his wife's confession, but said, "I never suspected. Can you tell me what you mean by 'good reasons’?”

Martha said, "The first time was shortly after we were married, and we were about to lose our little house because we couldn't pay the mortgage.

Do you remember that one evening I went to see the banker and the next day he notified you that the loan would be extended?"

Henry recalled the visit to the banker and said, "I can forgive you for that. You saved our home, but what about the second time?"

Martha asked, "And do you remember when you were so sick, but we didn't have the money to pay for the heart surgery you needed? Well, I went to see your doctor one night and, if you recall, he did the surgery at no charge."

"I recall that," said Henry. "And you did it to save my life, so of course I can forgive you for that. Now tell me about the third time."

"Alright," Martha said. "So do you remember when you ran for president of your golf club, and you needed 73 more votes?"

THE ELDERLY MAN FAINTED

ETERNAL DAWN

“ETERNAL DAWN” (author unknown)

There will be a day when I won’t walk this earthly path,

When my physical form fades like a whisper in the wind.

But fear not, my loved one, for I shall linger still,

In the quiet chambers of your heart, where memories reside.

I am the beautiful sunrise that kisses your eyelids awake,

Painting the sky with hues of hope and promise.

In the golden glow of morning, feel my presence,

A gentle reminder that love transcends mere existence.

And when the sun dips low, casting shadows upon your soul,

I’ll be there—the soft breeze that caresses your skin,

Whispering secrets of eternity, weaving through your hair,

A lovely song carried by the wind, a symphony of solace.

Through joy and sorrow, I’ll walk beside you,

An unseen companion, a silent witness to your days.

Look for my signs—the robin that perches on your windowsill,

The wildflower that blooms in unexpected places.

For though my mortal form may fade, my love endures,

An eternal flame that dances across time’s tapestry.

So when you feel the ache of longing, close your eyes,

And there, in the quiet spaces, you’ll find me—forever.

THE BOY ON THE SWING by Joanne Boyle

"THE BOY ON THE SWING"
by Joanne Boyle

Every day I watched from my window

at the boy sitting on the swing.

He just sat staring at the ground.

He never moved or done a thing.

I wasn't sure what I should do,

but he wouldn't leave my mind

and whenever he was around

there was no one else to find.

I thought about approaching him

but I was worried he would get scared.

But he looked so lost and alone

as if nobody had ever cared.

I felt he needed a friend.

I could sense that he was sad.

I felt a need to help

this lost and lonely lad.

I carefully approached him.

He looked up with the saddest eyes.

He asked if I could push him

to reach the highest skies.

He told me that no one ever came,

or had shown him what to do.

I saw his shoulders slump, and

I said "should I push you?"

He smiled a little bit,

and I saw a twinkle in his eye.

He said "my Mum had always said

I should reach for the sky."

As I gently pushed him

and to and fro he went.

I showed him how to move his legs,

and told him not to keep them bent.

I asked about his parents.

"Did they know that you were here?"

But he kept on swinging higher.

Moving without fear.

I now stood in the background,

with the biggest smile on my face.

This boy had brought me happiness

that I'd lost without a trace.

Eventually he slowed down,

and I felt something very strange.

The boy that I had pushed

had now began to change.

In front of me stood a man.

and he began to cry.

He said "Mum, I knew I'd find you

If I reached up to the sky."

********

Author Joanne Boyle Heartfelt

art by Steffi Krenzek

IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIVE

"IN THE LAST QUARTER OF OUR LIVE"
(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.

https://tc4women.nicheebookcollections.com/NEWSLETTER-EBOOK-LIBRARY-SIGNUP.html We now have over 1700 e-books on our library shelves for your reading pleasure, so do come along and check us out.

More articles by Su DeNyme (our resident writer) & John A Elliott are available here: https://www.nicheebookcollections.com/TC4W/ARTICLES.html