THE CORNER 4 WOMEN

Saturday 8 June 2024

"POWER" by Becky Hemsley

"POWER"
by Becky Hemsley

We are often wary of getting older.

We are conditioned to try and halt time

and reverse the signs of ageing.

And yet, whilst the ocean is billions of years old, it is no less powerful because of age.

It can still choose to carry you or drown you if it so wishes.

Whilst some trees have been growing for thousands of years, they are no less impressive than a ten year old tree.

In fact, they are more grounded and more rooted.

And with that comes incredible strength to weather any storm.

And whilst some mountains are millions of years old, they are no less formidable than those formed more recently.

They still stand tall and proud against a many billion-year-old sky.

So being old is not something to dread.

Ageing is not something that has to make us

weak and small.

It can be what makes us strong.

Formidable.

And powerful.

Yes, there is so much power in ageing.

So claim it,

harness it.

And above all…

Do not be afraid to use it.

*******

Becky Hemsley 2023

Beautiful artwork by Oladesign

'Power' is from 'Letters from Life' https://a.co/d/bmyKfDW

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BATTLE by Becky Hemsley

"BATTLE"
by Becky Hemsley

When life feels like a battle

In the middle of a war

And your battle cry’s a whisper

‘Cause your voice has lost its roar

When the shield that you carry

Can’t protect you like it should

And you’re struggling to fire your arrows

Like you normally would

When your armour weighs you down

And you are battered and you’re bruised

When the enemy’s advancing

And you’re sure you’re going to lose

When battle feels exhausting…

Put down your sword and rest

Save your energy

Because the war’s not over yet

But also look around you

To the others in the fray

And listen for the army

That is calling out your name

Tell them you are wounded

That you stumbled and you fell

Because beneath your armour

There’s a chance they cannot tell

Let them cover you

Say that you’ll do the same for them

When they are hurt and wounded

And your strength returns again

For now, retreat a little

From the weariness of war

But remember, you’ve survived

Each battle you have fought before

So give yourself some credit

‘Cause you’ve made it all this way

And I promise you are strong enough

To fight another day

********

Becky Hemsley 2021

Stunning artwork by Claudia Tremblay

'Battle' is from 'What the Wild Replied' https://a.co/d/0FETvAC

KISSES FROM HEAVEN by Joanne Boyle

"KISSES FROM HEAVEN"
by Joanne Boyle

Kisses from heaven.

I kissed you on the forehead.

I whispered in your ear.

Did you feel me touch your cheeks?

As I wiped away a tear.

I helped you out of bed and

I shall help you face the day.

Do not dwell on sadness.

I never went away.

Go to our favourite places.

Feel my prescence near.

Sing our favourite songs.

Soon I shall appear.

Laugh at all of our memories.

Let them bring you joy.

Remember all the magic,

for every girl and boy.

Eat your meals with me.

Pull me up a chair.

You do not need to see me,

but believe me I'll be there.

********

Author Heartfelt Joanne Boyle

art Steffi Krenzek

Friday 7 June 2024

THE SAD PRINCESS by Chima_Dickson

"THE SAD PRINCESS"

by Chima_Dickson

A young girl went to her father and said to him,

"Father, please teach me a valuable life lesson. As a young girl, I want to understand myself better and navigate the challenges that life throws my way."

The father thought for a moment, then cleared his throat and said,

"Let me tell you a story about a sad princess. Listen attentively to the story. There was a young and beautiful princess called Maya. She was radiant, happy and her pleasure brightened everything around her. At the age of 21, Maya got married to a wealthy prince from a distant kingdom. However, soon after her marriage, she became very sad, because her husband often beat her and abused her violently. She felt alone, unloved, and misunderstood.

One day, Maya visited her father and narrated her predicaments, crying to him,

"I don't want to be married anymore. I want to come back home. Please, father!"

However, her father shook his head and said to her,

"You will not leave him, he is your husband. You can't come back home, my dear!"

Maya then tearfully went to her mother and lamented to her,

"Mother, I can't cope any longer with my marriage. Please, let me come back home!"

With disapproval, her mother said,

"You married him for better and for worse. He will definitely change, my child!"

Maya then painfully went to her friends and begged them for support,

"My husband beats me all the time. I want to leave him and come back home!"

Her friends consoled her, but said,

"Marriage isn't easy, but it will get better. Stay with your husband, Maya!"

Maya was deeply sad, distressed, and frustrated. It pained her that nobody approved her decision to leave her husband. She prayed everyday to find a solution.

A few months later, Maya finally left her marriage and returned home to her parents. That is the end of my story."

Upon listening to the story, the young girl asked curiously,

"What is the life lesson of the story, father?"

The father paused for a moment, then sighed and answered,

"Yes, Maya finally came back home. But she was inside a coffin, because her husband had killed her with a knife. In fact, it was her dead body that was brought back home!"

At that moment, the father placed his arm around his daughter's shoulder, and whispered to her softly,

"Listen, young girl... I want to teach you this valuable life lesson that will help you improve your life and make better decisions in the future: You must understand that coming back home from a failed marriage is better than coming home in a coffin. If you die in the marriage, you will be replaced immediately. Think about your family: Your husband can have another wife, but there's no way your parents can have another daughter like you. Don't listen to people who tell you to not abandon an abusive marriage, they are not the ones going through the abuse - they may think they understand, but they actually don't. Your life should be your main priority. Know when to draw the line! Know when to give up! Never gamble with your life for the sake of marriage!"

Thursday 6 June 2024

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (author unknown)

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit." Keep playing." Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.' Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire.

Wednesday 5 June 2024

FIFTY $'s IS FIFTY $'s

"FIFTY $'s IS FIFTY $'s"
(author unknown)

Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, 'Esther, I'd really like to ride in that helicopter.'

Esther always replied, 'I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars'

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, 'Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.'

To this, Esther replied, 'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.'

The pilot overheard the couple and said, 'Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word it's fifty dollars.'

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, 'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!'

Morris replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars!

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

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