CW – Pretend – part 1
The sky was a dark grey. Has been for several days now. People hoped they would catch a glimpse of the life supporting sun, but it’s all they were left with. Hope. Even though it was dark, there was no chance for rain. The clouds simply hung on the sky, their main purpose to hide the beautiful blue roof of the world.
Blake made its way, unhurriedly through the morning crowd. People were milling like ants, each and every one prisoner of their own existence, cell phones attached to their ears, breathing automatically, running from one place to another, standing in line in coffee shops buying their charger for the day. He considered himself lucky of having 9 to 5 a job, where he would be forced to sit behind a desk and do some crazy boss’ biding.
CW – Fate
Photo by blingcheese.com
The idea of Fate never entered her mind. The thought that an entity, even hypothetical, has the power to control events or the lives of others, was unacceptable. But whether you believe in it or not, Fate, teamed up with Life has a way of proving you wrong.
It started like a child’s play. Both of them were in school, just at the age of first love. They met in the school yard, but never actually talked, but their eyes talked away. Whenever she went out on break, was feeling anxious, the anticipation of meeting his eyes being greater than anything else. She started looking around, desperately looking for those magic eyes, that saw her for what she was, looked into the very depth of her soul. Whenever she met them, her heart calmed down, whispering “it’s OK, he was there again, all is good”, but if she didn’t meet his gaze, the same heart danced a crazy rhythm, almost as if trying to escape the chest, to look for him. Their silent meetings continued, until Fate stepped in, and separated their paths. Their schools were not the same anymore, and for the first time she panicked and started looking for him in the streets, trying to find out where he lived, so if they met she could say that first “Hello”. But to no avail. Fate does not work the way we want it to work.
Book review – Chicken Soup for the Soul – the Magic of Mothers and Daughters
Cover by Chicken Soup for the Soul
Mother and Daughter – two sides of the same coin. The new installment in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series reveals just how strong the bond is between a mother and her daughter. When a child is born, so is a mother. Their journey is lifelong, each learning, one step at a time, the lessons in life.
When a woman becomes a mother, she is handed the toughest job in the world – there are no days off, no vacations, promotions, salaries or raises. But the rewards this job brings are priceless – seeing her children become amazing persons, and more importantly, caring parents. A mother provides roots and wings, she becomes a safety net which allows her children to be fearless, to explore, to discover the world and ultimately find their path in life.
The minimalists
Minimalism is a way of life. And just like any other form, it’s not suitable for everyone. Some embrace it fully, some are reluctant to try it, and some think it’s nothing but a stupid idea. I personally think that in order to express an opinion on something, you have to try it. But us humans are judgmental creatures, so we always jump to conclusions and rarely embrace change.
Switching to a minimalist lifestyle is not an easy task, that is why Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus came up with a brilliant plan – embrace the lifestyle and write about it, in order to help others improve their lives.
Harriet Beamer takes the bus
Photo by Manchester's Finest
Harriet Beamer is no welsher, that’s for sure. So when she loses a bet with her daughter-in-law and son, after falling and breaking her ankle, Harriet is faced with the reality – she sells the house her husband built in Philadelphia, packs her incredible collection of salt and pepper shakers, and moves across the country, more accurately to California, to be close to her family.
While going through her collection, she realizes that most of the items were given by friends who have explored the world, and at the ripe age of 72 she didn’t go beyond Jersey Shore. This gives her the impulse to go to California not by plane, as expected, but by taking the long (as in very long) road, enjoying the sights the vast country has to offer, with her main destination being the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
CW – The haunted house
Photo by dreamsleep.net
The sun was setting, and as soon as it disappeared, the wolves from a nearby forest started howling. The house was on top of a cliff, overlooking the restless ocean, saddened by time and the wind. At the rusted gate stood a lonely man, despair and exhaustion etched on his face. He didn’t know whether to enter the house or not, but felt he had no choice. The gate opened with a sinister creak, allowing entrance. With unsure steps, he approached the house. The ocean breeze grew stronger, bringing a chill from the shore. Pulling his coat closer to his body and slightly shivering, not sure if it had to do with the cold or the strange feeling in his stomach, the man climbed the few stairs leading to the porch. Even though it was pointless, he knocked. There was no answer, so he tried to open the door. It gave way and he entered.
Chicken Soup for the Soul – Food and Love by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark
Warning! Do not read this book on an empty stomach!
There is a direct link between food and love. There is no denying it. Parents (more often Moms) cook fabulous meals for their families as an expression of their love, Grandmothers bake/cook for their grandchildren, and the tradition is passed on to each generation. To quote a favorite movie character of mine, “my mother – making me food is her way of saying I love you…making me food when she’s too tired to cook is her way of saying I really love you”.
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” brings a new member into our homes, hearts and tables, stories about Food and Love. Food is the universal language of love. It is not limited by religion, age, race, social status or gender.
My exile lifestyle by Colin Wright
I have been following Colin’s blog Exile Lifestyle for quite some time now. He had brilliant idea to travel around the world, in order to step outside his box. Yes, like many before him, he ventured into the Great Unknown, but being the awesome guy he is (also being an entrepreneur and not missing an opportunity when he sees one, especially when it involves evolution, no matter on what level) he travels to destinations his readers vote for. And stays there for 4 months. Then packs up his possessions (a total of 50, yes 50, things he owns) and moves to a new destination.
On why I love books
It’s a fact. Most of us love books (thank God and parents for that). I started reading at a tender age (OK, first grade, but still). Back in the day we didn’t have thousands of TV channels, so our entertainment was the radio, books and playing outside (oh the good old days). My parents read a lot back then. Whenever time allowed it (it was a much calmer period I think), they would just go through books like ducks through water. And later I found out that my grandparents also read a lot – family tradition so it seems.
When I was little, Mom read stories to me. Then, when school started, I discovered books myself. It started with fairy tales (who doesn’t love fairy tales as a child, and even as an adult), then moved on to THE book series of my childhood “Legends of Olympus” – must have read them at least 5 times. Whenever they asked me what I want for a present, the answer was a firm “a book”. Gradually I “evolved” on the scale of books. In high school, I went into reading hibernation mode – it was a time period when you HAD to read certain books, and I have a natural resistance to things you HAVE to do, so I read the books either before or after we studied about them.
