Michael is the host of Tale Weaver

This week we are still caught up in lockdowns of various types. One of the features of the lockdown round my way has been the large number of people who have performed clean ups around their homes and properties.

Write your clean up story, be it real or a wish for situation

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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

When forced to stay in the home, do something useful

I did that too along with several people that I know

Clothes, shoes, household items all pared down

Given away or disposed off lightening up the load in my home

I guess this situation has produced tons to trash

And thousands of donations to charities

And if we learn our lesson, we would not buy more stuff again

For if nothing else, this time has shown us

How little we actually need for living a good life.

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#Keepitalive

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Michael is the host of Tale Weaver

This week write your response to the notion of a campfire. Most of us have experienced them or have dreamed of doing so.

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There is something totally enchanting about sitting around a campfire 🔥. Even if it is in your backyard. The crackling flames, the heat, and light from the fire casting shadows makes it a memorable experience. One feels free as if liberated from the shackles of daily routine and conventions.

Roasting marshmallows, exchanging stories, or even mundane life experiences take on a whole new meaning when we sit outside under the open sky.

As the days get shorter and nights longer

Summer is on its way out and autumn is taking over

There is a desire to light a bonfire and gather around it

Sit under the darkening sky and enjoy the company

Of family or friends and let the hair down

~*~

#Keepitalive

#TaleWeaver

Michael is the host of Tale Weaver

Masks have become very topical in recent times.

I am sharing this post from 6 November 2018. The topic was Masks, so it fits perfectly. And since it’s one of my early posts, not many people have read it. I have made a few changes.

When you say mask, what comes to mind, (apart from the masks we’ve had to wear in response to COVID-19) can be anything from the masked figures from a suspense/ thriller movie, to a romantic masked character in a Cinderella-like ball! It could also be the traditional costume masks worn in certain cultures, like that of Venice , Korea and some African countries.

But I would like to talk about Everyday Masks that we all wear. Not intentionally but subconsciously!

We are taught to conquer our feelings, to not show our fears and not to divulge out hurts. Be brave, be strong! This constant conditioning has an impact on most of us. We start hiding behind masks.

We mask our fear with a smile of bravado. We hide our tears behind a mask of indifference. The hurt is hidden behind a facade of nonchalance. The weakness is covered by a show of overconfidence. 

Have you ever thought why! Why is it not right to show our feelings? Why should the emotions be hidden from the people around us? What is the reason for the pretense?

Maybe the pressure to conform to a certain standard is one of the factors. Girls can cry but boys can’t. Boys have to be brave and fearless. Girls have to be gentle and compassionate. There is nothing wrong in having these qualities in our personalities but projecting the stereotypical image, binds us socially to a fixed standard. We can’t be ourselves. We hide the emotions we are not Supposed to feel. And we wear Masks!

We also wear these masks to protect ourselves from getting hurt. If we wear our hearts on our sleeve then we are going to get hurt. People are going to make light of our misery so it should not be shown. Tears and sorrow, anger and frustration are all hidden. We need to present a side of our personality which doesn’t makes people around us, uncomfortable.

Isn’t it the time to tear away these Masks and to show the world our feelings. The feelings which will set us free from the shackles of the expectations of the society. Be ourselves. Express what we are feeling, but at the same time don’t put the burden of our emotions on others. The expression of hope and fear, love and dismay can be shared with the world around us. This will at least lighten the burden we feel by hiding our true emotions.

Let me know how you like my post.

Please like and comment.

Waiting for your feedback.

#Keepitalive

#TaleWeaver

Michael is the host of Tale Weaver

I am sharing this post from January 2019.

Have you been in this sort of situation? Misunderstanding the requirement or the request and doing something totally opposite! I often have been in this type of fix. The reason is that I am too impulsive. I think I have got all the details, but I sometimes miss an important part of the message or the memo!

This impulsiveness has landed me many times in the situation where I am the one apologizing for the mixup . But I often find it amusing in the retrospect. But do the people on the other side do so too?

Do I find it easy to forgive when there is a mixup or misunderstanding? I do try not to create a scene and curb my annoyance because I know that I can make same blunders when the shoe is on the other foot. What about you? How do you react when someone’s ineptness and blunder has cost you loss of valuable time and money?

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(This week write your response to the word – ‘forgiveness’.

This can be something you do for another person or something that is done for you or even something you do for yourself)

Waiting for your feedback and comments

#Keepitalive

#TaleWeaver