Freedom of the tongues

Freedom of the tongue is one thing,  too much of it ,  is the end of democracy , harmony and peace. Look at it at any angle, read it in any way you like..do you see what I see..???? That little soft chubby  and flexi  thing could spell love, comfort and togetherness , the voicing of our  sentiments and what we think and see.The positive gift of expression.  BUT at the same time it could dart venomous poison to disrupt peace and joy-a volcanic eruption. It could cause another,  hurt and tears. It could create family disharmony, it could cause a world war!! That's how powerful the human tongue is. A most powerful weapon that works both ways, heals, bridges yet tear lives apart. How it loves to create juicy scandals, lies and filth.How it loves to demean and belittle. And yet, how it soothes and calms, how it encourages, motivates, brings in the smiles, the meaning of good living ... the gentle and tender words of loved ones. The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21)

'Get out!"  that's so  hurtful. That so dismissal!
"Don't worry too much about it, everyone makes mistakes." That's comforting, reassuring. 

"Do you know? She was once caught shoplifting! Be careful with your belongings."  That's damaging, that's pouring mud, preventing another from making a fresh start! 

"Her parents are hawkers, stop hanging around this person," That's misguiding , instilling wrong values into young minds." Today's wrong values will become tomorrow's culture.

"Congratulations! You did well"  That's appreciating, that's motivating.

" I love you, you are the greatest -that gives happiness.
"I hate you, leave me alone" That sets up barriers and bring in the pain and hurt.

 I was speaking to a group of young students ages ranging from 10-14, the other day. . I asked them, What do you think? Which animal is the most dangerous in the your country/in the world? Someone said, the mosquito, because it causes diseases like malaria, dengue which could kill thousands. Another said the lion, because it could even chew up your bones. One young lad,volunteered, piranhas ..they feed in such frenzy that within seconds, you are reduced to nothing. Interesting answers.

And then, this young lady voiced out. Humans Ms. Why? I was stunned by her answer. Tell me why ? Because humans have tongues Ms.  and tongues are such dangerous and powerful weapons. They make you happy and they could also make you sad. Hmmmm..yes, the heaven and hell thing. The wicked and the devious . The pure and the good.  I was impressed!!

Of life's Comedy

Life is funny, for some people,  it is nothing more than a comedy of errors. 

Take this case. This adventurous  gamester,wants to have a taste of Life in the earthy realm. So he bought a ticket  and stood at the entrance of the life's passage way waiting for his turn to play the exciting game of life. When his turn came, they ask him..what sort of game would you like to play? He tells them- life as a rich kid. OK, they told him, throw your dice-the number you get will lead you into the doorway of a money bag. So he happily threw the dice but in his excitement, he threw too high and it fell into the mud. The passage way opens and he finds himself sucked into a muddy passage. At that precise moment, the distinct cry of a new born baby ran out into the stillness of the night air....a poor farmer welcomes in yet another child!! :) 

Take two. A young girl met this young man, handsome, gorgeous, the perfect knight in shinning armour...Every girl with a little romance in them would long for such a splendid man to scoop her up and carry her into the happily ever after bliss. He swept her off her feet and two love buds sealed her eyes. She was in seventh heavens. 

One week after they were married, she woke up and see a lazy lout who does nothing but sleep and romeo around. Why aren't you working love? Work? When I have you and the other butterflies  to take care of all my needs?? Let me know when dinner is ready!  

So much for the happily ever after bliss!!   :)

My new discovery -Creative Non Fiction

My course in English Studies has lead  me to a genre,  that has tremendous width , height and depth- the extraordinary of Creative non fiction and its many forms.  In memoirs especially, it helps me set up  my boundaries; direct focus on the facts, the 'truths',  the events of my past. It liberates me, releasing me from  the habitual tip toeing over  the literary surface,  that "keep out' sign firmly fixed on the door knob.No entry! I write the words not  what  Michael Steinberg termed the inner story and the thoughts which brings in the soul..

Now, a little window opens. It sets me on a course of exploration, the questioning, the re-examination. Why I have taken this particular exploratory journey now? Why do I  find it worth the  while to retrace  my footsteps,back  in this direction? . What is it that  I have left locked up , that only half of me walks the living days and nights all this while, while the other had remained in the closet in mute solitude?. I've been only partial, for so long  that I have forgotten about the other  existence until writers like Patrica Hampl, Rushdie and of course my mentor  Ms. Leong , open my mind and blew  away the cobwebs that a little sunbeam peek in and touched the forgotten.

 I stood on the outside , looking in , observing...I'm eavesdropping . I hear  my thoughts ,my thinking, my heart. I  see this  young urchin  filling up the empty pages of this  huge book, intoxicated by the tales that flowed effortlessly from her. I see her sparkling eyes, hear  the vibrant of her voice, and feel her passion. And then, a void, a darkness, which shuts me out. I'm unable to see through, unable to bridge  the big gap and though, I search and dig under the surface, I'm unable to find the thread back to that fountain of vivid imagination.  Who, why  and what turned off  the tap?  What stopped the flow of creativity?


Lately, I've been bothered  by a dream,  there I was walking confidently and in good spirit and then I come to this tunnel in a cave ....suddenly, I was afraid  and unable to go on... the tunnel slopes downwards, and I do not know the depth. No, wait,  on closer examination,  it wasn't sloping downwards at all, there is just darkness midway through  and that had the appearance of going downwards but it was a straight tunnel. .I am disturbed by my inability to see ahead and so I turned back. In my heart, I know,  that is the direction, I should be going. And yet......the light reaches only  midway into the tunnel. I am afraid, I wish there is someone with me..It is as though, I'm venturing into a forbidden zone. That tunnel leads  not only into the past but to the space of before- a  life , a journey travelled before. It is like crossing back, something forbidden, unless angels lead you through and bring you back. It requires the blessings of the divine.


Perhaps, I should arm myself with a powerful torch and steel myself to get beyond the obscure and the unknown, the next time the tunnel in the cave appears.. Then perhaps, I could  find the vital piece ,  the missing link to connect  and reunited  with that  Weaver of Tales again. Perhaps, she would speak to me and explain her reason, why she had been gone for so long. Then, maybe  the ghosts of the past will  be at  peace and  I could fearlessly  venture into that cave, that tunnel  and roam freely on the pastures  at the other side of  the tunnel, no more forbidden , but a source of light for the now and the future.