Of Love

I pray that whatever brings you joy happens to you often.

This morning, I woke up to my lover’s call and it is one of those little things, waking up to what you slept in last night. Since the beginning of this month, I have decided to dwell into anything that gives me joy. Little things. Like a stranger coming to my DM because they thought I am amazing. Like me texting someone I admire so much on twitter and they responded within seconds. Like my mother telling me one morning that she is proud of me. Like a writer-friend, whom I’ve never spoken with over the phone but just chats, calling me to greet me for ‘Eid. Little things.

Although that does not stop my other self from overthinking. One of the lessons I learnt in the previous months is that one should not overthink everything. I am someone that tries to attach meaning to everything, no matter how minute the matter might seem. But for this month, and hopefully forever, I am gradually withdrawing myself from overthinking. As a writer, I realized that overthinking limits how broad an idea would have been explored. When an idea comes to your head, and your creative battery is charged, just start writing about it. Thinking too much about what best angle the idea would have been explored eventually leaves you with a blank page. I should have written this to you earlier, but I kept thinking: how would I not write something similar to the first post? How would I change the mood and tone and make it better than the first post? Right now, immediately after my lover’s call, I came to my desk and started writing.

I hope you find every reason to be happy. I pray that things fall back in the right place for you. I hope that whatever makes you happy happens to you often.

So, I am trying to prevent my overthinking other self from getting in the way of  my other ‘lively’ self. 

I am still in the festivity of ‘Eid and I am not ready to allow anything to disrupt the happiness I’m wallowing in. Family. Food. Meat. Besides, this month started with double acceptances. I got selected for a writing fellowship I had been applying for since about three years ago. It is my first fellowship after several failed attempts and I am going to hold it so dear to my heart. My essay on how language affects the creative process of a writer also got accepted by a journal I admire so much. But these only form a part of what makes me really feel good. Those little things which occur once in a lifetime are what keep me on. E no mean say I no want acceptances and commissions. I want them aplenty.

E no mean say I no want acceptances and commissions. I want them aplenty.

I encountered this quote, which I admire a lot, on twitter and I hope it speaks to you what it speaks to me: “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibilities left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb”.

I hope you find every reason to be happy. I pray that things fall back in the right places for you. I hope that whatever makes you happy happens to you often.

And this post is not about love as you might have thought, lol, but I hope it lifts something in you. No matter what it is, I hope it speaks to you. Even whelming if it makes you smile.  See you later this month or next.