Waakiye

Tag: life

  • How Writing Transformed My Self-Perception

    How Writing Transformed My Self-Perception

    Daily writing prompt
    What are you good at?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…!

    I woke up late and I saw this prompt,
    and thought to myself,
    “Am I good at something…?”…
    And I stared at the rotating fan,
    for an hour thinking of inducing a thought…

    Am I a good daughter/son to my mother…?
    Am I a good aunt/uncle to the kids that surround me…?
    Am I a good sister/brother to those who are around me…?
    Am I a good friend to those who call me theirs…?
    Am I even a good person,
    or people around me just tolerate me…?
    Am I…..?

    The reality blemished when I realized that I’m ruthless,
    when it comes to myself ,
    I don’t give myself a chance,
    I keep myself in well bound time,
    meticulously planning each and every moment,
    prioritizing time,
    but making none for myself…

    I took up art as a kid and left it in the middle,
    I picked up table tennis, basketball, badminton and gave up all of them in the middle,
    I won’t say that I got good at them,
    but,
    just gave up before I could or I met an invisible boundary that made it impossible for me as a non-earning kid to overcome…

    Before I could even grab what was happening,
    I was pushed into work,
    because I wasn’t good in anything,
    where I tired myself day and night,
    so much so,
    that I wouldn’t have enough time to think about anything,
    my liking,
    my interests,
    my own personal opinions and choices,
    No time to think about things that could broaden my horizon,
    my thought process,
    so I spent a couple of years just looking at things from a perspective,
    that a lifeless soulless being,
    and kept my head down…
    UNTIL…

    Until I found this penmanship,
    and took it to myself to make it better,
    and a sole goal in my life to be good at something,
    something that I liked,
    loved,
    and wished to be a big part of my life,
    and I honed it,
    like my life depended on it,
    and kept on doing this,
    making little time here and there,
    scribbling in my notes app,
    or my trusted partner,
    pen and a notepad in which I wrote my raw thoughts and,
    thought on them,
    hours upon hours until,
    I felt satisfied that my thought process has evolved,
    but,
    that too didn’t feel enough…

    So,
    That’s what I exactly did,
    for a few seconds,
    turning into minutes,
    those turning into hours,
    hours into days,
    days into weeks,
    weeks into months,
    and months into years…

    Take a wild guess how long it has been now,
    that I’m writing this,
    and I shall correct you in the comments box….

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

    Choose one option

    A lone,
    all alone,
    in search of copper
    I struck gold…

    A vastness,
    unexplored,
    a bottomless pit
    in which I found myself…

    Impossible to climb out of.
    If it were someone else,
    it wouldn’t be possible,
    But-

    it’s me.
    And I say:
    “I’m-possible.”

    It’s possible,
    because it’s me..

    But,

    Never has this been me:
    A person who loved himself…

    Available for those around,
    round the clock,
    until I found…

    I found
    the thing I was meant for
    or
    something that saved me from it.

    “The Search That Found Me…”
  • The Duality of ‘Having It All’ Across Generations

    The Duality of ‘Having It All’ Across Generations

    Daily writing prompt
    What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    This is something that one needs to ask themselves,
    no matter how or where they stand in life,
    Maybe they are not doing so well financially,
    Maybe they are not at the age where they can choose between family and their career,
    Maybe they need to explore themselves more before sharing them with someone else,
    OR,
    Maybe they feel like having a presence mean that their peace will be bothered,
    and they are not ready yet to be a part of something that world wants,
    pushes them to be…

    There’s an extreme duality in this question if you’d believe me ;

    You can ask this question,
    this exact same question to someone who comes from extreme poverty,
    and you will get two answers to this one,

    One,
    the older generation who has been through this and feels just wants their immediate needs met,
    they think if they can afford food this day,
    or two square meals a day,
    because that’s how they believe it is,
    if they can attain food for the day,
    they have earned their keep,
    they have had it all for the day…

    On the contrary,
    they younger generation,
    they won’t stop,
    they will use any means or methods,
    to achieve what they have planned,
    even if it means,
    getting home late,
    using any way to achieve what they want,
    no matter how legal or illegal…

    What is that mindset that can be satisfied by achieving one goal..?

    I have planned another goal after this one,
    and another one after that…
    that’s how growth happens,
    you just keep hitting a spot,
    once and keep at it again and again,
    until you become a master at it,
    the process that takes years,
    entire lifetime maybe,
    BUT,
    keeping at it matters…

    As for me,
    I can never have it all,
    having it all means death of wishes and wants for me,
    but that happens when you believe that you’ve got it all,

    If there’s an empty space that keeps pushing,
    forcing you for strive for better results,
    forever,
    that means you’ll never get tired to work hard,
    even if it takes a form of inspiration to be a better daughter/son,
    father/mother, brother/sister,
    or a friend too…

    Its only attainable,
    If you believe you’ve achieved the goal first,
    and that too 100% of it,
    which is already set to max difficulty pushing you above and beyond…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    As I looked from afar,
    a family,
    a family that I call mine,
    hosting the birthday party,
    a child that was welcomed this day,
    a few years back,
    a family,
    a family I call mine…

    As I sat in my car,
    waiting as the stresses of the world grabbed me by the throat,
    I had to leave them in my car,
    or,
    at the workplace,
    where I got it all from,
    but,
    this day,
    this day I was handed more,
    more than what I could handle,
    and almost forgot all about this,
    all about the birth of my own child…

    As I looked from afar…

    I wish I could’ve come home earlier,
    planned it with them,
    be a part of process that makes it all happen,
    But,
    something at makes it all happens,
    the finances that back it all,
    they wouldn’t have been arranged,
    if I were,
    if I came home earlier…

    As I looked from afar,
    a family,
    a family that I call mine…
  • Finding Time for Oneself: A Personal Story

    Finding Time for Oneself: A Personal Story

    Daily writing prompt
    Who would you like to talk to soon?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    Have you ever looked at a topic and thought,
    Huh?
    There are many who have given up on talking to me,
    despite all of the efforts,
    made from my side to reach them out,
    knowing I haven’t made time for myself,
    in the past couple of years,
    Yes; Years,
    I’ve been running on autopilot for the past couple of years,
    trying to manage everything,
    friends,
    family,
    relations,
    and,
    Business too…

    But,
    never in all those years I’ve got a call,
    I’ve got a message,
    never got a reminder,
    never got nothing to prove that they worry about my being,
    (not my well-being🥲)
    SO,
    would I even ask those,
    from whom I’m a message away,
    to get into a conversation again,
    knowing all the efforts will be made from my side,
    and ultimately,
    it will be my fault to give up or end the conversation,
    because I didn’t carry it…

    So,
    My answer to this one would be,
    “MYSELF”…

    I would like to have a conversation,
    with myself,
    because I haven’t got the time,
    even after all of these years,
    I’ve made for myself tasks that I have to do on the regular,
    But,
    those are without any reward,
    or any benefit for myself (at present),
    but,
    this constant pressure to achieve,
    to do things without any fixed goal,
    or something that I can count on,
    And that too for G0d knows how many years,
    and for many more to come…

    I’d love to sit down with myself,
    and have a conversation with myself on things that bug me,
    worry me,
    and things that bring relief,
    and one day I will,
    one day….

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    On a lone road,
    yet again,
    again,
    on the same path that goes towards a place
    I call home…

    But,
    what for,
    what is it that I do this all for?
    who do I do it all for?
    Is there something for me to gain,
    Is there something for me to learn,
    Is there something for me to become,
    become someone who will be there for everyone,
    take fall for everyone around,
    but,
    What about…..?

    What about the person who became a support system,
    one who is there to provide an ear,
    listen to all your problems,
    Does,
    do his problems even matter…?

    Or,
    he’s better off as support,
    bottling it all in,
    taking support of things that help him cope,
    the cup in this hand,
    a lit cigarette in other,
    as smoke rises,
    just like the problems,
    when he’s under…..

    THE “INFLUENCE”
  • The Importance of Personal Keepsakes in Our Lives

    The Importance of Personal Keepsakes in Our Lives

    Daily writing prompt
    What personal belongings do you hold most dear?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    I’ve become a fan of the prompts these days,
    they ask such intricate questions with such precise clear-cut words,
    That it feels out of this world…

    The reason it is so intricate for me is because,
    we are often told not to brings things so close to our hearts,
    that if one day you were to part (G0d forbid) from them,
    the pain won’t ever be enough,
    to take your life with itself…

    The adamant rule of,
    (Dil par nahi lagaa’na or Dil par mat lena),
    Don’t take it on your heart (translations),
    has saved me G0d knows how many times,
    and it will till the end of me…

    But,
    we are only human Afterall,
    aren’t we?
    we take things to our heart,
    and when time comes,
    it takes a piece of it (our heart),
    with it…

    Coming back to the prompt,
    personal belongings that I hold dear,
    to myself,
    there are many that I hold with care and utmost importance,
    and they have a special place for me in my heart,
    that make me want to continue,
    whenever I feel like I’m falling off,
    or,
    about to…

    One of them is a very old notebook,
    from my school days,
    where all of this took birth,
    the essence of Waakiye,
    or the birth of it,
    I often find myself scrolling through,
    some of the raw emotions that I wrote,
    when all of this wasn’t even in my wildest dreams,
    but,
    The urge and a want to express what roamed this vast land of my mind,
    it was there forever,
    and thanks to consistency of that child,
    and never stopping the scribbling,
    he turned into a person that loves to write,
    even if everything is going against,
    out of control…

    Another one,
    is a collection of photos,
    that keeps me grounded.

    Reminds me of something that I did,
    of irreversible nature,
    and the type of thing that haunts me some nights,
    but,
    it gives me a proof of something that we all fear,

    “THE FEAR OF DEATH ITSELF…”

    that thing ended a great suffering,
    and a time that we don’t wish on an enemy or their family,
    But,
    we went through,
    endured all the sufferings,
    and welcomed the future with open arms,
    even if we were broken,
    shattered from within,
    we still lived,
    lived to see the next day,
    day after that,
    and we will see this day too…

    To better days and,
    things that remind you of who you were,
    and what shape you shall take tomorrow,
    an unknown reality welcomes you…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    In the distance I saw,
    I saw a being,
    a version of self,
    in a place that I could have been…

    Being on the support of others,
    not able,
    notable of something like a madman,
    who lost it,
    lost it all…

    There wasn’t any other option,
    but,
    to stand tall,
    be a shadow to those who were now dependent,
    and be a support system for those,
    who still don’t believe of the happening,
    and yet,
    here we are,
    enduring it yet again,
    this day,
    just like yesterday,
    like it happened yesterday,
    like a film all of it plays,

    BUT,
    THERE WASN’T ANY OTHER OPTION…

  • The Art of Collecting: My Bottles and Writings

    The Art of Collecting: My Bottles and Writings

    Daily writing prompt
    Do you have any collections?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    First,
    I am really sorry for not uploading a day before,
    there were some things bothering that has to be taken care of,
    plus,
    I submitted two of my works to a competition,
    and was busy as the deadline was until last night,
    so most of my time was spent on writing,
    completing,
    editing something whenever I went back to check those drafts…

    But,
    I’m back here,
    and this is one such place,
    that will be my go-to,
    because the freedom of expression I feel here,
    its unmatched,
    maybe because this is something that I was meant to do forever…

    Coming back to the day’s prompt,
    “Do I have any collection…?”
    YES,
    I do have collection(s),
    but,
    most of them are stored in a haphazard way,
    not in a proper way whatsoever…

    One of such is a collection of bottles,
    this started as a dream,
    in which I had a cabinet full of liquor bottles,
    from the places that I haven’t even been,
    but,
    the bottle of that region was in my cabinet,
    some of them were gifted,
    some were bought by me on a special occasion,
    some to remember the good times spent with those who are close to me,
    all in,
    the process of achieving a perfect collection still has a long way to go,
    but,
    it feels good to know that I have started something that I saw in my dreams with an intention of achieving a preset goal…

    Other one is a collection of my writing/ideas that I jot down,
    they are stored in a more random way then how a child leaves his toys in the drawing room,
    an idea here,
    and while penning this one down,
    another one comes and takes over this mind,
    so,
    I open another tab,
    in my mind also in my notes app to pen that down…

    These are my two collections that I own and have owned with pride (second one),
    but,
    everyone needs to have something like a normal state,
    Amongst all the chaos in the world right…?

    Hence the word collection…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    Being a writer often feels like this,
    a lone road,
    a path that has to be traveled,
    and a path that has been covered…

    With no such help,
    no such thing called assistance,
    all that happens,
    happens to you only,
    and you are the only sufferer,
    and gainer,
    in the process…

    It often feels that you’re alone,
    you’re the only one who feels this way,
    but,
    in the same boat,
    G0d knows how many are,
    maybe looking for a right word,
    maybe a right prose,
    a better suiting rhyme scheme,
    or even a better title…

    Aren’t we all connected yet,
    all alone…?
  • Cherished Memories: The Stories in Our Skin

    Cherished Memories: The Stories in Our Skin

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing well…

    The prompt of this dame really made me think,
    And,
    I think there would be a variety of answers that all of you would be seeing,
    most of them would include a piece of clothing that they would cherish or own from a long time that would have seen better days but,
    not being your usual writer,
    I know what all of you are in here for…

    How would you feel if i said the oldest thing I’m wearing is,
    “MY SKIN”…

    I do owe all of you an explanation,
    Skin,
    MY thick skin being one of those things,
    the one which has been with me from the very beginning of my essence,
    no fabric,
    no piece of cloth could ever match what my skin has felt through the years…

    Even though it renews itself every month and a half,
    it holds memories that still stay with me to this day,
    The Scars,
    The heat of the Sun,
    a special someone’s touch,
    the test of time—
    all of them leave a mark.
    It’s been my shield,
    a blank canvas that I was born with,
    a story that I am writing as each day progresses…

    THIS body of mine holds a tactile archive,
    a memory through sensations that only I remember,
    Even if the world forgets,
    I remember the weight of denim,
    the scratch of wool,
    the comfort of cotton on a tired day,
    the itchiness of a cloth I’m not well suited to,
    the rash that burned,
    and caused me pain,
    the time I fell from my two-wheeler and blood that oozed out of my skin,
    I remember it clearly as yesterday,
    each and every moment clearly…

    Sometimes this body remembers what the mind isn’t sure of;

    A warmth in the chest,
    A phantom touch on the cheek,
    A comfort that feels real,
    even if the facts are blurry…

    Maybe it’s memory,
    Maybe it’s hope stitched into survival,
    Maybe it’s both.

    What matters is that it helped me keep breathing,
    the memories that this mind often forgets,
    they stay on this skin,
    whenever,
    someone crosses me,
    a familiar scent,
    an accidental touch (for which I apologize)
    it sets into action a string of memories hidden deep within me,
    of which this mind has either forgotten,
    or,
    suppressed to make place for other ones…

    But,
    there’s something that I tell myself,

    You’re here,
    Still breathing,
    Still remembering,
    And that’s not nothing…

    Just like a chain that you forget that is wrapped around your neck,
    after wearing it for a long time,
    the body adapts to it,
    and when accidently it gets stuck in a piece of cloth,
    you remember an existence of it;

    That chain becomes like a quiet truth:
    Something can be with me always,
    even if I forget it’s there…

    And maybe that’s how grief feels.
    Or love,
    Or pain,
    Or memories,
    or existence of it…;

    Worn so long against the skin that One stops feeling it,
    until one small movement brings it back into view,
    glinting with the light of something lost but never fully gone…

    Here’s to reliving all those memories after reading this one,
    also play with your chain or a mala of thread or beads that exist around your neck or your wrist…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    With these memories that we once considered precious,
    made a promise to never forget them,
    They blurred without a trace from this mind….

    But does this mean We’ve forgotten,
    Does this mean we’ve given up,
    Of Course, not.

    Their existence continues to thrive,
    in a way we speak,
    the choices that we make,
    the softness that takes a front when we see someone hurting,
    or
    the hardness that makes us stand on someone’s way if it means it will save someone…

    Been through things tough and extremely challenging ones,
    we’ve learned to carry weight,
    to protect ourselves.
    we’ve built something around our softness,
    not to hide it,
    but to survive,
    maybe try to thrive in it…
  • Overcoming Social Media Addiction: Small Steps

    Overcoming Social Media Addiction: Small Steps

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope all of you are doing really well…!

    There is a need for each and every one to improve themselves,
    it might be something that is well within your reach or maybe requires some effort,
    maybe a lot of it,
    if you’re starting from zero,
    but that’s how the efforts are made,
    and they give you the fruits of all the time you put in…

    I really wish to be less addicted to things,
    I am very much addicted to social media apps,
    Instagram and such,
    and they have been cutting into my time;

    The time,
    I have to provide towards another aspects of life,
    My family,
    My life
    Friends and other personal aspects of my life,
    there has been nothing but efforts from my side,
    but,
    I cannot afford to give it up too,
    because a lot of work happens there also that’s how we are connected to each other,
    because of many such reasons,
    I cannot give up social media…

    This too being a part of social media,
    but,
    the place that you call home,
    consider home,
    one cannot defame it,
    can they…?

    There are others like,
    lower screen time,
    not using it at all at or before bed time or during eating,
    and many other things like making a reminder of tasks that you have to accomplish during the day,
    making your bed,
    taking the morning walk or the workout;

    and one must do things to move ahead and be a better version of self,
    that’s how we all move ahead…

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    With a phone in this hand,
    I watch as things,
    some important,
    other non-important ones pile up:

    On setting reminders and snoozing them from hours on time,
    and after that,
    contemplating the life choices that led to this point,
    I look at the screen,
    a blank one,
    a reminder pops us,
    yet again;

    Take a break,
    scroll the app that you like,
    A sly laughter leaves my face as,
    I go in the balcony and in my hand a light,
    A spark is heard,
    and smoke rises,
    easing my mind…

  • The Power of Positive Influence in Life

    The Power of Positive Influence in Life

    Daily writing prompt
    Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope you all are doing well…

    This prompt is one of the good ones,
    someone who had a positive impact on my life,
    this sparks numerous questions because there have been equally or more who have had a negative impact on me and my life and given me ideas to live a life much better than how they shall ever live…

    I’ll share one of each;

    I got a chance of meeting one such person with whom I’m still in contact with,
    I just talked to them a few minutes back,
    I wish for them to prosper and have a beautiful life forever,
    The exams that they’re preparing for,
    I hope from the bottom of my heart that they achieve what they want in life,
    (Even if I won’t be a part of their life if they achieve their dreams i shall remember them forever…)

    She studies a subject that we both have undying love for,
    and that’s how we connected,
    on finding that she studies it,
    and I have a keen interest for it,
    Our conversations happen on and around the same topic,
    and we both learn and love it,
    when both of us love and grow from our astute and very niche observations…

    That’s the type of conversations I wanted to have forever,
    and on finding someone who does makes my life much better and worth living;

    She has been the one,
    and the only one for whom i shall continue to write,
    because her words of praise aren’t just there to fill a void,
    but,
    they help me by giving me an inspiration and a will to continue forever…
    and i hope they will forever….

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    There was something bugging me,
    I was in my home,
    One place that’s considered safe,
    I was trembling,
    Looking for someone,
    Something there…

    What was it,
    I couldn’t put my hand on it…!

    And all I could do was shake and tremble,
    And tell those around me,
    Nothing…

    I’m good,
    I’m all good,
    Everything’s alright as I looked at myself,
    In the mirror,
    I saw the horror within my eyes..
  • Freedom: A Thought-Provoking Daily Writing Prompt

    Freedom: A Thought-Provoking Daily Writing Prompt

    Daily writing prompt
    What does freedom mean to you?
    View all responses

    Hey…

    I hope you all are doing well and are safe…!

    This prompt is a good one of the good one,
    because it comes at a time when whole of the world has their eyes on our nation,
    the India-Pakistan at the brink of war,
    the tiff escalating and de-escalating within a span of few hours,
    constant black outs at the border region,
    shells,
    blanks,
    broken drones and such,
    their scraps and some live ones are found here and there…

    Freedom means right to,
    Think,
    Speak &
    Act however one wants,

    ALSO,
    in a state of not being captive or enslaved…

    BUT;
    Doesn’t that mean we have to keep ourselves in check,
    according to the people who are around us too…?

    Look at it from a point where,
    you have to follow HOA rules,
    They aren’t there to make your personal life better,
    But,
    in a collective way they help in taking care of the whole association,
    by setting rules and guidelines to follow,
    NO matter how much it screams a violation of your freedom,
    I MEAN COME ON,
    Trash can outside after 11 am attracts a fine,
    it shouldn’t be outside obstructing view of the property which we paid…?
    HUH???

    But,
    These small rules help keep the value and the look of the property to the max…
    same way,
    Someone cites their freedom,
    for being oppressive towards others,
    owning slaves and the ripple effect that we see even this day Amongst those who owned them…!

    For them,
    Someone who has been oppressed their view of freedom is much different from someone who hasn’t been ;
    But,
    Isn’t that a conversation for some other time…?

    Freedom for a writer and a person who has been expressive means different from someone who has been an introvert and keeps to themselves,
    they have a need to be out and see things various ones from a perspective different from everyone…!

    Cheers 🥂

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    A lone bird,
    enjoys freedom.

    It takes flight,
    on seeing the horizon clear and blue,
    as it flaps the wings,
    The crisp sound echoes,
    fluttering for a moment as it gains some momentum,
    within moments the free bird,
    with a free will,
    goes from sitting on a branch,
    to
    gaining height that we can’t reach,
    until its existence is lost,
    moments before it becomes a right tick,
    like we used to in art classes…

    Isn’t this the type of freedom we all once wanted,
    when we were little…?
  • Controversial Opinions: The Impact of Public Figures

    Controversial Opinions: The Impact of Public Figures

    Daily writing prompt
    What public figure do you disagree with the most?
    View all responses

    Hi….

    I hope all of you are doing well…!

    This question comes a time that is so fragile,
    with a fight that goes on the border region,
    turning into a full-blown war as each day proceeds,
    but,
    across this,
    the one who faces all of the heat are those who are in the region of crossfire,
    the people who existed and continue to exist within the 0 to 50 km range of the borders,
    and from their point,
    just existing,
    living their lives has become a problem,
    that won’t go anywhere anytime soon,
    but,
    the reason for this full-blown fight-off,
    the reason that some “terrorists”,
    took innocent lives at a place that apparently had no army presence which it needed to have being the sensitive nature of the territory that it is,
    but
    who had to make sure the enemy presence was there or nor?
    who had to make sure that the army personnel were already present there to ensure safety of the territory and any person who were to be there…

    What,
    do you have any answer than those whom we appointed,
    who became these ministers,
    who are at a place that we consider they achieve to serve,
    but,
    they’re there to fill their pockets,
    the immense greed that takes over their mind and body,
    and,
    let situations like this happen,
    where people like you and I become the one who gets caught,
    loses their lives,
    and then,
    hangs a photo of those whom we lost,
    considered as victims of the war…

    This post became dark really quickly,
    but,
    the type of person one becomes after joining politics,
    no matter how clean or good they are,
    they become the type of evil where things like these become,
    happening that are imminent,
    they can’t ever be avoided,
    But can’t they,
    If precautionary measures would have been there well in advance…?

    A thought…

    Love Waakiye 🤍

    From the comfort of your homes,
    The four walls within which you feel safe,
    The word WAR feels like something that should have already started,
    but,
    For you and me,
    it’s all in the news,
    not something that has bothered us even a single bit…

    But,
    What about those who are involved in it,
    Those who live in the area that has seen shellings,
    their sleep disrupted by constant bombings,
    As they’re awoken by a bomb blasting near them,
    In their vicinity,
    as they try to sleep their way through it all…?