Read THIS First ..

Read THIS First..
Each word on this blog is the original creation of the writer. You better not copy it!
No comment is directed towards any individual/group.
Happy Reading!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Unquoting Quotes!

What's that you do when you're suddenly going through an emotional overflow? I thought I'd write it out, because that's how I'd feel better and weird thoughts must always be discarded as soon as possible. You can't afford to let them germinate inside you, because they'd just grow, feeding on your anxiousness and sadness. That's a simple philosophy I have, keep in the good thoughts, discard the bad. I've just realized that how you discard them, is something you have to think about. I spent about half an hour in total, thinking about exactly what to write on. Should it be on happiness, or friendship or another Mixed Signals something, but honestly, it's hard to point at one single thing when you have thoughts about so many inter-related stuff. I don't think I want to write about friendship. I'm totally confused about it. Maybe I should let it rest, it's not really necessary to understand everything, right? 

Then I thought I'd just log on to goodreads and read some quotes from the books I've read. I love goodreads, by the way, that wonderfully bookish website! As always, it managed to steer my thoughts in what I hope is the right direction. For one, I looked up quotes by Frances Hodgson Burnett, an author whose wonderful children's classics, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess are books that I think, are absolute treasures. I don't know why I love children's books most and those that have kids as protagonists. It seems more in sync with the real world than the other fiction books I read. Honestly, it's like children look at things from a far deeper perspective than adults can and personally, I find those books more satisfying than anything else. For instance, consider these lines from The Secret Garden:

“One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live... Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose, my lad, A thistle cannot grow.”  

See? This is precisely what I had been meaning to tell someone, but I couldn't form the right words, in the right sense. This is also the reason why I love books! You read and you find your own feelings reflected in some lines, somewhere in between, in just the right manner. Read these lines again and again if you must, just remember to discard the disagreeable thoughts and immediately fill up that void with a courageous one, because one small thought that upsets you, if allowed to wallow inside, will create a mountain of negative things disturbing you and the people around, even those who're trying to help and those you're blind towards. 


This second one is from A Little Princess

“When people are insulting you, there is nothing so good for them as not to say a word -- just to look at them and think. When you will not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wished they hadn't said afterward. There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in -- that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies.” 

Rage, anger, jealousy, all breed discontent, for nothing in return. If you're letting yourself get 'carried away' because you can't control your rage, maybe you're not strong enough. When I say "ignore" is my mantra for all the things that upset me, sometimes you silently disagree, because you think it's being weak. Sorry, it doesn't. It just means I don't have enough time to focus on non-sense stuff. I'd rather focus on what's important to me. 

The third and final quote in this post is again, from A Little Princess and among the best lines I've read in a long time. It's quite simple, childishly innocent, but something I believe might be true, after all. I'm a believer in fairy tales.  

“Perhaps you can feel if you can’t hear,” was her fancy. “Perhaps kind thoughts reach people somehow, even through windows and doors and walls. Perhaps you feel a little warm and comforted, and don’t know why, when I am standing here in the cold and hoping you will get well and happy again.” 

Well, this is for all those I care about, or have cared about at some point. I may not be too verbal, but I do always wish when you're sad, that you'd be happy again. These lines just beautifully shaped my thoughts, in a way, something I hadn't been able to think before. 

This is why I love reading, love stories and fairy tales and fantasy and fiction. These have amazing truths in them that you can't help wonder how they manage it. They have this amazing sense of power, so that you feel light and happy and second, you come to know that it's not just your life that's having problems. You're still much better off than many others and it would do you well to understand it. Enjoy your life to the fullest, while you still can! :) 


PS- First week of college (which won't be over till tomorrow) was hectic and boring. Just the tiniest bit okay, but maybe not.  


15 comments:

  1. I found this post quite subtle in the way it was written. Maybe that was why I re-read it.

    Discomforting, disagreeable thoughts do breed further discomfort and discontent. They do bore into you deeper and stay there. I agree that they should be pushed out as soon as possible, for one's own good. Though for some, they're carried for so long that it becomes real hard to then get rid of them.

    It was a very different post, the kind which makes you think about long after reading it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? What kind of mood was I in, to write something you found 'different'? ;) I'm taking that as a compliment, alright?

      Our thoughts resonate well to a great extent and I love that. Glad to know it did well here as well! Thanks for reading. I love your comments ^_^

      Delete
  2. Thanks Ashna... needed this a lot. I came here & read it y'day, and today again.

    I greatly admire you for looking at things through the perspective of books, which, invariably, sorts the mess to quite an extent. Loved all three excerpts, 'cause they resonate what I am feeling & fighting right now. Only you can write something this simple & stirring, as well as read & assimilate exceptionally well too.
    I, for one, am not able to read enough these days, and that saddens me further.

    Grateful that you wrote this.
    Godspeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you could relate to it so well Shivang. I guess it's something that everyone faces, at one point. Happy to know that you felt better. Thank you so much for your kind words. And yes, I love these three too! Sooo true! :)

      Delete
  3. Reading books make you a profound thinker and a deeply sensitive person at heart, I have seen that in you. You did the perfect thing by venting out your rage in words here. A pat on your back for that! :D

    Copied the third quote. Loved it!

    How about not thinking about life and people as much as you think? That can be one way out. What say? Or maybe you can join me in the world of music to get through this emotional overflow. And then we could dance in the moonlit night, till the fire burns out bright! ;)

    Khush rha kar. College hamesha hectic aur boring hi hota hai! You can make it interesting by something called confession to someone. ;)
    Iske liye Godspeed Ashna! :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rachit. I wasn't expecting such an open and "free" comment, but it still made me smile :) (For the next time, control your fingers and the keyboard!) :P

      Not thinking too much sounds good. I'd do that. That's why I go back to reading, no? Get into another world, entirely!

      Thanks again for this comment. Love it! ^_^

      Delete
  4. I very well understood what you wrote...frienships or any relationships for that matter is something I can never write about or perhaps will never write about. I am not a reader like you so I usually take photographs to de-stress me or may be to distract and you know Aashna, when I take pictures I usually get something new to ponder upon and sometimes ( well, only a few times :P) I have got some answers as well..funny na!! :-)
    I absolutely loved all the quotes. a nice thing to do...I l'll also try it sometimes...dont mind if you find them on my blog sometimes.....hehe!!
    I do think you are very sensitive (dnt wry m too :P ) But aashna u must find one more hobby other than books...thats a very insisting ( 4 some reason) advice from my side...
    Love,
    Your friend,
    Priyaa :-) :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your honest comment Priyaa! Totally love it :)

      I'm glad to know you are able to de-stress yourself through photographs. I think I understand, photography gives you a different way to look at things. I do get involved in other stuff too, don't worry! ;) Photography is a hobby, too! I also spend time with music, or chatting with a friend, or sleeping, or crafting. :)

      I know you'd be insistent because of some good reason and I'm taking your advice! Maybe I'll look to other things too, more than I usually do. College gives me only evenings and with homework and stuff, all I can do to de-stress is read, maybe that's the reason there's little room for anything else. And oh, I'm addicted too :P

      Thanks so much again! Your comment totally made my day awesome! :D

      Delete
    2. Hehe...thanks for taking it positively. you too made my day.
      Ya I understand your mba schedule.
      hey you do crafting...share something!! we'd love to see.
      By the was are you on facebook???

      Delete
    3. It's mostly cards! :) I'll share it someday.
      Yes I'm on Facebook! On my book blog, you'll see "Find us on Facebook" on the left, click "like", go to that page, and you'll find me! ;)

      Delete
  5. Hi Ashna!! First of all, you are so cute! I for one have always thought that grown ups were all dark and twisty and too "practical" (not that you're impractical or naive but you get what I mean, right?) But you are one grown up that says such nice and bright things and you're all happy and jumpy (in a nice adorable way) It's really nice and your words are very comforting... it like, a yummy soup for an ill person (you must be going all WHAT??!!! but I am a hopeless food-a-holic, I just have to use food references :P)

    This post was really warm. The quotes are amazing! And yes, since when I read The Secret Garden or no, since my did told me that quote, it has always remained etched in my mind- "where you tend a rose, a thistle cannot grow".

    And BTW, I think your words have left quite an impact on me, seeing that I'm starting to incorporate your life mantra into my life and you're exerting considerable influence on my reading :) THANK YOU!! And now I think I really need to improve my vocabulary so that I can leave better comments here :P :D
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so very much for your lovely comment Ruya. :) I'm replying late but I saw it the day you posted and it made me so happy! :')

      The point is, this blog is simply a reflection of all that I think/feel, maybe something I believe in or something I felt at the time of writing, so maybe that's why it seems to you the way it does. As for leaving an impact, really? It really feels great to hear that, you know. :) Thanks so much for your honesty! I'm glad about it. :)

      Your sweet comments actually mean a lot, just the way they are (which is no less than awesome!) Thank you! :D

      Delete
  6. Halfway into the post and I deja vu had me. How many times have I fell short of weaving my thoughts into words, the anguish and the exhilaration - the ramblings and the rhapsodies but as your words reveal the answer is always to be found between the covers of the book.

    Ain't it remarkable to find out of all worldly relations the one that echoes to your heart's beat in the pages of a book. It may be Tom Sawyer or Robert Langdon but it always is in the comforts of fiction. A realm which only comforts.

    ReplyDelete

I would like to hear what you have to say.. :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...