fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The Thrill
By: Henery X
Tags: Purpose Driven Life, Energy, Life, Writing, Poetry

At 4 am I wake,

and shake.

Thoughts racing to the finish line,

in my mind.

As the story unfolds,

I’m thinking of literary gold.

Or should I say a platinum piece,

or better yet, a diamond release.

So excited,

and just think, I haven’t even begun to write it.

It’s prayer time,

giving thanks to the Great Divine,

whom without, there would be no means to shine.

Though it seems as if I can’t wait, I wait,

have other things to do first on my plate,

securing my hygienes is a must, that’s no debate.

Now that all is said and done,

to my trusty laptop, I run.

I close my eyes,

and visualize,

the wonders, that are no surprise.

Words come together like lovers in heat,

each time different, no time to repeat.

An adrenaline rush,

this is much more than a crush.

After I see what I write,

it’s love at first sight,

and this is all done before first light.

One down, nine more to go,

this is how it is when I get into the flow,

creating fast not slow,

because the thought wave crashes with a desire to show,

I put in work like I’m trying to pay off a major debt I owe.

Thank you for taking the time and donating it to reading my words. May all you deserve and desire flow abundantly into your life like a river does into a sea.

Thanks to Diana C. for this week’s poetry challenge
Gary-
Tags: Ideas, Energy, Inspiration, Mindset Shift, Dreams

Gary-

Great to make your virtual acquaintance!

Thanks for a wonderful read. I am indeed #Grateful.

We are on similar paths you and I…

I recently published this article on the “Dreamer” behind any great dream:

I am so thankful your article showed up in my feed today. I look forward to sharing it with others!

Here’s a great little video (real life story) on the power of a dream…

Honored to make your acquaintance!

Keep Pedaling, Keep Going, Keep Growing!

Advance Confidently!

Bobby-
This Is My Heart on Fire
By: Gb Rogut
Tags: Hope, Life Lessons, Poetry Sunday, Life, Poetry

This is my heart,

stubbornly beating away

with all its might

This is the voice of my soul,

a howl that proclaims,

“I am here, I am here,

I am still here”

This is my spirit,

bursting through the fog,

the misty confusion

that threatened to hide the truth

These are my fears,

my chains, the burdens I carried

and learned to leave behind

These are my hopes,

the ones that helped me survive;

I don’t know if they’ll come true,

I know I have no choice but to try

This is my life,

the only one I’ll ever have,

mine to enjoy and waste,

to love and hate,

to fall and rise

This is me, wondering if I’ll get it right,

knowing there are no assurances,

that this is not a drill and

there are no do-overs, and yet,

no matter where this journey takes me,

no matter how it ends,

no one will be able to say

my heart was not on fire.
A year
By: Tiziana Arnone
Tags: Hope, 2020, Poetry Sunday, 2021, Life

muddy heart. The author took the picture

A lopsided,

unpredictable year,

of which

we chewed the Latin adagio

“annus bisextus, annus funestus”

smiling with irony

and a crude expression.

A year that gave us

a demonstration

of how

small and vulnerable

we are.

A year that tore

the veil of our failings.

A year of which we will tell

to our grandchildren.

A year of which

we will read in a history book,

with the same disregard and detachment

we used to read about

the plague in the seventeenth century.

A horrible year?

Yes, because it forced

each of us to look

in the eyes

our truth,

shadowy and slothful.

A year that forced us

to recompose some units,

both familiar and personal.

A year with monitors and Zoom

and discovery of our own home.

A year that gave us

different eyes

to see

to understand

and accept

the new one

that is about

to come.
Life is unpredictable soo live today
By: Aayushi Jindal
Tags: Hope, Moments, Faith, Life, Unpredictable

How many times it happens to you that you were all set, all planned, for something you decided then suddenly an unexpected event occurs and your whole plan seems a waste, worthless, or no longer meant anything and you start questioning yourself why this happened to me? , what will I do? and hell a lot more why’s. But for a moment think about what that unexpected turn brings into your life. If it’s favorable, jump in the excitement and enjoy this unexpected event brought to your life.

When good things happen try to enjoy them. We have to enjoy good things and give them the time they deserve. Don’t just ruin them with overthinking, Celebrate them.

When bad things happen, do the best you can like said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and enjoys. Face whatever challenge put in front of you with courage. You are strong enough to deal with anything. Never lose hope and have a positive attitude towards everything.

In life, you can’t plan everything neither everything goes according to your plan. So whatever situation you find yourself in, believe that it shall pass too. Understand that life is unpredictable and you won’t have control over a few things. Enjoy the happy times and don’t take them for granted.

Find purpose in life and build yourself each day.
Subjectivity and Collectivity
By: Rehman Cee
Tags: Hope, Singularity, Collective, Peace, One

Subjectivity. Irregularity. Who are we? We each one of us. You and me. We are a unique human being. Different. Idiosyncratic. With our own thoughts and conjectures. With our opinions and our own world view. But there is a a truth to us. A truth that encompasses all of us. A truth that is woven, interspersed between each one of us. And that is singularity. Unity. We all, each one, is us. We are one. United as one. That oneness is our surrender to the ‘what is’. Being present. And in the present our subjectivity is the collective. Peace.

Live. Love. Be.

Rehman

Greatness is my journey

Greatness is the key

Greatness is my signal

Greatness is who I want to be.

I want to be One.

Greatness is the Signal. The signal is My Ideal. My ideal is One.
Nobody Cares
By: Arnold Ngwobela
Tags: Hope, 2020, Growth, Africa, Self Development

Hey bro,

You scared?

Move to Yaoundé;

Be a good teacher;

Be patriotic.

Nobody cares.

Yeah, nobody cares.

Working for government yeah?

Settled — your leg is probably black.

Number on Ambe’s call log?

Probably you’re a sponsor.

Either way, you’re fucked.

Come to withdraw money?

Completed the form?

Sorry, flagless IDs get no service.

Oh you had to choose between flag and hand huh?

Well, nobody cares;

No flag on ID, no withdrawal.

Ruptured Achilles tendon?

Still hurting from surgery?

Struggling with crutches?

Show goes on; nobody cares.

Did Covid do it?

Revalorize us?

Well, they applauded, didn’t they?

Yeah, from their balconies.

Convenient?

Nurse Pegie trekked home.

She’s surely well paid;

No doubts about it.

Didn’t she enjoy the applause?

Why complain?



You teach, don’t you?

Does that even count as essential?

Doesn’t matter;

Nobody cares.

Tinkering on the brink?

Of depression?

Oh, it’s the stay at home thing, yeah?

Too bad nobody cares.

Yeah, I’m mad;

Nobody cares, sure.

Sure, I’m fucked;

Yeah, nobody cares.

Still I hope.
İŞARETLERİ OKUMAK
By: Düş Tasarımcısı
Tags: Hope, Fotografía, Photography, 2021, Nature

I'm a magazine writter and I'm a blogger. I also have a fairy tale book. https://sevilcevirgen.blogspot.com
The Mouth of Sauron: A Meditation on the Year Past and the Year to Come
By: Daniel Whyte Iv
Tags: Hope, 2020, Perseverance, 2021, New Year

“The Mouth of Sauron” is one among several scenes that I re-watch every now and then on YouTube — along with scenes from the charge of the Rohirrim at Minas Tirith and the Battle for Helm’s Deep. I watch for inspiration — both for my own creative projects and for my personal life. While re-watching a few weeks ago, it struck me how this scene works as a metaphor for what we’ve contended with in 2020.

This year, the world was put through the wringer. And now at the end of it, it certainly feels as though it has lasted longer than your standard twelve months. Covid-19, whispers of which began before 2020 was rung in, bloomed into a full-grown global pandemic effectively shutting down or severely limiting travel, finance, education, entertainment, and the rhythms of regular work and play for weeks and months across swathes of the globe.

Societal outrage gripped the U.S. for several weeks followed by the long, interminable machinations of an election year. Not to mention wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, rumblings of war, and brutal violence around the globe.

Over 80 million individuals contracted the virus, overwhelming health workers and healthcare systems. Nearly two million deaths, directly attributed to the coronavirus, sent families, friends, and extended families into mourning. Not to mention the tens of millions waylaid by physical weakness and health issues they otherwise would not have had to deal with.

Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders strained the bonds of community, camaraderie, and family. It’s hard to find comfort in misery when you have no company with which to commiserate. Graduations, weddings, and holidays have come and gone, and for many they have been void of the familiar assembly of relatives and loved ones. Those that weren’t cancelled were strained by mask-wearing and social distancing protocols.

Church services and concerts, theater showings and eat-in restaurants were often impossible to attend. Shopping giants, movie studios, and artists are re-thinking how they maintain their bottom line in a world where their customers can’t get to them.

It is as if all year we have been hammered by an invisible hand. Fear and disappointment, dismay and hopelessness have crept in on all sides. What little hope we have for a return to normalacy wanes as a new normal seems to settle around us.

This year, we have wrestled with great adversity. Who knew that we could endure such pain?
Diabetic Cyborg Life 12/27: Texas Treason & Sedition
By: Adam, Diabetic Cyborg
Tags: Hope, Texas, Optimism, Election 2020, Trump

The last actions of the Texas State legislation and Attorney General to overturn the election results are the latest reason I need to leave the state. Joe Biden won, like it or not. George W. Bush won in 2000 ,and Trump won in 2016, and I never liked those outcomes.

I begrudgingly accepted them though, yet I never referred to either G.W. Bush or 45 as my or our president, but it was what the people wanted, it seemed. Biden won the popular vote by almost 8 million votes and the electoral college.

Save your breath and efforts on arguing “Illegal votes,” I will ignore and block all who suggest that. Not worth my time or words to educate people that argue those POVs. Go learn some basic citizenship and American politics before you argue that here, please.

Yes, I can teach American politics at the 1301 and 1302 levels, but I have no job to do that and this is not the place to do so. Getting a job elsewhere is harder than ever with my disabilities and finding a UX/UI design job for my brother is fruitless so far. I just see the likelihood that a marriage and kids, one day, will push me to have to work.

Yet, that is not here and now, so I rest those ideas for now. I just recall the GTT sign that meant “Gone to Texas” that was popular in history.

I just want to leave a post or sign saying GTFOT, or Got the F*** Out of Texas, now more than ever!
Coming Up For Air
By: Richard Palmquist, Dvm Gdvchm Cchvm
Tags: Hope, Recovery, Depression, Pandemic, Poetry

There is a “Tired”

— rest can’t relieve

A Broken

— resisting any glue

A chain of beatings

— whose bruises —

Do…not…fade…

We sleep

— fit-less, dreamless, tossing

We rise

— brush our teeth

Say? “Things are good”

— but —

Walk out the door

— carrying a pool of tears —

So deep

— we might dive forever —

Never finding Bottom

— (watching only blackness) —

No colors or details

— to prove that Time passes…

We develop routines

— when nothing is regular

We are happy

— that we have toilet paper

Pleased

— that no one we know —

Died today…

We try to forget

— the mounting numbers

Try to ignore

— the liars and the cheats —

Speaking on our televisions

— invading —

What sacred solitude

— our homes should be

And sometimes

— for a moment —

We…make…contact

— we see friends —

Not holographic images

— zooming by —

The…real…thing

— of Flesh & Bone —

Walking by

— or in a parking lot

We…talk..

Standing masked

— six feet apart —

(The best Touch

— we can possess)

And for that instant

— we swim to the surface

Abandoning

— our dark places —

We see we aren’t alone

— we feel the joy —

Of sharing our adversities

— finding —

Things…are…not…so bad

— raising dreams —

Of pizza parties

— and laughing —

Without concern of sprays

— when touches —

Need no sanitizer

— and hugging —

Is the way

— we say, “Hello!”
I hope it wil be followed by the nervous breakdown of the GOP and its affiliates.
By: Chris Coolsma
Tags: Hope, GOP, Trumpism, Nervous Breakdown

I hope it wil be followed by the nervous breakdown of the GOP and its affiliates. Beginning with accomplice #1, Mitch McConnell.
The ‘Christ’ in ‘Christmas’.
By: Joana G - Men Choosing Safety
Tags: Hope, Jesus, Christmas

When you think of the word ‘Christmas’, what is the first word that comes to your mind? Is it gifts, presents, tinsel, Santa Claus, snow, Christmas tree or Christmas shopping?. What do you see in your minds eye when you think of Christmas? Do you see glitter, shiny red and green decorative light bulbs, sparkling yellow lights, turkey, Brussels sprouts or roast potatoes? What songs do you hear when think of Christmas? Nat King’s Cole, song ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’? or one of your favorite artists singing ‘O holy night’?

When one thinks of Christmas, rarely does the name Jesus Christ come to mind. Of course, we think of the nativity play, we imagine the stable where the Christ child was born. We think of the three wise men, bringing frankincense, gold and myrrh. We hardly mention these days the ‘Christ’ in Christmas. Christmas is the annual festival commemorating the birth of the Jesus Christ, celebrated by billions around the World. If Christmas is supposed to be the celebration of Christ’s birthday, why do people fail to acknowledge the Christ behind the celebration? Don’t you think it would feel strange if one celebrated your birthday and yet failed to acknowledge you at the same time? I am sure it would feel odd if somebody hosted your birthday party in your honor but didn’t invite you or didn’t even wish you a happy birthday at your birthday celebration?

Christmas is a time that we bear and give gifts to our loved ones and yet Christmas also represents the love of God for the whole of mankind. God greatly loved and dearly prized, you and I that He gave us his only son Jesus Christ that we will not perish but have eternal life. The “Christ” in the Christmas is God’s gift to us.

“For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life”. John 3:16
Hello, MacKenzie 👋
By: Yahia Lababidi
Tags: Hope, Egypt, Poet, Writer, Poetry

Hello, MacKenzie 👋

I am an Egyptian-American poet, the author of 9 books of poetry & prose with 25 years of writing experience, yet find myself desperately looking for work.

Below, is a link to my CV :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yahialababidi

Thank you, for all the inspiring, good you do.

Wishing you a happy, healthy holidays and a 2021 of new possibilities 🙏🏼✨

Yahia

Lababidi.ink@Gmail.com

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/yahialababidi?locale.x=en_US
Do not dwell on the past.
By: Joana G - Men Choosing Safety
Tags: Hope, Men, Mental Health, Suicide, God

As you draw near towards the end of 2020, you may look back on the year with regret, with anger, with shock and with disbelief. On the contrary, you may look back at what you have accomplished with pride and admiration for jumping through insurmountable hurdles. You may have discovered the inner strength and resilience that you thought you never had. You may have thought you would never have overcome your challenges but you did.

For those whose 2020 was a year of regrets, disappointments and mistakes, God’s promise to you in Isaiah 43: 18–25, is to forget about the former things, forget about yesterday, forget about what happened three, six and nine months ago. God advises us not to ponder, or to pay attention to, or consider, or brood over, or dwell on the past. As you drive towards 2021, keep looking at the road ahead. If you keep turning back, when driving your car, you may crash or maybe end up in a ditch somewhere. Similarly, as we head towards our future, it’s so important to keep our eyes on the road, so that we don’t look back, and crash and burn as a result of it.

Why is God telling us not to look back or dwell in the past in this passage of scripture despite all that has happened in 2020? . The reason is that He is getting ready to bring in the “new” into our lives for the coming year. The exciting new thing He is doing in our lives, will happen very quickly. What is the ‘new’ you would like in your life? Is it a New job? New Relationship? New Career? New home? New opportunities? New projects?

My friend, it is time to embrace the “new” which is coming. You will receive direction, clarity, personal growth which will revitalize and refresh you as promised in Isaiah 43:18–25. Are you ready to look ahead to receive your “new”?

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:18–25
During covid the world stopped
By: Dr Prashant Sunil Chaudhari
Tags: Hope, Covid 19, World, Pandemic, Poetry

During covid the world stopped

But

The earth was still spinning.

That’s what happens.

World is personal, Earth is universal.

We have to keep spinning with Earth, even if our world has come to a standstill.
I wish I had been there , Selma
By: Susan Christiana
Tags: Hope, Nativity, Christmas

I wish I had been there , Selma

Photo compliments of wayfair Christmas flags.

What if I had?

Was there a light bright

And shining?

Was His glow spread to heal?

Would I kneel?

Was He safe, one would think so.

Ask Herod,

Rumor had it , three Kings repeated , that He be treated to early dismissal .

As mean as that man Herod was he included all boy babies early demise

What a surprise, or was it?

No, had I been there, I’d take action.
In This Darkness
By: Shubhanshi Gupta
Tags: Hope, Sorrow, Love, Darkness, Joy

Photo by Daniel Weiss on Unsplash

I like darkness, because in darkness,

there is no one else, but just me.

My sorrows, my joys, my worries, my injuries, are all hidden — in the darkness.

I can admire anonymously in the darkness.

I am not a face to be seen but to be touched and to be felt- in the darkness.

I can remain just me- devoid of comparisons and brimming with purity- in the darkness.

I find my own divine light- serene and peaceful- in the darkness.

I don’t have to speak or justify my existence- in this darkness

I don’t find the blinding shimmers of the glittering world- in the darkness.

In light, my silhouette tries best to hide me,

But everything comes so effortlessly- in this darkness.
One Hell of a Year
By: Surya Popuri
Tags: Hope, 2020, Lifestyle, 2021, Coronavirus

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

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Meetings on Earth: a lovesick song book Rose petals fall galaxies swirl you sway to kiss my hand
By: Shireen Pasha
Tags: Hope, Unity, Earth, Love, Poetry

Writer and filmmaker, interested in technology, consciousness and the creative process.
Open Letter to 2020
By: Jay R. Montojo
Tags: 2020, Creative Writing, Hope

I am sorry that someone made you feel like you were difficult to love, some job caged you from the contributions you had the potential to make, some experience engrained in you, awful memories of this year.

I am sorry your efforts, your livelihood, and your hopes were dashed and left unceremoniously shattered into pieces.

… But this all will pass. We will continue and we will wake in a few hours to greet a new morning that may mean more than any morning before this; The refreshing awareness that it represents hope for a new chance.

A chance to be healthier, a chance to build a strong body, mind, and soul.

A chance to be wiser, a chance to share that wisdom with the world.

A chance to be kinder, a chance to help those for whom their wars persist.

I am sorry for the people who will miss out on who you will be tomorrow, the jobs who only now will see our unquantifiable return on investment, the painful experiences whose healed wounds only remind us of what we have and can survive.

I am excited for the person who receives your loving heart next, the job that nourishes the seeds of your potential, and the experiences that will define who you will become from this new year forward.

For the hardships we endured getting here, the futures we lost for new ones gained, and the memory of all of those that we lost along the way, LIVE 2021.
Christmas Greeting From Garrett On the Go: Christmas 2020
By: Alex Garrett
Tags: Hope, Christmas, Inspiration, Faith, God

Christmas Greeting From Garrett On the Go: Christmas 2020

May this Christmas be one where we get rid of apathy and get involved! Let us utilize the gift that God brings every Christmas to heal as He heals through Jesus Christ !

This Christmas and every day, Thanks Be to God!
Up
Tags: Hope, Nature Photography, Photography, 2021, Nature

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
I learned
By: Hanane Bellala
Tags: Hope, Motivation, Success, News, Life

It doesn't matter how u're sopposed to feel .. But how you are supposed to treat that feeling .. Make Sadness as a temporary guest and happiness as one of your familly's member ...

Take the action , surpass ur limits and bring the next cycle of Happiness..
A Field
By: Vanessa Rivera
Tags: Hope, Death, Fullfillment, Content, Failure

A field

A big field

And I’m talking huge so big that all you see is grass

So big that it almost seems impossible for there to be this much fucking grass

Like everywhere

And it makes you think like how is there so much fucking grass

Has this shit been here forever?

Why do we hide it

Well

A giant field with flowers and sunlight and bugs

But not the annoying ones

These bugs don’t bother you

They just mind their own business and fly around

Peaceful bugs

I don’t give a shit about you or what you do bugs

And then I’m wearing a white flowy dress

And I’m blonde

And I’m spinning

But it’s slow

And it’s soft

And there’s music

But nobody knows where it’s coming from

And then I fall

I fall into the overwhelming amount of grass around me

And just breath

All of my tension and worry and the rope that is strung around my heart is cut and the water that’s been keeping my head so full of thoughts is drained and the nerves in my arms and legs that have felt so tight are released.

I just fall

And that is how I die

But I don’t wanna die

And it’s so funny to say that

Because I’ve never really wanted to live either

Do you ever feel like your head is so above where you are

Not present

Not gone

Just faded

You see everything through a foggy screen

Because the idea that you are present is so crazy

how

How am I alive when I feel like I’m not

Nobody tells you what it feels like to live

They describe moments

Those moments where you are running with your friends but really fast and not care of where you are headed or how far you are going

Those moments in the passenger seat of a car where you just stare outside and you feel the wind blow on your face and it's so nosy it's quite

Moments where you can scream in the middle of a movie theatre parking lot at 11:15 p.m.

Moments where you can lay there and look into the brown eyes of someone that you hold so close to you

These are the moments where we feel alive

But aren’t we alive all the time

You’re always too young or too old

I feel like my whole life has been a constant reach for something greater something bigger something else something beyond me

Am I crazy? Or do things never get better

Have faith in the work you put in

Have hope in what comes next

Have hope that things will get better

Why?

Why do we hope?

Because we’re scared

We put rules and regulations and guidelines on who we can love, what it feels like to be alive, and how much grass we are able to see

We hope and we hope until its all that we are

Because were scared

And were scared because…. If this is it. If all I can do is stand here

If all I can do is just stand here and breath

All I can do is stand here and question

Why

Why

There’s no music. There’s no sunlight. There’s no grass. There are no bugs. There are not even any brown eyes.

All I have is hope
Dirayakan
By: Marita Piyanti
Tags: Hope

Everything will be so GOOD so soon, just hang in there and don’t worry about it too much :)
Somewhere only we know. It’s Christmas 2020 today. Staying at…
By: Ziming Lan
Tags: Hope, Misunderstanding, Christmas, Endings, Resolutions

It’s Christmas 2020 today. Staying at home in this Covid year.

What better way to sum it up than with a Christmas Advert Song?

It’s precisely described how I felt for a long time.

Somewhere only we know

Lyrics —

I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand

I felt the earth beneath my feet

Sat by the river, and it made me complete

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I’m getting old, and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you’re gonna let me in

I’m getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me

Is this the place we used to love?

Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of?

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I’m getting old, and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you’re gonna let me in

I’m getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute, why don’t we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything

So why don’t we go

Somewhere only we know?

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I’m getting old, and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you’re gonna let me in

I’m getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute, why don’t we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything

So why don’t we go?

So why don’t we go?

This could be the end of everything

So why don’t we go

Somewhere only we know

Somewhere only we know

Somewhere only we know?
Paradigm Shift: From Victim to International Champion for Hope
By: Agents Of Change
Tags: Hope, Heroes, Life Lessons, Self-awareness, Chronic Pain

What happened next was even more unexpected. Even though I was targeting people with an opposing opinion, there were many people who read the poetry in the comments of social media news pages and started commenting on how much they appreciate the sentiment. As I wrote more, people began to ask if I have a book of poetry that they can purchase. I would always roll my eyes and reply with, “A book? I am not a ‘Writer’, I am a political activist. I don’t know the first thing about writing. I’m just trying to help people understand the suffering of others, and encourage them to have more compassion and empathy.” Readers commented that the poetry inspired them to get involved in their community to help the homeless, the elderly, or others in need.

I began to amass quite a diverse group of friends on social media who wanted to keep up with what I write. People across town, across the state, across the United States, and across the world from Pennsylvania to Pakistan, Ohio to Ireland, Nebraska to Nigeria, so many people wanted to read what I write, I began to fear I could not possibly live up to their expectations.

As more time passed, the poetry I write to use as comments in news stories progressed to becoming poetry written for mental health magazines, and poetry for the first-ever English edition of a magazine in Nepal. I was published in two books of poetry that were created to express the need for social change. Former homeless people and survivors of domestic violence went out of their way to thank me for giving them a voice, for putting in the effort to try to help people understand their struggles.

My poetry was turned into songs for church and it was featured with an effort to raise money for a homeless shelter. Military veterans messaged to thank me for writing about the tormented mind of a soldier with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One thank you grew to ten, then one hundred, now countless hundreds.

Psychologists who read the poetry I write and used as replies on news pages asked if they could use the PTSD poetry as one of many tools they use to work with veterans, encouraging them to write their own story. Counselors in the ‘Alternatives to Violence Program’ (AVP) asked if they could use the poetry with their counseling of incarcerated youth and adult prisoners. The AVP program is proven successful to encourage inmates to look away from violence and towards the arts to express their emotions, heal from trauma, and help set them on a course to becoming productive members of society. Those who fight for freedom in Syria messaged me to tell me that the poetry I write about the struggles and suffering of the people in Syria inspires them, encourages them to continue to fight for freedom despite the odds, and despite their exhaustion. They asked if they could share the poetry on their social media pages and I quickly agreed. They chose Christmas Day 2015 to share what I have written.
See What Can Be, Not Just What Is.
By: Zehn Ninos
Tags: Hope, Self Improvement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Personal Development

Whatever you’ve got doesn’t matter. But what you ‘can’ make out of it does.

Who you are is the result of what you’ve got and how you’ve used it. You can’t hope to keep enjoying the same benefits you’ve been getting if you stop doing the very thing that has made you who you are.

Successful people weren’t born so. They achieved success by working more than what their past selves demanded.

Everybody started somewhere. You’re starting at level zero when you first doing something from scratch. If you’re satisfied with your current status, you can never go beyond this level zero.

When you’re in level zero, you don’t have much to hold on to. But you don’t wait for something to make anything out of it. You do anything to make something. You create that something out of nothing. You use whatever it is you’ve got.

And that’s the key.

What you know and who you are will always change if you are willing to constantly redefine yourself. Your present self can’t outmatch your future self if you cannot make the best use of what you’ve got presently.

It doesn’t matter how much you’ve got of something. Everything has its worth. And that worth depends on how much value you can get from it.

If you and someone you know have got the same “thing” and he’s got more than what you’ve got. The distribution may not be fair, but you can’t do anything about it.

You don’t have a choice when you get a random distribution of things. But you have a choice what to make out of them.

You have 2 choices:

You can complain about it and do nothing. Or you can make up for it by utilizing fully what you’ve got.

If you use what you’ve got to the best of your ability and that guy doesn’t use much of what he’s got — though he’s got more than you — you’ll be miles ahead of him.
GETTING CLOSER TO YOUR MEGA PROJECT PROBLEM
By: Sana Fatima
Tags: Women In Business, Women, Women In Tech, Development, Rural

GETTING CLOSER TO YOUR MEGA PROJECT PROBLEM

No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live.”

― Muhammad Ali Jinnah

In-universe, nothing is unnecessary, everyone is gifted with unique skills. But unfortunately very few got the chance to identify it and utilize it for their well-being. Mostly it happens to women of rural areas.

Firstly we need to understand the picture of the world is shown by the women and accept it. women are building blocks of society and nations. women create leaders & game-changers of the world. I look and observe the women they are hardworking committing towards their daily task of children, home, husband, and other family members. They always go the extra mile to support their family and try to make them happy by sacrificing their wills.

Women are an integral part of society if we want to achieve some goal. The need of the hour is to help them to contribute to generating income through their skills, ideas, and products.

In rural areas, women faced a lack of infrastructure and services. Women carry a greater burden for example in rural areas of Punjab, Sindh they spend three times more than men to fetch wood and water. For these reasons, female employment is lower than a man’s because the employment of rural women tends to be short term, hazardous.

There is an urgent need to make such an arrangement through which they can support themselves financially with less restricted hours of work.

For development, rural women are fundamental agents for accomplishing the transformation economic, environmental, and social modifications. Many challenges are faced by them like inadequate access to credit, health care, and education which are further intensified by the worldwide food and economic disasters and climate variation. Empowering them is significant not only to the well-being of individuals, families, and rural communities but also for global economic productivity.

My future aim is to make them financially stable by providing the flexible working environment and sell their products in market.
Wonderful Men in my Life Timeline
By: Monisha Kannamangalam Gowrisankar
Tags: Startup, Motivation, Men, Careers, Women In Tech

3 inspiring and motivating men in my life are:

Gowrisankar — Dad:

1. Have never been behind me for my studies from childhood like my mom.

2. Though coming from a very conservative family, he has always given me equal rights as given to my brother.

3. Always said “I can only show you water and I cant swim :) “

4. I was brought up bold and my opinions were always heard.

5. Even now whenever i need him, he is there to help me and my kids !!

Palanivenkatesan — Husband:

Jay Parikh — X Manager:

When I had a 3.5 year old daughter and was in India, I got an opportunity to come to US. But unfortunately my husband didn’t get a visa at that time. I was planning to leave my kid in India and come alone first. But as I was getting closer to my travel, I started feeling guilty. So just 2 weeks before my travel, I called my manager in US and asked if I can bring my daughter and if he can help me with initial settling.

Jay Parikh was very supportive and connected me to people out here. So, I could bring my daughter too as well. It was a struggle for all three of us, me, husband and my daughter as we were apart for almost 1.5 years.

But now we are all together and I have a new addition to my family, my son !!
Women in Crypto #1: Feminine Energy “To Da Moon”
By: Phuong Nguyen
Tags: Women Power, Women In Business, Women In Crypto, Women In Tech, Bitcoin

Many people assume the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors are just for men and such a “masculine” field. But it’s not…

Crypto and Blockchain sphere isn’t a “boy’s club”

In 2020, the number of women in crypto and blockchain is skyrocketing.

Recent reports show an unprecedented increase in the number of women involved in the crypto market, some exchanges see a 160% surge.

According to Grayscale, 43% of investors interested in Bitcoin are women and this number is actively growing

- Why is this happening?

- What are key factors that contributed to this record growth?

- How have women in Asian countries got involved in the field to become crypto users and blockchain companies’ leaders?

Join our virtual talks series #WomeninCrypto to meet and listen to interesting stories from inspiring women pioneers in crypto and blockchain space. Learn about the latest trends, best practices and their journeys into this field!

Calling all Women, YES there is more than just you in the space!

Date & Time: Wednesday, 23 Dec — 8PM (GMT+7)

Location: Online via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/96732315922

and Livestream on Novum Alpha fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/novumalpha/

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/132898295379

Our guests:

- Didi Wiboonma — Chief Communications Officer, Bitazza (https://bitazza.com/)

- Trang Phung — Co-Founder & CEO, Bvnex (https://bvnex.com/)

- Thuy Pham — Regional Business Development, Tomochain (https://tomochain.com/)

Organizers:

- Novum Alpha: Singapore-based quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm that uses AI and Deep Learning tools to deliver consistent, uncorrelated returns in all market conditions

https://novumalpha.com/

- SuperCryptoNews: Asia’s leading blockchain & crypto news provider, covering daily news focused on trading and investment developments in crypto

https://www.supercryptonews.com/
Did You Know That Only 26% of Computing-Related Jobs Are Held by Women?
By: Asha Rani
Tags: Startup, Technology, Women In Tech, Diversity In Tech, Programming

Did You Know That Only 26% of Computing-Related Jobs Are Held by Women?

According to research conducted by Accenture in the U.K., nearly half (48%) of girls and women believe that STEM subjects line up more with male careers. This is the biggest reason for boys being more likely to choose STEM subjects over girls.

The following were the main reasons for young girls and women not wanting to do STEM subjects:

Two reasons that I find especially surprising in this list are:

“Perception that these subjects are more suited to boys”

“Worried I would be the only girl/one of only a few girls”

Being a female, born and brought up in India, STEM subjects are actually one of the most preferred choices for women — not just by women themselves but also by their parents, teachers, and counselors. As per a study done by 451 Research, India is now almost at gender parity in graduate-level study, in contrast to the decline in the U.S. and a stagnation in the U.K.

“Women now make up 34% of the IT workforce in India, with the majority of these workers under the age of 30. Indeed, the youth of the Indian IT labor force has significantly powered its rapid growth, and the country is now almost at 50:50 gender parity rate in STEM graduates.” — Katy Ring for 451 Research

From a workplace perspective, we still have a long way to go. As per a report in The Muse, women only hold 25% of IT jobs. In order to attract more women to IT jobs and to bring about some much-needed diversity, we really need to start from the bottom.

There are many programs — like Women in IT, Girls Who Code, etc. — where companies are trying to attract young female talent. However, I personally feel that’s not enough. Young women are always looking for female role models (I know I was back when I was growing up), and we need to do a better job of giving them these role models. Promoting women to C-suite and managerial roles can be the first step.

Today’s generation has so much screen time with smart phones and easy access to internet, and they gravitate towards “cooler” things, such as TikTok and YouTube, because they seem easy and like a quick money-making option. No disrespect to any of these platforms, but I think IT companies need to come up with creative ways to advertise how these “cooler” things are built and how the younger generation can help shape the next TikTok or YouTube.
How to attract and retain Women in STEM fields
By: Red Public
Tags: Gender Equality, Talent, STEM, Women In Tech, Gender Pay Gap

Studies conducted by corporate giants like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, have shown that companies with more women employees, consistently improve economic stability and outperform their competitors.

Increasing female participation in STEM fields benefits both women and their families, as these jobs tend to be higher paying, and less subject to the gender wage gap that plagues so many industries.

Despite this, women are still severely underrepresented in STEM, a field that is actually struggling to match the market’s demand.

How can companies attract and retain female employees within STEM industries?

In order to attract women workforce, companies have to adapt a flexible recruiting approach, which will take into account not only women’s specific needs, but also their aspirations, such as equal and fair salaries, inclusion initiatives, supportive polices for mothers returning to work, as well as other post-maternity benefits for working mothers, improvement in flexible and smart work approach.
Sexual Harassment — Views of Mouthulya Ragamshetty
By: Koduri Sandeep
Tags: Metoo, Sexual Harassment, Women Safety, India, Women In Tech

Sexual harassment — Women, who is treated as the creator of this life has been being a prey to many of the sexual harassment’s instead of getting prayed for the life she gave.

Follow Mouthulya Ragamshetty — here.

Reality

There are many women empowerment programs and laws brought into picture for the safety of women. But let us question our self….are these laws really implemented? Do they show any impact on the person who is harassing women? The answer obviously is “NO” because if they were really showing impact on the people there would not have been so many incidents happening with women.

They say “Right to Freedom” is a fundamental right as per our constitution applicable to all the citizens of India. But where is it for women? Are women able to be what they wish to? Again the answer is “NO”…why is it so? The one and only one answer that comes into everyone’s mind is “FEAR”. The fear to go out and live our life because we are not aware of what kind of circumstances we are going to face once we are out from home. The main reason for this is the sexual harassment that a women faces. When I say sexual harassment, it refers to persistent and unwanted sexual advances orally and physically.

Who has given men the right to harass women? No one right!!!!!!! But still wherever we go we almost face the same. Whatever may be the place, like in a bus top waiting for a bus, while walking on a road, at school, college and even at offices women are becoming a prey to harassment’s. Why should they become so? Do they deserve it? Why are men not able to think before they harass women? Even they come out from a mother’s womb. So they should obviously know the importance of a woman. Despite this if men are making women feel uncomfortable and embarrassed at every point, then where is the problem lying with?

Mindset!

It is not the government that has to implement laws for women safety. It is the thought process of men that need to be changed and the way men look at women that needs to be changed. If this is done, no law is necessary for the protection of women. Mahatma Gandhi once said “When a woman can walk safely on roads at midnight without any fear, then it is the real independence to India”. But in the current society where a woman doesn’t have a safety at day time also, how can we expect for her safety at night? That means is India still not an independent country? Why should women lag in their independence though it has been many years since India is declared as Independent? Just think for yourself where the actual problem is lying???????
WOMEN OF GUMGUM: IRIS FU
By: Vanessa Rivero
Tags: Engineering Mangement, Engineering, Women Empowerment, Women In Tech, Advertising

As GumGum has grown over the years, so has our baby count. 2017 was an exciting year for computer vision scientist Iris Fu, who just welcomed her first child, Christopher, into the world.. Iris is a force to be reckoned with — a young, working mother who sits on our computer vision team — helming a role that requires constant, detailed analysis of digital data. Establishing stability in many roles can be tough so Iris shared some advice for women who might be in the same situation.

How do you find balance between work and motherhood?

It’s challenging for sure but it’s manageable. The most important part is just accepting that some days there will be items that will not be completed on your own to do list. Time goes by so fast that if you do have some extra time left over, it’s better to just catch up on sleep or “me-time”!

What is your favorite part about being a mom?

Bedtime! Ok, it might not be the most favorite part, but it’s definitely at the top of the list. The favorite part is seeing my son’s face light up with his gummy smile when someone starts talking to him and he tries to respond with his own “coos” and babble talk. This is especially fun because at the end of the conversation, you always get your way since he can’t talk back yet. For example, he likes to gnaw on his fists to which we repeatedly pull his hands out of his mouth. That way so we can pretend he apologizes repeatedly for doing it even though he may not think that.

What advice would you give to working moms?

Find a daycare early! Sometimes it seems as competitive as getting into college with all the wait lists we were on. For a lot of the daycares, when we asked them if they had any availability, they told us it would be a 1–3 year wait… Other advice would be to focus on time management. Rest and relax while you can sense things will get busy at work and at home.

Also, mom guilt is real. It was hard dropping my son off at daycare the first few times especially since we didn’t know how he would react to being around unfamiliar faces. After the first few times, you’ll find that the daycare experience is quite nice. He comes home ready to sleep since he’s had so much playtime during the day.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

There’s going to be a lot of different advice thrown at you, most will be conflicting. But in the end, you realize there is no universal way to raise your kid, so feel free to choose what works for you!