The hands that give will one day be empty
The voice that speaks will soon fade into silence
What remains when time takes it all away?
“Zikr” (ذکر)/ arabic word
meaning remembrance, often used in a spiritual context to signify remembering what truly matters
I♥️
Be grateful every day, every moment!
Gratitude has the power to transform everything, even in challenges, setbacks, and uncertainty, there is always something to appreciate. When you shift your focus to what you do have, you open the door to more abundance, joy, and inner peace.
As Melody Beattie said, ‘Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.’
#roksanatales
What’s something you’re grateful for today?
Those who perceive life in rigid extremes of black and white fail to recognize the subtle shades of grey that lie in between, the complexities, nuances, and depth that shape reality. And yet, they claim to be lovers of nature, forgetting that nature itself thrives in gradients, transitions, and balance
True wisdom lies in embracing the in-between, the moments of uncertainty, the contradictions, and the unexplored perspectives
Just as the sky does not shift abruptly from day to night but fades gently through twilight, life, too, is a spectrum of experiences
To truly appreciate nature is to understand that beauty exists not just in clarity, but also in the soft, uncertain edges of change
#roksanatales
Don’t you think so too?
Spring is approaching
Yet, a melancholy mood lingers
Life is in pause
Soft buds hesitate on the branch
Unsure if warmth has truly returned
A hush lingers in the earth
As if waiting for permission to bloom
#roksanatales
I♥️
A soft heart carries its pain in silence, absorbing the weight of unspoken emotions. It feels deeply, loves unconditionally, and endures quietly, often without anyone noticing. But even the gentlest heart deserves kindness, from others and from itself.
Strength lies not in hiding pain, but in allowing oneself to heal
#roksanatales
Susurro/ spanish
Whisper,’ symbolizing silent suffering and unspoken emotions
A love story happening everyday, here
Now and forever …
They stood by the river
Hands barely touching
The city humming around them
Unaware of the quiet storm within …
Big Ben watched in silence
Counting the seconds between heartbeats
While the London Eye turned slowly
Seeing love form and dissolve in its arc …
The water carried their voices away
Soft confessions lost in the tide
Until only the wind remembered
What they could not say …
A love story happening everyday, here
Now and forever …
#roksanatales
I♥️
Be gentle with me, my love
Like the dawn touching the sea
Soft, steady, never rushing forward
Be gentle with me, my love
Like roots holding the ancient tree
Firm, patient, never demanding more
Be gentle with me, my love
Like mist wrapping the quiet hills
Light, lingering, never pressing too close
Be gentle with me, my love
Like a river shaping the stone
Persistent, tender, never breaking apart
Be gentle with me, my love
Like the moon pulling the tides
Distant, devoted, never letting go
Be gentle with me, my love
#roksanatales
I♥️
Colors fill me with joy,
Spilling into every space I see …
#roksanatales
It may seem to others that you’re in a phase of soul-searching, but they won’t realize, you’ve already found your soul. This journey has been profoundly beautiful and transformative, yet difficult for others to comprehend. You may try to share, but understand that some people struggle to express themselves, and everyone sees the world through their own lens
As Rumi once said, ‘The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand’, you know there is no right or wrong in differing perspectives, only different spaces, energies, or levels of understanding. Don’t risk having your truth entirely misunderstood, for in sharing, its quiet beauty might be stripped away. Instead, you smile, let them hold onto their thoughts, and walk away
This journey is yours alone. Perspectives may differ, but while no one is perfect, each person is uniquely their own
Simply believe in respect for all
#roksanatales
Vedānā/ pali/sanskrit
Vedānā refers to a deep, intuitive feeling or sensation—beyond words, beyond logic
Also, does anyone have another title suggestion for this musing?
Also, lately, I’ve been hooked on the soulful song “Na Tum Samjhe” by Sajjad Ali. It has a gentle, melancholic tune with soothing melodies and heartfelt lyrics that capture unspoken emotions beautifully
I♥️
If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?
-Rumi
This is one of my most cherished quote, and I often reflect on it. It helps me stay humble, grounded, and teaches me to flow like water.
You cannot irritate me; I’m focused on my own growth and shine. I want you to shine too.
I♥️
Creating ‘Mindful Moments’ may seem easy, but no, my dear, it’s not. The human heart is intricate and complex. You cannot just dive into someone’s heart and make it open to you effortlessly.
However, at Jian Bird Creates – ‘Mindful Drawing Moments’ program, it’s a completely different experience. Every session becomes a deeply enriching and humbling journey for me. I see light reflected in every participant’s journey. They share stories from their lives, sometimes sensitive and difficult, yet they find the courage to open up and unwind in a safe, supportive space. This vulnerability not only deepens the connection between us but also creates an environment of mutual healing and growth.
I’m profoundly grateful to my participants for giving me these beautiful moments to cherish for a long time.
Jian Bird Creates- ‘Mindful Drawing Moments’
Theme of the Day for the program:
Small Habits/Steps at a Time
Theme of the session was ‘Small Habits/Steps at a Time,’ which beautifully aligns with patterned artwork. Just as habits are formed by repeating small actions, participants created mesmerizing artworks by repeating simple patterns like dots and circles, infusing their unique touch. The results were truly stunning.
The underlying inspiration of this journey was Kaizen, the Japanese concept of continuous improvement. It emphasizes making small, consistent changes to bring about meaningful progress in life.
Reflections and Realizations:
Our participants shared their proudest achievements, goals, and heartfelt inspirations. They opened up about their aspirations for life, such as, self-love, better sleep, improving health, striving for balance, and living a non-judgemental and more disciplined life. Listening to their reflections reminded me of the beauty and power of setting intentional goals.
We realized that no matter how much we achieve, it’s all in vain without inner peace. Here, we focus on fully enjoying the process of taking every small step toward our goals. With a grateful and satisfied mind, it becomes easier to embrace the essence of life and simply “Just be, just be!”
Closing Thoughts
Be mindful of the small things in life, appreciate them, and take small steps. Each small action brings us closer to our true selves, fostering growth and gratitude within
With warmth and gratitude,
Roksana Amelia
Jian Bird Creates – Mindful Drawing Moments
At Dhaka Flow Studio, Gulshan
18th January, 2025
Love, light, and shine ✨
#roksanatales
I♥️
I’ve left my heart over there
Alive in the mountain’s embrace
Where silence speaks louder than words ….
#roksanatales
Saudade/ portuguese
(n.) a profound emotional state of longing or nostalgia, often for something or someone absent, with a mix of melancholy and beauty
.
Have you ever experienced a deep longing or nostalgia for a place?
For me, it’s Kashmir. You probably already know this, don’t you?
I♥️
Your story and mine, left incomplete …
A tale unfinished, yet echoes remain where we meet …
Saudade/ Portuguese
A deep emotional state of longing or nostalgia for something or someone absent or incomplete.
Farq Hai: looping this song, all day long
I♥️
Your absence hums like a violin string snapped mid-note
A comet that vanished before its trail could unfold
The eclipse of a lighthouse on a storm-battered coast …
Time crawls, a spider weaving webs of empty hours
Memories linger like fireflies trapped in a jar
Each one dimming, yet refusing to fade into stars …
Your voice was rain stitching needles through thirsty leaves
Now silence looms like an unfinished symphony’s grief
A mosaic missing its most vivid, sacred piece…
I search for you in the scent of forgotten gardens
In waves that speak like poets lost to their stanzas
In winds that carry secrets of unuttered mantras …
Truth is, I miss you like the moon misses its tides
A ship adrift, no constellations to confide
The ache of a heart where all its echoes reside
#roksanatales
I♥️
I love the mystery in you
A quiet depth, like a still lake at dusk
Holding reflections that shift with every glance
The shadow you cast
Is not absence but presence
A soft veil over what could be, inviting me to wonder, not to solve …
You are a riddle
Pieces scattered like stars in a wide open sky
Each clue a whisper of meaning, yet the answer stays just out of reach …
A whirlwind stirs within you
Not chaos but motion
Drawing me closer, only to spin me into wonder again …
You are a mystery box
Sealed with care and quiet allure
Its weight a promise of something unseen
Waiting for those who dare to open without haste …
And yet, I do not seek to solve you
For the beauty lies in not knowing
To stand at the edge of your mystery is a wonder enough for me …
The word “Mystère” comes from the Latin word “mysterium,” meaning “secret” or “something hidden.”
The unknown can be beautiful and fascinating in its own right
What do you say?
I♥️
Carry the light, even when shadows press close!
Know that the spark you offer is
A ripple in the vast, unseen glow …
Let the weary heart find strength
In the promise: His light endures …
Unchallenged, unswerving
A beacon no darkness can claim …
#roksanatales
🌺 ✨
Painting flowers, specifically wildflowers brings me so much joy. The freedom to create soft, flowing shapes and play with colors feels relaxing and uplifting. It’s a beautiful way to connect with nature and let my imagination bloom. It brings delight, reminding me of the simple beauty in wild, untamed things …
What brings you joy? – I always wonder!
I don’t write to change other’s view
Yet with each word, my mind finds clarity
I write not to make a difference, it’s true
But to drift away, escaping the reality …
I don’t paint to transform the world
But to steady the tremor within my soul
Each brushstroke a whisper of stillness
Each color a fragment of the peace I seek …
I don’t dance to dazzle or be seen
But to let the weight of the day fall away
Each step a silent prayer, each movement a release
Until I am nothing but breath and fleeting grace …
I don’t smile to hide the ache inside
But to remind myself of the light I can still hold
Each curve of my lips a quiet rebellion
Against the weight that tries to pull me below
Simply saying whether it’s through writing, painting, dancing, or smiling, I don’t do these things for others, I do them to heal and comfort my soul. These and more reflect my journey of seeking and creating my own sense of inner peace …
How do you find your inner solace?
Even if it’s just a few words from you
They fill my heart with joy
A quiet happiness that stays
Making me feel seen
Making me feel loved …
Even if it may not reflect
How you truly think of me
Or anything more than passing thought
Yet still, it is enough …
Even if it’s just a faint glow
Like the moon’s light through distant clouds
It softens the darkness within me
A quiet reminder that warmth still exists …
#roksanatales
I’m listening to a song
Hoping you are too …
It feels like it carries messages
Only you would understand …
I dive into its meaning
As if the lyrics are threads
Weaving stories of us
In a language only the heart speaks …
It tells me you are light
Not blinding, but steady …
A quiet presence
That shifts the shadows in my world …
My heart whispers
‘Stay, even for a moment’ …
It doesn’t care where life leads
It only wants to feel you here …
These feelings, unspoken and vast
Feel like gifts the song carries
I wonder if you’ll hear them too …
#roksanatales
🎶
I recently came across the poem, ‘Tell Me Tomorrow’ by Becky Hemsley, and I absolutely loved it. The poem feels similar to the musings above. It talks about unspoken feelings, hope, and the quiet longing for someone’s presence. They show how love can be patient and gentle, even when words are hard to say. The musings and the poem capture the beauty of waiting and the desire to connect …
I don’t know about you, yet I wish to know what you think about both, My musings and the poem …
I♥️
Walk your path with quiet strength
Unaffected by the noise of others
Intentions speak louder than explanations
And peace grows from within ….
#roksanatales
What keeps you grounded when others misunderstand you?
Autumn arrives gently, with leaves of red, yellow and gold falling around me. I want to stay in its soft beauty, holding onto the fading light a little longer …
Dear Fall,
Do not leave me
Do not let me go …
#roksanatales
Your absence has gone through me, like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.”
Separation by W.S. Merwin
You cannot save anyone. You can be present with them, offer your groundedness, your sanity, your peace. You can even share your path with them, offer your perspective. But you cannot take away their pain. You cannot walk their path for them. You cannot give answers that are right for them, or even answers they can digest right now. They will have to find their own answers.
My thoughts are scattered …
Oh dear!
Restless I feel …
My heart aches deeply …
He captivates my heart …
My thoughts are scattered …
Right now …
Oh dear!
I continually shatter my heart,
Dispersing its fragments
Until they touch
The depths of your being,
My beloved …
#roksanatales
My Dear,
It’s likely that as you were writing to me, I was walking back home from work, taking in the beauty of the flowers in my charming neighborhood …
I adore my neighborhood. The scenery is incredibly captivating with its tall trees and beautiful blossoming flowers. I frequently opt to walk home from work, as it’s only 850-1000 steps from my workplace to my home …
So, what I was saying about my neighborhood!
I really admire the shade under the tall trees and enjoy watching the breeze rustle through the colorful bougainvillea. It’s lovely to see people walking along the footpath and enjoying their time. As I passed by the mosque, I noticed people seeking relief from the scorching heat under the trees in front of the mosque. I adore the vibrant colors, the fragrant scents, and the sense of simplicity in that scene.
It was scorching heat outside. And there I found myself embracing the warmth of the surroundings. There was refreshing cool breeze and thoughts of you. It may sound unbelievable, but it’s the truth. Your presence in my thoughts remains unwavering amidst the whirlwind of life’s events. Please, believe that.
So, where was I? I was expressing my fondness for the delightful, blossoming, shady path in my neighborhood and how much I’m fond of you …
Today I took a break from work as I was feeling an intermittent cramping in my abdomen. Some rest will help me feel better. However,. Sudden leave from work leads me to think, “How can I best utilize this extra time at home?” Swiftly, I begin mentally compiling a to-do list. Eventually, I decided to walk back home…
While returning, I found myself feeling happy to see these blossoms and greens. The outside heat was too strong but I cared less and I continued walking, intermittently pausing to capture photographs.
I returned home and checked my email once again. I was so surprised to receive your mail. This news brightened my day so much that now I feel inspired to spend the next few hours painting.
I find great pleasure in painting when my heart is filled with happiness and I was very happy to read your mail.
Your words and painting will grace my own solitude for today, now and here.
Do you enjoy solitude?
I eagerly await your response to my somewhat poetic emails.
Have a peaceful, wonderful, blissful day!
Yours truly,
^^
#roksanatales
Do you enjoy solitude?
C’est la vie means ‘That’s life’ 😊
There once was a curious soul
Wondering how your days roll
What activities fill your time …
It’s something she often wonders about …
Completely immersed in the moment
#roksanatales
What do you do when you’re happy or very happy?
A university degree, four books, and hundreds of articles and I still make mistakes when reading, You write to me “good morning” and I read it as, “I love you” …
Desires unmet, dreams fade
Yet, gratitude fills the heart
Finding joy in what we have …
#roksanatales
Discovering happiness doesn’t always involve fulfilling your desires.; it’s about cherishing what you already possess and expressing gratitude for it …
Finding Joy in life’s simple yet priceless pleasures, like
-relishing solitude at home
-preparing homemade meals
-writing letters in such era of emojis and instant messaging
-engaging in agenda less conversations with loved ones
-spreading joy with smiles and laughter
-lighting fragrant candles
-tending to plants, and
-expressing ‘I love you’ selflessly and unconditionally
-coming back to home by walking and appreciating the friendly neighbourhood and the beautiful surroundings with greenery and flower blossoming
And many more of such things ….
Please do share some of your small moments in which you find joy ….
Can you perceive
An unseen bond between us?
It ties us together; trust it, my love …
It’s invisible, yet unmistakably sensed
Certainly by me …
Do you not sense it as well?
A connection surpassing time and distance…
Ours is an endless bond
Our eternal, cherished blessing …
Through moments fleeting and forever
The thread weaves its way …
Stretching, sometimes tangling,
Yet resilient, unyielding …
As time, as it is infinite, it will stay …
Oh, my beloved, my dear …
Please pardon me, the mistake was mine
Throughout the moments we shared
And the clarity we’ve known …
It took me a while
To fully understand your essence …
Now I know
This love endures, and
Time, place, circumstance may shift,
This love is unbroken, my constant uplift …
#roksanatales
I’m uncertain if the title fits these verses. Do you have a suggestion?
^^
In English we simply say
“I love you” …
In poetry we say
There’s a phrase that’s forever in view …
With a heart full of glee
It’s easy to see
That phrase, my dear, is “I love you!” …
#roksanatales
Roksana Tales 