I came across this piece earlier today, and it stopped me. We talk about the Napoleonic Wars like they were fought by one kind of soldier in one kind of uniform, but history is rarely that clean. This post digs into the lives of Black soldiers who served in that era — men like George Rose and Thomas James — whose stories sit in the margins instead of the main text.
I’m reblogging it because it reminds us how easily entire lives can disappear from the record, not by accident, but by habit. And sometimes the most important thing we can do is shine a light where the page went quiet.
Some words don’t just honor the fallen — they remind us the living are still carrying their ghosts.
I stumbled across a piece that doesn’t wear patriotism like a costume. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t wave flags. It simply stands still for a moment and asks: What happens to those who came home, but never truly made it back?
It traces the thin, invisible line between Veterans Day and Memorial Day—not to scold, but to reveal how often we blur the two because it’s easier than seeing the cost in human terms.
If you’ve ever said “Thank you for your service” and wondered afterward if it was enough—go read this.
Every now and then, a poem comes along that feels like it was written in a language your heart already understood. This one is exactly that—a quiet confession of the ways we love when we’re not sure the world is safe enough to love openly. And reading it through the Vietnamese translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm adds a different kind of weight. Her rendering doesn’t dilute Rumi’s longing; it sharpens it. The phrasing feels more intimate, more exposed, almost like a truth whispered in the dark rather than something meant for daylight. It carries the tremor of someone choosing their words carefully—not to hide the feeling, but to keep it from breaking.
I recognize myself in these lines—not because they’re romantic, but because they’re honest in the way only the wounded can be honest. The choices Rumi names—silence, loneliness, distance, wind, dreams—aren’t just poetic gestures; they’re survival strategies we adopt long before we ever learn to name them. Before I step into the analysis, I want to be clear about the feeling underneath all of this: this is a poem about longing, but it’s also a poem about what fear teaches us to call love.
Rumi’s Poem (Full Examination)
“I choose to love you in silence… Because in silence there is no rejection,” Silence becomes a controlled environment. No exposure, no risk. It’s the heart refusing to let someone’s “no” dismantle what feels sacred. There’s tenderness here, but also deep self-protection.
“I choose to love you in loneliness… Because in loneliness you do not belong to anyone but me,” Loneliness becomes ownership. Not of the person, but of the fantasy. It’s that quiet admission that imagined intimacy feels safer than shared intimacy—because reality involves other people, other choices, other ways to be hurt.
“I choose to cherish you from afar… Because distance will shield me from pain,” Distance is anesthetic. Keep the feeling alive, but keep it far enough away that it can’t burn you. There’s longing here rooted in past wounds—love held at arm’s length because closeness has teeth.
“I choose to kiss you in the wind… Because the wind is softer than my lips,” The wind becomes a surrogate for touch—the gentler, safer stand-in. This speaks to someone who has learned that physical connection can wound as easily as it heals. Gentleness outsourced to nature because the body remembers hurt.
“I choose to hold you in my dreams… Because in my dreams, you will be forever.” Dreams are the only place where love doesn’t die, change, betray, or disappear. Permanence becomes a fantasy because impermanence has already carved its mark.
Personal Reflection:
Rumi’s poem reads like someone tracing the outline of their own heart without daring to fill it in. Every choice—silence, loneliness, distance, dreams—feels less like surrender and more like survival. Anyone who’s lived through love that left bruises knows this pattern: protect the feeling by protecting yourself. Sometimes the safest place to love someone is the one where you never have to test whether they love you back.
But there’s a heavier truth humming beneath these lines. Loving in silence isn’t just reverence—it’s fear wearing poetry as armor. We tell ourselves we’re choosing distance when what we’re really choosing is control.
Silence keeps us from being shattered. Loneliness gives us a version of them we never have to share. Dreams let us rewrite the ending.
The thing is, these choices don’t just shield us from pain—they shield us from possibility. And that’s the part Rumi doesn’t say but implies: sometimes unspoken love is a sanctuary, and sometimes it’s a cell. The heart learns to ration hope after it’s been broken enough times. We call it wisdom, but it’s also scar tissue deciding what stories we’re allowed to tell.
Still, there’s something profoundly human in this poem—this instinct to hold what feels sacred in the quiet. Not every love needs to be confessed to be real. Some loves are meant to teach us, soften us, remind us we’re still capable of feeling deeply even after the world has taken its swings.
Maybe the point isn’t to stay hidden. Maybe it’s to understand the terrain of our own tenderness before we risk crossing it with someone else. Silence can be a starting point, not a resignation. Distance can be a breath, not a retreat.
And dreams… well, sometimes dreams hold our truest selves until we’re ready to step into the light and admit what we want out loud.
When I first posted this QOTD, I would simply post the quote with no personal reflection or reflective prompt. I’ve always thought about expanding my QOTD posts. However, it took nearly a year to figure out how I wanted to handle these posts. So, I will post the same quote and provide the information as I currently handle it. This post was originally posted onAugust 24, 2024.
Personal Reflection Music has always had a way of cutting through the noise. Elvis said it plain—when you feel it, you move. That’s the essence of rock and roll, but it’s also the essence of being alive. Too often, we overthink what should just be felt. I’ve learned that if something stirs you—whether it’s music, words, or even silence—you owe it to yourself not to hold back. That instinct to move, to respond, is proof you’re still lit from the inside.
Reflective Prompt What’s a song that still makes you move without hesitation? Does it remind you of who you were, or who you still are?
In a world that constantly demands we cram as much as possible into every single day, this post resonates deeply. It’s a reminder that sometimes, slowing down is the most productive thing we can do.
I spent a lot of time taking crappy photos before I got lucky and snapped a good one—total fluke. That’s when I realized I had no idea what actually made a photo work. If that sounds familiar, this post is for you. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for years and need a refresher, it breaks down simple, practical composition tips—like leading lines, framing, and the Rule of Thirds—that actually make your shots look better. Doesn’t matter if you’re shooting with a phone or a DSLR. Check it out—you’ll be surprised how much a few small changes can improve your photos.
Reblogging this powerful and vulnerable piece from Stephanie. Her courage in acknowledging her truth and sharing her journey with alcoholism and recovery deeply resonated with me.
Reading this stirred something in me—not just empathy, but reflection. While our paths differ, the terrain of struggle, self-confrontation, and healing feels familiar. I’ve danced with my own shadows, and I’ve been meaning to speak on that for a while now.
I’ll be sharing more about my journey in the coming days—not to diminish Stephanie’s voice but to add to the conversation. Healing isn’t a solo act. It’s a chorus, and sometimes, just hearing another voice echo your truth can be the thing that carries you a little further.
In this life, we are bombarded with the notions of becoming “a better you”, “the best version”. While in this post, The Creative Chic has something to say about these notions. Check it out
I reread this post from earlier this year and realized nothing has changed. Yet, I wonder why WordPress can’t develop any new material. Have we entered the remake era for daily prompt questions? If so, I don’t remember things going all that well with movies.
As it turns out, my favorite cartoon hasn’t changed in a year. Imagine that! I suppose I could make up something about how I loved SpaceGhost or He-Man, but I’d be lying, and you guys would see right through it
For some reason, Jetpak likes to recycle questions for their prompts. Usually, when this happens, I either ignore the question or provide a different answer. However, my previous response is still valid since this prompt was only asked a few months ago.
Sophia Tallon has published 5 Big Distractions From Writing and How to Beat Them, by Ben Starling at her site. “How do to defeat distractions and stay on top of targets? Some times I don’t. But I’ve found a few plans for conquering my distractions that work well for me most of the time. Perhaps […]
I think it’s essential to establish a routine as a writer. Many of the greats discuss this technique in several books about writing. The post below offers some tips.
I first met Dave a few years back at a gun show. My brother was looking for something particular for his collection, and I was just hanging out. We ran into Dave, and he told about his products, and I brought one. I do knives like my brother does guns. A Great guy who makes a solid product. Take a look at his interview.
I wish I had known this information before I started my blog. Though I made the best choice for me and my schedule, there are still things I would have liked to know before making my decision. I find this a very interesting read. Maybe you will as well.
What is the difference between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org? Learn everything you need to know here.
When I first started seriously considering writing as a career, I found myself in competition with other writers. Ridiculous, huh? What made matters worse was that I didn’t realize this until years later. This post will help you not do that.
For some reason, this recipe sounds good to me. I’ve used several recipes from this lady. She knows what she’s doing. Check out her latest. Here’s the link click here
I definitely agree with this article. My inner critic has kept me in the shadows for many years when it came to releasing my fiction. I find the article to be full of solid advice.
Nicole’s blog is one where I enjoy sitting down with my coffee and ingesting what she has to say. She’s a wonderful poet; her prose isn’t filled with unnecessary fluff. So, if you aren’t familiar with her work, get over there and stop playing around.
This morning, I had the opportunity to spend some time on her blog and found this wonderful piece.
~We need to shout this from the rooftops! NO MORE!~
Over the last few years, my nutritionist has been trying to get me to switch to quinoa. Yes, I hear some of you cringing as you read this. Trust me, I’m there with you. Despite the health benefits and tasty quinoa recipes, I make this dish with kale, sauteed chicken, and quinoa to die for. Anyway, I’m still a rice eater, Jasmine being my favorite.
So, Creative Bug stopped by the Memoirs and left a link to this wonderful article about rice. Give it a read; I’m on my way into the kitchen to cook up some stuff. While we are at it share some tasty recipes.
As I think about this article, I can see the validity of its argument. I can remember having very few male teachers in my education journey. It wasn’t until I attended university that I noticed the existence of more male teachers. I see another problem. In my work, I’ve noticed the absence of male role models or mentors. Regarding the absence of role models, I believe it has something to do with the erosion of trust. Put simply, people don’t trust others with their children anymore. I concede there is a reason for this erosion of trust, but it shouldn’t be blanketly applied.
In regard to the absence in the classroom, this has been an ongoing issue that has increased over time. Partly because I believe in society’s view of male teachers. Traditionally, males are viewed as the primary breadwinner and must provide a stable environment for their families. Though an honorable profession filled with rewards, teaching has historically been underpaid.
I find this article to be solidly written and filled with points. Take a few minutes to not only read it, but think about the issue Henry is addressing.
I was reading Timeline by Michael Crichton and it was the first time, I remember seeing a bibliography in a novel. Like a good little geek, I checked every source. Now, it wasn’t like I thought Mr. Crichton had gotten anything wrong, it was for research purposes. You see I’m building a time machine in my basement and I need all the help I can get. This is a solid article another tool we as writers can add to our toolbox.
This is one for the non-fiction writers, though keeping a record could be useful for fiction writers who might use some facts, such as in fiction based on historical events or any story set in a real life place. Keeping a record of sources for facts can save you loads of time, even if you […]
So, I brought this book years ago, back when I brought everything that had something to do with writing. I felt if I was going to become a better writer I needed every book on the subject. Quickly, I discovered there were far too many books on the subject for to purchase. Just my luck.
However, as it turns out, it was my luck I purchased a few books in this series and found them to be valuable tools in the craft. So many times as writers we find ourselves using the same groups of words in the things we no matter the size of our vocabulary. This book and books like assist us in finding better way to convey what we are trying to say.
I found this post while reading another article. Sometimes, you just sorta stumble into stuff. I read the article and was shocked on how much it applied to me. Excellent article. Check it out!
I was overvisiting Anita’s blog, catching up on my reading. I’m so far behind. I came across two of her posts concerning writing. This particular blog post struck a nerve. I’ve been considering retiring from the workforce and packing up my truck, camera, cat, and grandson to shoot some pictures. Though photography is a favorite hobby, I’ve considered doing more with it.
Despite the joy I receive from on-the-road shooting pictures, photography alone doesn’t do it for me. I need to write every day. I don’t have any control over this compulsion. I’m a slave to it, so to speak. I had a pen in my hand long before I had a camera. However, I have discussed my feelings about writing. I can’t say for sure if I discussed why I write clearly.
I can’t point to one reason for writing simply. However, I think I can describe what happens when I write. When it come to writing, I used to confess the echoes of madness from the crevasses of my mind. It tames my demons. It’s like I feel them settling down in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea and opening to the page of the current book they are reading. Yes, of course, my demons read. I don’t particularly care for their favorite genres, but we make work.
Writing is how I clear the thoughts whispered to me throughout the day. I can relax. I can feel like a regular person, even if it’s only until I finish a chapter. I have to tell stories, or I’ll lose my mind. It’s my way of separating the negative thoughts from the positive ones. I understand the necessity of the existence of both. Writing is how I attempt to find the balance I so desperately need.
This is a powerful piece. It fills me with sadness, love, and hope. It reminds me of when my wife died and how much I loved her. I never got to say goodbye, but I hope someday she will be able to look the way she did and tell me I’m still crazy… just crazy!
I’ve been reading this blog since my return. I always find it insightful and informative. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading his work, What are you waiting for? Get over there!
Memoirs of Madness 