Whenever I drove past that exit now, it was merely a sign board. The joy of taking that exit had eloped. It created a void. Every time I saw that sign, I had a sinking feeling. As if an important part of my life had been stolen.

I sat under the tree that I watched growing up. We both grew together except it felt like it had world’s wisdom, and I was learning a bit hard way.

I had seen the tree in every season in its full glory. My affinity had grown toward it by watching it through my bedroom window. In the summertime, its green leaf canopy rested as a huge crown would make every tree jealous on the street. In the fall, it would be the last tree to shed its golden yellow leaves as if its pride wouldn’t let it go of the leaves. In the spring, it had the most beautiful flowers that sparkled under the bright sun. The entire tree would be blanketed in white flowers creating the most stunning shade for the grass at its feet. On stormy nights, I’ve watched it dance. Million leaves dancing together all in unison yet having their own steps. The moon light flickering on its wet shiny bark would display an intricately woven piece.

Sometimes I would stare at it and ask an incredibly hard YES or NO life question, and it would simply give me an answer. YES would be a nod with the wind. The leaves would flutter and the branches swung – sometimes strongly and sometimes not so much. It gave me great joy that nature took time to answer. Sometimes, it would just stand still – not a single leaf quivering. It was an indication of a strict NO.

I’ve had shared my first kiss with it, my graduation, my first job, my first pay and so much more. I had poured my heart out whenever I had found myself in trouble. It had always comforted me by giving me a huge hug with those majestic branches even when it saw my tears through the glass window. It had wept with me. As if it were a clairvoyant, sometimes, it would make the birds sing just to cheer me up.

I didn’t like its answer of NO always. At times, I would be mad at it, but how can you be mad at such a loving, giving being for long who unconditionally had kept giving without you even asking for it. My bond had grown so much that sometimes I would just tell it to leave me alone, but it wouldn’t listen. It will create a magical scene with the shadow of dancing leaves and branches on my walls and table. Telling me to cheer up and move forward.

It weathered all the seasons standing alone, smiling, all-giving. I always wondered how I could learn from this tree to be so unselfish.

After all these years, when I sat down under it, all the emotions hit me. They punched me in my gut and tears came out gushing. When my family moved to another location, a part of me remained with the tree. Another family lived there now. The Green Grove Boulevard was mere a sign board on the highway which used to be my home.

Just as I was pondering, something touched my shoulder. I came out of my lost thoughts. The wind had blown the small swing with a wooden plank and a rope that was tied to its strong branch. It just nudged me. My tree recognized me and still knew my feelings. I stood up and touched the trunk.

A kid came out, stared at me for a moment, and finally said that I could swing on his swing. I smiled and nodded. I took a seat and a refreshing gush of wind swept around me. I was still learning from my tree!

Your Life’s efficiency = (Good Output from your Mouth) / (Bad Input in your Mouth)

Good Output is basically your SPEECH or things you utter from your mouth. If you say good things (good output from your mouth), you will feel good and people whom you are saying good things to, appreciate you. This creates overall a happier stance which increases productivity and a positive frame - at home OR at work. 

Similarly, Good input in your mouth is basically healthy food that you eat impacts your body, and in turn, your mind. Hence, the opposite of that would be eating junk food and/or in large quantities (bad input in your mouth) will increase diseases or unintended consequences thereby decreasing your energy levels, positivity, etc. 

Thus, managing both in this particular ratio are equally important for a good life efficiency.

A short love poem. The catch is

that the first sentence must have

seven words, and the following

sentences should countdown until

you have only

one word

for...

Too less of a time to state all my weaknesses!

I've always had a weakness for movies

I've always had a weakness for reading

I've always had a weakness for chocolates

I've always had a weakness for travelling beautiful places

I've always had a weakness for great food

I've always had a weakness for meeting people

I've always had a weakness for striving for excellence

I've always had a weakness for managing teams

I've always had a weakness for being strategic

I've always had a weakness for being outspoken

I've always had a weakness for being myself!

I said...

"It bothers me, it smothers me

Thinking of what lies ahead of me"

heard a voice back...

"What's unknown is always puzzling

Why your mind's thoughts guzzling"

"Thoughts are free and they have wings

No control what anxiety brings"

"So are you... free with wings

Cut those unreal strings

For tomorrow brings hope with great possibilities

Happy you are, lucky you are with responsibilities"

"But disappointment and despair I fear

For I've had a fair share of them, dear!"

"Expectations kill you, enjoy the journey

Nothing is permanent in this odyssey

What lies ahead no one knows

But Present is the gift for all of those"

"Thank you..."

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy.

I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need.

I love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do

I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on a new beginning.

A reason for living. A deeper meaning.

I want to stand with you on a mountain.

I want to bathe with you in the sea.

I want to lay like this forever.

Until the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,

I'll make a wish send it to heaven then make you want to cry

The tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty.

That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of

The highest power, in lonely hours, the tears devour you

I want…

I was right there when the door slammed. It was dark, and I could hear a shrill screech. I took a few steps back. As if the windows were alive, they started flapping and attacked the very frames holding them. The glass within shattered without making much noise but created quite a display with shards everywhere. Otherwise, it was eerily quiet and sepulchral inside the room.

Then a thin line of blood rushed from underneath the door crack, slowly forming a pool of red hot blood... that is where I stopped writing my horror scene. :)