life

Afraid

/ riainthecity / Leave a comment


Let’s talk about her – her choices, her decisions, her life and her things.

She is strong, independent, well educated and afraid.

She opted for an arranged marriage because she was afraid of ending up alone. Afraid that she won’t be able to have children.
Afraid of what people will say – the rumours they will spread, that will sting.
But most of all she is afraid of what her parents will think.

Now she is afraid of saying no to her husband. She is afraid because she knows that she is not ready to be a mother.
Afraid of the consequences her actions will bring.
But most of all she is afraid of what her parents will think.

She is brave in more ways than one.
She deserves to be loved and respected, not shunned.
Parents, please tell your daughters about all the joy that they bring.
So that they are no longer afraid of what you might think.

This post is inspired by a chat I had with a young woman recently. If you are reading this, I want you to know – you are brave, loved and I’ve got your back.

Consistency, September TBR pile & Bookstagram goals

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Last week, while at a conference, I asked a blogger friend of mine how he managed to monetize his blog and he said, “I just blogged every single day for two years and it took off.”

While I don’t think it is just a matter of luck, I do believe that consistency is key to being good at anything. I see that in my 5 month old, who constantly tries to push herself further by first learning to roll over on her belly and now by trying to crawl. I am even beginning to see signs of her starting to sit.

My point is, she didn’t know how to do any of this stuff when she was born and with sheer willpower and daily practice, I am sure she will learn all of it.

Books I am reading in September:

I am currently reading a book titled “Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud. The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman” by Anne Helen Peterson. A series of essays aimed at highlighting stories of strong women who, for the lack of a better phrase, don’t give a fuck and always do their thing — and that’s exactly what has made them successful. The first chapter is about Serena Williams. I had no idea that the Williams’ sisters trained that hard to turn the odds in their favour and it is truly eye opening.

“As Richards later recalled in his autobiography, he’d arrange for kids in Compton to stand outside the courts while the girls were playing and yell every racial slur they could think of — a way to harden them against the white recoil that was bound to accompany their rise.”

Will write a more detailed review on this once I have read through the whole book.

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Wow just wow! If you read one book this year, make it this📚 Scarborough is a low income, culturally diverse neighbourhood east of Toronto; it suffers under the weight of poverty, drugs, crime and urban blight. The book tells the story of several of its inhabitants but isn't just all doom and gloom – as many books like this tend to be. It definitely kept me up all night. My folks also live in Scarborough and this is the side of Scarborough that I have heard about but never seen for myself. And that's me acknowledging my own privilege. As is the case with many a neighbourhood in Toronto, there is such a stark difference between two different sides of the street, let alone a totally different side of town. 🙍🏻🙍🏻🙍🏻🙍🏻🙍🏻 🌙Day 4,5,6 of #moonlitreads right here🌙 4️⃣currently reading 5️⃣indie covers 6️⃣read in a day . . . #moonlitreads #bibliophile #cat #home #bookish #booknerd #bookishphotography #booknerd #scarborough #canadareads #womenauthors #lgbtq #diversebooks #bookchallenge #booklove #bookworm #newrelease #catherinehernandez #debutnovel

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I did finish reading Scarborough earlier this month and it is a fantastic read.
What did I like so much about it? The fact that it is set in a neighbourhood where I have actually lived in Toronto, realistic characters and heart wrenching stories.

I did, finally, start a book specific Instagram account on May 27 this year, which already has more than 300 followers and I am quite proud! The photos featured above are from my account.
Goal: Connect with 500 amazing book bloggers by end of the year!

What have you been up to lately?

Saving Me, Saving You

/ riainthecity / 3 Comments

At the beginning, I thought I was collecting the pieces.

At the beginning… I thought I could be the one to help…

…but as time passed a realization came.

letting-go-is-hard

A realization that I was indulging in a very selfish form of love…

…Not the selfless kind I dreamed of but the kind that destroys you and leaves you hollow…

Maybe it’s time to let go…

let_go

…and maybe… just maybe it’s time to say goodbye.

letting-go

Somethings

/ riainthecity / 6 Comments

Lea was quiet at first, she didn’t want to say anything.

Couple of times, she parted her lips but no sound came out. As he sat himself down across the table from her, all she wanted was to shake him up and tell him not to lie anymore.

She didn’t want to hurt him. In fact, even after all of his lies she wanted to be there for him, but clearly this wasn’t working.

Her brain screamed RUN but her heart told her otherwise. She sighed heavily and just tried to regain her sanity.

Sipping on her cup of tea, she thought about all the things she liked about him.

‘It’s not too bad,’ she thought to herself, ‘we all have our little quirks. Maybe just maybe he will have a change of heart.’

Oh what will she do…

****

So hey there lovely people! Haven’t blogged in forever! Have just been busy with school and work but here I am! Who is doing Nanowrimo this year? Let me know! I love you all! x

And the above is for Nanowrimo, I know this is not well edited and I am still working on things but I’ll get there, I hope!