2 RELUCTANT ARCHITECT OF THE TRUE ENEMY

If you teach yourself, 

to lie to yourself,

Then...

Your biggest worry, is not the enemy from outside.

It is the enemy from within.

For you are then, the architect of your own adversary. --D.S.B.S.Rhapsody Phoenix

©D.S.B.S.Rhapsody Phoenix 

0 UNEXPECTED LAUGHTER - LIFE TWISTS

In the midst of things, life can randomly give you something to laugh about when things feels dyer...

Mom: "Rhapsody..."

Me: "Yes Mommy."

Mom: "What setting do you put the washing machine on? Super?" 

Me: "Yes, and 2 rinses."

Mom: "I don't know what is happening, its not working."

Me: "Ok, Mommy, I am coming."

...at the washing machine...

Mom: "See, its not working."

...I looked at the washing machine settings...

Me: "Well Mom, " i say gently, "you have to plug it in for it to work."

Mom: "Oh Shit!!"

We both collapse into hysterical laughter.

Mom: "I don't unplug my washing machine, so it never occurred to me to think to plug it in." 

Me: "Its ok Mommy, it happens. You were going on how you do things not necessarily on how I do them.

She kept laughing periodically throughout the night as she recalled the experience. She was so worried that she broke the washing machine somehow. I laugh myself silly, sharing the incident with my oldest who promptly asked before i can finish the telling, "did she plug it in?" "No" i answered and we all collapsed into another fit of laughter. 

Word of the Day: 

Sometimes you have to see the humor in things and learn to laugh at yourself. It makes life more manageable. 

©D.S.B.S. Rhapsody Phoenix.

0 LOST LUNCH & RANDOM KINDNESS

I forgot my lunch on the train!! Spinach basmati rice, BBQ chicken, apples 🍎 🍎 and tangerines 🍊 🍊.

I sat on the streetcar fighting nausea and a headache. I took slow shallow breathes letting it out slowly. I didn't have any water to sip on, but I remembered I have apples in my lunch bag. Apples are juicy, so am thinking smalls bites and it juices may help. I reached for my lunch bag, it is then I realized, I forgot it on the train. I exclaimed, 'Oh no!' The TTC driver (bus driver) travelling as a passenger asked, "what's wrong?" 

" I forgot my lunch in the train. How can I get it back?" 

He looked at me sympathetically and said, " sorry, you can't, they just throw it away." 

I felt so disappointed. Then just said a prayer and ask God to please let a person in true need of a meal get it. I stayed hungry all day. 

At the end of my work day. I waited on the streetcar for over 49 minutes. Frustrated I decided to take an alternate route as 4 streetcar had already passed in the opposite direction. Obviously something was going on and I simply have a clue. A young Afro-Canadian wiman of Grenadian heritage was waiting at the stop as well but left and then came back. Remembering her I mentioned that no streetcars were coming. She asked, "how far are you going?" 

"Oh I am going to the subway." I answered. 

"We'll, I just called an Uber and it will need here in 3 minutes, she said consulting her phone. I can give you a ride to the subway, if you'd like." She offered. 

I looked at her and smiled saying, "oh that would be lovely, thank you." We talked, boarded the Uber, she was off to celebrate with her friend who just finished her PHD. I shared my cousin just finished hers and she said she was working on hers. I reached the subway. Thanks her and wished her a fabulous weekend and told her to enjoy the celebratory PHD completion party. 

I thought, not a bad end to a lunch starved day. Small mercies, makes all the difference. I reached home and promptly warmed up my leftover spinach basmati rice and BBQ chicken. It was damn good.

0 LOVE NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

The train stops 🚏, people exit and board. One South Asian elderly gentleman boarded and turned around to hold the door for his wife walking with the walker and the door closes. He looks at her helplessly, as she looks at him just as helpless. He extends his right hand and points up ☝🏽, as if to say 'ill wait for you at our stop. She shrugs her shoulders and nods her head in agreement. They looked at each other longingly resigned to the situation when suddenly, the door opens. The old man ready to jump out while she simultaneously moves to enter. Both realizing that the subway driver was actually holding the door open for her. He reaches for her as she quickens her pace and steps in. He immediately holds on to her and maneuvers her to a seat 💺. I smile thinking, 'small mercies '.

©D.S.B.S.Rhapsodyphoenix

2 RESPECT THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Everyone you meet, young or old woman, child, cisgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, all have the right to be respected and to have self-governance. Yeah, I know, you're probably stuck on "child". You will be surprised to know even children can communicate when they are uncomfortable. When the are too small to speak, they use their cries to convey discomfort. 

Simply put, everyone has the right to choose, who they want in their lives, to share a little, to share a lot or nothing about themselves with you. The degree is is not a determinant of your value or worth. Rather, it is about their personal choice to share or not to share. To set boundaries and parameters of comfort. In point, the same rights allotted to you. 

The truth is, we should All have boundaries that determine the depth and width of our relationships. Healthy Boundaries is a great thing.  Each of us needs to know what is and is not okay with the people in our lives. 

Boundaries teaches us the importance of our value and when conveyed to others, it teaches and establishes to the self and to others, what is acceptable, what is not acceptable, what will and will not be tolerated and how we want to be treated. 

Written by D.S.B.S Rhapsodyphoenix

©D.S.B.S Rhapsodyphoenix