#may

Aref knelt, reached into his pocket and produced an implement made from a small stick which he called his miswak, the use of which he silently illustrated before handing her his spare. He also gave her a clean cloth and a bowl of the freshly collected water. She was directed to soften the dry stick in the water, then copy him by cleaning her mouth, using the miswak like a toothbrush. Gazing at the blood on the cloth, then down at the clothing the native had placed over her legs, soldier Freeman sighed. Aref watched and waited and then, sitting back on his haunches, showed her too that she must rub her feet and calves to stimulate the circulation. She copied him again, sliding her hands across the tops of her ankles and flexing her toes. Glad that she had followed his direction for once, Aref took a more relaxed break, sitting away from her and taking out his carving tools. He whetted his utility knife with the small stone he carried, studying the soldier’s reaction closely from afar. Instantly, he sensed her distrust. She stared at the knife in his hands, as if he might use it against her, but he continued working peacefully, then slid the implements back into his pockets and loaded his miswak onto the belt at his hips, wondering, with the gentle sarcasm his friends had so appreciated in him, how much of his adult life it could conceivably take to prove to this woman he was worthy. ↗

— Amaya Ellman

#broken-shells #conflict #fiction #freedom #friendship

Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate. ↗

— Zhuangzi

#centered #doing #flow #free #happen

I was discriminated against because I was Jewish, Italian, black and Puerto Rican. But maybe the worst prejudice I experienced was against the poor. I grew up on welfare and often had to move in the middle of the night because we couldn't pay the rent. ↗

— Philip Zimbardo

#because #black #discriminated #experienced #grew

Science may never come up with a better office communication system than the coffee break. ↗

— Earl Wilson

#better #break #coffee #come #may

It was between the ages of 14 and 20 and I started off not eating at all, maybe an apple a day. ↗

— Torrie Wilson

#apple #between #day #eating #i

Neutrality is a negative word. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations on which peace may be rebuilt. ↗

— Woodrow Wilson

#does #express #feel #foundations #keep

That a peasant may become king does not render the kingdom democratic. ↗

— Woodrow Wilson

#democratic #does #king #kingdom #may

Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance. ↗

— William Wirt

#curiosity #desire #doubts #excited #ignorance

I can't say that I'm always writing in my head but I do spend a lot of time in my head writing or coming up with ideas. And what I do usually is write the music and melody and then, you know, maybe the basic idea. But when I feel that I don't have a song or just say, God, please give me another song. And I just am quiet and it happens. ↗

— Stevie Wonder

#am #another #basic #basic idea #coming

If Broadway no longer seems behind the times or ahead of the times, it may be because there are no 'times' anymore, no prevailing Zeitgeist that sets the fashion, pace, and prevailing look. ↗

— James Wolcott

#anymore #because #behind #broadway #fashion