Effort Speaks

“Jumping into the water, and swimming to the other end seems nice, But what if you don’t know how to swim? What if you slipped or someone threw you in the water, what if you drown? What if no one comes to save you?” Mirha leaned forward, raised her eyebrows and lowered her voice, “You will die” She nodded her head and continued. “One must do some effort to save himself. One must work hard to get through the trouble. If one is doing nothing for his life, he has no right to complain later on. You see a lot of success stories daily. Do all these stories inspire you?” Mirha asked Barizah. Barizah was looking towards her writing table.

“I am lacking ideas Mirha, and I was listening to her in the hope of getting one” She got up from the couch, turned the television off, and sat on her writing chair.

“I know it’s not easy to write, I know you got stuck at times. But Barizah I am into writing for 10 years, and I want you to just write, instead of listening to these motivational speakers.” Mirha came to her holding a cup of coffee, and placing it in front of her on the table.

“But these speakers encourage me to write.”

“Then why don’t you write?”

“I don’t know, I think I am facing writer’s block.”

“There is nothing like writer's block, there comes a time when writers get stuck with writing but a writer can never get out of ideas.”

“But I got at times; I don’t know how to make myself back to writing.”

“So it means you are not sincere with your passion. It’s not writer’s block, it's called laziness. A creative mind came across thousands of ideas a day. Don’t you remember how much time I used to invest in my writing at the start of my writing career?”

“I remember and I still wonder how you write for days, I mean I can’t write a single stanza”

“You need to polish your skills.”

“Polish skills?”

“Yes, polish. Write every day even if you write a single stanza or you write just an idea. Write every day.” She emphasized the last sentence. “Fix an hour of the day and write at that hour. The whole hour.” She again emphasized the last word. “Write whatever comes to your mind. Writing doesn’t mean you have to write well. The first one is always a draft and it can’t be perfect. Respect your imperfections. Allow your words to explore pages. Allow yourself to write whatever you want. Either it will be garbage or a masterpiece. Don’t fear of writing garbage, it can be turned into a masterpiece. Believe me, you will see the difference in a few days, you will see how your words leave your fingers on your own, and you will see ideas flowing through your mind to a paper straight. You will find your heart loving the piece of writing you have written. Trust me it will work. Just give yourself a 10 days challenge and write anything.”

Mirha’s phone rang; she looked at her phone, “Editor’s call” She got up, “10 days challenge, just 10 days.” She said by looking at her sister, attended the call and left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Barizah was looking at the door to her sister. As though she was thinking of the challenge, she took her bullet journal from the left drawer and started writing,

She asks me to write every day,

What comes to mind with the passing day;

I am promising myself to write every day,

I will write everything straightaway.

She stopped and looked towards the television installed in the right corner of the room, thinking, then got back to writing again,

I listen to podcasts to freshen my mind;

I watch TV shows to pass my time.

She advises me not to waste my time

I think she is right, I must write.

My dreams are big so I must fear;

I must work to make them real.

Her pen stopped again and her mind got blank. She looked at the trees outside the window and at the sky, and an idea popped up in her mind, she smiled and started writing in a new line.

The sky is getting cloudy;

And the trees are gazing at me;

As though they are asking me to write;

And are requesting to finish my poem

My pen is writing as it knows,

I have a pending poem to work on.

A smile appeared on her face, she closed the journal and placed it back in the drawer. She turned her laptop on and opened her unfinished poem;

she started reciting the finished stanza,

A girl was crying in the waiting room

Sitting alone with no one around;

Her tears were falling at the file

Which she was holding very tight;

She was rejected again for a job

And was discouraged to apply for more

(She recited them aloud four times and started typing with excitement)

The fear of facing her old mom

Was not letting her go home;

She was broken by the failure;

But she can’t let it drown her dreams

She wiped her tears and got up;

Set her goal for a public job,

She worked hard and one day

She came home with sweets in her hands,

She got the job with a handsome salary

She was happy and was saying,

Effort speaks when words do not.

Dreams are meant to work on,

And not for freezing in the mind.

One day you’ll see, how life changes,

And your dreams will turn into reality.

Never surrender yourself to failure,

Tightens your belt and work on

Your day will come and you will see,

How all your efforts will speak;

And you’ll be happy as you desired.

Barizah recited her poem aloud, edited it, and made it according to her wish, then got up excitedly and ran to her sister calling behind her.

“Mirha! I am done with the poem”

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Happiness is happiness, whether it's worth smiling or not. The world has so many aspiring writers and poets and a lot of people are here with so many ambitions flowing through their hearts. This story is dedicated to everyone who is making an effort. I write this to assure you all that effort speaks itself when words can’t, so keep working and keep trying, your hard work will pay off soon.

If you are facing only failure,

Don’t lose hope; you still have a chance,

You still have left with a lot to do,

Stay there, and explore,

clear your vision and try hard

One day you’ll make it to the end,

And you’ll be blessed with what you want.

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