To write the real, you have to show all the rawness, which has its harsh beauty and this is my platform to do just that. Not shying away from any subject matter or theme. Blog entries, Poetry (Free verse, Haiku, Narrative poetry), Black History,Photography, and a full course of wisdom quotes. Peace, TheRhymeRula
Unanswered questions still remain,
But look ahead with hopeful eyes.
Rejection felt but not in vain.
Envy leaps in, a vengeful pest
Its cruel quest can’t be denied
But when we look at what it brings
We know that resentment never wins
Homie where’s the growth?
Ripe dreams expire
But you stay stubborn and hardwired
Finding it too comfortable to let go
Time for a new course of action
Let your heart be enveloped in grace
And find a better place
Where envy never finds its mark
And emotions never darken
In a frenzy, it’s time to cleanse thee
Wake up and empty out the envy
It is understandable for one to feel envious when seeing someone’s life as “perfect” compared to theirs, and this feeling when left unchecked can become destructive. With that said, envy can often lead to damaged self-esteem and create resentment towards the person whose life we perceive as perfect. As a result, this gives way for an individual to constantly compare themselves to someone who has something that is bereft in their life, and in extreme cases want to sabotage it so satisfaction can be achieved, and with that, they create their intended level playing field. Moreover, once envy becomes destructive it prevents us from looking at our own lives in a positive light and instead allows the proverbial devil on the shoulder to take over our thoughts.
Artwork credit – Rafi Perez
Social media has become a sort of vacuum and echo chamber for people to post, project, and propagate what they consider to be trendy or the ideal image of success. Therefore, these platforms facilitate data that is accessible for comparisons to be made by all users. It went from being a microcosm (pre-social media comparisons of those close to you) to a global assessment contest (strangers evaluating each other). In addition, if one doesn’t fit that criterion then they’re seen as doing something wrong and it gets exacerbated with a bombardment of imagery that erodes self-esteem. Furthermore, envy manifests itself as dissociation from the self. Not to mention, an individual will get frustrated after pondering on why they’re not involved in situations they’re missing out on (FoMO, Fear of missing out. Once this feeling of FoMO compounds one might begin vicariously living through the ones they envy and envisioning satisfaction. However, once reality sets in, a feeling of inauthenticity takes over.
We carry around envy amplification devices and push buttons on fabricated images and stories. We internalize and rationalize them to the point where it becomes masochistic. In other words, when one voyeuristically scrolls (passive) they are shown stimuli that they lack in their lives. This in turn will elicit “comparisonitis”. In regards to that, this fixation becomes ingrained into the psyche to the point where it could lead to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome, resentment, and comparisonitis are symptoms of envy but resentment comes last. The reason is, a person has to process what they have to do, and understand they’re as capable as the person experiencing what they desire, but they’re filled with doubt and fail to make a move. Moreover, if the feeling of envy isn’t confronted and rectified it can lead to depression and a sense of incompetence. An article that is the inspiration for this post (link included at the top of post) stated that envy is innate and I agree for the most part but I also think it can also be a learned behavior. For example, we have two brothers, and their parents get the younger brother better toys than his older brother. Not only that, the younger brother has to share them with him. From there the older brother gets frustrated that not only does he get subpar toys compared to his younger brother but has to share the better toys, which is something he wants (older brother) for himself. Hopefully, this example makes sense, because the point being made here is that even if you have something that will keep you satisfied, it’s never enough, and when you see someone you admire or is close to you receiving something that you’re deprived of, you can get consumed with resentment.
In summary, envy can be a destructive emotion that harms both the individual feeling it as well as those around them. It is important to understand why one feels envious and learn how to address those emotions without succumbing to the negativity of envy. If not, one will continue to meander through life as a malcontent individual who is not driven to find solutions. Once this point is reached it becomes insidious and habitual. Lastly, no matter how basic or lavish, everyone has something to be grateful for and strives to find the best for a positive life, and focusing on those reasons for living a life of gratitude and contentment will help to avoid the enviable trap.
Works Cited
Sarner, Moya. “The Age of Envy: How to Be Happy When Everyone Else’s Life Looks Perfect.” Pocket, 18 Oct. 2018, https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-age-of-envy-how-to-be-happy-when-everyone-else-s-life-looks-perfect?utm_source=pocket_collection_story&fbclid=IwAR2HgqMVgc0lG1qXzJH-eW8ChiXt3p6pGoHSnH4atJeHR6twpulvfORr7sg.
Crown of strength
In awe of her presence
Roses blush in the heat
Any danger, quickly gone
Less stress, more harmony
Art credited – blxck.ai on Instagram
https://anchor.fm/therhymerula/embed/episodes/No-Matter-How-Long–A-Spoken-Word-Episode-e1svi4a
Cold instruments drill
Creating fearful vibrations,
Nervous smile,
Open wide
For the clatter off the drill
To collide with a surprise
A pain you’ll always recognize
Don’t fret the pain will subside
Well, maybe…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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After reading this small summary on this topic, check out my poem below.
Baby bones are rare in most places, even those that produce lots of dinosaur egg fossils like the southern regions of Canada, Mongolia and the U.S.A.,” says University of Calgary paleontologist Darla Zelenitsky.
Leave a like if you’ve learned something new and enjoyed it. In addition, hit the follow button so you can stay up to date with my future posts. As always, peace and keep it real.
Did you know that Dinosaurs used to roam and nest in the High Arctic? Well, they did and tiny fossils were discovered suggesting that the reptiles stayed there year long without migrating. Paleontologists have slowly gathered young dinosaur bones and not just one species, but many. Moreover, finding these bones from young dinosaurs is a reason for Paleontologists to be elated because those bones are rare. The reason is, young baby Dinosaur bones were rarely preserved due to their size and susceptibility to being victims to carnivorous predators. University of Alaska paleontologist Pat Druckenmiller and his colleagues found the fragile remains of baby hadrosaurs, horned dinosaurs, raptors, and tyrannosaurs. “The discovery of these tiny bones and teeth was no small accomplishment,” Druckenmiller says. Whenever we see depictions of Dinosaurs in the media it usually shows them living in a stone age that was desolate or verdant, but never ones that lived in cold climates. In regards to that, Polar Dinosaurs acclimated to the harsh environment and didn’t find the need to migrate to a warmer region or hibernate. In closing, for more information on this topic please check out the link for this article below.
Frigid plains of the Arctic,
Where Dinosaurs roamed and ruled,
Exploring with vigilance,
‘Cause predators were not far
Massive and proud with their spiked tails,
Strong and agile they moved through the ice caps,
They were the lords of the cold north,
Forever remembered by their legacy,
Snow blanketed the land,
A pure white coating across the ground,
A powerful pack of prehistoric giants,
Each one a force to be reckoned with, profound
How does this sound?
These days baby Dino bones can still be found in the ground
Tales still whisper in the wind,
Of great creatures that once lived
This poem was inspired by an article I read about the endangerment of incense in myrrh cultivation and trade in Northern Somalia. As a Somali American, I’ve always been fascinated with the history of incense and myrrh in the country and how significant it is not only to Somalis but the rest of the world. Furthermore, the country is the largest exporter of incense to regions such as the Middle East and the Western world. Not to mention, is it believed that the three kings of the biblical nativity carried three precious gifts to commemorate the birth of Jesus, and from then on this region of Somalia (it’s Somaliland but from my perspective and the UN it’s always going to be Somalia) has been the epicenter of cultivation and distribution of Incense and Myrrh for the world to enjoy.
A sweet and smoky aroma to share
The billowing smoke dances in the air
A pleasant and calming trance.
Let the fragrance envelop the room,
It’s an elixir of comfort and bloom
Bringing delight to those who are near
But the motherland’s horn is in fear of losing what is dear
To their hearts
Sour like a Sweet Tart
A nomad’s cherished land is being taken apart
Operation mining for Gold,
but the perseverance in these people
Won’t allow them to fold
Reminiscent of times long gone,
Reminding us of times we soon won’t forget
Though the days will pass,
The night will bring something new
A smell of Incense that’s sure to rouse
A sinking feeling of exclusion,
Like warmth escaping a fire on a cold night
It’s a feeling that is inexplicable,
It’s as if no one can hear your plight
Your worth is undermined constantly,
Making you feel minuscule and unseen,
A heavy weight on your soul,
There’s no relief until you’re whole.
Your heart aches for somebody who cares,
The validation only comes from the people who dare,
The same feelings of being broken and unseen,
Until one day, you are all that you should be
A tale of times past and present,
Of dreams that linger and events that are spent
A journey of a life we’ve all come to know,
For better or worse
One step at a time, no matter how slow
Through laughter and tears, darkness and light,
We live our days with all our might
The search for meaning, joy, and peace,
The search for something that won’t cease
Enduring memories, fleeting moments remain glowing,
The beauty of life is subjective for all we know
It’s a story of love reaching far and wide,
From the depths of our souls, ever so persistent and intense,
It carries us through, no matter how long
Compiling comics
Open doors to stories that bring forth adaptations
Full of vitality
Enduring tragedies
Consistently defeating foes in a perilous world
In every new volume
Real Free - Flowing Words 