Appreciation

1. Literature lives on

I recently revisited Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451 in a movie form; an HBO adaptation. Even though the plot is slightly different from the book, I’ve enjoyed it immensely.

2. Guarding my space to read

I’ve started with the Summer Reading Challenge. If you’ve been reading me for long, you already know that I treat reading with the same respect I do writing. This also means being absent from social media this summer, except for a random post once in a while. So, to you my reading friends, you’ll mostly find me here.

3. The appreciation for people who give poetry their time…

Lara Trace Hentz, one of the bloggers I follow, has wonderful things to say about poetry, and as she reviews three books. Find her musings here! Also, if you’re searching for a poetry book to read this summer, you might want to try these.

4. Show me the kind of love that begins with SELF!

Last year, I answered to a call to write a poem about self-love; a poetry contest hosted by Yecheilyah Ysrayl on her blog. That poem, inspiration and thoughts on self-love feature, among other works of talented poets, in the magazine pictured below. This year’s contest is an extension of the theme. You can find more details by clicking on the link. If you are poet, please consider entering. The benefit for me was not the rewards but the happy feeling after purging. NB. If you’d like a copy, you can grab it here.

LitMag for Poets

5. Sports fans can teach us a lot about celebrating small victories

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of watching Finland vs Norway rugby game. What is remarkable is not the fact that rugby has gained momentum here, but how Norwegian fans supported their team.

Finland dominated the game, which they eventually won. Anyway, it had already advanced to the double digits and a huge gap, when Norway finally managed to score their first 3 points from a penalty kick. It was a delightful spectacle to watch their fans go wild with excitement and popping a bottle of champagne in celebration.

The lesson here is that they didn’t wait for an impressive try score or a big number on the score board but instead rejoiced for that small contribution as if it was the only that mattered.

So, what about you? Are you the person who celebrates small victories? Or are you waiting to land that big contract, cushy job with a title, fancy car, a husband (or wife), two-and-a-half kids, etc., before you celebrate?

Occasionally, I share five random things I’m reading, watching, doing and thinking about. You’re most welcome to join the conversation.

Khaya Ronkainen
Khaya Ronkainen is a writer, poet and creative professional. Her blog focuses on all things poetry and creative nonfiction.

16 Comments

  1. Fahrenheit 451 is on my list to read. I will have to check out the HBO show after reading it. Celebrating the small victories is a must in life. We need to live in the moment and recognize all the little good things that happen.

  2. It is a brilliant book, enjoy your read. Regarding small victories, I totally agree with you. Living in the moment makes us more grateful for what we already have.

  3. I celebrate all my victories–especially the small, since those are the ones that keep us… until the big ones arrive.

  4. Khaya, I always celebrate the small victories … to start with, there are more of them! 😀 If one waits for just the big events in life to celebrate, one will never be satisfied and live a life in waiting! Oh, I’m also looking forward to my summer reading and already building up a selection of books to give my whole attention!

  5. I absolutely agree Annika, one will never enjoy life (the now), if they wait for the big thing. I see many people (usually young) hung about with making it big. 🙁

    I can’t wait to read your reviews. I’ve got a few books I’m reading from your recommendations. Keep up the good work! 🙂

  6. I’m getting better at celebrating the little victories. It certainly makes for having a happier life. LOL, I found the perfect way to guard my time to read…hand my kiddos books I know they would like so we all settle into family reading hour. 😀

  7. Khaya, I’ve read so many good books recently but I’m doing poorly on the reviewing front – hope to improve on this soon when things calm down a bit. Thank you so much for the compliment and it’s always fun to discuss and share about books. Enjoy your summer reading!

  8. I agree Rommy, celebrating small victories often leads to a happier life. Kudos for getting everyone reading; a family reading hour is absolutely brilliant idea. 😀

  9. Same here, Annika. I haven’t been reviewing much, of late. Because I always want to write a meaningful review than just a sentence, more especially for indie authors. But due to time constraints, I just can’t. So, rating a book on Goodreads is the best I can do at present.

  10. I am here to say thank you (for sharing) and tell you how much I love your blog and writing! xo

  11. Awww, Lara! Thank you, thank you to you too for reading. Nothing beats such a kind and encouraging comment. Much appreciated! xo

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