To Choose Or Be Chosen?

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“Your choices and decisions are a reflection of how well you’ve set and followed your priorities.”

—Elizabeth George

What would you prefer? Although I might appear choosy (yes, wordplay is in the works), my preference remains candid. I cherish mutual connections. Why would I allow myself to be an option to one when I can be a celebrated choice to another? Mull over it for an instant. With reference to our professions and careers, there would be times when we tend to get the short end of the stick. We can’t help but bite our tongues. At times, swallow our pride. It’s a given that we are evaluated based on the appreciation, recognition and accolades received at work. A man-made reality we are all made to dwell in. But I believe our personal lives are where we get to exercise the utmost liberty.

In my book, my personal life is my sacred temple. I am in full control of whom I choose to associate with or without. Why would I not owe myself a world of happiness? Why would I choose to betray my deepest feelings and thoughts? When there is a mutual bond between people, there is mutual growth. How can one expect qualities in another when they don’t possess the same? Would it be fair to the person who is giving their all and receiving none in return? Life has done a good job of changing our well-defined routes without the slightest bit of warning. Why would one choose to add to the agony instead of being mindful? Why would one choose to feel less than when they can feel on cloud nine?

It begins with how one perceives themselves. A realistic assessment of our qualities and personalities. How honest are you with yourself? Do you understand your wants and needs on a profound level? Do you know what brings you palpable peace? Are you acting for or against your innermost desires and wishes? Being untrue to yourself would result in you having to deal with the emptiness and resentment festering within you. Of being hollow instead of being whole. As much as we would like the other person to understand the turmoil within ourselves, pain isn’t transferrable. We have to live with ourselves day in, day out. Are you willing to allow your heart to break into shattered fragments each day? Would you be willing to take responsibility for failing your own self?

I would love to choose a person who is as excited to hear from me as I would from them. Someone who understands solemnity over my words. A person who reads between the lines when it gets difficult to express. Someone who sees contentment and joy in my eyes without a single syllable. A person who understands I am moulded with imperfections, flaws and foibles yet chooses me over others. Happiness is a choice. Sadness is a choice. As poetic as it sounds on paper, unrequited love, be it romantic or platonic, isn’t feasible for one’s spirit, mind and heart. One is only fooling one’s self. I need you to ask yourself this question: do you consider yourself worthy enough to be chosen over others?

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Meeting In Person

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By reading one’s life stories virtually;

You can’t help but wonder;

What meeting in person would be like?

With a person so familiar;

Yet a lot to discover;

A vivid image birthed;

Yet pieces of a puzzle to uncover;

A variety of unique thoughts were conveyed;

Yet intense ones were left undelivered;

A flux of varying emotions expressed;

Yet the deepest ones submerged;

What would be the first words when faced with each other?

A bashful smile, perhaps?

Or a nervous laugh?

But realisation settles in;

And a winding distance begins to form;

Of continents proving division;

For a union so strong;

And then a sudden gust of swirling breeze;

Brushes across the apple of your cheek;

A slow, affectionate smile develops;

As you blow back in that direction;

An acknowledgement enveloped.

© 2023 Lilly S.D.

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TV Series Review: The Office (2005-2013)

Disclosure: Spoilers ahead.

This review was long due, having watched this series way back in 2019. A colleague of mine introduced me to this show and honestly, working in an office got me quite sceptical about watching the same. I owe her considerably, though! This is indeed a laugh riot. You would find your funny bones tickled while nodding your head to various portrayals of typical stereotypes that are, in essence, true. Be it any industry, the dynamics and office politics run on similar bloodlines. Cut to the premise, the show is about the daily shenanigans of a group of office employees working at the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of a fictional paper company, Dunder Mifflin.

Eccentricity, immaturity, and insensitivity with dollops of humour are the running themes of this show. I did get a brief introduction to Steve Carell’s humour in Bruce Almighty. However, this show has taken his acting chops to a heightened level altogether. The portrayal of Michael Scott, regional manager of Dunder Mifflin, has transformed him into a household name. He annoys you to the point of getting on your last nerves, yet manages to plaster a smile on your face. For me, he was the life of the show and I watched the series till his exit. I loved his performance as a goofy, foot-in-the-mouth yet good-hearted individual. He is someone who grows on you, as he has a multitude of hidden layers encompassing his impulsive and compulsive demeanour. The running joke, ‘That’s What She Said‘, was timely but grossly inappropriate and unprofessional, which made it all the more hilarious. His stolen glances at the camera while being controversial or emotional were simply brilliant and perfectly captured.

In a nutshell, I enjoyed the performances of each character in the show. They made a great team, however, a few personal favourite characters supplemented and complemented Michael’s persona. Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), the office receptionist who later transfigures into a sales associate, had a great character arc from an engaged, shy, second-guessing woman to an assertive, married one. I loved her transformation from having a lack of voice and indulgence in self-care when with the wrong man to working on her personality and dreams with the right one. Her friendship with Jim and the will-they-won’t-they end up together was a familiar page borrowed from a romance book yet engaging.

Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), a salesperson who in later seasons becomes the co-manager along with Michael, and Pam’s husband, is a fun-loving, sensitive individual who can be a suck-up to the bosses at times. His childish, harmless antics on Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), a colleague, brings out chuckles throughout the show. Dwight, the office snitch, envies Jim for being a favourite of Michael’s and believes he alone deserves to be in the promotion line. Michael constantly seeks validation from Jim, which causes Dwight’s blood to boil. He does everything in his power, including putting people in compromised positions to get what he wants. Although a nuisance and hard to get rid of or avoid, he has a touch of innocence to his character as we are given a glimpse of his childhood upbringing. One begins to understand where he comes from and why he acts in a given manner. Nonetheless, he adds a different dimension to the show with his outlandish behaviour.

Although for a brief cameo as Mike’s love interest, Jan Levinson’s (Melora Hardin) character stood out to me. On the brink of a divorce, her duality in nature added a sense of rawness to complex human behaviour. Holly Flax (Amy Ryan) has been a great addition to the cast having played Mike’s true love. I especially loved how they complemented each other in personality as well as thoughts. Michael’s marriage proposal to her was a sweet, thoughtful gesture yet so Michael. And lastly, Ryan Howard (B. J. Novak) portrayed the role of the office crook, a heartless opportunist who rode on the efforts and success of others. He displayed the characteristics of a classic employee engaged in dirty politics. A character most would avoid in real life.

With a well-thought-of cast ensemble and a vividly written script, the humour grooves around just at the right intervals. This show is relatable to most people which made it an instant hit with the crowds. The concept of using a single-camera set-up was innovative and creative as it played a major role in the series. The cast was aware of its whereabouts and constantly acknowledged it as a medium to express unspoken genuine thoughts and feelings. Michael unabashedly used that to his credit grabbing critics’ eyeballs. The show also had in-between, momentary personal confessions of the office employees with the camera as a witness and ally which made it all the more interesting. The success relied on the ability to have people giggle not just at the oftentimes crude jokes and statements but at the effects it had on the people around. I crack up every time I re-watch an episode as this helps lift up my spirits on a dull or difficult day or sometimes when I just want to watch light comedy. I recommend this show to anyone looking to grow a funny bone.

Take A Chance On Love

How devastating it would be;

If hearts curled up instead of unfurling;

Out of infinite fears, inhibitions, and insecurities;

To an immeasurable love, far and beyond;

A soul-stirring experience spanning lifetimes;

An unbreakable bond;

A Red Thread of Fate.

© 2023 Lilly D

All Rights Reserved

Love isn’t reserved for romance alone (xoxo — you know, the whole shebang). Anyone blessed enough to experience true love in a person, be it family and/or friends, must be willing to work at it, cherish it, and celebrate it every other day. I happened to breeze over two anonymous quotes paraphrasing love that ring true for people in today’s world, especially, and I have taken the liberty of combining them (complementary collaborations always thrill me). Having read and observed, many struggle and hesitate to trust love again due to soul-crushing pasts, and that is completely understandable. A person who truly loves you will support you while you build your character and life, resulting in the best version of yourself you could be proud of. However, it is crucial that one needs to comprehend their feelings on their own, make a decision and act on it. When the right person enters one’s life (you would be the best judge of it), this might bring reassurance to them. . .

“The one thing I know for sure is that feelings are rarely mutual so when they are, drop everything, forget belongings and expectations, forget the games, the two days between texts, the hard to gets because this is it, this is what the entire world is after and you’ve stumbled upon it by chance, by accident — so take a deep breath, take a step forward, now run, collide like planets in the system of a dying sun, embrace each other with both arms and let all the rules, the opinions and common sense crash down around you. Because this is love, kid, and it’s all yours. Believe me, you’re in for one hell of a ride, after all — this is the one thing I know for sure.

. . . Second chances are not given to make things right. But are given to prove that we could be better even after we fall.”

P.S. Let’s toast to all types and forms of love, today, and always!

Happy Valentine’s Day to those celebrating!

Poem: Women With High Walls

Our lives are deemed private, there’s a due reason;

For we envision longevity, not a passing season.

Life tests us with impediments, designed for our fall;

Out of which we leap through, building a high wall.

Not ideal for the faint-hearted, it’s never a cakewalk;

In order to squeeze through, one needs to walk the talk.

Inside you’d find an ocean, running fierce and deep;

We’re mindful of emotions, not a single drop must seep.

There is a story to behold, one mustn’t hasten to shove;

In light of revelations, you’ll find unconditional love.

© 2023 Lilly D

All Rights Reserved