Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100-word flash fiction challenge, with a photo prompt. This week’s wondrous photo comes from Shaktiki Sharma. For more information on how to participate, or to read the other great stories in the collection, check out Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog Addicted to Purple. She herds cats every week, and makes it look easy. As always I welcome honest, constructive feedback. Please leave a comment.
© Shaktiki Sharma
The Temple Divine
“Close your eyes baby, and just breathe. Clear your mind.”
Anya sat still, her mother’s hands firmly on her shoulders. She inhaled slowly, deeply, then exhaled, trying not to think about the others.
“Now remember this: there’s all kinds of beauty, and no one is perfect. God created the deep blue ocean for one person’s heart, and a simple desert rock for another’s.”
Breathe in; breathe out.
“Every pattern–– every shade of color out there, makes someone’s heart sing. You need to look in this mirror, and see that your ebony is no less perfect than the deepest emerald green.”
(Exactly 100 words)
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KAPOW! I didn’t meet the 2016 goal for Likes on the Tales From the Motherland Facebook page; missed it by 14! So this year, I’m not setting a goal. I’m grateful for each Like I get. Have you stopped by to spread some fairy dust? Follow me on Twitter, LeBron James does (yes, for real)! Most importantly, if you like a post I’ve written, hit Like and leave a comment. Honest, constructive feedback is always appreciated. Click Follow; you’ll get each new post delivered by email, no spam.
©2011-2017 All content and images on this site are copyrighted to Dawn Quyle Landau and Tales From the Motherland, unless specifically noted otherwise. If you want to share my work, I’m grateful, but please give proper credit and Link back to my work; plagiarism sucks!
TALES FROM THE MOTHERLAND 
Thank you for the meditation. Is that grasshopper real? Looks like he wants to hop into the party.
I thoroughly enjoy reading your writings!
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Thanks Robyn; much appreciated! I’m a bit confused though: meditation?
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Gah! Right, the meditation… got it. Sorry, rough week, and my brain wandered away. 😉
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Thank you Dawn. Yes we all should take a look good long look in the mirror. Until we love ourselves how can we SINCERELY care for others.
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SO very true! And so very hard, for many people!
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Beautifully don! And in this day and age that is still (dammit) filled with racism, perfectly timed.
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Thanks Dale; sadly, I fear this may never change… we seem set on hurting others.
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Well, I have taken a good look and the mirror and guess what? Someone has stolen that handsome young devil who used to stare back at me and replaced him with a grumpy old curmudgeon with bushy eyebrows.
As for your story, Mother has wise advice.
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NO kidding! Somehow a pudgy woman with wrinkles that wiggle when they shouldn’t, has shown up in my mirror! Glass making aint what it used to be, for sure!
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Lovely story of empowerment, Dawn!
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Thanks so much! I hoped it would come across that way. 🙂
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Beautifully done, Dawn. Worth waiting for. 😉
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Thanks so much Sandra… THAT makes my day. 🙂
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Dear Dawn,
There’s so much beauty in the world and a rainbow of humans that a part of it. I wish everyone could see that. Well done, my friend.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Toda raba Rochelle, your kind words make me smile. 🙂 xo
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A lovely way of teaching a child to love herself.
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Thanks Liz; if only every child had a mother like that!
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I think this is the way we have too see ourselves… but I guess it’s getting harder every year… and I have no mother to tell me.
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I have no mother (or father) either, Björn, but sadly, it’s not how my mother saw the world anyway. That’s why it’s fiction, right? We can create the world we need/ want/ hope for! From the mirror I’m holding, you look fantastic, and I love the way your heart and mind work… so there is that, my friend. xo
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i hope anya takes her mother’s words to heart and embrace her own identity with pride.
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Me too, Plaridel! We all need some self love, but it’s icing to have others love us that much too!
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Every pattern–– every shade of color out there, makes someone’s heart sing Yum! I love this line.
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And aint it the truth my dear? You must be getting ready for travel? Can’t wait to meet up and hear all about it!
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Beautiful and so touching, I always look forward to your stories.
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Thanks so much Loré; that means a lot to me!
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This is so beautiful. If only more parents were like that. Great message, Dawn.
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Thanks Gabriele… yes, if only! The world would be very different, indeed!
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A very wise and loving mother.
You got me in the feels with this one.
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That is intriguing for sure… got you in the feels! I like that. 🙂
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Wow, wonderful text and even more beautiful photo! As always, just great! Thanks.
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Thanks Cecilia; I can’t take any credit for the photo, but I’ll claim the words with gratitude. 🙂
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This is absolutely gorgeous, Dawn! I love how you layer with all the many wondrous ways of nature. What affects nature has on each of us is different and even the same things affect us in different ways. We all are creations of nature, all of us. Stunning piece!
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Wow! That really means a lot to me, Amy; thanks! Your feedback and encouragement are always so kind and thoughtful… I know you aren’t here every week but I love when you are! I’ve been trying to not miss any, get back into a groove… but hard, man, hard! (that’s what she said! 😉 )
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