reflection

As my eyes skim the bent edges of the news article, the mournful lullaby of rustling papers fills the train car. The words, etched like epitaphs, pulse through my fingers as I close the worn clutch of my university iPad. Intricate ghosts of what once was and the somber realization of shifting realities. Tucked within the indifferent ebb and flow of commerce, lives weave together like a frayed tapestry, hastily cut by indelicate hands of market trends. Now, left to shiver in the biting 4°C of Nordic dusk, 86 pulses revolve around the closing door of REC Solar, as if suddenly ousted from their familiar orbit. Yet, beyond the cold and the uncertainty, humanity tries to sneak in pastel hues in the unlikeliest of canvases. It adds layers and celebrates the complexity of a world filled with transient contours.

It nudges me to think of my own journey, coursing through the veins of a female student trying to make sense of a world constantly in flux. Then again, are we not all just fragments of stardust trying to return to our celestial escape? Struggling, yearning, aching? These thoughts transport me to a realm often frequented, but seldom dwelt upon—the cosiness of female friendships.

The soothing hum of the train takes on a rhythm, the stanzas of a song that everyone knows but no one discusses. They exist, these friendships, beyond the superficiality of societal norms; they are the beacon in the gloom, the thread that holds these star fragments together. Their importance goes beyond the need of company or the warmth of laughter. For, to exist is one thing, but to thrive is another, and female friendships nurture this thriving existence.

These friendships are not just timely seasoning on life's varied palate, but trademark ingredients of resilience. The warmth they inject, the echoes they persist, hold women together—much like the 86 employees of a beleaguered solar company bearing the brunt of global industrial shifts.

The cold wind that sweeps the Norwegian plains is akin to hard times we face in the sphere of relationships. However, the importance of female friendships steers through this journey much like a solace that buffers the blows. It paints the biting reality with the hue of heartiness, adding the aesthetics of compassion and camaraderie.

Adjusted in seats of trains, in classrooms of universities, in corners of homes, peering into the bustling city life or gazing stars encrusted in ethereal skies, women ink stories. They mould experiences into lessons, and dreams into realities. It's these experiences that knit a yarn of connection and trust, and it’s these shared realities that transform into unshakable bonds with fellow women. The shared whispers, the understanding glances, the comforting silence, all sew a quilt of solidarity.

I grieve for REC Solar—suddenly there seems to be an emptiness in the industry skyline, a void filled with the despair of uncertainty, echoed in the closing lines of industry reports. However, the quiet resilience found in female friendships provides an unsaid pledge of hope. No matter the biting cold or challenging the adversities, sisterhood comes with a promise of unwavering luminescence in the chilling Nordic twilights. After all, are we not stardust, seeking our way home? Through the coldest winters and warmest summers, we gleam in the company of sister stars—outshining the darkest clouds and the gloomiest nights.

Tags: reflection female friendships life changes

There is a chill in the air this morning as I gaze out of the train window, seeing gleaming shards of frost under the pale morning sun. It is almost as if the universe too, shares in today's mood painting these diamonds outside whilst mirroring my emotions within. Ah, life has this odd, beautiful habit of dancing along mysterious pathways. Just as the way the dew kisses a morning bud to blossom, so too does Cupid's arrow strike us when we least expect.

Yes, we are talking about the universal sensation that sweeps everyone off their feet and wraps them within a bubble of sweet nectar - the addictive, glorious and dreadful feeling of falling in love or having a crush.

There's something ineffably surreal about finding your heart tucked between the pages of another's soul, drawn inexplicably to their essence as a moth is drawn to a flame. In morning’s sweet glow, the thought of them rests lightly on your mind, just as tender sun kisses the frosty sheen outside.

The beauty of this magnificent yet dangerous sentiment is that it propels you to an unforeseen journey. Each moment, like the scintillating frost engraving patterns of hope, reflects untainted bliss that nestles within the crevices of your being. The clattering rhythm of the train marries perfectly with the sweet symphony of emotions bubbling beneath the surface, painting the perfect tapestry of love and longing.

This morning as I ride the train, caught within the dance of falling temperatures and falling in love, I can't help but think of the stark contrast the world offers. While my heart is imbued with the warm hues of infatuation, reality paints a different picture altogether. One look at the morning's headlines hints at shadowy conflicts, like a cloud obscuring the sun's cheery demeanor - it is not all diamonds and roses. The world is layered, complete with its unique shades of ecstasy, despair, and everything in between.

Such is the wonder of love. As it ignites our souls, it also opens our eyes to the stark realities of our surroundings. You might argue that falling in love serves as a beautiful distraction from the jarring chaos that life often unravels. Or perhaps, the omnipresence of such troubles makes the sentiment all the more precious. A respite, a haven of boundless emotions amidst the ticking clock of reality.

To the ones reading this, should you be riding similar waves, take heart. For love, in its essence, is as panoramic as the universe itself, reflecting a myriad of emotions, just as the magnificent spectacle outside my train window right now.

Sometimes we are the frost, tender and delicate, ready to melt at the touch of the sun. At other times we are the diamond, gleaming with a newfound splendor. But regardless, we keep going, for despite its bitterness, winter too has its charm and so it is with love.

Tags: love reflection life experiences