I wrote this when I worked on an exercise from the book “The five-minute writer” by Margret Geraghty (http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Minute-Writer-Exercise-inspiration/dp/1845283392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363039025&sr=8-1&keywords=the+five-minute+writer). The goal of this exercise was to make association between concrete and abstract nouns. I chose three concrete nouns: a cup of espresso, rain, and fire extinguisher. Well, the first and the last words came to my mind, because I was sitting in a café, drinking a cup of double espresso and my table was facing a corner with a fire extinguisher tucked into it. And rain sounded romantic to me in that moment. It was the first time in my life when I went to a café with a sole purpose to write creatively.
I chose the abstract names from those suggested by Margret. The ones I chose were: life, anger and happiness. These are three quite different words. So, here is what came out of this exercise. I was surprised what ways imagination took me and made a task appearing so strange and impossible at the beginning to become something so interesting, so much fun and actually quite meaningful and logical at the end. What is also interesting is that the definitions became shorter but more concise and better structured as I proceeded. Below, you will find these contemplations in a slightly edited shape but in the exact order as I wrote them.
* * *
Life is like a cup of espresso, very aromatic and drawing you like a magnet when you first sense it, then bitter when you make a sip, and when it is finished it leaves you with a wonderful aftertaste and longing for more. Life’s essence is as colorful and as enigmatic as espresso’s la crema. If you get a single one, then it varies from dark brown through beige-golden to foamy white. If you take a double, it reminds you of an old rain cloak with its dark brown-“worn” color, but the taste of it is so intense and gives you such a strong “kick” as only an eye-opening wisdom of an old monk can do.
Life is like rain, sparkles like diamonds in the sun light, waters and gives you strength for blooming, but it can end fast if you don’t savor every drop of it.
Life is like a fire extinguisher, it can save you if you know how to use it and is useless if not.
* * *
Anger is like a cup of espresso, bitter and can be like that for quite some time if you linger to bitterness. It is hot and gives you a kick at the beginning, but it tastes cold and dreadful if you wait too long. But it is always in a small cup and it can be finished fast, if you are up to it. And you can taste a wonderful flavor of realization after anger is gone.
Anger is like rain, it makes you dripping wet and freezing if you cling to it. But it makes you feel refreshed and relieved when it’s gone, and after you dried you clothes and hair and warmed yourself with a cup of hot water or tea.
Anger is like a fire extinguisher, red and can be deadly if applied as a weapon, but harmless if you just observe it, and it can be even lifesaving if you recognize the use of it.
* * *
Happiness is like a cup of espresso, indulges you with a thought that only you know the special taste of it.
Happiness is like rain on a hot summer day, refreshing, caressing, indulging and healing. You can feel it with your whole body if you don’t hide under a shelter of fear.
Happiness is like a fire extinguisher, it makes you forget danger because you know that a helping hand is near.