BOOKISH GIRL

"Happiness is not about having more; it’s about cherishing what you already hold in this moment." As human beings, we often forget to appreciate the blessings that surround us every single day. We take them lightly, assuming they will always be there, while our eyes remain fixed on what we don’t have yet. I sometimes feel the same way—constantly wishing for more, chasing after dreams, and comparing my life to what it could be, instead of embracing what it already is. But in those quiet moments of reflection, I realize how ungrateful that makes me. The truth is, life is happening right now, and the little things I ignore today are the very moments I may long for tomorrow. Gratitude doesn’t mean giving up on dreams or ambitions; it means pausing, acknowledging, and cherishing what is already in front of us. When we choose to value the present instead of always longing for “more,” we find that happiness isn’t in what’s missing—it’s in what’s already here.. A heartfelt reminder t...

  The story follows Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who has gone 84 days without catching a fish. Despite being seen as unlucky by others, he sets out alone into the Gulf Stream, determined to prove his skill and strength one more time. Far out at sea, Santiago hooks a giant marlin, the biggest fish he has ever seen. For three long days and nights, he struggles with the fish, enduring hunger, exhaustion, and pain. Santiago respects the marlin deeply, seeing it as a noble rival. Finally, he manages to harpoon and kill it, lashing the massive fish to his small skiff. But Santiago’s triumph is short-lived. On the way back, sharks attack the marlin, tearing it apart despite his desperate fight to defend it. By the time Santiago returns to shore, only the marlin’s skeleton remains. Though he has lost the prize, Santiago regains the respect of the villagers, and especially the loyalty of the boy, Manolin, who vows to fish with him again. The novel is written in simple, ...