To thread life with a single word
Carrying wisdom in my heart is not enough.
Once I traveled to the East of Eden, holding hands with John Steinbeck as I journeyed into a world that turned my life upside down.
I was 13 at the time. A vulnerable age for a girl. So many changes happened within and without me, all I needed (or didn't) was shattering the Earth beneath my feet with words. This book destroyed the innocent reality I was living in, but helped me build a better, stronger foundation that is keeping me stable ever since.
The novel holds all of life, with every extremities of good and evil, love and pain, hope and loss, and all nuances of relationships. Steinbeck taught me how to live, but most importantly he carved the word 'timshel' into my existence.
A Hebrew word that can't easily be translated, as every interpretation might give a slight difference in meaning. The best way to say it in English is probably this:
‘Thou mayest’
Timshel became a guiding lighthouse in my life. At one point, when it helped me reach the shore after the toughest storm of my life, it wasn't enough anymore to only carry it in my heart. I carved it permanently on my skin as well.
So I never forget
I always have a choice - timshel
A word, holding the Universe together
Like a thread of will and destiny
But in the end, the world is what I make of it.
Or rather, what I don't
But everything is up to me.
About the Creator
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A Love Forboding
The chipped stone slope caused unbearable footing. I slid, skirting on my heels. I cast my shield, relinquishing my guard to stay upright. Left with my double-edge and a prayer to the maker, I skated toward my objective. The earthly stubble gave way to solid ground. I found myself restored, a trail of dust in my wake.
By James U. Rizzi4 days ago in Fiction
Comments (18)
amazing! i may just pick up Steinbeck again
Top notch to the author of this article
And congrats on top story!!
This is beautiful. A single word can have so much power and meaning, and it's truly an inspiring one!! Thank you for sharing this ❤️❤️❤️
It's amazing how an author's work can influence us in our lives even in the smallest of ways. Congrats on top story!
Heyyyy Imola! My commenting ability was revoked on 15 May and only now I'm able to comment. That's why I've only been reading your stuff without commenting. Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Beautiful!
Congratulations on a well written story that support thoughts that are honed from youthful adventures into reading and make a difference.
This is beautiful and deeply personal. You captured how a book can shape a life. The way you connected with East of Eden and made “timshel” your anchor is powerful. Congratulations on your top story!
This is excellent. Love the story, the word (which I wasn't familiar with), and the tat line. Well done a d congrats on the TS.
first, congratulations on TS. this is so well deserving. I love that word. Timeshel. so beautiful and so meaningful.
Swinging back to say, yay lassie! Congrats on the Top Story for this, which is a, and I'll repeat the Scottish phrasing of my previous comment, "Pure Dead Brilliant" piece.
A perfect example of how much books and stories can effect people for the better, and why we'll always need them. This was a fabulous piece, Imola - a a piece packed with a much-needed message for the world. Best of luck in the challenge.
Great🤍
That's one great word, Imola.
💙
I’ve wanted a timshel tattoo forever. East of Eden really affected me in my teenage years. Good luck with the challenge ❤️❤️
This... is so eloquent! Ive found issues with this challenge and my entries are aggressively subversive...but this is one of the best ive read and potentially a winner! Really rather 'pure dead brilliant' well done, Imola, loved the story behind it too!