Wishing Things Were Different

 

These days, we live in an era where "Wishing Things Were Different" isn’t just a passing thought, as the noise of daily life now feels like the world is breaking at the seams. Chaos dominates the headlines, creating fear and insecurity in lives that were once peaceful.

However, a far deeper crisis is happening inside our homes, our relationships, and in our hearts. We have slowly traded a happy atmosphere for regret, and are connected with each other for convenience.

World peace has never felt harder to achieve than in these times, largely because the peace within our own lives has shattered, spilt into the outer atmosphere, and has brought about intolerance and distance.

It started with the decay of the family institution. Disastrous, unhealed relationships are tearing through households, disrupting the stability that well-rounded families need to grow bountifully. Where dinner tables once served as grounds for daily connection, laughter, and shared stories, there is now a heavy silence. We are all present, yet absent. Hurried meals are accompanied not by the voices of loved ones, but by the distraction of cold digital appliances. We have replaced genuine human companionship with these tools that have taken over lives everywhere.

The most tragic cost of this modern-age chaos is paid by our children.

Instead of nurturing their innate curiosity and capacity for love, society has trained them to view life as a competitive arena. We teach our children to constantly compete with one another, measuring their worth by how far ahead they succeed from their peers. In doing so, we make them immune to the beauty of caring relationships and steadfast friendships. 

There is so much at stake when you let a child believe that their only purpose is to outperform another. It automatically strips away their compassionate nature. It hardens their hearts before they even fully understand what empathy means, willing them into adulthood far before their time. We are raising a generation of anxiety-ridden overachievers who know how to win, but have no idea how to love, collaborate, or simply be a human.

When our homes are divided, our children are restricted, and our days are filled with constant comparison, how can we ever hope for global harmony? World peace is not built at international summits; it is cultivated and begins at the dinner table, in forgiving relationships, and in teaching a child that kindness matters more than dominance, and that friendship comes with an understanding nature and can last forever.

Wishing things were different won't change the world, but taking stock of what we've lost just might. Until we choose timely action over regret, lay down our pride and prejudice, and let our children be children, the chaos outside will only reflect the turmoil within - the turmoil built by neglecting a family and a home.

- shobana-

Other News: A Review from a Kind Soul

I had a connection request on LinkedIn from Michelle Wilkie from the United Kingdom a few weeks ago. Since I am travelling right now, I could not post this earlier. I accepted her invitation and sent her a copy of my Faction Storytelling Method Modules 1-3, a guide to blending fact into the fiction genre, which I had published on Kindle. And I was truly surprised when she wrote a lovely review of the book. 

Please read it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HH8HCF6X

Sometimes angels come in the form of strangers. Thank you, Michelle. I truly appreciate your kind review and was looking forward to some feedback on the book. Michelle is a Professional Book Design, Publishing & Document Production Specialist. You can find her on LinkedIn.

Reviews from the United Kingdom

• 

  Chelle McWilk

  5 out of 5 stars

  A fascinating approach to storytelling!

  Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2026

  Format: Kindle Edition

  It's wonderful to see Shobana put her unique approach to storytelling into a guide like this. The FACTION Storytelling Method offers a fascinating way of looking at how thoroughly researched historical fact can be combined with imaginative fiction to create something both informative and engaging.

  I particularly like the idea of the dual narratives and the balance between creative freedom and historical integrity. It's obvious how much thought, research and creativity Shobana has put into developing this method, and this book gives an interesting insight into the process behind her writing.

  A great resource for writers interested in historical fiction, storytelling and exploring new ways of bringing history to life. Definitely worth a read.

Finding the Right Words

 

How do you say goodbye to someone you love, especially when it is a final goodbye? You know you will never see the person alive again, and you depend on memories to cherish each other. 

My brother died on this day, 8/09, when I was away in Canada in 2007. He was the youngest, and yet he dreamt big. He wanted the best for all of us, especially Mom. He was a typical Mama's boy, always calling her whenever he was free at work, buying her presents without an occasion, and making sure she was all right. And she, too, would wait for his calls; otherwise, she'd call him to talk. I wasn't sure what they had so much to talk about, but their calls lasted nearly an hour each time, and after a few hours, there'd be another call again.

'Oh Gosh, Mom - again?' the rest of us would roll our eyes when we saw her on the phone with him. But now with his passing, I realise how precious a memory it has become for us. Mom loved him so much that she'd wait up for him to be back from work every night; otherwise she wouldn't sleep a wink until he returned. And when he did, he'd go into her room and would lie down next to her before returning to his room. It became a habit after a while.

She'd scold him for being late, but he always got around her and made her laugh about something. 

These days, the catastrophes around the world have separated Mother and Son, siblings and loved ones. It is such a sad situation. I can't imagine the carnage and devastating consequences to those affected. It's like the Earth is spewing outrage at being devastated by humanity.

Life is so precious and so short for future generations and us, trying to hang on to sanity to make sense of the disasters.

What do you want, dear Earth, that your volcanoes are now erupting, there are fires and flooding, mountains are falling, and valleys have deepened, that so much suffering have you bestowed on Man. Are you angry beyond redemption? I can't find the right words but plead for it all to end soon. 

For Des.

-shobana- 

I think about him (poetry) on SHOBANA

https://www.shobanagomes.live/2026/09/i-think-about-him.html

• Thank you for stopping by. I recently published The Faction Storytelling Method, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HH8HCF6X?ref_=ast_author_mpb, which has helped me reach Amazon's bestseller ranking with my books, and I'd like to invite you to read the book. Please read the sample to learn more on Kindle. Thank you. My website is https://shobanagomes.live. Please feel free to visit.
  
  The Faction Storytelling Method: A guide to blend fact + fiction.
  Free to Read on Kindle Unlimited
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  The Faction Storytelling Method Modules 1-3
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Malaysia Marks 69 years of Independence

This year I am away from home on Malaysia's 69th Independence Day celebrations.  Malaysia has grown and advanced exponentially, and yet social prejudice remains an issue. Have we done enough for the population to disregard someone's ethnicity, race, and religion and consider them on the same level as everyone else? There is no superior race or religion over another. Men have always discriminated in this regard. We are all bound by humanity's law and order, and if we fail to see that, we fail as humans and attract indifference and hatred.

There seems to be a stark lack of tolerance and understanding among our own citizens. Are our children taught to accept differences in others? It is important to know that no race can live in harmony without the other. We need each other to lift up a country like Malaysia, with its diversity and multicultural and racial ratio. We need to be role models, with acceptance and diversity playing a crucial role in moulding our world to be a better place for future generations.

This used to be a country for all. Is it still considered a country of peace and understanding? People condone injustices, which is why there are wars everywhere. We need to teach our children to understand the value of accepting the diversity that exists in our country in the first place, before we think of building better communities. Otherwise, it will all be in vain when our own teachers and leaders fail to embrace differences and practice them, and play lip service just to avoid the slurs and racial bias that exist on the sly. It is a sad situation for our children to undergo when they are criticised or discriminated for being different. We have to first accept that the world belongs to each of us, and that it is made up of differences.

Home is where the heart is, and my home is Malaysia.

Happy Independence Day, Malaysia.

The Faction Storytelling Method Modules 1-3

Now available on Amazon as well as Shobana Gomes' Bookstore. Available on Kindle/Free to Read on Kindle Unlimited.

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The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The good has a clean, polished veneer, and the bad is deeply offensive and selfish. Ugliness follows hypocrisy - an impeccably dressed human with a touch of class who hides behind pretentious smiles often constitutes one.

When we step back to examine the morality of these three shared human traits,  we can classify them through three distinct postures: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. 

The Good is quiet, grounded, and rooted deeply in kindness. It lives in a genuine soul who gives without seeking an audience, who listens to understand rather than to formulate judgment, and who honours truth even when it hurts. The good human is vulnerable and holds the umbrella for someone else in a storm. The good human shows their flaws and weaknesses and learns to improve themselves as they go along. Their compassionate nature grounds them as they seek to uplift themselves and others around them. The good strives for success, and their achievements are based on merit and sincere hard work. A good human thrives in the Good since truth is found there.

The Bad is filled with antagonism and revels in destruction. A bad human acts out of clear, undue anger, greed, and malice. You cannot brace an oncoming storm when the bad is around you, as assisting another is not in their league; instead, they add to your trauma and sadness. The Bad breaks rules, causes damage, and leaves scars. They don't wear a cloak of virtue like the good do. The wounds inflicted by the bad are dangerous and stay embedded in one for a lifetime. There are the jealous, boisterious, bad-natured, and envious ones who fail to see good in others. Most of the time, their ugliness is shown in their faces, and they become repulsive.

In the Ugly, the art of pretension, subtle hypocrisy, and self-serving deception is evident. While harbouring indifference, they show empathy. Behind closed doors, they connive and manipulate. They are those who preach ethics only to abandon them the moment personal comfort or vanity is at stake. They don't think twice about rebelling as they prioritise their ego, their status, or their private gain at the expense of genuine, trusting humans. 

What do these negative traits do to humanity as a whole? It destroys our shared foundation of peacefulness. When pretension becomes the language of survival, authenticity is forsaken, for deceitful ways and weaknesses. We become actors in a charade, constantly reading between the lines, questioning motives, and guarding our good emotions lest they be exploited for ambition. Humanity thrives on truth. It heals through simple, unpretentious actions where it is courageous to be real in a world obsessed with false appearances. To counter the ugly, we must choose the quiet, enduring beauty of being authentic.

Have a great week ahead - shobana

On Shobana: What Flower might that be? https://www.shobanagomes.live/2026/08/what-flower-might-that-be.html

Poetry in Guyana - The voice of the people

Question: Why did Poetry make such an impact on Guyana?

I had the pleasure of listening to young poets from Guyana recite their heartfelt poems at The National Poetry Slam, held at the 19th-century Castellani House grounds in Georgetown, Guyana. It was part of the annual Literary Festival of Guyana celebrations. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, it is one of the most celebrated events to mark the literary festival.

Poetry in Guyana began as a bridge between formal European poetry structures and the rich, expressive cadences of Guyanese Creole and oral storytelling traditions. Poetry articulated the struggles of the people against colonial rule, political detention and imperial subjugation. Poetry was the language of collective desire for dignity, resistance, and self-identity.

Poetry here connects the landscape to mythology. The vast rainforests, waterfalls like Kaieteur, the mighty rivers and savannahs provide the perfect canvas for poetic imagination. Writers and poets alike use nature, not only for its scenery but as a metaphor for historical endurance and indigenous heritage.

Poetry is the vehicle that shaped the cultural society of indigenous, African, East Indian, European, Chinese, and Portuguese legacies. Poetry formulated a multi-ethnic society, just as the Guyanese Motto breathes "One People, One Nation, One Destiny."

Long Live Guyanese Poetry.

Have a great weekend.

-shobana-

On Shobana: 18/08/2026

 Guyana's Voice: https://www.shobanagomes.live/2026/08/guyanas-voice.html

Good God, Bad God by Shobana Gomes

A Good God can always turn bad, can't he? His wrath can be worse than the sting of a serpent. I heard about the ferocious fires that burned through forests across the Northern Hemisphere and Europe. They said Europe was burning due to strong winds and the drought caused by the summer's heat. 

The fires burned the very ground that man and beast alike walked. Perhaps the birds were lucky; they had wings to fly. Fly away, feathered ones; fly away before you are scorched to death!

Some of the places where these fires occur frequently are Earth's choiciest locations. Some I know I will never see in this lifetime, while some names I can't pronounce rightly. Would they eventually be erased from the face of the Earth - another place to build concrete for a keen investor it becomes.

The islands of Crete, Rhodes and Paros often fall prey to the Meltemi winds. I know the coastal communities are tragically affected by these dry, seasonal winds blowing from the Aegean Sea during summer's hot spells. The Meltemi winds bring cooler weather and clear skies; however, their sudden, powerful gusts frequently start forest fires. Well, Meltemi has the reputation of being "gale-force winds." And what else do you need to start fires if not the Meltemi winds?

Sylvia and Demeritus were born and raised in a village tucked deep in the rocky inlets of Paros. The island's villages were built inside rocky cliffs to avoid pirate raids and the rising tides of the Aegean.

Soon to be published on Amazon. Look out for this revealing story that will touch hearts.

WHY?

Why do they occur so rampantly? Doesn't man learn the first time it occurs to be more vigilant the next time? Some blame these natural disasters on the Bad God? The Bad God has a fiery temper, and I shudder to think how the fire sizzles out when tons of water are poured over them. They would go out with a mighty explosion that reaches the skies before dying out, having fought the good fight. Do you think the fire wants to be vanquished? No, they are not done until they have devoured every bit of forested land. But man braves these fires, and eventually, after much fighting and striving, will win. 

Part two of the story:

More than religion, a good heart serves humanity better - shobana

From the beginning of civilisation, humanity thought it wise to fight over religion.

What is religion actually if it invokes fighting?

Other News:

For aspiring writers and writers who want to know what the book is about. 

THE FACTION REVOLUTION MODULES 1-3 (Free Nature Poetry Ebook with every purchase)

For those starting out as writers and wanting to succeed, this is the book for you. For experienced writers - something for you to read about. For readers who love information.

 Thank you.

Get your copy of The Faction Revolution Modules 1-3 and find out how I engage my readers by blending facts with fiction. Read compelling stories that blend history and culture, reigniting the past through a brand-new faction storytelling method. Only USD 0.99 on Shobana Gomes' Bookstore: https://shobanagomesbookstore.blogspot.com.