"Live the questions now..."*

March has never been a good time of the year for me. Often it is the bleakest time of year here in the UK. It always feels like the continuation of winter rather than the start of spring. What I call "rakı" skies, bitterly cold, sweeping winds and a constant sensation of being spat on from up above, lack of seasonal produce and the dooming feeling that this "new year" will be the same as all those before it symbolise the torment that is March. Some might say "if that's your attitude that's what you'll get". I suppose my way of making lemonade is writing this post on a grey page. 

On the other hand, International Women's Day is coming up. March 8th.  It is of course wonderful to mark women's empowerment and to honour women's achievement throughout history and all across the globe with a day dedicated to it. We have been celebrating this important day for 45 years now but I feel progress in women's rights has been quite slow in most countries.  Murder, kidnapping, rape, domestic violence and work-place bullying are still quite common across the globe. What is even more common is women's cruelty to women. I have first-hand experience of that and don't feel that I have to cite any references to back it up. United we stand, divided we fall as Aesop (Greek fabulist and storyteller who lived in 6 century BC) put it aptly. Remember that the next time you look down on another woman because of her economic or social status.

Meanwhile, I am sitting here in a quiet part of the country, following the global news, researching and trying to make sense of what is happening. For those of you who don't know me in person, I can tell you that I am a political person but I don't find it helpful to write about politics. Having said that, I don't mean to offend those who make a living from doing so. I would rather write these words and abscond from any political debate that might put me in the wrong when I know very well that I am right; for it is my way of thinking. And if it is not someone else's truth, that's okay. Or, it should be okay. But can it? I'll ask you some questions and we'll see. 

How will the invasion of Ukraine by Russia will come to an end and at what cost? The loss of human life, the psychological and physical trauma experienced by the survivors, the destruction of entire cities, the resulting damage to public spaces and works of art, the demolition of a peoples' cultural spaces and memory... who will own up to that damage?  And if the aim is to destroy to rebuild something in another peoples' image, well... you cannot simply destroy and rebuild what you like, the centre will not hold. We have witnessed this throughout history. Our greatest weapon is our memory. We must never forget. And forgiveness... What good is it if the same crimes are committed time and time over again? How many times can one forgive? 

The bottom line is: there is an astounding level of division in our society, between right and wrong, good and bad, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, beautiful and ugly. Not to mention ageism, racism, sexism and the hundred other isms with negative connotations. Isn't this mode of existence exhausting? Why can't we all be right and wrong, good and bad, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, beautiful and ugly and be okay with that? In fact, we are all all these things but can we dare to acknowledge the reality? 

April 23rd is World Book Day. Kudos to you if you buy, own and collect books as long as you read them. However, if you only use them for décor perhaps you may consider donating them to charity so others can get wiser and learn to remember what they read in books. After all, letting your books collect dust for the sake of looking intelligent might not be the best thing for your pulmonary health. 

Speaking of wisdom, it seems to be in short supply all across the world. The old men steering the ship seem to have forgotten their high-school history. Meanwhile, someone somewhere is settling their debts. The good old Ides of March... Another 29 days to go.