Most days do not announce themselves as heavy

A quiet reflection on everyday weight, rest, and the small comforts that help us return to ourselves.
They begin like any otherโ€”
with obligations, small hopes,
and the quiet promise that we will manage.


The things we carry home

By the time the day loosens its grip,
we are heavier than we were this morning.
Not from work alone,
but from words we swallowed,
expectations we wore politely,
and hopes we kept folded in our pockets.

We carry unfinished conversations,
the ache of trying to do right,
the quiet fear of not doing enough.
Some days, even joy feels delicateโ€”
something to protect on the way back.

Home, then, is not an address.
It is a pause.
A place where the shoulders drop,
where hands remember warmth,
where the noise of the world
learns to speak softly.

I have learned that small things matterโ€”
a cup that waits without judgement,
a corner that holds stillness,
a moment set aside just to breathe.
These are not luxuries;
they are how we return to ourselves.

If I choose carefully what I bring into my space,
it is because life is already heavy.
What surrounds us should help us rest,
not remind us of what we owe.

Tonight, like many others,
I place the day down gentlyโ€”
not because it was easy,
but because I deserve peace
after carrying it.


Written in the pauses of everyday life,
where small comforts matter
and mindful choices still believe in kindness.

Pen by Zee

I write often about everyday weight because I live it too.
Creating spaces that feel calmer, warmer, and more intentional has helped me slow down and breathe again. That philosophy carries beyond words โ€” into the things I choose to surround myself with and the work Iโ€™m building through Jazeez Online and Zee Corner.

Theyโ€™re not just stores to me, but extensions of this same belief: that what we bring into our lives should support us, not add to the noise.

Thoughtful spaces, by Zee Corner.

Living mindfully โ€” with Jazeez

I write because life speaks softly,

and too often, we are taught not to listen.

I write for the ordinary moments we overlookโ€”

the tired mornings, the heavy evenings,

the quiet victories no one applauds

and the silent battles no one sees.

What do I get from writing poetry, quotes and Fundraising

๐ŸŒน Someone once asked me:โ€œWhat do you get out of writing poetry, quotes, and fundraising for charities?โ€The truth? I donโ€™t get much in the material sense.But I gain something far greater:

โœจ The joy of turning words into hope.

โœจ The chance to give voice to those who feel unseen.

โœจ The opportunity to let art serve a purpose bigger than myself.Thatโ€™s why I wrote If Rose Could Talkโ€”a poem reminding working professionals to pause, breathe, and remember their worth.

For me, poetry is not just about beauty, itโ€™s about impact.I donโ€™t just write for myselfโ€”I write so words can bloom into kindness. ๐ŸŒน

Also available for digital download in png/pdf formats on Trademe that is New Zealand’s largest online Marketplace. Alternative you can subscribe to my YouTube channel or here to get your free copy or for any amount you wish to pay, a part of which will go to local charities. Thank you for your time and appreciation, please like,share,comment and subscribe.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/5485596731

If I Opened a Shopโ€ฆ

If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

Not all shops sell things.Some sell hope.Some sell change.Some sell the belief that kindness can be bought โ€” and given away โ€” in the same moment.If I opened a shop, it wouldnโ€™t be just shelves and counters.It would be a beating heart wrapped in four walls,a place where each item whispered a storyand every sale became a seed of change.

I would call it โ€œThe Giving Corner.โ€A space where books breathe hope,where handcrafted treasures carry the touch of their makers,and where even the smallest purchaseripples out to feed a hungry soul,lift a struggling dreamer,or plant dignity where the soil was once barren.In one corner, my words would rest โ€”poems, stories, and thoughts stitched with care,waiting for hands to hold themand hearts to carry them forward.Because to me, a shop is not a business.Itโ€™s a bridge.

A way to connect your kindness to someone elseโ€™s tomorrow.A place where buying becomes giving,and every transactionis just another way of saying,โ€œYou matter.โ€And if you walked out of my shop,you wouldnโ€™t just carry a bag.Youโ€™d carry a piece of someoneโ€™s hope.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Your turn: If you opened a shop, what would your walls hold โ€” and what would it stand for?#SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #KindnessInAction #PenByZee

Signs You Need to Change Your Roots for a Fulfilling Life

(Continuation of my earlier post: โ€œLetting Away Your Roots to Change the Fruitsโ€)

In life, our โ€œrootsโ€ arenโ€™t just where we come from โ€” they are the thoughts we nurture, the habits we repeat, the people we surround ourselves with, and the stories we keep telling ourselves.

Sometimes, these roots feed us with strength and wisdom.
But other times, they keep us stuck in the same season, producing the same โ€œfruitsโ€ โ€” outcomes we no longer want.

Why We Hold On to Old Roots

Comfort Zone โ€“ The familiar feels safe, even when it limits us.

Fear of Change โ€“ Letting go means uncertainty, and uncertainty can feel risky.

Emotional Attachments โ€“ People, places, and patterns weโ€™ve grown with feel like part of our identity.

Signs Itโ€™s Time to Change the Roots

Issues Encountered
You keep repeating the same mistakes or cycles despite wanting different results.
Your goals excite you, but your daily actions donโ€™t align with them.
You feel drained, uninspired, or โ€œstuckโ€ even when everything seems fine on the surface.

How to Start Changing the Roots (Without Losing Yourself)

Self-Audit Your Garden ๐ŸŒฟ โ€“ Write down the influences, habits, and beliefs shaping your life right now. Identify which ones feed your growth and which ones starve it.

Prune with Purpose โœ‚ โ€“ Let go of one unhelpful habit, thought pattern, or commitment that no longer serves your bigger vision.

Replant with Intention ๐ŸŒธ โ€“ Replace the old with something that energizes you: new skills, empowering relationships, or a mindset shift.

Water Daily ๐Ÿ’ง โ€“ Consistency is the secret. Small, repeated actions grow new roots stronger than you think.

The truth is, you canโ€™t grow mangoes from an apple tree.
If you want different fruits, you must be brave enough to change the roots that feed them.

So today, ask yourself:
โœจ What one root will I change so my life can bear better fruits?

#GrowthMindset #PersonalDevelopment #MindsetShift #LifeLessons #PenByZee #Motivation #SelfImprovement

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What change,big or small,would you like your blog to make in the world?

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

If I could ask for one changeโ€”just oneโ€”from the words I share here, it would be this:

That we remember how deeply we need each other.

Not just in moments of crisis, not just when headlines remind us of suffering, but in the quiet, everyday spaces of life. The way a kind word softens someone’s day. The way shared stories remind us weโ€™re not alone. The way a simple act of givingโ€”whether food, time, or listeningโ€”can be a turning point in another personโ€™s life.

My blog isnโ€™t just about ideas, itโ€™s about connection.
Itโ€™s about building a placeโ€”however smallโ€”where we remember that compassion isnโ€™t weakness, itโ€™s strength. That empathy isnโ€™t a luxury, but a foundation. That when we choose to lift one another, even in the smallest of ways, we are building something far greater than ourselves.

I want this space to be a quiet rebellion against indifference.

A reminder that even when the world seems hardened, you still have the power to soften itโ€”through your words, your presence, your care.

What if we stopped seeing people as strangersโ€ฆ and started seeing them as stories waiting to be heard?
What if we treated kindness not as a random act, but a conscious practice?

That is the change I hope this blog brings.

To inspire a deeper commitment to helping one another, to showing up with honesty, and to creating community where no one feels invisible

Because the truth is:
The world doesnโ€™t change because of grand gestures.
It changes because we choose, again and again, to care.

So let this blog be a place where care lives.
Where trust is nurtured.
Where hope is kept alive not through perfection, but through the simple, sacred act of showing upโ€”for one another.

This is Zoeb Ali – Zee, wishing you all the good luck in whatever positive, small or big you are doing in your life to improve life of your loved ones, unknown individuals and families struggling and needing your love โค and help and yourself. Keep reading my posts and comment,like and share so I know if my words make any difference to you. Thank you for reading my posts.

๐ŸŒฑ Letting Away Your Roots to Change the Fruits

Discovering Your True Worth and Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Have you ever felt trapped by your pastโ€”your upbringing, beliefs, or circumstancesโ€”and wondered if you’ll ever become the person you dream of being?

Many of us were not born with a mindset wired for success, confidence, or abundance. Instead, we inherit habits, values, and limitations from our environment, often without realizing how deeply they shape our lives.

But hereโ€™s the truth:

You are not a tree. You can move. You can change. You can grow.

๐ŸŒฟ The Roots That No Longer Serve You

Your “roots” may include:

  • A childhood filled with self-doubt or fear
  • Cultural beliefs that limited your ambitions
  • Trauma, poverty, or discouragement
  • Internalized messages like โ€œYouโ€™re not good enoughโ€ or โ€œPeople like us canโ€™t do thatโ€

These are the invisible forces that feed your fruitsโ€”your current life outcomes. If youโ€™ve been stuck, stagnant, or unfulfilled, it may be time to look beneath the surface.

But letting go of roots doesnโ€™t mean losing your identity. It means choosing which parts of your story still deserve a place in your future.

๐ŸŽ Changing the Fruits: Shifting Your Mindset

To change the fruits, you must nourish your tree with something new:

  • Self-worth: You were born worthy, even if life taught you otherwise.
  • Awareness: Notice what patterns are repeating in your life. Ask why.
  • Courage: Breaking generational habits is hardโ€”but itโ€™s brave, and itโ€™s worth it.
  • Relearning: Itโ€™s okay if no one taught you how to succeed. You can teach yourself now.
  • Mindset: Trade โ€œI canโ€™tโ€ for โ€œWhat if I could?โ€

Changing your mindset is not pretending everything is okay. It’s reprogramming your beliefs to align with what you want to achieve.

๐ŸŒŸ You Donโ€™t Have to Be Born With It to Build It

Photo by Binti Malu on Pexels.com

Let this be your reminder:

You donโ€™t have to be born with confidence to become confident.
You donโ€™t have to be raised by dreamers to become one.
You donโ€™t have to have all the toolsโ€”just the willingness to start.

Maybe no one handed you the mindset for success.
But you, right now, have the power to choose different thoughts, to nurture different habits, to feed your soul with belief, growth, and purpose.

๐Ÿง  How to Start Shifting Your Roots

Here are some powerful steps to begin:

  1. Reflect deeply: Ask yourself, โ€œWhat do I believe about myselfโ€”and where did that belief come from?โ€
  2. Challenge your limits: Are your limits based on fact or fear? Whose voice is still echoing in your decisions?
  3. Feed your mind with growth: Read books, listen to podcasts, or follow people who inspire the mindset you want to grow into.
  4. Take small risks: Confidence grows through experience. Try something new, fail with grace, and keep going.
  5. Affirm your worth daily: Your past doesnโ€™t define your future. Repeat to yourself: โ€œI am enough. I am capable. I am evolving.โ€

๐Ÿ’ฌ Final Thoughts

Changing your life starts with changing your beliefsโ€”and that means you might have to let go of the roots that were planted long ago. But donโ€™t be afraid. You are not betraying your past; you are honoring your future.

Your roots got you this far. Now itโ€™s time to choose which ones stayโ€”and which ones youโ€™re brave enough to let go of, so new fruit can grow.

You are not stuck.
You are not broken.
You are becoming.

So ask yourself today:
What fruits do I want in my lifeโ€”and what roots am I willing to let go of to grow them?

โœจ If you enjoy reflections like these, you might find peace in my poetry โ€” whispers shaped by silence and spirit.

๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ Written by Zee | penbyzee.com
Helping you write the story you were always meant to live.

If you like my work, please donate to help me write more and be more productive. Please leave a comment of any suggestion you might have.

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Letting Away Your Roots to Change the Fruits

Hi everyone,

Iย  am still in recovery mode from my hernia surgery and currently working on my next post

Letting Away Your Roots to Change the Fruits.

Here I am intending to discuss how changing the way we think, the way we have been grown up to achieve the success with the changing time and situations. As I myself have been through a lot of changes emotionally, physically and in another aspects of my life.

I invite you to comment and like my topic and if you have anything that I should add or mention in my post please do le me know. I am happy to mention credit by adding your name/blogsites for authenticity if required.

With the hope of getting your support and love, signing off for now.

Looking forward to hear from you all.

Thank you,

Zee

The Journey Home

Thereโ€™s a certain pull that comes with the idea of “home.” Itโ€™s not just a placeโ€”itโ€™s a collection of moments, memories, and emotions, woven together like a patchwork quilt. For me, that place is my hometown in India, where narrow streets hum with life, the aroma of freshly cooked spices lingers in the air, and laughter bounces off the walls of small, vibrant homes.

I left all of it behind, chasing opportunities in a distant, developed land. The choice felt right then, practical even. But as the years passed, I realized that while I gained material comforts, I left a part of my soul behind. My hometownโ€”the soil, the people, the essenceโ€”called to me, but I was too distracted to listen.

Writing The Forgotten Garden brought back waves of nostalgia and reflection. It reminded me of a garden that once thrived in my childhoodโ€”a garden I abandoned along with my roots. Revisiting that garden in my mind stirred something profound: a longing to reconnect, to revive not just the garden but the parts of myself it represents.

This continuation is about that call, the journey back to oneโ€™s origins, and the healing that awaits when we answer.

https://cdnjs.buymeacoffee.com/1.0.0/button.prod.min.js
The  call of home

The winds of time carried me far,
Across oceans wide, beneath foreign stars.
I built my dreams on distant lands,
With golden towers and weary hands.

But somewhere deep, a whisper grew,
A voice I knew, yet scarcely knew.
It called me back, both soft and strong,
A melody Iโ€™d lost too long.

The streets I walked in childhood days,
Now shadowed paths in memoryโ€™s haze.
The laughter, the cries, the scents that stayed,
Their echoes formed a fleeting parade.

The garden waits, a patient friend,
Its story unfinished, far from its end.
The flowers wilted, the fruitless trees,
Yet hope lingers in the breeze.

I pack my bags, not just with clothes,
But with fragments of dreams, with humble oaths.
To tend the soil that shaped my name,
And light once more that tender flame.

Each step I take feels bittersweet,
As past and present gently meet.
The forgotten blooms will rise anew,
In colors bright, in morningโ€™s dew.

For home is not just bricks and stone,
But the seed of love weโ€™ve always known.
It waits, it whispers, it longs to see,
The part of itself that lives in me.