“My Mother’s Calendar”

My Mother’s Calendar

By [Ali Rehman]

In the quiet corner of our modest kitchen hung an old, faded calendar. It was the kind of calendar you never gave much thought to—just another thing on the wall, silently marking the passage of days. But for me, it became something far more profound when I accidentally discovered its secret.

It happened on a rainy afternoon when I was visiting my mother’s house. The sky outside was a dull gray, and the steady patter of rain filled the room with a soft rhythm. My eyes wandered to the calendar, its paper edges curled and its colors faded by years of sun. The month was almost over, but what caught my attention were the small symbols and marks scattered across the dates—hearts, stars, circles, even tiny drawings of teardrops and suns.

Curious, I traced the marks with my finger. There were no notes for birthdays, holidays, or appointments. Instead, the calendar seemed like a secret diary, where each day held a silent message. My heart pounded with questions—why had she never spoken about these days? What stories did these symbols hide?

That evening, after dinner, I asked her gently, “Mom, what do the marks on your calendar mean?”

She looked at me with a small, wistful smile, then sighed. “It’s a way I kept track of my feelings. Days when I felt joy, sorrow, hope, or fear. I never wanted to burden anyone with them, so I marked them here instead.”

I was surprised. My mother was always a strong woman, the steady rock of our family. Yet, behind her quiet strength lay a world of emotions she had never shared, hidden in the language of her calendar.

I asked if she would tell me about some of the marks. She hesitated but eventually began.

“There was this day,” she said, pointing to a small heart on a date two months ago, “when I felt truly happy. It wasn’t anything big—just a quiet moment watching the sunset. It reminded me that even in hard times, beauty still exists.”

Then she pointed to a date marked with a teardrop. “This was a day of sadness. I lost a friend, someone I hadn’t spoken to in years but never forgot.”

Each symbol became a window into her soul—a story of resilience, hope, grief, and love that she had tucked away quietly.

Over the next weeks, I found myself looking at her calendar more often. It was no longer just a tool for days and dates but a map of a life lived deeply, with emotions held close but never forgotten.

One day, I decided to start my own calendar. Not for appointments or reminders but for emotions. Each day, I’d mark a symbol that represented how I felt. Sometimes it was a star for hope, other times a cloud for confusion, or a flower for gratitude.

When I showed my mother, she smiled, tears shining in her eyes. “You’re learning what I’ve always known—emotions matter. They shape us, even when we don’t speak them aloud.”

This shared calendar practice became a quiet bond between us. We didn’t need to explain everything in words; our calendars spoke for us. And slowly, as I grew older, I noticed my mother began to open up more—sharing stories behind the marks, her fears, her joys, her regrets.

One winter evening, as snow fell softly outside, she took my hand. “I’m glad you understand. Life isn’t just about what happens, but how we feel about it.”

That night, I looked at both our calendars, side by side, filled with symbols and stories. They were more than just markings; they were a testament to our connection, a silent language of love and understanding.

Years later, when my mother was gone, I kept the calendars safe. They were a treasure trove of memories and emotions, reminders that even when words fail, the heart still speaks.

Every time I feel lost or overwhelmed, I look at those symbols, remembering her strength and vulnerability. They guide me through my own feelings, teaching me that it’s okay to mark the quiet, hidden moments of life.

Moral:

Sometimes, the deepest emotions remain unspoken, but they shape who we are. By acknowledging and honoring our feelings — even silently — we find connection, healing, and a language that speaks beyond words.