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The Sting of DesertRose

Today is finally the afternoon I've decided to sit down and make an entry about my alias. I'm writing this from one of my favourite places - my sister's room in our home of Geolin. 

Years ago, Mumma Lin told me I should find a way to archive what I write. She often found bits and pieces of what I penned down in my notebooks and rough sheets. I wasn't very aware of how to do that during high school other than keeping a notebook. But I guess I actively kept looking out for options and was introduced to the concept of a blog. 

During this season, a dear friend from school also introduced me to western music in a very engaging way.  Though I spent my childhood away from my native, I was more connected to music and art that was tied to my roots. I would listen to some English songs here and there, but I was not aware of the many artists, styles and magic that side of the world held within. 

My friend took it on him to help me develop and curate my vibe from the vast options. So he introduced me to two songs every day from the list that he thought might work well for me. That's how I first heard Desert Rose by Sting. There was this sense of longing and love that I instantly connected with. The whole desert scenario with a folk touch somehow got me stuck to it, and this one has a way of getting to me to date. Every time I listen to it, I feel like the lady from some other part of the world brimming with love and desire dancing around in the deserts. 

While starting a blog, I kept wondering what a fitting title could be. More than a decade ago, I didn't know how far the blog would go or what this alias would become for me. But today, this is a part of my identity that I keep close to myself, a space that gives me hope for growth, a voice that has told my stories and my light in general. 

It gives me true joy when people identify this name I took on when I was pretty young and use it to refer to my writing. I soak in gratitude on most days for having the opportunity to live in a time where these little musings we have can be archived and shared with many so quickly, for the eureka moment when I thought of myself as a desert rose, and for everyone around me that kept my stories coming.

This has been a culmination of something I was searching for and something that found me. Whether we agree or not, we all look for things we cannot have. Exploring ways to have it, whichever form is possible, becomes our journey. At least, that's how it is for this DesertRose. And that's how it was for Sting's, too, the one my friend introduced me to. 

So if there was anything I'd scar my body for, this had to be the first. 



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