***A gem of a book–15 questions bring out 15 different
flavors. You will be mesmerized!***

The Prolific Writer, Author of My Soul Rants: Poems of a Born Spectator and
Kaurageously Yours has done it again by regaling us with another delightful book
that uplifts the soul. And this time, she has removed herself from the spotlight
(which is still hers, no matter what) and directed readers to savor the words of
great Writers she admires on the Medium Platform where she writes.

Interview with Gems of Medium by Gurpreet Dhariwal is a book of interviews
that explores fifteen deep questions. The questions are unique, and readily you feel
that the mind that harbors such questions must come from a caring soul–they are
questions of presence! But you only understand this once you’ve read a few of the
responses that will put you in a state of awe over and over again. They are authentic
responses, like those you’d receive from a soulful heart-to-heart with a good friend:
I feel it, and you will, too, once you get on with the pleasant rhythm of the book.

The interview is conducted by the gorgeous soul of Author Gurpreet Dhariwal,
who doesn’t make much of her genius when she admits (in the book) to “choosing
the questions randomly.” Author Dhariwal captains the interviews and helps the
interviewee to view themselves in a new way. I know because I was honored to be
one of her chosen interviewees.

And then, the tables turn at the end when one interviewee turns the spotlight on
the Author and asks her the same questions she authored. At this volta, the reader
experiences the most profound admiration for the source of those questions. The joy
is palpable: at the turn of the tables, you are privy to the backbone of secret hurts
and disillusionment Author Dhariwal endured and overcame/is overcoming in her
growth and ongoing journey here on earth.

I have read all the books authored by Gurpreet Dhariwal, and this one reached a
different pinnacle, unlike the one her vulnerable two poetry collections reached.
The keyword here is different; there is no comparison.

Interview with Gems of Medium by Gurpreet Dhariwal is that great a book! And
if this Author has another book in the works, I will purchase that one too.

To wrap up, let me say what I couldn’t fit into the subject line: if you’re looking for
a sure way to stay motivated and real in your own skin, read this book. Besides
making you feel like a globetrotter, it will fill you with awe, bring you joy and
chuckles, will propel you to get moving, and might make you cry too. It will be like a
baptism of fire.

I’m a satisfied customer, reader, and human for reading this lovely book. Thank
you for writing and making it available to the world, dearest Gurpreet Dhariwal.
I bow to you and wish you miracles. 5-star!

***

Gurpreet Dhariwal is the Author of Three books. Her books are available on
Amazon, Flipkart, and BlueRose. 

Now On To That Interview

Gurpreet Dhariwal–on Medium
Author of Interview with Gems of Medium

Interview with Selma

Selma is my favorite for many reasons. First of all, I love her way of saying, “I am
wishing you miracles”. Such a charming way of raising the spirit of others. Secondly,
I love her tweets. She does not only read but shares her views with others. Thirdly,
she reads voraciously, and she writes amazingly well. I have recently started reading
her profound articles, and they all made me learn something new in life.

Until now, I have conducted various interviews and realized that you all have come
from different parts of the world yet sharing the same trials and tribulations that I
am witnessing in this part of the world. Although it should have made me feel
miserable it has raised my spirit back to life. Sometimes, knowing what others are
going through makes you strong enough to face your miseries upfront.

My Two Cents on Selma
Your words are healing each of us, and we are wishing you miracles too.
I am amazed at your answers, and I hope others rejoice in reading them too.

#Q1- Where do you belong to? Is there anything you would like
to change about the place you belong to?

#R1 Belonging. If this question alludes to where I’m from, I’d be happy to
tell you that I was born and raised in Belize. A former British colony, the
small country of Belize is in Central America.
Belize is bordered by Mexico on the North, Guatemala on the South and West,
and the Caribbean Sea on the East.
With a population of 408,487 within its area of 180 miles long and 68 miles
wide, Belize has the lowest population density in Central America.
That is the country from where I originate.

But if you were to ask me if I still belong to Belize, I’d have to tell you
that I don’t. My passport shows that I’m Belizean but I no longer feel that
I belong to Belize.

To further reply to your inquiry, if there was something I could do to change
something about Belize it would be to eradicate all form of violence that has
held it unattractive to me for a long time now.

With that gone, Belize would remain the perfect place in the world where growing
up was a delight. The childhood lessons I learned there are mine to keep and
those I would never trade for anything. What a lovely place to have my
footprints etched forever. Thank you, Belize.

“My hometown—where I don’t need a map
to get around, where everyone knows my name.”

If this question is a more philosophical one, wanting to know where it is that
I belong, I’d need to tell you that I belong to this Universe. I am a citizen
of the world and I’m proud of it.

Likewise, if I could change something about this Universe, I’d insist that we
showed more respect to the orderliness that our Universe exemplifies.

The Universe and its orderliness and complexities are beyond my comprehension.
And while I know it has existed for a very long time, I know we need to do more
to keep it existing for a long time to come.

I took up too much of your time on the first question already. Forgive. It will
not happen again. Next question...

#Q2 What sets your soul on fire?

#R2 Kindness fires me up.

#Q3 Which is your favourite family memory and why?

#R3 Birthday cakes. With six of us children to look after and all those
birth-days to celebrate, we never failed to have a homemade cake. What joy
to always wake up to such a beautifully icing-decorated cake that I could
share with my siblings and friends. My mother, R.I.P., was the best baker
in the world.

This answer is of when I was growing up. The times I was raising my two boys
are overflowing with memories. I loved it all. I Cannot choose one.

#Q4 Is there anyone in your life you could give your life for? If yes, why?

#R4 I’d give my life in a New York-minute for my husband and two sons. No doubt.
No hesitation. Why? Because they bring joy to my life. And even if that meant
that I’d lose mine, I’d die with the satisfaction that I could do that for them.

“If you haven’t found something you are willing
to die for, you aren’t fit to live.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr

#Q5 Do you pour love into self from time to time?

#R5 Always. How hollow we’d be if we didn’t intentionally pamper ourselves
with love. We are receptacles that give. We need to replenish in order to
have more or enough to give to those we choose to give to.

#Q6 How often do you observe the people near you?

#R6 I’m mindful of people all the time. I’m sensitive to vibes people emit
without knowing. I will never hurt another human intentionally.
I’d say that I’m a people observer. All the time.

#Q7 What do you hope for? Does it change something within you or around you?

#R7 I hope. I put my faith in hope.
Hope is like a five-spoke wheel which is strong enough to support the weight
of a car. Like that!
Hope stems from the belief of love in a force higher and greater than me.
That spoke on that wheel, which translates to hope in my life, then behaves
like a pivoting point that compounds perfect proclivity to distribute joy,
kindness and generosity and sincerity in times when it might feel like I am
lost. That hope supports me, you see?

Does it change something?
You bet it does! Hope changes everything.
I put my faith in hope. I hope.

(intentionally chose my words to stand like bookends in this reply).

#Q8 How does it feel like being a woman to you?

#R8 Being a woman feels authentic. I cannot imagine being anything but
an authentic human woman.

#Q9 What would you like us to remember you for?

#R9 Oh, I don’t know. In the end, you will remember me for whatever has
touched you about me. I spread my love wide. It is my hope that something
I do or say adds value to your life. How you remember me is not up to me.
If you remember my name and associate it with kindness, that would fill me
with enormous joy.

#Q10 How would you describe your life?

#R10 Blessed. Abundant. Miraculous. Humble. Purposeful.

“When we do the best we can,
we never know what miracle is wrought in our life
or the life of another.”~ Helen Keller

#Q11 What keeps you on your toes, and how do you like to spend your time?

#R11 Keeps me on my toes — waking up to a new day does that to me. I observe
things as they happen. I don’t like the day to end without learning something
new from the day.

I like spending my time reading inspirational literature, and becoming engrossed
in things happening in my vicinity i.e. in my bedroom, kitchen, yard, grocery
store, neighborhood, and life.

I love being alive, breathing, and loving.

I’d want the day to go on for longer, but the day knows that I need my rest.
So when it’s time to go to sleep I drop like a log. I am gone. Until I get
up the next day and do it again—inhaling life, colour, sounds and flavours.

#Q12 When life gives you a lemon, what do you make out of it?

#R12 A lemon. I love lemons. I’d slice it and eat the meat. No fussing.
Literally. Also, I’d sometimes squeeze it out and make a cup of lemonade
with it. No sugar. No fussing.

If it’s a hardship life gives me then I deal with it as best as I possibly
can. Sometimes I win, sometimes I learn, and sometimes I lose. But as long
as I try with all my might, I win.

#Q13 What mystery of life would you like to have an answer for?

#R13 Mystery, you say? Everything in life is an incredible mystery. If I
knew all the answers I’d be God. Nah! I prefer pondering on the questions,
learning, changing my mind, laughing and being wrong.

Now a confession. I know the answer to too many mysteries of life, I just
don’t comprehend why we haven’t solved those mysteries already. The solutions
are pending. Why? Tell me why.

#Q14- How were you different five years ago from what you are today?

#R14 I’m older and wiser today than I was five years ago. Do I want to go
back to being five years younger? Never! Onward, ever!

“Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance,
you must keep moving.” ~ Albert Einstein

#Q15- What would you like to leave as your legacy? Is there any
message you would like to communicate to us?

#R15- An exclusive message? None. Well, nothing more than I’ve already
communicated to you in this lengthy interview. Very interesting questions.
Avant-garde, bohemian, all of them. They made me think deeply.
Thank you very much.

• A question for you, Gurpreet, dear:
  What is your motivation behind these questions?

Her response: I came up with this idea long ago as I wanted to know more
than words about each of you. I wanted to know where you come from and
how your life has shaped you as a human.

• Why are these fifteen questions of interest to you?

Her response: I wanted to come up with more, but I believed in showing
mercy 🙂 Hence only 15 questions.

• And what will you do with the answers?

Her response: I am Imprinting them in the hidden treasure of my heart.
And I never knew I would be compiling a book on them. I am very excited
as I am doing it now.

• What purpose will they serve?

Her response: They are making me learn a lot and motivating me to face
one more day in my life.

• Do whatever you like with my answers. These are the answers today.
  Tomorrow they might sound different.
• You’re such a joy, Gurpreet. Be well.
• Thanks for the interesting questions borne of your curious mind. Don’t
  change. I wish you miracles, sweet girl.

Selma Martin is a Reader/Writer/Learner/Enthusiast. She is a late
bloomer and a slow reader. She believes in miracles, kindness, and in
the beauty of ordinary living #amwriting. Connect with her at selmamartin.com.

IT WAS MONTHS LATER THAT SHE ASKED PERMISSION TO USE THE INTERVIEW…

Main photo selected by Gurpreet Dhariwal: Image by Nika Akin from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/users/nika_akin-13521770/

Link for Member-only story on Medium: The Book

My friends, this concludes the first interview I wish to share
to compliment
the promotion of my upcoming poetry collection.
I hope you enjoyed it;
and the review of the book.

Thanks for reading.

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Selma Martin

I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.

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