Dull My Sparkle Quotes

Want to play hangman? asks Theophile, and I ache to tell him that I have enough on my plate playing quadriplegic. But my communication system disqualifies repartee: the keenest rapier grows dull and falls flat when it takes several minutes to thrust it home. By the time you strike, even you no longer understand what had seemed so witty before you started to dictate it, letter by letter. So the rule is to avoid impulsive sallies. It deprives conversation of its sparkle, all those gems you bat back and forth like a ball-and I count this forced lack of humor one of the great drawbacks of my condition.

I don’t let anyone dull my sparkle because I’m enough for myself. I don’t care about people. I write my story and live my way. But Siddhartha cares about people, and I care about him. He belongs here; I don’t. We’re from two completely different cultures. The thing that makes me nervous is, what if I embarrass him in front of his people?

It was important to choose the exact device to drive Charles away. An imperfect magic, or one incorrectly used, might only bring more disaster upon our house. I thought of my mother's jewels, since this was a day of sparkling things, but they might not be strong on a dull day, and Constance would be angry if I took them out of the box where they belonged, when she herself had decided against it. I thought of books, which are always strongly protective, but my father's book had fallen from the tree and let Charles in; books, then, were perhaps powerless against Charles. I lay back against the tree trunk and thought of magic; if Charles had not gone away before three days I would smash the mirror in the hall.

From the time I woke up in the morning until the time I went to bed at night, I was unbearably miserable and seemingly incapable of any kind of joy or enthusiasm. Everything--every thought, word, movement--was an effort. Everything that once was sparkling now was flat. I seemed to myself to be dull, boring, inadequate, thick brained, unlit, unresponsive, chill skinned, bloodless, and sparrow drab. I doubted, completely, my ability to do anything well..... And always, everything was an effort. Washing my hair took hours to do, and it drained me for hours afterward; filling the ice-cute tray was beyond my capacity, and I occasionally slept in the same clothes I had worn during the day because I was too exhausted to undress.

Seeing that I would never manage to fall asleep, I arose, lit a candle, and after dressing went outside. Beneath the dull glow of the winter moon the snow glowed like pale blue china. The sidewalks sparkled weakly beneath the rays of the flickering street lamps; the benumbed streets slumbered forlornly. I walked, passing one corner after the other, and suddenly found myself on the edge of town. Further, beyond the square, an endless expanse began to glisten with a somber silverness. I stopped just before the gates. My intent gaze could distinguish nothing in the distant white expanse. Before me rose the imposing bank of the Volga like a gigantic snowdrift. So barren and uninviting was this deserted view resembling eternity that my heart contracted. I turned to the right and approached quite close to the monastery enclosure. From behind the bronze gates, glimmered a dense net of crosses and gravestones. The ancient eyes of the church gazed forbiddingly down on me, and with an eerie feeling I thought of the monks sleeping at this moment in tomb-like cells together with corpses. Were any of them thinking of the hour of death on this night? ("Lamia")

My intellect, my wit—I’d forgotten I’d even possessed them, and they were dull and neglected, to be sure. But in the company of others who prized thought over action, laughter over brooding, they blossomed and sharpened. My tongue fairly tripped with sparkling phrases, insightful comments.

Two years before our arrival at Maplehurst, we had left the Midwest eager for new jobs, milder weather, and a house of our own with a real backyard. We were unprepared for the enormity of our losses. Good friends. Close-knit community. A meaningful connection with the work of our minds and our hands. There was one lost thing, in particular. It was such a natural part of our prewilderness lives that I only ever recognized it after it was gone. In our northern city, we had lived a seasonal rhythm of summer festivals and winter sledding, spring baseball games and autumn apple picking. Our moments and our months were distinguished by the color of the trees, deep red or spring green, and the color of the lake, sparkling and playful in summer, menacing and dull in winter. These things were the beautiful, sometimes harsh, but always rhythmic backdrop in our days. Time was like music. It had a melody. In the wilderness, the only thing that differentiated one season from the next was my terrible winter asthma. Without time's music, I became aimless and disconnected, like a child's lost balloon.

You can't dull my sparkle ✨

WE CARRY ON If you are feeling lonely and lost As your eyes meet my words On the page of the book you hold On glass screens on some device This was meant to be You connecting with me Are you feeling the life fatigue That gaping void and ennui From all the sudden changes In the slow and stuck life cycles Your sparkle subdued With postponed dreams Does it dull your shine When you think about your existence And wonder about the grand purpose With no real answers Lost and drowning Looking for a spark Know you are not alone, never alone With a glowing spirit inside, vibrant life outside You matter, have every right live Don’t you give up, for I too am trying Not knowing what comes next Living and loving as I know how ~June Samuel

Fun Proactive-Me moves out and reactionary Survival-Me moves in. I keep everything humming, but I lose my spontaneity, my thirst for adventure, and my desire to learn and try new things. Instead, I become an expert in making my day-to-day life easier and as predictable as possible—cleaning the house, shopping for groceries, making dinner, doing laundry. Rinse and repeat. And repeat. And repeat. Over time, my sparkle dims, dulled by the monotonous routines of life.

If you've ever noticed white stains on your bathroom tiles, rough hair after a shower, or reduced water flow from taps, you're probably dealing with hard water problems. In many parts of India, water contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium salts. Over time, this causes scale buildup in pipes and appliances, as well as dull skin and faded clothes. Switching to soft water can significantly enhance your home experience. Let's see how. 1. What is Hard Water and Why is it a Problem? Hard water is water that has a high mineral content, especially calcium and magnesium. While these minerals are not harmful to drink, they cause big issues in household chores and maintenance: White spots and scaling on taps, showerheads, and utensils Reduced efficiency of geysers, washing machines, and RO filters Increased soap and detergent usage Dry skin and rough hair due to mineral deposits Faded clothes after a few washes According to studies, hard water can reduce appliance efficiency by up to 30% over time, leading to higher electricity bills and expensive repairs. 2. How Soft Water Solves These Problems Soft water is water where excess calcium and magnesium have been removed through a water softener. The result? Sparkling bathrooms and kitchens - No more stubborn white stains or scaling.  Healthy skin and silky hair - Soft water is gentle on the body.  Long-lasting appliances - Protects heaters, washing machines, and pipes.  Lower cleaning costs - Requires less soap, shampoo, and detergent.  Energy efficiency - Appliances work at full capacity without blockage. 3. Benefits of Installing a Water Softener in India Installing a home water softener can make a huge difference: Protects plumbing systems from clogging Saves money on repairs and replacements Eco-friendly option with reduced water wastage Low maintenance and long lifespan Ideal for Indian hard water conditions 4. Choosing the Right Water Softener When buying a water softener, look for: Capacity suitable for your family size Salt-based or salt-free technology, depending on water hardness Low-maintenance design Brand reliability and service availability Modern solutions like SOFTFLOW® Water Softeners are built for Indian water challenges. They are eco-friendly, easy to install, and protect both your health and home. 5. FAQs about Hard and Soft Water Q1: Is soft water safe to drink?  Yes, soft water is safe for most households, though the taste may be slightly different. Q2: How do I know if I have hard water?  Common signs include scaling, dry skin, dull hair, and high soap usage. Q3: How often should I maintain my water softener?  Most modern softeners need minimal maintenance - usually a salt refill every few months.