10 Apr 2012

A - Z Writing Challenge: J


The letter for today is: J, where I feature jealousy and jackfruit.

I've experienced the bad effects of jealousy. I guess everyone has to a greater or lesser degree. Young love usually displays this bad emotion. A youth can't abide someone taking the object of their desire away from them. Time reveals the pitfalls of this behavior. Most people learn not to indulge in fits of jealousy when they understand the needs of the one they love.
During my travels in Indonesia, a revolting smell came from a fruit market we passed. On one stall, giant prickly fruit were piled high. Our guide explained how the jackfruit contained a starchy, delicious fruit. But a strong, disagreeable odor like decaying onions hung in the air.
The prickly behavior of jealousy repels people, but the thorny skin of jackfruit didn't deter further exploration after the local people discovered what lay beneath.

11 comments:

  1. Great comparison. Jealousy is a surface emotion. What lies beneath it is the truth, and it's not always sweet smelling. Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way, says that when we feel envy towards someone, examine why. It might be that we wish we were doing that form of art and haven't allowed ourselves to explore our true callings.

    Play off the Page

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great comparison between what we see and what is true.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like this. Also, it made me think more literally about the jackfruit too - I'm not sure I could get past the smell to eat it! did you try one?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. I didn't eat one. Unfortunately, I was suffering from an upset stomach due to ingested water on the salad. The condition plagued me the whole of my stay, only disappering when I got on the wonderful Quantas airplane to return to Australia.

      Delete
  4. I wondered what the connection was between jealousy and jackfruit, but your post really made me think about jealousy and what lies beneath it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great J post. I have never experience a Jackfruit, but have certainly been at the butt end of a jealous tongue.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh! I like the connection you made between these two j words. Very cool. Plus, I learned something! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very interesting post. I like the way you wove these two concepts together. Very insightful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hadn't thought of Jackfruit in years. I backpacked SE Asia for a year once upon a time and ate Jackfruit then...good taste, awful smell!! Good post. :)
    Rhia from Five Minute Piece for Inspiration (around # 800 on the A through Z list)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ugh, I remember that smell from when I visited SE Asia - but we knew them as Durians. Couldn't get past the smell to taste. Hard to believe something smelling so bad might taste nice!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm not convinced I'd make it past the smell...

    ReplyDelete

Please tell me what YOU think.