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 |   Second blog -- answers to an ocean of prompts |
 "Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself." CHARLIE CHAPLIN  Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. David Whyte        This is my supplementary blog in which I will post entries written for prompts. |
| Prompt: Were you happy or disappointed with the month of January 2024? ---------- Personally speaking, I am happy, for the moment, because my older son is staying with me until March. I also had a tough time this January with my cat getting sick. Luckily, after a two-day hospitalization, she's back home and doing better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she stays well. Staying well all the time is not always possible for oldies like me and my cat. On a very large scale, this past January, our planet passed its closest to the sun. If it keeps doing this, I wouldn't be too eager to bask in that excess warmth, even if in the far future. On the somewhat plus side, our earth's global economy (they say!) is balanced in a broad fashion, although there are several serious ups and downs in between nations. If the money biz collapses, we're all cooked! Then, I am not very happy when so much conflict happens for this or that reason in our world. I especially don't want our USA involved in wars and fights that pop up, way far away from home. As much as those conflicts darken our moods and make our days much less pleasant, our country's involvement in them is disappointing and dangerous for us. I so wish we can keep our nose clean and not stick it into risky things overseas. Well, so much for January 2024. Let's hope February 2024 can be much better and more loving will surface in between the people and nations of the world. After all, it is the month with the Valentine's Day in it. |
| Prompt: A blue feather arrives in an envelope in your mailbox. No note or explanation. Who sent the blue feather and why? On Green Acres, Lisa Douglas received a blue feather in the mail with no explanation and she thought the gypsies were coming after her for what she did to them when she was a teenager. The blue feather was sent to her because a store was having a sale on blue nail polish. Two hippies in a gypsy wagon showed up and Lisa was scared to death. Write about the blue feather for your Blog entry today. ========== What? A blue feather? Well, it depends. If the envelope has my name and address on it, and inside it has some data involving my life, you can be sure, I'd notify the police. If it were an envelope with nothing on it or inside it, then I'd toss it into the garbage bin. This is because, since I haven't read that story by Lisa Douglas, I wouldn't make the connection in the first place. "Edited to add" "Green Acres" was a TV serial comedy and Lisa Douglas was Eva Gabor's character in that show. Oh well, suppose I didn't do what I said I'd do in real life. This means a story in the making and I hope I don't botch it up. Here it goes: I wasn't sure what to do with the blue feather in the thick, large envelope I was holding in my hand after I opened the mail. Intrigued and slightly wary, I couldn't resist the urge to investigate. As a safe measure, looked inside the envelope again. Lo and behold, glued to the bottom corner of the envelope was a tiny antique looking key. I couldn't figure out what metal it was made up. Surprised, I put on my glasses and tried to read the inscription on the key. It said, "Unlock the door to the extraordinary." I groaned. Was this a prank? "But I'm not into mysteries and fairy tales," I said out loud. Then, an idea occurred to me. I stepped out the front door, closed it, and inserted the key into the lock. It fit perfectly although this key was one-third the size of my own key. The door swung open. I gasped. My somewhat ordinary living room had transformed into a whimsical wonderland, filled with enchanting creatures and vibrant colors. A talking rabbit in a waistcoat greeted me, leading me further into the fantastic realm that had materialized within my very own house. "Alice in Wonderland" I thought. "My mind is playing story-games, again!" Then, I saw my cat sitting at a table drinking tea. Lo and behold! Tea? I couldn't even get her to try canned or real food since she wouldn't give up kibble. I tried to take a seat across from the cat, but she pointed with her paw to one of the rooms. I opened the door to that room and saw that the bookshelf I had there had been replaced. In its place was an entire library filled with ancient books with tales of distant lands and forgotten magic. That was when I realized I was still holding the key in my hand. I stepped back into the living room and put the key on the table. My cat jumped down with a huge meow, knocking her teacup down and ran out of the room. At that very moment, I noticed that the magic was waning and everything around me was turning into its original blah self. I picked the key again and nothing happened. I realized that everything around me had already turned to the way it had always been for years. I searched the entire house for a speck of that short-lived magic but it was of no use. So, I guessed this had been a one-time affair between me and the key that had arrived with the blue feather in a strange envelope. At that instant, I realized that this whole experience had been a reminder, a short-lived gift to me, to show me the magic that can be hidden in the ordinary, and maybe I should pay more attention to fantasy and try to see beyond what is obvious to my eyes. |
| Prompt: Memory “Our memory is a more perfect world than the universe: it gives back life to those who no longer exist.” Guy de Maupassant What if you had a perfect memory, and every terrible thing you've seen, said and done was seared in your mind, never to be forgotten? And/or write about this quote. ----------- What if I had a perfect memory? As a first impulse, I would jump for joy. Yet.... On the plus side, where learning and retention is concerned, a perfect memory is priceless. It can also aid in problem solving, if I can overlook the unnecessary data. It might also aid my sagging creativity because I'd recall what, at first, seemed original to me was said before. In addition, memories from the past might be a source for some material to serve as inspiration. Also, I would be able to remember important dates, events, and the names of people I have met. Still, on the positive side, I would have liked to recall all the nice people and all the niceties thrown my way. Although, now, I think I remember most of them, I know I don't recall everything. On the negative side, too much recall would overwhelm me and even could make me lose sleep over past events and some people who no longer matter. Forgetting and letting go of certain hurtful memories would be very difficult, too. Then, I would fear making mistakes, as in the past, and would stop trying, as I would be afraid of remembering vividly any new mistake. That perfect memory could create social challenges, too. I would remember my embarrassing or awkward moments with heightened recall. Also, I could turn off people by remembering everything about them while they don't even recall having met me. Still, while a perfect memory offers numerous advantages in terms of learning, problem-solving, and productivity, it can also come with the potential for emotional challenges, overwhelming recall, and social difficulties. Thinking and writing about this made me see that my faulty memory should be something I should appreciate. If only, I hadn't forgotten, the other day, that UN's headquarters were in Geneva and hadn't given a wrong phone number to a neighbor!  . |
| Prompt: Names "It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame." Henry David Thoreau, Walking Why do you think we are given names at birth? Do you know what your name means and do you live up to it? What about the people you know and their relationships to their names? ----- Oh, the names I give to myself! Believe me, they have nothing to do with that name my mother granted me. Well, she gave me that(!) name because her father's name meant happiness, joyful or something like that. So, in that way, my name is a re-run. Just like that poor cartoon boy, Rerun, Lucy's younger brother in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. It means to me that my mother's father's name, as much as it carried a positive connotation, can also point to the fact that she wanted me to father her. Eeeek! Heavy burden on a baby, don't you think...even if the name evoked positive emotions in her? Still, I had never met my grandfather as he had passed away years before I was born; therefore, I had no inkling what to do with such a name. I still, don't! When I looked into what kind of a person my grandfather was, I learned that, from the rest of our family and relatives, he was a joker, sometimes even playing practical jokes on people. Most remembered him with love and laughter or maybe they told it to me that way. Who knows! It is said that most people, subconsciously, live up to their names. Really? Take Adolf Hitler for example. Adolf means "noble or majestic wolf." He was a wolf all right but not the noble kind. Far from it! In fact, he put all the wolves and the entire animal kingdom to shame. Granted, my name carries a positive vibe and it does have cross-cultural references that may have to do with literary connections and happiness, but I'm no joker like my grandfather...I think. Then, I also take a breath of relief with this thought; at least, my name has nothing to do with any big bad wolf. . |
| Prompt: There's a new month coming, with new intentions, new goals, new love, new light, and new beginnings. What's happening next month for you? ------- February? It isn't here, yet. How can I know what happens then. I stopped coming up with new anything like goals, intentions, etc., some time ago. I only write daily to-do lists. Still, since the prompt asks for it, let me take a look. On the personal front, February 12 is my younger son's birthday. He may never be a president but his birthday is among those of the presidents. On February 11, International Day of Women and Girls in Science will celebrate the women and girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That is really something to be be happy about. Then, Chinese Olympics would be fun but I'm not into Olympics. As to Winter Olympics, I only watched them with my husband and because he was into such stuff. Now, I think I'd rather read a book or two. That's what I usually do in any month if life itself doesn't throw a wrench at it. Come to think of it, reading is exactly what I'm planning to do in February. . |
| Prompt: “And instead of dying Immediately after they shot him, he would go on to survive several days solely because of the cold that January. Maybe that's why we are drawn to those who possess the coldest of hearts ... In effort to survive. ” ― Bethany Brookbank Let this quote inspire your writing today. --------- Oh, the cold shivers this quote gives me! Even if I don't totally grasp what she really means. But I'll try. It is said that some people's bodies run more efficiently in cooler temperatures, making them naturally drawn to cold temperatures. Maybe the month of January has added to this character's dying, in the narrative part of the quote. Also, there may be a psychological factor of the quiet beauty of a winter landscape offering serenity. I mean, who wouldn't want serenity while they are dying! Then, metaphorically, reserved or introverted individuals can be emotionally distant, preferring solitude and finding deeper connections challenging. Surely, this may also be due to past experiences such as traumas and betrayals. In those cases, emotional withdrawal becomes a habit of protecting oneself. In our society or world, unfortunately, this withdrawal is misinterpreted as social awkwardness both in relationships and communication. Symbolically, some people gravitate toward those who are emotionally cold as if that could be a way to distance themselves from difficult emotions and to numb their earlier pains. Still, it is important to realize that everyone is unique and judging without understanding a person's context could be misleading and harmful. I think, therefore, balance, empathy, and understanding are needed. Then, for anyone struggling with emotional coldness, talking to a friend, a therapist, or counselor would help build healthier relationships; to quote back Bethany Brookbank, "In effort to survive." . |
| Prompt: Write about fog and mist in your Blog entry today. ---------- Where I live, mist and fog are casual occurrences. The morning mist lifts early and quickly enough, but I'm not too fond of fog, although it happens somewhat rarely. Fog during the rush hour is scary. Imagine driving through a veil at five or ten miles an hour seeing only the parts of the other vehicles on the road. Yet, the presence of fog and mist can bring on a bounty of emotions and ideas, as they offer metaphors, symbols, and settings in my imagination. One of those symbols is uncertainty or, sometimes, obscurity. I mean you know there is something there as a faint idea but you can't figure out what it is. Another metaphor or symbol could be isolation as I feel disconnected since my sight is blocked. On the other hand, this may be a backdrop for introspective or contemplative words or sentences or, if I am lucky, maybe a story or two. In addition, mist or fog can set the mood for what I write or more so, what any better insightful author can write. For example, Dickens raises this to an art form in his enhanced descriptive imagery in Bleak House: "Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city. Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish heights. Fog creeping into the cabooses of collier-brigs; fog lying out on the yards and hovering in the rigging of great ships; fog drooping on the gunwales of barges and small boats. Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing by the firesides of their wards; fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fog cruelly pinching the toes and fingers of his shivering little ‘prentice boy on deck." As in the above quote, there are parallels between foggy land and sea scapes and characters facing life's struggles and challenges. As such, the effects of mist and fog can help explore a wide range of themes and emotions for all writers. As for me, in my puny real life, I like to see things clearly. . |
| Prompt: "Happiness often sneaks through the door you didn't know you left open." John Barrymore Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ------------- This is such a smart but tricky quote. Happiness? Isn't it a subjective experience! Don't you think so? I mean what brings joy and good feelings to one person may differ for another. Plus, happiness is never a constant state, as it fluctuates and changes. As such, happiness is elusive and unpredictable. The image in the quote--happiness sneaking through an unnoticed door-- suggests that it often enters our lives unexpectedly and without warning, the door one didn't even realize was left open. Does that mean unexpected sources or moments? Maybe. I guess the quote encourages a mindset of openness and awareness and this has to do with being receptive to people and experiences. It may also be true that happiness is not found through deliberate and planned effort, as by its very nature, happiness is a spontaneous thing. This made me think about what could encourage happiness. If happiness is a sense of well-being and contentment, then it is related to positive emotions and general satisfaction with life, involving health, work, relationships, and achievements. Yet, for some, it is momentary joy through pleasant surprises and social connections and companionships. Still, for others, it has to do with the mindfulness of the present moment and appreciating simple everyday things and pleasures. On the other hand, for those who have physical health issues it might be a burst of wellness and for the altruistic ones it might come as willingness and being able to help others. Come to think of it, happiness is really a very subjective, very personal thing, and I don't even know where my own path to happiness lies. I guess it is a bit of everything which fluctuates and evolves. As to the doors in my life, I have no idea which one(s) I left open. . |
| Prompt: Falling and Getting up "When we fall on the ground it hurts us, but we also need to rely on the ground to get back up." Kathleen McDonald What are your thoughts on this quote? ------------ Since we're human we'll fall. It started with Adam and Eve, as the story goes. Falling and getting up are the inbred aspects of our human experience, metaphorically mirroring life's challenges and our resilience. The impact of any fall can be rough and it hurts. This makes us vulnerable and exposed to the harsh realities of life and its setbacks. Yet, the very ground that causes our fall is also the foundation upon which we can rise again. It's a dual role that the ground plays, symbolizing both the source of our stumble and the support for our recovery. Sometimes, we fall even though nothing we did, said, or even thought of has caused our lying splat on the ground. 'Why is that,' I ask myself. Then, I answer me back by thinking, "it is because the ground wants people to fall on it, so it can help them to get up." This doesn't say much for the character of the ground, does it? I mean, who'd want someone to suffer, so they can help them up and feel good about it? On the other hand, maybe, the ground wants to teach us a thing or two, so at the end of this life, we'll have something to show for our being in it, something that says, look what I've learned during my time on this planet earth! In the face of adversity, therefore, the ground becomes a teacher, imparting lessons on strength, fortitude, and the inevitability of setbacks. Each fall is a lesson, an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. The pain we feel upon hitting the ground serves as a reminder of our own vulnerability, pushing us to reflect on our actions and choices. Then, to get back up, we must use the very surface that witnessed our fall. Our success in getting up shows the human spirit's remarkable ability to endure and overcome challenges. Each time we rise, we are reborn with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, having gained valuable insights from our fall. In fact, this falling and getting up may be the intertwined threads in life that weave the story of our resilience and transformation. . |
| Prompt: The function of the artist or writer "The function of the artist is to make people like life better than before." Kurt Vonnegut What do you think the function of the writer is, if any? ------------ Sometimes I ask questions here to which I don't know the answers myself. This--the function of the writer--is one of them. I write because I like to do it as I have always been a fan of words and languages. I also studied lit and linguistics and did write some research stuff on those. Did I have a specific aim in doing those? I don't think so. I did do what felt good at the time. I still do what feels good to me. Generally speaking, however, writers--through their writing--can create an effect on the readers or they aim to do so, whether it is to inform, entertain, persuade, document, educate, inspire, or express creatively. This is because writing is a means of self-expression, and in some psychological therapies, the therapists advise people to keep a journal or a diary. Then, most of us, like me, write down things so we can remember them later. Yet, there are those writers who write to persuade people or change minds, and therefore, their writing becomes something like documentation. Anyway, for whatever reason something is written, any piece of writing automatically becomes a document that has recorded something which shows the context of a civilization. That is why we still treasure the cuneiform tablets and papyrus leaves that give us a glimpse of the earliest civilizations' writings. Coming back to the idea of the function of a writer, I don't think writers sit down to write a poem or a story, thinking, "This is my function." That very writing may only be their emotional response to something or they may just have a record-keeping mind that enabled them to write. Still, even when writing can be for persuasion or teaching or record keeping, it is an art form in itself and while doing it, I don't believe any one creative writer ever considers its "function." As Vonnegut said, however, what a writer writes can "make people like life better than before" or maybe, if lucky, what a writer writes can create some kind of an emotion in the reader. . |
| Prompt: “Snowfall rouses your inner child to dream and play once more.” — Angie Weiland-Crosby I've got snow on the brain... as does mother nature. Let this quote inspire you! --------- Neither my inner child nor my outer one have seen snowfall in the last couple of decades, but then, this is what I get for living in South FL. In memory, I shall never forget those flakes like white cotton puffs falling on my head and covering our then-yard like a quilt. It was as if the snow was saying to earth, "Hush, you nature's child; time to stay silent in your crib. It's my turn, now!" So here's something short. Snowfall in the silent realm of winter's hush dances of flakes start to rush from heaven's height, a gentle call a ballet of white, a snowfall each flake becomes a masterpiece, in fleeting joy, falls with ease and snow pirouettes in loving grace blankets the earth in an embrace . |
| Prompt: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall Let this quote inspire your writing today. --------- I don't know if what I do makes any difference to anyone, but I think it is a good idea to watch what I do, so what I do doesn't hurt someone else. Making a difference, the way I see it, is a collective effort; although mostly, only one individual gets applauded by it. Take MLK, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and the like, for example. These people wouldn't be in our memory and history if they didn't have others to work with them, for them, and follow them. Granted, it took, by such people, a major sense of responsibility and taking meaningful actions to contribute to positive change to leave a lasting legacy, from the start. Not one baby ever steps into the world with the conscious idea of "Okay, now, I'll make a difference," and then belts out his first scream. But then, babies do make a difference in the life of the household they belong. Hopefully it is joy, sometimes chaos, and mostly it is the mixture of joy and chaos. Unlike a newborn baby, if any one person wants to make a conscious difference, however, they have to have a passion for something and personal strengths to feed it. The question to ask oneself, if wanting to make a positive difference, could be, "What are the causes or issues that resonate with me on a deep level? What skills or talents do I possess to pull such a load?" Imagining that we are that person and we have a passion for something and possess some skills and talents, what will be needed next could be setting clear goals as having specific objectives to guide our efforts. Then, of course, comes educating ourselves on the subject, so we can make informed decisions with deepened understanding. Only after this comes taking any action such as taking the first step, volunteering, donating, and participating in the welfare of the community or the group. Modest though our actions may be, when started this way, they contribute to positive change. And, not only that! It will inspire others, too, and we will find friends, family, and colleagues joining in our cause. The greatest results for anything are obtained from collective efforts. Also, adapting to differences, being open to feedback, learning from experiences and being willing to adjust the approach would help create a lasting change. For reference, just read about MLK and how he readied himself to accomplish that huge difference. https://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com By the way, I picked MLK because we celebrated the MLK day, only recently. . |
| Prompt: What TV commercials do you like? What ones drive you crazy or make you mad? Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------- I don't watch too much TV, anymore, except for just some local news while I eat my supper. I guess, TV ads can be annoying or entertaining. Usually, I don't pay much attention to them. The annoying ones could be presenting a particular jingle, catchphrase, or scenario, causing viewer irritation, and even this can lead to the negative perception of not only the ad but the brand. Sudden spike ups in volume during a commercial break could be really annoying, too. Yet, this is not only true for TV but also, especially true for YouTube ads. Plus, recently I heard that the ads on YouTube actually pay more to the content creator than YouTube. So why do it, to this extent, YouTube? Then, of course, the content in the ad about the product could be misleading, too. I guess, commercial ads could be creative through their unique storytelling, visually appealing elements, emotional angles, or innovative concepts, but usually repetition kills their creativity and turns off their audience. My son is so disgusted with YouTube, for example, that he started going to Rumble instead. Now that Rumble, too, is out of hand, he is trying other options. So far that I can tell, all ads--TV, YouTube, Microsoft, Rumble, and the like--have not come up with any winning formula. I hope they do fix their shortcomings very soon because they are annoying and discouraging the viewers, game players, watchers, and listeners of their programs. . |
| Prompt: Who is your favorite Disney character? ------------ I am not sure I should think of a Disney character at my age, but now I did, and then, recalled that decades ago, I used to like Winnie the Pooh... I mean, how can one really really like a made-up character, be it by an author like A. A. Milne? Well, I can really like anyone who is unassuming and soft-voiced, to begin with; human, animal, or a cartoon character. And that cartoon character is Winnie. He is so unassuming that some people may think of Winnie as being naive and slow-witted. That is not the case, however. Winnie the Pooh, approaches life with a sense of wonder and he is so relatable with his red shirt and his catchphrases "Oh, bother!" and "Think, think, think!" This relatability is because he shows human emotions such as fear, joy, sadness, and confusion. He may come out as being naive but there is always some wisdom in his naivete. This statement of his, "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart," makes me think about my cat, for example. Then, friendship and loyalty is very important to Winnie and he goes out of his way to help a friend in need. His positive outlook and facing problems with his power of resilience, his unconditional love for his friends, his joy in small things such as a pot of honey are infectious and I end up smiling at his gentle humor. After all, who wouldn't come to love such a gentle nature in any being, imagined or not! . |
| Prompt: Helpful People Which kinds of people are helpful and which kinds hold you back? What makes a person really helpful? And is a helpful person fun to be with? ------------ Really helpful people can become the glue to hold families, relationships, and, at times, communities together. Being helpful doesn't always mean giving unwanted advice, but lending an understanding ear, offering help, or offering one's own take on a situation in assistance. This approach can mean a lot to the person needing that help. As to a helpful person being fun to be with, I guess it depends on the person. People have different stances and likes where others are concerned; therefore, a person who is fun to be with depends on how any one person looks at life. I truly appreciate when a friend's helpfulness can take the form of mentorship and philanthropy or they may be just a pal holding my hand during a tough time. Such helpful people can support me anytime especially if they don't wish for anything in return. Help should never seek reciprocity or else, it only becomes a loan. Also, too much helpfulness can lead to dependency and can stifle personal initiative and growth. It only turns bad when that help may turn into a form of control instead of letting the person helped make her own decisions. For this reason, being truly helpful lies in its own balance, as in everything else. This is because it is not only the act of helping but considering its long-term effects on the person helped and the relationship. After all, as much as we treasure the help, we all favor our own personal growth and autonomy. . |
| Prompt: Advice What do you think of advice in general, wanted or unwanted? Is the advice of other people helpful to you? Is there someone in your life you can go to for advice? -------------- Wanted or even unwanted advice is an aspect of human communication. Whether I like the advice or not, I usually receive it with open arms especially when it involves sincerity, empathy, and a willingness to teach and contribute to my well-being. When it comes to receiving advice, it requires a certain level of openness and humility. And yes, the advice of most people have been helpful to me throughout my life. There used to be several people I'd go to for advice in my life, but unfortunately all have passed away. I guess this is what I get for outliving them. Still, I do willingly receive advice from professionals like my accountant, lawyers, and just this morning from a worker in the animal hospital, who reassured me that what I thought was wrong with my cat wasn't as bad and then she gave me an appointment with the vet for tomorrow. Otherwise, I'd worry my head off. On the other hand, not all advice is created equal. The quality of advice depends on the source, context, and the specific situation and filtering through of information for relevance and applicability. Effective advice-giving involves understanding the context, empathizing with the person seeking guidance, and tailoring the advice to suit their unique situation. It requires good communication skills, clarity, and a genuine desire to help. From where I sit, I consider advice to be a powerful tool for personal and collective well-being; therefore, I'm very thankful for all the knowledgeable advice given to me, through my lifetime. . |
| Prompt: “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.” ― William James Use this quote to inspire your blog entry. ------------- As I have visited a few places in the world, I found that, despite the language and cultural barriers, it is possible to recognize and feel for others' joys, sorrows, and struggles. The main reason for this connection is empathy. This is so that empathy forms the basis for compassion and kindness, allowing individuals to connect on a deep emotional level. It leads to compassion and kindness, allowing us to connect on a deep emotional level. For example, I'll never forget the old lady who tried to help the clumsy me, on a cobblestone sidewalk in Rome, when I dropped some of the packages I was carrying. This was several decades ago. Added to my meager few Italian words, our body language such as gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact said a lot between us. Of course, being able to communicate also helps when talking the same language. Then, trying to talk others' languages creates bridges between people, too, enabling us to share our ideas, and strengthening our mutual understanding. Language can be verbal or even non-verbal. A look, a nod, a gesture can tell a lot, sometimes even better than any verbal conversation. In our day, technology has made it possible for us to connect much more than it was possible during the earlier decades and on a global scale. In times of adversity, this type of connection often helps to heal our wounds and celebrate our joys through mutual acts of support, kindness, and cooperation. Fact is, while differences undoubtedly exist, the shared aspects of who we are creates a sturdy base for meaningful connections. This is because we are all tied together through shared experiences like parenthood and family issues, emotions, our worries for our livelihood, the future of the planet, and in short, our humanity in common. . |
| Prompt: What did you do last weekend? Did it turn out better or worse than you had planned? ------------- Oh well, I guess I am happy with this question as it shows interest in my personal life. The question shines as a common social practice to inquire about my recent experiences or activities as a way to connect on a personal level. In fact, it helps in building rapport and maintaining a friendly and engaging conversation. Well, the problem is, I don't necessarily remember a dull weekend or any other dull time, and even a half-cooked exciting time; therefore, although it has been five days since, I have difficulty recalling it. So I asked my son, who came here to stay with me for a month or two, what we did last weekend. Ha ha! He had a hard time recalling it, too. Imagine that he is 26 years younger than me! Then, he came up with this: "Mom, remember that the guy who keeps calling you ten times a day to ask for donation for Veterans or Firefighters or something like that? He didn't call that Saturday and Sunday, and you said, 'What a relief!'" So, here's something from the mouth of a babe who is over 50 in years. Then, of course, I have the cat, Noche. As usual, I took care of her needs and meowed with her. Then, I'm sure, I read and wrote stuff as I do everyday and probably I sat on the bed fooling around with my Kindle Fire with a heating pad on my back, which has been telling me--my back not the Kindle Fire-- that it is not doing so well. Come to think of it, it is possible that I peeled some garlic heads and then stored their naked cloves in a glass jar. I mean, how can I do such a painstaking job on a weekday when a guy with a southern accent and a specific voice calls on the phone--repeatedly--to say "Hell-er," while he well knows that I'd put the phone down without any words, after in the past I asked him--again repeatedly--not to call? I can't do anything about this because AT&T doesn't give many options on landlines. Then, while writing this, I got another call from him just as I was thinking, "Oh, great! Weekend comes tomorrow." Yay for weekends! . |
| Prompt: Free Day. Write what you want. ------------------------- I think I am going to comment on the sentence that says, "Write what you want." If given to a seasoned writer, this advice could be empowering and liberating. As to professional writers, they usually like to meet the needs of their clients or audience; therefore, they might think the advice to be not so practical. I guess, I'll go with why seasoned writers would like to "write what they want." Writing what they want helps writers gain freedom of expression. It gives them the liberty of writing down their thoughts, ideas, and emotions, and in so doing, it allows them to be true to themselves and their own perspectives. By writing what they want, writers often produce more authentic and sincere work. This is because they are not bound by external constraints or expectations and they can freely explore their own interests and passions. In doing so, this approach encourages creativity and personal satisfaction. And who knows, once in a very rare while, even someone like me can come up with something original. ********************* Prompt: Have you ever received unexpected nice gifts in the mail? Write about this in your Blog entry today. ---------- The only unexpected gifts I love that come in the mail are books and stuff that have to do with writing and reading. Most other gifts I like are given to me in person and, rarely if ever, I've received an unexpected gift of any other kind in the mail. This may be partly because the senders of the gifts do not trust the mailing system and they let me know beforehand that they are sending something and they may even name that something. The nature of an unexpected and unannounced gift has to do with bringing joy and surprise through the mail, regardless of what that gift is. The fact that someone's thinking of me and took the time to send something my way is often more meaningful than the gift itself. Such gifts can become a variety of things, depending on their context, something like a book, a favorite snack, a sentimental item, or a piece of clothing with some meaning attached to it. Of course, I also receive many other materials in the mail, such as subscriptions, things, or gifts from companies who send promotional stuff that, in general, are unusable. None of these I see as gifts of any kind. Mostly, they don't qualify as surprises or are not usable or they don't have any meaning in my life. Am I hard to please? I don't think so. But the way I see it, a true surprise gift in the mail should have some emotion connected to it, without any ulterior motive. . |
| Prompt: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein What do you think about this quote and which things do you question? -------- Wisdom gained from the past, the enjoyment of the present, and the anticipation of the future...Now, what could be better than that! I have to ask, what about the do-ability of such a noble stance? I'd have to focus instead on the part of the quote that says not to stop questioning. Now, even I could live for that as I am all for the perpetual importance of curiosity and a questioning mindset. A questioning attitude helps to bring about intellectual growth, innovation, and progress. Questioning challenges the status quo, encourages critical thinking, and drives the pursuit of knowledge. By remaining curious, I can live in an ever-changing world with adaptability and, hopefully, resilience. The way I look at it, curiosity itself means a sense of optimism, as curiosity (i.e. my questioning) encourages me to approach the future with hope, providing motivation toward building a better future, while fixing and shaping today's mishaps in my life. After all, I have the use of a mind that questions everything. As for the past, whether I learn from it or not, it always comes to haunt. Good or bad! Fact is, although not totally doable, I'd rather not dwell on the negatives of the past because they bring my present and future down. Anyhow, past never honors my negation of it. It jumps up into my mind, with positive and negative areas of itself, when I least suspect or expect it. Such an underhanded trickster this past is! I, therefore, have come to the conclusion that, all in all, curiosity wins with all its questionings and its pushing me forward. And no, curiosity didn't kill the kitten, but the kitten's far-out daring to poke its nose into obvious danger did. . |
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But good job quickly redirecting back to the positive things.