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Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" ![]() "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Jalál (Glory), 6 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Saturday, January 5, 2019 Gray Saturday Clouds conceal winter's blue sky My neighborhood is silent Gratitude List for 6 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 5 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Friday, January 4, 2019 Organized2 I am organized I know what I want to do The list is written The Gratitude List for 5 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 4 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Thursday, January 3, 2018 Gratitude List for 4 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
‘Idál Justice), 3 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, January 2, 2019 Overcome Worry3 Intone the prayers of salvation, Place all your troubles in the hands Of the Glory of God, And listen to the voice of faith, Whispering "All is well!" Or "It's going to be alright!" Gratitude List For 3 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 2 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Gratitude List for 2 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kamal (Perfection), 1 Sharaf (Honor) 175 B.E. - Monday, December 31, 2018 Feast of Sharaf Birth of a Poem4 Sometimes, the verses are born fully formed ready to be written in black words on white paper. Most time, I see their conception, nurture them through the embryonic stage and bring them forth into reality. Gratitude List for 1 Sharaf Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jamal (Beaury), 19 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Sunday, December 30, 2018 Blessing or Curse5 Memory can be a blessing or a curse; it depends on us. We can dwell on bad recollections and be unhappy. Or we can focus on good memories and be happy. Gratitude List for 19 Masa’ill Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Facebook Status Update I made my To Do List for the first quarter of 2019. I may or may not change it on March 21. I will review it during the Baha'i Fast to see if I'm still excited about it. Footnotes |
Iatiqlall (Independence), 17 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Friday, December 28, 2018 Key to Success6 See the end in the beginning Visualize the completed goal before you start. Gratitude List for 17 Masa’ill Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Jalal (Glory), 18 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Saturday, December 29, 2018 Knowledge7 Knowledge Begins with God His Manifestation Is the focal point of mankind's Knowledge Gratitude List for 18 Masa’ill Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlal (Majesty), 16 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Thursday, December 27, 2018 Universal Melody8 Life is an echoing melody, Reverberating through the Universe; God is the unseen player, Of the instrument of evolution. Goals for 2019 Reevaluate in March 2019 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Dates of Celebration and Commemorations in 2019 ![]() ![]() ![]() First Day of Ridvan April 21 Ninth Day of Ridvan April 29 Twelfth Day of Ridvan May 2 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
'Idal (Justice), 15 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Unsheathed Claws9 Claws of dawn penetrate day's closed eyelids drawing the scarlet hue of morning. Gratitude List for 15 Masa’ill Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Goals for 2019 Reevaluate in March 2019 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 14 Masa’ill (Questions) 175 B.E. - Tuesday, December 25, 2018 The Universe10 Cosmic mirror Reflecting the Creator's glory To the world of matter Gratitude List for 14 Masa’ill Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamal (Perfection), 13 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Monday, December 24, 2018 Unity Meditation11 One planet Encased in a shell of oxygen Floats in an ocean of cold hydrogen swarms the the constituents of One race Gratitude List for 13 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jalal (Glory), 11 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Saturday, December 22, 2018 Love's Secret Garden12 Love has a secret garden Where the flowers of eternity grow I walk through this garden I inhale the fragrance of faith Roses open in the light of morning Close as the sun sets in the west Sleep comes on cats’ feet Gratitude List for 11 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() Jamal (Beaury), 12 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Sunday, December 23, 2018 Meditation on Life in the Universe13 Matter's spiral connects gender to gender, forming the double helix that connects generation to generation. Life is a spiral ascending the ladder of evolution; ring by ring Being climbs out of the mire of matter. Nebula by nebula planetary systems condense: are born into the realm of matter. Star by star life forms advance: climb the spiral of evolution. Gratitude List for 12 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlal (Majesty), 9 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Thursday, December 20, 2018 Prayer Suggestion14 When you pray Pray with sincerity Believing your prayer answered. Gratitude List for 9 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() Iatiqlall (Independence), 10 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Friday, December 21, 2018 Friday: A Poem15 Freya's day; the sixth day of creation; Independence; weeks flower closing; Thank God it’s Friday; workweek ends; A wilted bloom in love’s garden; An echo in the corridors of time; Vesper day of the universe; joy; Evening song of the workweek; Looking forward to the weekend. Freedom’s echo; autumn song of the week. Gratitude List for 10 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
‘Idal (Justice), 8 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, December 19, 2018 Forward Movement16 Each day I journey toward a distant crest, Only at sunset do I dare rest, A moment of pray before moving on Step by step I advance toward my goal. Gratitude List for 8 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() My response to the question "What do you want to write in 2019?" in "Action/Adventure Newsletter (December 19, 2018)" ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamal (Perfection), 6 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Monday, December 17, 2018 Reflection: A Poem About the Bab17 The reflection of God The Bab proclaimed a new day God’s Kingdom on Earth. Gratitude List for 6 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Fiḍál (Grace), 7 Masa’ill (Questions) 175 B.E. - Tuesday, December 18, 2018 Tranquility18 I intone prayers God’s Greatest Name echoes Through a tranquil house Gratitude List for 7 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jamal (Beaury), 5 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Sunday, December 16, 2018 Coffee Meditation19 Coffee hot and black The fragrance of dawn’s light Wakes body and mind. Gratitude List for 5 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jalal (Glory), 4 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Saturday, December 15, 2018 Proclamation of Faith20 Baha’u’llah, The Glory of God, The one promised In all the sacred scriptures. Gratitude List for 4 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlal (Majesty), 2 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Thursday, December 13, 2018 Dissipating Worry21 Weary of worry I intone God’s Most Great Name Dark clouds dissipate. Gratitude List 2 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Iatiqlall (Independence), 3 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Friday, December 14, 2018 Scent of Meditation22 I meditate upon a picture of Abdu’l-Baha, Servant of the Glory And inhale the scent of roses Gratitude List 3 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
‘Idal (Justice), 1 Masa’il (Questions) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 Feast of Questions Earth's Pain23 Listen carefully You can hear Earth’s scream echoing Off the tops of mountains. Listen to her agony As mountain tops are removed To feed corporation’s bottom line. Listen as her pain Reverberates Through atmosphere and mantel, As her children Obedient to the gods of greed Behead her mountains And fracture her stone hard bones. Gratitude List for 1 Masa’il Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |