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A new blog to contain answers to prompts |
Since my old blog "Everyday Canvas "  became overfilled, here's a new one. This new blog item will continue answering prompts, the same as the old one. Cool water cascading to low ground
To spread good will and hope all around.  |
| Prompt: Trust What kinds of actions or signs make you believe someone is trustworthy? And if trust is broken, how can it be rebuilt? ------ Honestly speaking, I don't really know of the kinds of actions or signs that could make me believe someone is trustworthy. Possibly, someone who never lies, one would think would be trustworthy, wouldn't one? In my experience that, too, is a false positive. This is because someone who never tells a lie, once made public something I told her not to tell anyone. It wasn't anything earth-shattering but it was the possible concept of a thesis that I was about to prepare. Once the word got around, I picked a different topic and that was that! Trust, when it is strong, involves confidence in another person’s integrity, abilities, and intentions. Trust is earned over time and once it is broken, it takes much more time to rebuild it; that's if one can, after a trust or (let's say) a heart was broken. Even if the one who has broken the trust may take full responsibility of it later, to rebuild the trust is a tough job. This is because when a trust is broken, it creates a rift. In fact, I don't think trust, once broken can be rebuilt fully, at least as far as I am concerned. I am guessing if one wants to rebuild it, their first step could be to acknowledge it. Then an apology, a sincere one, is in order, accompanied by a sincere remorse. The exception to this could be between two parties who are deeply involved with each other, as in a marriage. Even then, the party whose trust was broken, would need to set boundaries and expectations. It is like, "Look, you broke my trust, once. Who says I have to keep on being your friend, lover, spouse, etc.!" Only, when there are extenuating circumstances, the two parties can work on rebuilding a better trustworthy relationship. This doesn't only go for individuals but also for governments and people. Trust is built on the belief that governments will act in the best interests of all their citizens, not any one group or any one ideal. Lack of trust in one's government ends up pulling the rug from under economic progress, democratic governing, and social unity. When we trust our governments, we are more likely to obey the laws, pay taxes, and take part in civic life. The opposite, usually and unfortunately, leads to apathy, unrest, and rebellion. Rebuilding trust between governments and citizens is often undercut by several issues, such as corruption, political polarization, or economic instability. Also, misinformation and media bias can add to people's distrust. This is so unfortunate for any one country! On the plus side, when a government earns the trust of its citizens, cooperation is seamless and economic prosperity increases while social tensions ease. Still, I believe quick fixes cannot rebuild trust. Continuous effort and positive principle of good governing as well as transparency and dialogue are necessary. Another point I think is important is that good will toward building or re-building a trust is necessary, be it the trust or the broken trust is between individuals, groups, or governments and people. I certainly hope, we can all live in a world, someday, in which we can trust one another and our governing bodies. |
| Prompt: Gratitude Is gratitude is important for our well-being and do you think gratitude could relate to love? If so, in what ways? ----------- Surely, gratitude is important for our emotional health. It deepens our relationships and enriches our general well-being. And that's only the start. If this weren't true, why several of my friends and I would be keeping gratitude journals! We write in our journals every night because, this way, what we are given or rather what we were generously granted during the day takes its proper place in the forefront of our minds. As the result, we are more appreciative of our days here on earth and we can face the storms and difficulties with much better acceptance and understanding. Also, through acceptance and appreciation, we value others' actions, words, and existence. This means we can easily build emotional bridges with others and understand and appreciate their problems and joys. Especially when people support us in difficult times, their understanding ties us together even more. Then, the comfort of feeling of being understood, at least sometimes, gives rise to love. I mean not only romantic love but all kinds of love. This is because love opens our hearts a lot more to noticing gestures, actions, and friendly approaches that, otherwise, we might have taken for granted. Even those small sweet incidents like our children's laughter, a partner's understanding and small thoughtful acts, and a friend's note on the Messenger or their voice over the phone sends more joy and happiness to us. Alternately, those feelings of love make expressions of gratitude more heartfelt and genuine, creating a cycle of giving and receiving that strengthens emotional ties. Referring back to gratitude journaling, here, taking the time to write all those much valued, small prizes from others reinforces our belief in ourselves and in our part in humanity. It ties us strongly to others, even if the journal is for our own eyes, only. To cultivate love and gratitude together, in addition to mindful appreciation, such as a gratitude journal, we can choose to express our thankfulness by telling others what we appreciate about them, and also, we can focus on positivity in all our relationships by celebrating strengths and overlooking minor flaws. Gratitude and love, when embraced together, are not in words only. While words also show our gratitude, even the smallest acts of love may speak louder than words . |
| Prompt: Phrases Have fun with these famous movie phrases : Sugar and Spice, Houston we have a problem, I'm the king of the world, and show me the money. ------------- Sweet Stuff Mia and Carter, two friends all the way from childhood were thinking of an ambitious project: a food-truck that would sell gourmet desserts. They were now here, in "Sugar and Spice," a quirky café known for its exotic desserts and unpredictable events. This visit could give them some good ideas for their project. The café was buzzing with energy, today. Many divine scents, especially that of cinnamon and chocolate, filled its inside. Mia and Carter were shown to a corner booth. As soon as they sat down, Carter opened his laptop to a spreadsheet of possible costs. "Such delicious food and coffee," Mia muttered, nibbling on a sugar-dusted croissant. "So, what do you think?" Carter frowned. "Houston, we have a problem!" He leaned back in his chair and pointed to the menu on the wall and around the place. "It's the startup costs. Much higher than we expected." "Relax," Mia grinned. "We can pitch the idea around. If we win, another business may cover half of our starting costs." Before Carter could answer her, a man at a table close by suddenly sprang up from his chair. "I'm the king of the world!" he shouted, holding his fork as if a scepter. The café erupted in laughter, and everyone applauded. Mia laughed, too. "See?" she said to Carter, "Confidence is key. I bet we've got this." Carter smirked. "Okay, then," he said. "So, show me the money!" "Deal!" Mia held out her hand and Carter shook it. "Let's try! Let's just start on it, at least," Carter said, feeling a bit more hopeful. "Let's try a bank loan, too. We'll make it work somehow." “After all, every king—or queen—needs a sweet empire to rule,” Mia chuckled. "Savor flavors, ignite senses!" Carter said, now smiling widely. "Hey, that's a good motto for our food truck!" Mia exclaimed. As they left the café a while later, Mia and Carter were happy, in good spirits, and full of hope. At least, they had come up with what to write on the two sides of their food truck: "Savor flavors, ignite senses!" Isn't it so true that sweet treats make our outlook on life much more sweeter! |
| Prompt: Christmas Tree Christmas trees are like a blank page, tell us how you're going to decorate yours. Do you do a theme? Do you put up just family mementoes, maybe a mixture of store bought and homemade? Lights or no lights.. ------ My son is coming from NY next month, and I won't have a Christmas tree. This is because, for a very long time, we didn't have Christmas trees. Both my sons and my late husband, as much as they respected tradition, felt that live trees were abused during Christmas time. For us, fake trees were out, also. Fake just wouldn't do it! So we didn't have them, but when the kids were little, we picked up any fallen tree limb and decorated that, so the boys wouldn't feel shortchanged. So here is a Christmas Tree story instead. The Little Fir Tree The tiny fir tree in the forest dreamt of becoming a Christmas tree. "Why am I so small and scrubby? I can't be what I want to be,"he sighed. The owl that had perched on a branch on a nearby tree said, "Your size is not what matters. You can still be what you want to be in your heart and spirit." The little fir tree knew the owl was a wise one and took the owl's words to heart, and stood up straight and proud, realizing even though he was small, he still could be a very special Christmas tree. Sure enough, a kind-looking man pushing a large cart came into the forest, searching for a small tree. When he saw this little one, a warm smile spread over his face. "This tiny tree," he muttered, "will be the perfect Christmas tree for me for years to come." So he carefully dug up the little tree, keeping all his roots intact, and placed him in his large cart. When this man and the little fir tree got home, the man planted the little fir in his backyard, and then, decorated him with popcorn, apples, tinsel, and a shiny star at his top. The little fir tree swung gently left and right, feeling so proud and happy. That night, the man's granddaughter came to visit. When she saw the little decorated tree in the yard, her eyes widened with delight. "Oh, what a beautiful Christmas Tree!" she exclaimed. The little tree sparkled and twinkled. Not only his dreams had come true, but also he had brought so much joy to a little girl and he knew he would continue to bring happiness to people as long as he lived. After all, isn't it true that this is what Christmas is all about? |
| Prompt: "There is always a but in an imperfect world." Anne Bronte Write about this in your Blog entry today. ----------- Hahaha! This quote or rather that cynical "but" made me laugh. Anne Bronte or the character she made to say this must have been a perfectionist. I can just picture it. Whoever said it must have added a sigh at the end of her utterance, too.  Of course, there's always a flaw, a nick, a misstep, or a stumbling over something in life. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here, would we? Just think, so many people on this earth and if we were all perfect, we'd look, feel, act, and be the same all around. Boring? Yes, but even more than that. We'd learn nothing! Perfection trips us all the time. None of us want to make a mistake, and even when we make mistakes, we have either extenuating circumstances or we are unaware of what we are doing or saying. We always want to make sure we’ve got everything right. We need to look our best, don't we! This, however, is not reality, is it? Truth is, we're all completely and perfectly imperfect. Luckily! In that vein, imagine the possibilities if we really embraced our imperfections. To begin with, our inner critics would end up with a sore throat and they wouldn't and couldn't make their voices heard. Yay! We'd also hesitate to go after what we want and what we need. As an example, there would never be a Writing.com in existence. Come to think of it, I'd have a rather dull time without WdC. Then, any seemingly perfect situation, say a perfect job, can have a flaw, too, like a demanding boss, long hours, or low pay. Even in relationships, "but" could refer to small or big differences between partners that need work and understanding. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to deal with another replica of myself.  There are. therefore, always tradeoffs and nuances in life to complicate our time here; however, without them, everything would be so dull! In short, any positive is never so simple and most any "but" adds color to an otherwise black and white world. |
| Prompt: "You'll have true happiness when you live to give, not to get" Noa Shaw Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------- This quote may mean that selflessness and generosity is better for achieving happiness, better than going after personal gain. Although, the part, "you live to give, not to get" bothered me some. Now that I looked at the quote or rather thought about the meaning of it, my way, who am I to think that people will find true happiness when they "give" all the time, instead of "get" at least some of the time! Isn't there a happy medium? Focusing on only "getting," however, one ends up becoming an extremely selfish person, and this is not good for anyone's self image or adaptation to life, and this type of getting could only be the beginning of his woes. Also, let's consider the other side of the coin. What if someone only gives and gives, to the detriment of himself, his health, his well-being, and even his relationships and his children? The result could make a very poor and very unhappy human being, couldn't it! Yet, altruism and service can be uplifting for one's own image, true. Still, even that is some kind of getting, isn't it! Contribution to others' well being and the feelings of compassion does bring joy and an true happiness, but I believe this non-stop giving shouldn't overtake everything to the abandonment of all else in one's life and relationships. The right action, therefore, has to fall somewhere in the middle. By taking care of our own needs as well as focusing on giving has to be the way to an authentic happiness. |
| Prompt: Understanding One's Own Self Which kinds of people can help others to understand themselves the most? And is or was there such a person in your life who has helped you understand yourself better? ---------- One of my uncles comes to mind. As a child growing up and later a teenager, I found a haven in one of my uncles. He always listened to me without judgment and if anything, he encouraged me to tell him even the most rotten things I did and even those I thought of doing even if I never did them. This uncle was also a writer, and we had literature in common, which we both enjoyed talking about. I learned a lot from him. Whereas my mother was enforcing the rules, "do this, don't do that," sort of thing, my uncle was listening to my insides and encouraging me to face my shadowed side. It helped me, I think, much better than what those throwing directives at me. Come to think of it, it is possible that having both my mother and my uncle might have worked well on me during my formative years. Maybe we need all kinds of input from those around us as we grow up. One-sided anything does become lop-sided, doesn't it! Still, when I think of people who effectively help others understand themselves better, I think of those with listening skills, patience, empathy, and communication abilities. To top it all, the know-how or ability to put complex concepts in simple terms, a wish to help others, and a genuine interest in others' perspectives would make a really helpful person, be it he or she. This person maybe a therapist, a family member, or a friend. After all this thinking about people helping others to understand themselves, I recall a Carl Jung quote that says: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” It is shocking to think how blind we are to our unconscious, of if you wish, call it subconscious. They may be the same or two different things, but it doesn't matter. I think they are related; however, I'm not all that familiar with today's vocabulary of the recent study of psychology. Much of the psychologists of the early twentieth century , like Sigmund Freud, suggested that much of the self could be hidden in the unconscious mind. As I was very much interested in psychology, while I was studying other things in higher ed., I took some psychology courses earning myself what one might call a minor degree in such studies. At the time, Jung had just passed away and wasn't so well-known, at least not as well as Freud. Then, only recently, I came across Jung's shadow work, which became of great interest to me, in my old age. This is because I think--with our traumas, joys, and all--self-understanding is a dynamic process that is or should be ongoing. What is shadow work? I think of it as the underdog of our psyches. On the other hand, it is a very powerful underdog that only makes itself knows only on occasion, especially when we surprise ourselves with sudden unexplainable, unrelated or even unbecoming actions and feelings. Knowing about our shadows or at least trying to understand them is like finding a goldmine. It gives one an immense power in oneself, and it also makes one stop blaming and scapegoating others. Also, if we are after being authentic, how is it possible that we keep hiding parts of ourselves, or even, not loving those parts! Shadow work can be done with a therapist, true, but it has to be a therapist who is really good at what he or she is doing. Hard to find, and for people like me, hard to trust. Still, in my opinion, the best shadow work is done on one's own. For this, a notebook and pen are the only tools, plus the promise to oneself to be 100% truthful. One begins that notebook-journal by answering shadow-work questions as truthfully as one can, making sure that notebook is only for the eyes of its writer. Here are some shadow work questions from the web, in no certain order, but one can always pick and choose or come up with one's own questions. https://seekingserotonin.com/shadow-work-journal-prompts/ https://selfhealjourney.com/2023/02/24/shadow-work-prompts/ https://www.rosebud.app/blog/shadow-work-journal-prompts https://psychedelic.support/resources/50-shadow-work-journal-prompts/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ShadowWork/comments/16bdqa8/shadow_work_journal_prompts... https://www.betterup.com/blog/shadow-work-prompts https://www.scienceofpeople.com/shadow-work-prompts/ |
| Prompt: Taking risks What is better, staying safe or taking a risk? Did you ever have to make such a choice and would you do it again? -------- The way I see it, any risk is tied to uncertainty. While uncertainty may have its own hidden benefits, I am not any admirer of uncertainties. When you come down to it though, every step we take has a hidden risk although the possibility of it could be near zero. And another thing, this whole thinking of it signals to me that there is no such thing as staying safe. Did I ever have to make such a choice and would I do it again? Certainly, I did. Even eating a cookie is taking a risk. How could I make sure that some part of the cookie would not escape into my throat and choke me, for example. Then, I did also took huge risks when I chose a line of study, married, had kids, moved to here and there, traveled as much as I did, and moved to Florida where we are threatened by hurricanes every year. Am I sorry for all that? Definitely, not. Plus, taking all these risks that I took in my life were well worth it. Dangerous or not, at each step we take, we are taking risks, although we may not be aware of it at the moment. Yet, if the question is about taking risks with well-knowing the potential dangers, that is another thing. In which case, we need to take into consideration if taking a certain risk is advisable. This has to do with assessing a risk's potential benefits against its losses. Also, our level of preparedness is important; that is, keeping in mind if we have the skills and know-how to tackle any negative outcome. Then, comes my favorite part: personal tolerance for uncertainty. Although some people can thrive in unpredictable situations, I feel anxious; however, those who know me may think I am soooo calm. I have a confession here: I'm not as calm or collected as anyone may think. Quite the contrary! On the other hand, there is a very positive side to taking risks. It gives us growth and learning opportunities. Some risks, even those with negative outcomes, lead to personal and emotional development that lets us make future decisions with better effective thinking and more information. Still, in my opinion, when the motivation for taking any risk is mostly impulsive rather than thought-through, it is wise to take a step back and hold the decision while we reassess. So, right now, I'm crossing my fingers and saying, "May all our risk-taking produce very positive results!" |
| Prompt: Make a list of common objects that you might like to write about because of their appearance or personal association. Write comparisons to these objects anything--everything you can think of about the objects. Now take all this information you've gathered and write a story or a poem about what you've discovered with your list. Have fun. Another Mathew Sweeney and John Hartley Williams exercise in case you're wondering. --------- List: photo in a frame, eyeglasses Himalayan salt lamp bowl of candy dictionary calendar --------- While You Watch Watching me, your photo in a frame sits still on my desk as if a nest for memories entombed but not cast aside, and beside it, my eyeglasses rest folded, with their lenses catching light on the side, quietly like the Himalayan salt lamp, glowing soft and warm, casting hues in a gentle form. A bowl of candy nearby the frame with your photo waits, sweet like you, as a small treat for when tears come. At the edge, my dictionary leans to words bound for reference or wisdom profound, and as I turn each page, the calendar on the wall, marks my time's pace; its comfort, a slow, quiet grace letting me know how we'll meet again soon, or maybe in many-a-moon, while you watch me in this room of little things, still and blue, but bathed in your warm hue, my world embraces its silence. |
| Prompt: Use these phrases in your entry today: cry over spilt milk, short end of the stick, a home bird, and quality of time. --------- I have always feared negativity because it is a powerful force. Then, I don't know anyone who wouldn't be uncomfortable in the presence of a negative person. Also, I believe negativity may be a learned behavior, but it sure can be tamed. While it is normal for most of us to face difficult situations, allowing negativity dominate our thinking can hinder our personal growth and make others feel uneasy. Now, how is being negative a good choice? A most common negative behavior has to do with dwelling on past mistakes or "crying over spilt milk." Yes, you might have gotten "the short end of the stick" all right, but why insist on creating a lasting resentment? Isn't it a better idea to focus on what we can control, while taking note of the injustices and trying to make things better? I can certainly understand those who are "home birds" by nature. To them, dealing with the unknown can be unsettling. Although their perceived stability or their desire for it can sound normal, that very stability can prevent people from new and useful experiences. When a "home bird" breaks out of his comfort zone, he (or she) often finds that he has not only gotten over his fears but also he has enriched his very own life. Then, negativity also prevents people from appreciating others and spending meaningful experiences with them. Where family and friends are concerned, "quality of time" also pops up into view. Such time spent is essential for building strong bonds, instead of being wasted on resentment, fights, pessimism or complaints by any kind. Overcoming any negative behavior requires a conscious shift in perspective that contains acceptance, resilience, and openness to change. It is a job. all right, and it isn't very easy, at least not always. Still, isn't it worth our wellness and goodness of character to tackle it? And why not turn any negativity, if and when we detect it, into a more positive behavior, for it to allow into our lives growth, serenity, and with one another, a lasting sincerity? |
| Prompt: "Patience is learned through waiting." Eyen A. Gardner Write about this in your Blog entry today -------- Yes, but the waiting is so difficult! I wasn't born to be a patient person, even and especially with myself. Yet, I got better at it over the years...I think. So let's look at this learned patience. Learned patience is not simply a passive endurance but a kind of emotional quickness. It happens when we learn to focus out attention and energies on what we can control while letting go off what we cannot. The problem with waiting is that constant slap of uncertainty and sometimes frustration. Yet, waiting encourages mindfulness. In mindful moments, we might find ourselves more aware of our surroundings, options, feelings, and thoughts. In short, waiting invites us to live in the present moment. This means we learn to endure and feel gratitude for those things positive in life. This means learning humility. While I am at it, I am going to mention something that got on my nerves a bit during the last two days. It is the reactions of some to US elections. I believe it doesn't matter for whom I cast my vote and for whom you cast yours. This country's ways are based upon the majority rule. We all have to learn to accept that rule. Otherwise, there are other places on earth where a person from the USA will be accepted with open arms. If that option is out for you also, you have to learn patience and stop carping about this outcome. For your own good, to start with. Your complaints, fears, and cries all over the internet is not doing any good to you or to the USA. What I'm saying is that, just wait and see. Maybe there will be instances where you can help avoid something negative or help with something positive. Rather than rushing to a possible or impossible terrible end with your thoughts and feelings, wait and do your best. As you'll find out, your patience will provide its own reward. A reward to you, to us, and to everyone else around us, but mostly to the USA and the world. |
| Prompt: Precious and few. Write about these words in your Blog entry today. ------------- I believe this phrase is pointing to the appreciation of probably a few people or some rare moments in life, as it shows an appreciation for something or someone bringing exceptional warmth, happiness, and meaning to life. Such moments and people can be rare, maybe, but if we are lucky, such moments and people can abound. The word "few" adds a layer of scarcity to the idea suggesting that valuable moments and people are not easily found and experienced. I tend to differ, however, with the scarcity idea in that phrase. Good people are not scarce, for everyone has some good in them, probably hidden deep down inside for some. What brings out the good in a human being may be luck, but more likely, it is appreciation. Most of the time, appreciated people will try to live up to that expectation. As to moments, I think it is how we look at them. Some things in my life I thought were negative--later on--proved to be the best possible events, situations, and such, to my benefit. "Precious and few?" Maybe. On the other hand, "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." |
| Prompt: Gifts Let's think about the word, "gift." What do you think about gifts in any shape or form? What has been a real gift to you? --------- The word "gift" may have differing meanings; however, all of them center around the idea of value and giving. A gift may mean a smile, a hug, or any other expression of love, like friendship, appreciation, or goodwill. The word "gift" may also refer to a talent, a natural aptitude for something, or an ability, as if it hints at a blessing given by a higher power. I believe gifts that are thoughtful and personalized are valued the most by the receivers. Personalized gifts that speak to a person's tastes, interests, and needs carry a lot more meaning than something bought off a rack in a hurry. Also, gifts that contain shared memories are held in high esteem. In my case, one of my most favorite gifts is a photo album given to me by a cousin. It wasn't just an album. It contained all our photos together since childhood. I consider it as one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. Handmade gifts by the gift-giving person are also much appreciated as the giver of the gift has spent effort, thought, time, and creativity. As an example, I smiled at my image in the mirror yesterday, while I was washing my hands by using one of the  fancy soaps The StoryMistress  had created.Then, some people in my family send or give me gifts of books especially in the areas that interest me, knowing that I have always been a book-worm. Gifts may not be in the form of an object, either. I mean giving time, help, and an understanding ear are gifts, too. Two people, who weren't even very close to me earlier, called me every single day for many months to comfort me right after my husband's passing. My appreciation for those two people -- one a friend, the other my sister-in-law -- will never fade. When all is said and done, the most appreciated gifts can be those that reflect the recipient's personality, values, and likes. This is because with gifts, consideration, creativity, and thoughtfulness play a huge role in making one's life more meaningful. |
| Prompt: Candy Do you like candy? Is there any difference between the candies that you like in hot weather and cold weather? Write about your favorite candies and any memories attached to them. ----------- Who doesn't like candy! That is unless, one is diabetic, and very luckily, I am not, and I love the taste. That instant burst of sweetness in my mouth lifts my mood to the nostalgic memories of me as a four-year old and my mother giving me a chocolate bar when I had a temper tantrum. I don't think a pedagogue would advise that to mothers, but it was a great success for my mother. Luckily, I never became obese. If anything, I was on the thin side as a kid. I am guessing the sweetness of candy taps into the innate preference of our ancestors, which must have helped them to identify calorie-rich foods when edibles were hard to come by, as sugary stuff offers quick energy boosts and happier outlooks. As to the seasons, I don't think I have a preference. For winter, possibly candy canes might be in favor for some of us because of Christmas and the cheerful appearance and nostalgia. Then come the truffles, gingerbread and cinnamon tastes, and anything chocolate, which is for all seasons anyway. I will have to add caramel apples to the mix, which was a favorite of mine when I was in my teens. For spring and summer, probably, light and fruity tasting gummies, jellybeans, and lemon drops could be some of the choices. As in everything else, each season may bring its own flavors with candy types. This may be because candy reflects more than flavor. The very idea of it has to do with the imagination of being young again, cultural traditions, and the moods we experience at any age. Now that I have written all about candy, I'm rushing to reach for some refreshment. I mean that big bag in the kitchen which still contains a few of the left-over Halloween candies, mostly dark chocolate, of course.  |
| Prompt: Let's try another Sweeney exercise together. Think about any movie that has stuck with you. In your mind, create an image from the movie. Resist all temptation to explain or tell us the movie's name instead let the image speak for itself in your writing. Mathew Sweeney says," using the image to suggest more than itself is metaphorical approach because a metaphor works by using one thing to refer to in terms of another." Have fun! ----------- He stares at her, almost unable to breathe, at the blonde woman he had once loved. Maybe he still does. He cannot believe her son has his name. He feels a strange cocktail of emotions welling up, swirling together so fiercely. Then, she tells him, apologizing, the truth. The boy has bright-eyes, wild hair and a familiar quirk in his grin. It is like looking at a mirror from years ago, his own face glancing back at him, unguarded and unaware. He panics. He is shaking inside. "Is he... smart?" he asks, meaning 'Is he stupid like me?' The boy rushes to the living room to watch 'Bert and Ernie' on the TV. Such a shock! Certainly. But also regret, thick and heavy, sinking into him for the years he'd lost with the boy: his first step, first words, the small joys and pains and all else that had slipped past by him, without him. Did the child call someone else, "Dad"? He imagines the boy calling him, "Dad!" Dad! A name he hadn't known himself. He wants to hear the boy say that to him. He wants it badly. He didn't know he'd want it this badly, this much...until now. Such an excitement...a nervous thrill at the idea of discovering a part of himself that had always been there, just hidden, waiting. Then, as if he has stumbled into a life he didn't know he was meant for...he feels unprepared, exposed. The woman says, "Go talk to him." And he does. There is hope now, fragile and sudden because he can change things. He could try. And he can. He knows he can. ----------- Note: here is the scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITGEGE9v0d0 |
| Prompt: Take any cliche and subvert it to bring it alive again in a poem or a blog entry. ----------- Bag of Bones They said, "This baby, a bag of bones!" and rattled, "She may not even throw stones" a bag of bones, where my shadow lies World War II, macabre with gray skies. But dreams I've built and spells I've cast, I charted my course, battled the past. Alas, today, other lines are drawn, fears of war wail from dusk to dawn. Although people speak in whispers low, in death's embrace, demons can grow. So, this bag of bones sways and waits... as, just one click, next war dictates. Such a shame it is, to undo the seams! Or let's mend the world, guard our dreams? I hold my breath and hear the moans and warnings from all bags of bones. |
| Prompt: Today is Halloween. Write something about Halloween today. ------------ Halloween morning, now. I check the weather. Here in South Florida, where I am, it will be partly cloudy with 81 degrees Fahrenheit. But don't believe the partly cloudy bit. Possibly a few clouds will pass by in the afternoon with maybe a sprinkle or two as the weather report says humidity is 63%. Right now, it is sunny and bright. Yet, the weather is different in Twin cities. They are expecting 2 to 4 inches of snow. And on the Plains, severe storm threat shifts eastward on with 90-mph winds. This makes me think, among other things, US weather is Halloween itself. Talking about such weirdo stuff, I came across this short (fake!) news: "Biden bites babies visiting for White House Halloween trick-or-treat celebration." I think it was by FOX, but I could be wrong. Somewhat of a joke? Hmmmm! Fake news or not, about Halloween, Wikipedia writes: "Theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots." By the way, Samhain means "summer's end"; this much I knew. As the origin of the festival is really unknown, both pagan and Christian practices have evolved into what Halloween is like today. The best description that sounded like fun holds a bit more of the truth as to what the Halloween practices are. "During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in those ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. The period was also thought to be favourable for divination on matters such as marriage, health, and death." https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween As for me, I have my candy in a large plastic bag, ready and waiting for all those cute trick-or-treaters. I guess, I'll perch on the armchair by the front door with a book and my cell, and wait. And if not enough trick-or treaters show up, the rest of the candy is mine. Now, that would be a real treat. Luckily, I don't have diabetes. |
| Prompt: "Seeing is believing but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." The Movie The Polar Express Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ---------- Seeing, as to objects and solid forms, is convincing, true, but how in the world can I see love or dislike? If someone says they like me, how do I know that inside their "like" a dislike or resentment doesn't lie hidden? The same goes for all the intangibles in our experiences. Love, hope, faith, and trust—all important for our existence—are unseen forces; yet, they influence our every relationship, interaction, decision, and perspective. They uplift us in moments of happiness and keep us alive and sane through difficult times. Also, other concepts like time and gravity are important for our survival. Just imagine one of these going haywire! What if gravity didn't pull objects to the ground, suddenly? Can you imagine the consequences? What we experience inside us that others cannot see are real just as well and even more strongly. Our thoughts, dreams, and emotions are all parts of our self and identity, for they provide us with creativity, ideas, and memories. They also have a say in how we connect to one another. Such as, our love of writing connects us to the other members of WdC, here, even if we never meet them in person. All these things are like the wind. They are unseen but felt. And believe me, wind is sometimes more real than anything. I should know, living in Florida, with the hurricanes and their winds. |
| October 28, 2024 Prompt: WdC Witches  It seems we have a whole bunch of witches here in WdC, this year. If you were to be chosen the leader of the WdC witches, what would you plan with them for Halloween? -------------- Easy peasy! Here in WdC, I would get every witch under my command to write five to ten reviews and post at least a couple of new original writings of their own. Then, as the witching tradition goes, I would make sure my witches had their herbs, foods, and colors on hand to scatter around the site. To be exact, those things would be: Herbs: Mugwort, allspice, catnip, oak leaves, sage, broom and deadly nightshade. Foods: Turnips, apples, nuts, mulled wine, beef, and poultry. Colours: Black, orange, white, silver and gold. And I would definitely have them gather a large group of black cats carrying jack-o’-lanterns and giving everyone apples and pumpkins. And if you think I thought all that on my own, you'd be wrong. I got some of my info from: https://hero-magazine.com/article/159423/a-witchs-guide-to-celebrating-halloween... Happy Halloween, Everyone!  October 29, 2024 Prompt: Followed by a ghost Imagine you are being followed and sometimes talked to by a ghost. Whose ghost is this, someone you once knew or someone in the history and what is this experience like? -------------- I don't know if a ghost is following me or if they are talking to me, but it seems I talk to them constantly. Sometimes, I look in the mirror and talk to that ghost of me in it. Then, inside my head I'm always talking to family members and my husband who have passed on. But if I were to talk to a real ghost, it would have to be the ghost of first group of people on earth. I would ask them, "Look at the result of what you guys have started! Fantastic in some ways but destructive and contentious in others. I'm not blaming you; still, you could have done something a bit more to give us better genes." They would probably say something like, "What you the imbeciles are doing after us is your problem. What we gave you were survival skills and you took those and used them against each other. Whose fault is this?" Just maybe they would be telling the truth. |
| “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.” - Robin Sharma Write about what you think this quote means. -------------- Personal development is as if we are all bringing up ourselves, same as we bring up our children. And we do want our children to be successful, don't we! What it means to me is that we are all responsible for ourselves, as to who we are and how we operate in this life. Working on personal development is building our self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience. It also involves, improving personal skills and understanding our "selves" and our mindset. This empowers us to handle challenges, seize opportunities, and set meaningful yet do-able goals. To do all that, adaptability is essential as the world is constantly changing and always new skills are needed. As a bonus, when we work on those new skills, we also increase our self-confidence and resilience so we can overcome obstacles and recover from setbacks. Personal development also helps us with goal-setting, motivation, better communications and relationships. However, all this is easy to say but hard to do. Speaking for myself, I have some serious trouble with some of the new technologies, especially this artificial intelligence thing. As much as I appreciate the ease that comes with something new like this, seeing my incompetence with AI is a bit disconcerting. Maybe I'll build better resilience because of it, I tell myself, and try to adapt to it. Granted, it offers some excellent help in some areas but like anything else, it can also be misused. Still, becoming the best version of myself is what will make my life worthwhile. That is why I have committed, a long time ago, to grow continuously, not that I have been too successful with it, but I guess I can at least try...still. |
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