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 |   This blog contains responses to blog prompts, & thoughts on spiritual or religious themes |
Disclaimer: Any views, about religion or sacred scriptures, expressed in this blog are my own and not the official views of the Baha'i Faith or any other religion. If you wish to know more about the Baha'i Faith, please check one of these websites: The Baha'i Faith: The Official Website of the Worldwide Baha'i Community  or Baha'is of the United States ."The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers." Abdu'l-Baha1                     Other Blogs and Journals Content Rating 18+ "Writing in Snow" "The Snowflake Chronicles" "Snow Melt" "More Snow Melt" "Welcome to My Life" "Melting Snow" "Memories of Snow" "Dreams of Snow " "Poem Experiments" "Devotional Poetry" Other Journals Content Rating ASR "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" "Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures if the tongue of poets." The Bab "O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord." Bahá’u’lláh2 ![Merit Badge in WDC Soundtrackers
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Istiqlál (Independence), 15 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Friday, May 31, 2019 The Last Day of May 2019 On the last day of May On the last day of May, I contemplate June's approach, and consider the things I plan to do: The Ultimate Poetry Challenge "I Write in 2019" "~ The Poet's Place Cafe~" "The Contest Challenge" "I Blog Poetry and Prose" Poet 999 - A Butterfly Emerges From Her Cocoon. |
Istijlál (Majesty), 14 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Thursday, May 30, 2019
DAY 2384: June is upon us. What are your plans for the month of June? Goals? Trips? "I Made It Through May" , and I'm not looking forward to June; at least not today. An exterminator is finally coming in on Monday, June 3. about 1:00 p.m. to treat the carpet--which should be taken up--for bedbugs. While he is treating the place, we're planning on going to get a new (to me) recliner and mattress. After that, I'll pay the rent, or at least as much of it as I can afford. I will also send receipts for the items I purchase because the I can't afford to purchase furniture and pay the rent. The carpet should have been taken up long ago.Since December 2018, we have encounter mice, bedbugs, and unfixed stuff (which hasn't been fixed yet). I'm stress. I want to cry. I'm tired of overdrafting my checking account. I'm tired of ranting. I would like to get through the rest of 2019 without overdrafting my checking account once a month. I would like to get through the rest of 2019 without bedbug bites. I would like to get through the rest of 2019 without either my roommate or myself falling (we've each fallen down once this year). I'm sure there are other thing I would like to get through 2019 without. I'm also sure there are a number of thing I would like to get through 2019 with. My SNAP benefits will not hit my the debit card until June 6. That leaves six days we have to make sure we get up early enough to go to the Veterans Village food bank for something to eat. I purchase one $12.00 book of paratransit rides (that's 4 rides) this month. I need to purchase another next month, I was hoping to purchase a $30.00 book, but that may not be possible without overdrafting my checking account. At this point I'm not even sure I will be able to purchase a four-ride book without overdrafting the checking account. What are my plans for June? To Survive! |
Istijlál (Majesty), 14 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Thursday, May 30, 2019
PROMPT: Congratulations on making it to the last day of the competition! What was your favorite prompt from the last month? What was the most rewarding aspect of participating in the competition? What was my favorite prompt in May? I had two favorite prompt is May: (1) "Remember bringing something from home for “Show and Tell” at school when we were little? Today, I want you to do the same in your blog. Pick an object that means something to you and describe it. What does it remind you of? How did the object come into your life? Does it bring you comfort? What is the story behind the object?" and (2) "Tell us a fact about one of your ancestors. Where does your family come from? How far back can you trace your ancestry?" What was the most rewarding aspects of participating in this competition? Writing and the memories that came back to me while I was writing. |
‘Idál (Jusitce), 13 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Ascension of Baha'u'llah
PROMPT: I need help building the stock of prompts in the Challenge War Chest! Write four prompts of your own and then choose one to write your entry on *Smile* Prompts  Check out the WDC newsletters this week, read one, and write a story, poem, reflection, or monologue on the subject of the newsletter. Write a parody of either your favorite or least favorite popular song. What was your favorite children's show or cartoon as a child? Why? Discuss a quote from either your favorite author or your favorite book.Prompt: Check out the WDC newsletters this week, read one, and write a story, poem, reflection, or monologue on the subject of the newsletter. Last week, I took a day off doing survey because of the Declaration of the Bab, and wrote about it in "A Day Off From Survey Work and Gratitude List" . Today, 13 ‘Aẓamat, I'm taking another day off from survey work because this is the Ascension of Baha'u'llah. Both of these days are Holy Day, on which work is suspended. I felt mentally and spiritually refreshed after 8 ‘Aẓamat because of the time off the survey work and the prayers I said. In fact, I felt so refreshed that I decided to take one day a week off from survey work. So beginning on Friday, June 7, I will be taking Friday's off--unless there is a Holy Day during the week--for relaxation and re-creation.After reading this weeks spiritual newsletter, I realize what a good idea this is. I'VE always known a person should take, at least, one day a week off. I always ignored this and pushed myself until I was forced to take some time off. However, at 72, I don't think I can ignore it any more. I need to take off for relaxation. Most of the time, I will only take a day off the survey work and not my internet or WDC time. I plan to take one day off the internet, but I don't know exactly when. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 12 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, May 28, 2019
PROMPT: On this last Talk Tuesday of May, let’s talk about bias. How do your own biases influence your life? Is it possible to ever be truly objective? How do my own biases influence my life? I'm sure my biases do influence areas of my life. I work hard at not allowing my biases to influence my interactions with the rest of humanity. I have learned over the decades that personal biases don't aid interaction with the rest of humanity. Another thing I've found is that I can show respect to other humans because they are human and deserve respect because they are divine creation, without agreeing with their opinions or biases. I am responsible for my own spiritual development, which means I have to look at my own biases and determine why I have them. I have found that, most biases, come from one of two sources. They were either taught to me as a child or learned from interaction with the other human beings. These biases will slow my spiritual development if not dealt with, and I--at least from my perspective--have spent too many years avoiding dealing with my own biases, weaknesses, and sins. Is it possible to ever be truly objective? Yes, but it takes a lot of work, meditation, and prayer. An individual has to decide--at the very least--to put aside any biases and deal with the situation on a higher plane of existence. One thing that really irritates me, is judges and other people deciding that they can disobey a law, such as issuing marriage licenses to same gender couples because they consider it a sin. It is the law of the land, and if part of their job description is to issue marriage licenses the gender of the couple should have nothing to do with them performing their job. If they don't like the law, then attempt to change it or get another job. Please note, I may have a different view on the subject in the above paragraph when it comes to religious organizations. My view in this case depends upon who is interpreting the metaphors in the religion's sacred writings. Are they looking at the deeper meaning of the scriptures, or are the choosing a literal definition? In addition, the translation of the scriptures and who translated it from the original language will influence the translation. |
Kamál (Perfection), 11 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Monday, May 27, 2019
PROMPT: Today is Memorial Day here in the US, a federal holiday for remembering and honoring persons who have died while serving in the Armed Forces. How do you honor those who have passed (whether they served in the military or not)? I believe the best way to honor those who have passed is to say a prayer for the progress of their souls. Death is not the end, it only separates the soul from the body. After the separation, the soul ascends into the spiritual world where it will progress toward the Unknowable Creator. Saying a prayer for the progress of the soul of the departed helps that person's soul advance in the spiritual world. It also, I suspect, helps heal the wounds inflected upon the soul during its sojourn with the physical plane. A Soul Speaks From the Spiritual Dimension Please pray for me, ask the All-Glorious Creator, to show mercy rather than justice and forgive my sins. A few days ago, I made an entry in "Writing in Snow" titled "Prayer fo the Departed, Memorial Day Thoughts, etc." . I made the entry after reading the article No Bad Guys on Memorial Day by David Langness, who was a combat medic in Vietnam. On Memorial Day, and any other time of year, we focus so much on honoring those killed in war, t hat we don't consider what war did to soldiers who returned alive. Indeed, we don't even consider what war did to the souls of those who died, who paid the price of freedom. How can we honor those who gave their lives in war? We can do more than just pause at 3:00 pm today for a moment of silence. A moment of silence, unless accompanies by a prayer, doesn't help those who died in combat. Putting flowers and flags on their tombstones doesn't help them either, but it makes us feel better. We can honor the departed soldiers by helping their buddies who returned with physical, mental, and spiritual wounds from combat. We can help by asking "What we can I do for you?" instead of just choosing to something that makes us comfortable. |
Jamál (Beauty), 10 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Sunday, May 26, 2019
PROMPT: Share an instance in your life when you would have liked a do-over. Thank God, there are no do-overs! There is no going back to change either choices or actions, because if there were I would not have learned anything about myself, humanity, or the universe. I would be a different person than I am today. Not a better person and not worse person, but different person. Not that there aren't choices and actions I would like to change; however, if I got the chance to change them it would change my future from that time on. I wouldn't have learned the lessons I did at the time, and I would be a different person than I am today. It takes too long to retrace my steps over the shards of memory, and across the petrified tears of yesterday. It takes too long to follow paths covered with the dust of history, littered with scraps of illusions, and strewn with the bones of vain imaginings. |
Jalál (Glory), 9 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Saturday, May 25, 2019
PROMPT: Write about your plans for the weekend. If you had 48 hours to do whatever you wanted, no holds barred, how would you spend your time? What are my weekend plans? I have no idea. I don't have weekend plans. I have stuff I have to do, or, at least, think I have to do. Three day weekends is something I don't worry about anymore. In fact, I don't think I ever worried about them because somebody always had some sort of plans I could crash if I wanted to. I'm at the point in my life where I think three day weekends are over rated. As for this weekend, it's Memorial Day weekend so my plans are to say prayer for the departed. In Remembrance of Memorial Day ... that we are highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain ... Abraham Lincoln Millions of Americans died to ensure our freedom. Each war has produced its unsung heroes; Men and women quietly serving at home or abroad. One hundred twenty six years we have commemorated the heroes of war; Raising to mythical proportions the gods of war; Interring in silent tombs unmeant relatives; Acknowledging on stone wall the martyrs of war; Listening in silence to political rhetoric. Dead kinsman call to us from the world beyond, Asking that their deaths not be in vain, Yearning to see peace upon the Earth. Taps On Memorial Day Rain is supposed to fall when Taps are played on Memorial Day. The world is supposed to weep for the missing and the dead of every war fought by Americans or on American soil. Three days to heal the grief-- caused by conventional, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons-- is not enough! Three days to celebrate a life cut short-- by missile, bayonet, bullet, shrapnel, or mines-- is not enough! |
Istiqlál (Independence), 8 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Friday, May 24, 2019
PROMPT: Congratulations on making it to the last week of the competition! You all should be proud!  How do you celebrate your successes? What is your favorite thing to give yourself as a reward?How do I celebrate my success? This morning I celebrate my success by not giving up or giving into depression. It's Friday, May 24, with one week left in May, which may or may not have anything to do with the depression. I've been fighting depression for over a week by pushing through and doing what I could do. Today that changes, instead of letting my mind wander, which encourages my depression, when I'm not writing I will recite the following prayer revealed by The Bab. I originally memorized the prayer because it helped me focus when I didn't have anything to keep my mind busy. If my mind isn't thinking about something it wanders into depression. "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!"3 What is my favorite thing to give myself as a reward? Usually death by chocolate any thing. However, this morning I think I would like a weeks vacation from my life. I want to go to a hotel with a spa and room service. I want a room with a televisions set that I can access anything across the planet, and I want Wi-fi, so that I can use my smartphone to log into Writing.com and Facebook. I don't necessarily want a laptop because I want to watch TV, read, go to the spa, and have no contact with anyone except over my phone. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 7 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Thursday, May 23, 2019
PROMPT: What is your learning style? Do you prefer to learn through reading, images, audio, discussion, hands on, etc.? What is something new you learned in the last 30 days? I think my learning style is hands on. When I read I need to read it a couple of time, without taking notes, before I can retain everything I want. If I take notes, I only have to read it once. In some cases images help me retain, especially if I can study and meditate on the image. I guess you could say I have a mixed learning style. Which good, because at my age I need all the help I can get when it comes to learning and retaining information. What have I learned over the past 30 days? That I want to set down and cry, but I doubt it would do any good. Right now I'm descending into a depression that I've been fighting, without much success, for the past month (at least). The basic problem is my financial situation, which has been depressing since I moved into this apartment. Ever since we moved into this apartment, it's been one damn thing after another. First there were the mice. Now were fighting bedbugs. The leasing company doesn't do anything, except collect rent. There are things in this apartment that needed fixing when we moved in, but haven't been fixed. I turned in several things that needed fixing that haven't been fixed. I talked to someone from the city last week about the bedbugs, but (apparently) nothing has come of that. I got a loan from a payday loan company a couple of months ago, which I have to pay back. Unfortunately, I suspect I may have to get one from another loan company, which I think is a bad idea; however, I thought getting the first loan was a bad idea and I got it anyway. I know, or at least think I know, there is a solution; however, I can't see it. Maybe I'm too close to the problem to see around it. Now that I've had my rant of the week or the month, depending on how things go the rest of the week, I'm going to close this and post it. |
‘Idál (Justice), 6 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, May 22, 2019
PROMPT: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? What did I want to be when I grew up? I wanted to be married, because I thought that--even when a woman worked outside the her home--she was not fulfilled until she had children and a husband to take care of. Thank God I never married any of the guys I had intimate relationships with. I did give birth to a daughter, which I gave up for adoption (one of the two wisest things I ever did). “If I'm sincere today, what does it matter if I regret it tomorrow?” José Saramago, Blindness Do I regret never marrying? Sometimes. Do I regret giving my daughter up for someone else to raise? Sometimes. Regrets are a part of growing up. Thinking back over both questions, I would probably have had more regrets if I had made different choices. Fortunately, once a choice is made and carried out, people can't go back in time to change their minds or their choices. As long as one is sincere about the choices on makes, regrets don't matters |
Fiḍál (Grace), 5 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, May 21, 2019
PROMPT: Write about an opinion you’ve had that has changed over the years. Several of my opinions have changed over the years. At 72, I'm a bit more liberal in my political beliefs than when I was 20, and my world view has changed. I now think of myself as a world citizen instead of just a citizen of the United States. I still believe that the soul and body come together at conception, however, I don't believe it is my right to tell another woman that she should continue a pregnancy if she has decided otherwise for whatever reason. This is a choice that each woman or each couple has to make considering the circumstances in their life. I don't believe I have the right to tell another person that he or she is going to hell because they have a different religion, gender definition, marriage definition, or political view. My job is to focus on my own spiritual growth and salvation. If someone wants to know my religious beliefs I will tell them or, at least, attempt to inform them. If they think I'm going to hell because I believe differently that fine with me. On of my biggest changes of opinion concerns the Devil or Satan. I grew up believing the the Devil actually existed as an evil spirit. This has changed, today I believe Satan to be a metaphor for humanity's lower self. |
Kamál (Perfection), 4 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Monday, May 20, 2019
PROMPT: What time of day are you most motivated? Least motivated? For me, I’m most motivated and productive in the morning, and least in the mid afternoon around 2pm. What do you do to renew your motivation in those slumps? Time For Motivation What time of day am I most motivated? The time of day when I'm not depressed or looking into the abyss. Whenever I can force myself to crawl, walk, or run out of my brown study. When I say my morning, noon, and evening prayers my outlook is more positive. Lately, I've had some difficulty focusing because my mind tends to wander. At night, when I say my prayers, I tend to fall asleep even when it is one of the short prayers. This means I either drop my smartphone (it has a prayer app) or my prayer book. This meas finding the prayer or where I remember leaving off before I dozed off. When I place the prayer book and the smartphone on my side stand, and attempt to go to sleep, I can't go to sleep. This can be a problem because I have prescription eye drops I put in my eyes before turning the light out. I have to wait, at least, two hours before turning the light back on or picking up my cell and starting to read again. Sometimes I fall asleep within that time, but I wake up again in a couple of hours. Waking up and falling back to sleep is something I have did all my life. The problem is falling asleep in the middle of reading a prayer or scripture verse. I tend to use the notepad in my phone to write short poems or take notes on dreams in the middle of the night. For some reason I don't fall asleep while I'm using the notepad, it's just when I read scriptures or prayers that I fall asleep. I suppose I should call my doctor about this, but it's such a hassle to get there. I'll keep this on my list, and when I have other things to discuss with her or her nurse practitioner I'll make an appointment. |
Jamál (Beauty), 3 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Sunday, May 19, 2019
PROMPT: Write about your ideal weekend. Ideal Weekend It's an ideal weekend: What makes an ideal weekend? A prayer whispered at dawn. A fresh brewed carafe of strong black coffee. A cook morning breeze in late spring or early summer. Anticipation of and interaction with the members of my faith community. The sun peeking between May's gray-white clouds, while casting dark shadows across the black asphalt of Sunrise Avenue. An ideal weekend: Devotional Services at the Baha'i Center. What else makes an ideal weekend? Numerous activities. An ideal weekend is a state of mind, and a personal definition. Different weekend activities and non-activities Placing all my problems and difficulties in Baha'u'llah's hands. Listening to my playlist on YouTube. Reading prayer and sacred scriptures. My ideal weekends flow across thirty days, as I move forward attempting to overcome procrastination. |
Jalál (Glory), 2 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Saturday, May 18, 2019
PROMPT: Write a poem or stream of consciousness entry about something you do every day. I'm a Survey Junkie4! Survey after survey building my point to 1,000, then transferring $10.00 to my PayPal account. Am I addicted to surveys? I'm a member of five survey groups, and each day I build the points or dollar amounts in my accounts so that I can request a check or sent dollar amounts to my PayPal account and transfer them to my checking or savings account. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 1 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) 176 B.E. - Friday, May 17, 2019
PROMPT: A lot of medical research today focuses on developing cures to ageing. Presumably, with the right breakthrough, humans could live forever. How do you feel about this? Write an entry describing the advantages and disadvantages of extremely long life using facts and opinions to support your answer. I don't think the humans were created to live forever on the material plane. Humans are dual natured creatures with physical bodies, which are part of the material creation, and souls, that are part of the spiritual world. The body and soul become partners at sometime after conception and before birth. While much of medical research appears to be the developing a cure for aging, I don't see this as the goal; true it may be the goal for many researcher, but not for all of them. Old age, in and of itself, is not a disease, but a results of the living on the physical body being born and living material plane. Thee are certain disease and bad habits that result in problems in the human body as it ages. These can be alleviated or eliminated by the discoveries of medical science. However, that does not mean that the human body will continue to live eternally, because eventually the body and soul will separate. At that time the body will begin decomposing and the soul will ascend into the spiritual realm. "The rational soul—the human spirit—did not descend into this body or subsist through it to begin with, that it should require some substance to depend upon after the constituent parts of the body have decomposed. On the contrary, the rational soul is the substance upon which the body depends. The rational soul is endowed from the beginning with individuality; it does not acquire it through the intermediary of the body. At most, what can be said is that the individuality and identity of the rational soul may be strengthened in this world, and that the soul may either progress and attain to the degrees of perfection or remain in the lowest abyss of ignorance and be veiled from and deprived of beholding the signs of God." 'Abdu'l-Baha5 Medical research helps people live longer and more rewarding lives on the material plane. These longer lives help our souls develop the spiritual attributes they need to thrive in the spiritual realm. Medical researchers are discovering the bad habit human beings have developed that interfere with us thriving on the material plane. Over the past century, medical science has made some progress in extending human life6. We will make more progress in the coming decades; however, on question remains: Can medical science reverse or stop the aging of our cells?7 Is there a limit to how long we can extend the life of our cells? Yes, I think there is a limit. I don't think we have encountered that limit yet. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 19 Jamál (Beauty) 176 B.E. - Thursday, May 16, 2019
PROMPT: Congratulations on making it halfway through the challenge! Today, we’ll do something a little different. Instead of writing an entry of your own, take the time to show some love to your fellow 30DBC challengers! Write thoughtful comments on at least five different blogs from this month’s competition. Then, post the links to the entries you commented on in your own blog and share one thing you learned. Have fun! "It's About Time" by Robert Waltz  "Complex Numbers" "4 is a Hot Issue" by Apondia  "Sanguine Tenacious Tidings" "Staying motivated" by WakeUpAndLive️~🚬🚭2024  "Blog @ Work 2nd Edition" "Invalid Entry" by Andy~hating university  "Invalid Item" "Invalid Entry" by Charlie ~ "Invalid Item" I learned that one can keep a mantis as a pet. This is an addition to my interesting pets list. I've known people who had tarantulas, snakes, and white rats as pets. I've never had any exotic pets myself. My pets have always been cats, dogs, and birds. |
‘Idál (Justice), 18 Jamál (Beauty) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, May 15, 2019
PROMPT: Share an instance when something blew your mind. The Mashriqu’l-Adhká: The Dawning Place of the Mention of God Every time I look at a video or photograph of one of the Baha'i Houses of Worship across the planet, I am awestruck at their beauty. The money for construction of each of these temples was donated by the Baha'is of the world. When the temples were constructed local laborers of every religion and race were hired to build these temples. The Lotus Temple, in India, is one of the Baha'i temples. The video above tells about its construction. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 17 Jamál (Beauty) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, May 14, 2019
PROMPT:Discuss the “Four Burners Theory” as it is outlined in this website: Which burner in your life burns the brightest? If you had to completely turn off one of your burners to be successful in the other three, which would you turn off? I'm sure my life is out of balance, because if it was balanced I wouldn't have so much difficulty with finances. If my life was balanced, I could do more work around the house than just wash dishes. If my life were balanced I would have more of a social life than simply online. If my life were balanced I would be able to attend the nineteen-day feast, Holy Day celebrations, and give too more than one of the Baha'i Funds. If my life were balanced I wouldn't have to worry about over-drafting my checking account, and I would have more than $ 7.00 in my savings account. What is causing this imbalance in my life? Does this imbalance have anything to do with the "The Four Burner Theory?" The first burner concerning my family is turned down so that that it appears to be off. I have very little contact, with the exception of Facebook, with any of my siblings or their offspring. The second burner concerning my friends has a little more heat to it, but it is still turned low. The burner connected to my health is not hot, and sometimes--when I'm depressed--appears to be turning itself off. The burner connected to my work is the only one that appears to cook anything most of the time, and, even that one, doesn't work well w hen I'm depressed. How do I get my life back into balance? What do I want? I want a home that is the center of my social life or, at least, social activity. I don't have that. I want a home like the one 'Abdu'l-Baha talks about in the following scripture verse. My Home My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight, My home is the home of laughter and exaltation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light: whosoever enters here must become illumined. This is the home of knowledge: the one who enters must receive knowledge. This is the home of love: those who come in must learn the lessons of love; thus may they know how to love each other. 'Abdu'l-Baha8 I want to life a balanced life, and I'm not living a balanced life. I want to have a home that I can invite my friends into. I want a new recliner because the old one became infested with bedbugs when we moved into this apartment and I had to get rid of it. I want to stop telling myself "I screwed up again.", I know I haven't screwed up, but that's how I feel when things don't go right or I do something I think someone will get angry with me for. Th is happens when I start to descend into a depression, and I suspect I'm on the verge of becoming depressed. I want to live a balanced life! Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 16 Jamál (Beauty) 176 B.E. - Monday, May 13, 2019
PROMPT: Discuss the “Goldilocks Rule of Motivation” as described on the website below. “Human beings love challenges, but only if they are within the optimal zone of difficulty. Tasks that are significantly below your current abilities are boring. Tasks that are significantly beyond your current abilities are discouraging. But tasks that are right on the border of success and failure are incredibly motivating to our human brains.” Monday Motivation While the coffee brews, chant the Most Great Name at dawn: mental To Do List. This article explains my problem with housework. I always put off the distasteful task, such as cleaning toilet or mopping the floor, until the absolutely had to be done. If I knew I was going to have visitors--which is why I prefer people to call before they come--I would clean the toilet and mop the floors. I didn't mind sweeping, vacuuming, and dusting as much as I disliked mopping. My problem with mopping was always streaky floors. Grandma Mary could mop a floor, with any type of mop, but I never could. Right now,I'm in the middle of cleaning off my computer desk, which is unmotivating because I let it go so long. I'll get finished either today or tomorrow. I can't let it go any longer because I suspect there is stuff I need to call people about. I'm not lazy, the problem is the task is boring and doesn't motivate me. This brings me back to the article, which is right about the Goldilocks zone. |
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