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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: "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ========= My truth is, my patience I had to work on very hard all my life. As to my time, it is running out but I'm trying to make every moment count. Well, who said existence wasn't complex! In our existence, patience and time may not really be warriors because together they may win or not. As to the relationship between the two, it is not always friendly, either. There are moments frozen in time, etched in memory, where the idea of patience is elusive. Yet, the potential for change and renewal is there, but only sometimes, when the virtue of patience becomes intertwined with time. The passage of time allows for reflection, understanding, and acceptance. Through its temporary perspective, griefs and grievances may lose their sharp edges, and the weight of our burdens may lighten. Then, while the time flies, it gifts us the promise of a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to embrace life. . |
| Prompt: A weed is but an unloved flower." Ella Wheeler Wilcox Write about this quote in your blog entry today ------ I have to say that the nature of beauty changes from eye to eye. In other words, beauty is subjective. In plant life, most weeds can be beneficial for our ailments, although we don't want them in our flower beds as they have a knack for taking over and harming or crowding out the flowers. When the quote applies to people, however, it may mean that human beings who may be seen as undesirable or troublesome may have hidden qualities that go unnoticed and unappreciated. What we see as flaws or shortcomings in others may be unique qualities waiting to be appreciated. Such human weeds, too, like in plant life, can reveal their true use when given the understanding and opportunity. Among such individuals, Nikola Tesla comes to mind. From my Google search, *"Tesla invented, predicted or contributed to development of hundreds of technologies that play big parts in our daily lives -- like the remote control, neon and fluorescent lights, wireless transmission, computers, smartphones, laser beams, x-rays, robotics and, of course, alternating current, the basis of our present-day electrical system." Yet, Tesla was not a savvy businessman and suffered financially. From my Google Search again, **"Tesla had obsessive compulsive disorder, which compelled him to do things in threes, including only inhabiting a hotel room that was divisible by the number three. He had an obsession with pigeons and an aversion to women wearing earrings, contributing to his reputation as eccentric. He suffered a nervous breakdown when he was young, and may have had dementia before he died. He never married." I had also read somewhere that he is deemed as being autistic posthumously. Now, was Nikola Tesla a weed? Maybe to the people around him at the time. He might have been looked at as weird and wacky. But look, how useful he has been to humanity! This means we need to seek the hidden beauty in people who may be overlooked or misunderstood. It is a reminder for empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness so the unique qualities and potential in each person contributes to a more inclusive and compassionate human family. *https://dragonattheendoftime.com/nicola-tesla/ **https://www.aaas.org/brilliant-and-tortured-world-nikola-tesla |
| Prompt: A Whole New World If you were to create a new planet and a whole new world, what would it look like and what kind of people would its inhabitants be? ---- I am not an expert on world building, but I've always wanted a better earth. So I'll start by naming my ideal planet Terra 2. Terra 2 orbits a star very similar to our sun, in a habitable zone with the existence of liquids and especially water. This planet has a diverse landscape, ranging from lush, emerald-green forests to vast blue oceans that stretch across several large continents. Its mountain ranges pierce the skyline with breathtaking waterfalls cascading down their sheer cliffs. The atmosphere, composed of a perfect blend of gases, ensures the best conditions for life to flourish. A remarkable feature of Terra 2 is its flora that gives off an ethereal glow even during the nights. And yes, Terra 2 has nights and days as it revolves on its axis as well revolving around its star. The trees and plants with many more hues and colors than here on earth give off a soft light that is comforting and beneficial to all other life other than themselves. But then, this is the thing with Terra 2. All life on it supports all other life to keep its delicate ecological balance. Wildlife on Terra 2 is equally diverse and fascinating. Majestic winged creatures soar through the skies and beneath the surface of the ocean are coral reefs, kelp forests, and other aquatic life. Better yet, not one live organism eats any other live organism, plant or animal. Their food sources are automatically obtained from the oceans or the mountains and that food never spoils. The people on Terra 2 are connected to the planet innately, nurturing its nature. Even their architecture is eco-friendly. These inhabitants coexist in balance and harmony and absorb their differences, if any, through many creative endeavors such as art, music, and other ways that they have created. These people are highly evolved with qualities of empathy, wisdom, and an appreciation for their connection to one another and to their planet. Their outer forms look like humans but with elegant expressive eyes that shine like their flora. Inwardly, they believe in collective consciousness that unites all beings as they have advanced intellects with a focus on harmonious living. The education in their schools encourages a deep understanding of the planet's systems as well as a sense of responsibility, while highly valuing all arts and community and cooperation. Their transportation systems use their innate powers to move from one place to another in thought first, then in body. This way they don't need any outside energy that could dirty their air and waters. They have no divisive ideologies, religions, laws, countries, states, or even groups or cliques, and they coexist harmoniusly with their planet and each other. As such, conflict is almost non-existent. Should a slight disagreement come up, they approach it with empathy and diplomacy and they encourage compromise and dialogue. Therefore, their disputes, if any, are solved through peaceful means. In short, the Terra 2 inhabitants are highly evolved, elegant beings that do justice to the beauty of their planet. . |
| What do you think of rumor starters and gossipers? Do their rumors and gossip eventually come back to bite them? Did you ever write a story about rumors and gossip starters? ----------- I think, in essence, rumor starters and gossipers are people with a natural curiosity about the lives of other people. They sometimes do what they do with a desire for social connection. and then at other times, to assert power and control. Even if some rumors may have a basis in truth, they are usually exaggerated. Some, however, may be entirely fabricated. Yes, rumors and gossip eventually can come back to bite their starters, even when a rumor is not too hurtful. For one thing, such people lose credibility because no one will believe what they say or take them seriously again. On us, the listeners' part, it is important to question the validity of such information and to check its truth before sharing it with other people. We have to recognize that not all rumors can be easily refuted, and sometimes, the best course of action is to focus on promoting a culture of empathy and understanding, both on the rumor starter or gossiper and the people that false information has hurt. I don't believe I ever wrote a story about rumors and gossip starters since I never thought of this concept before. I think, however, that could be an interesting idea for fiction. Probably, crime writers might use gossip and rumors more effectively than most other writers. Then, just a Google search gave me these books on rumors and gossip: The Rumor: A Novel by Hilderbrand, Elin The Gossip Monster by Katherine Follett Gossip: A Novel by Beth Gutcheon The Stuff That Never Happened: A Novel by Maddie Dawson The Things We Don't See by Savannah Brown Unfortunately, I wasn't even aware that these books and many others like them existed. I may have encountered a piece of gossip or rumor in a story, but I can't even recall that at this moment. I guess I should be more aware of the rumors and gossip idea in fiction as those things have been an integral part of human communication. As the movie “Star Wars” declares, “there is a dark side to the force.” |
| Day 3025 March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes, and a laugh in her voice.” ― Hal Borland Tell us about some of your childhood antics when your hair was tousled, and you had a mischievous smile. ------- Gosh, this is so far away that even the pale memory of my antics feel like they belong to someone else. What I know from what the others have told me that I never did naughty stuff like raiding the cookie jar or drawing on the walls. If anything, I was naughty when and if another kid was around just to stay pals with her or him. To begin with, I did worry about the cats my aunt had in the house and their kittens and I would hold the newborns very gently even though my grip may not have been the best for their health, but my aunt instructed me not to touch the kittens at all. So, I just sat by and talked to them and told them the stories my grandmother used to tell me. To this day, I like talking to the cats and other animals. But the worst thing I did was this: I once opened the front door when no one was looking and lifted the latch on the gate outside by taking a chair and stepping on it to reach the latch. Then I brought the chair back and escaped to the beach and became the "lost child" in the community. Even this was done without any bad intention because we were already going to the beach and the adults took their time getting ready for it. That certain beach, at that time, was the country club of the community, so in hindsight, I can understand the adults' attention for their looks and whatever. I probably was tired of waiting for them. My poor family searched all over town, while my mother had several fainting spells, as they thought I was abducted. Then, someone thought of the beach. They found me there playing on the sand, all happy and agrin. Do I want to re-live the sweetness of my childhood antics back? Nope! I don't like any backview or hindsight for things that'll never come back. This is because, I believe, in a child's mind, those days couldn't be carefree or enchanting for children depend on adults and their whims and kids have little to do or say in most things due to their lack of life experiences. Childhood and its antics cannot be considered sweet and carefree, even when looking back with an adult's eyes. Plus, I have difficulty in believing in the assumption that a little chaos can be harmonious in the grand orchestration of life. Wouldn't no chaos be better? |
| Prompt: “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.” ― Isaac Asimov ----- Life is pleasant? Many people would object to that. Life is pleasant only on occasion; otherwise, it is just hard. Yet, that's all we have and that's all we know about for certain. As to death, who says it's peaceful? We won't know it fully until we experience it. As "life is a stage," we are all playing a role before the cosmos and dancing the intricate dance of the molecules of matter and energy. The way I see it, at its best, life is a continuous exploration, a series of chapters written with the ink of time. As an aside, I can't take my mind off from writing, can I! Yet, into life, we weave our experiences, emotions, and our existence as we know it. Then, woven into our fabric is the inevitability of death, accompanying us, as if our shadows, every step of the way. As to that transition, it leads us into the unknown. Do we merge with the eternal there or maybe return to life as cosmic energy? Who knows! We may believe or not in the religions, philosophies, and cultural boundaries that explain and assess death and the transition in between as the integral parts of our being. Still, who can know and insist for sure, unless when experiencing it first-hand? This is not to be disrespectful to anyone's beliefs--and I am a strong believer myself--but similarly, how can we know about pain or joy or anything else while watching someone in pain, in joy, or in anything else, unless we are experiencing it ourselves? We'll know for sure about that transition--whether it is troublesome or not--after we enter it, when it becomes a gateway to the eternal for each one of us. For, in our outfits of existence, each thread is essential, and each of us represent a unique expression of the Creator. . |
| Prompt: Leap Year Day. Write something about Leap Year for your Blog entry today. ======= Isn't it odd that the leap year day happens every four years? This is because the Gregorian calendar we use has 365 days to a year, but the earth's orbit around the sun is slightly more than that. It must the work of some bright-eyed and bushy-tailed calendar maker to come up with the leap year day as February 29, to make up for the sun's goofing. Some say this leap year thing was Julius Caesar's doing with the Julian Calendar. If so, what can one expect from a dictator who is addicted to wine and women and gets himself done away with by his own adopted son! I think the more logical way would be to divide the 24 hours of the leap day equally among the 365 days, which could be in minutes only. But then, we wouldn't have the Leap Day babies, would we! Also, what would happen to all the quirkiness associated with the leap-year day! When would women be allowed to propose marriage (Thanks to St. Patrick), if not on February 29 or, as the latest anomaly, how could the French do without La Bougie du Sapeur, the satirical and the least frequently published newspaper in the world, that comes out once every four years on leap day, since 1980? Maybe not all this is for nothing. Did you know some people, with the slyness of foxes, are leaping into today with deals and opportunities for you? I would guess the deals are more for them. See here? https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/jump-into-these-deals-and-... Happy Leap-Year Day, 2024, Everyone! |
Prompt: What are 3 things you appreciate about nature? --------- Only three things? You drive a hard bargain. At my end, it is a lot of things, and even more than that. Everything! Yet, still in a general sense, here are the three things I truly appreciate. Animals. They are cute, innocent, tamed, wild, tiny, huge, smart, stupid and so much more. Their variety on earth is astounding. They help sustain the planet and add a lot of beauty and meaning to it. Starting with my own cat, tamed animals provide companionship, truly original experiences, and love. Then, observing the behavior of animals in their natural habitats is also educational and entertaining. Whether it's the intricate dance of bees pollinating flowers or the majestic migration of birds or the wild cats at play, wildlife shows the wonders of adaptation and survival. Plants. They are another form of life like the animals as they sustain all life and feed us. They are also very beautiful, interesting, charming, colorful, standing straight or creeping along or even into the ground. Sometimes, when I stand by a tree, I feel as if the tree is talking to me. No wonder there are tree-huggers among us homo sapiens! Scenery. The scenery on earth, large or small, is breathtaking if I am alert enough to see it. This is because nature grants us with a unique array of landscapes, from grand, magnificent mountains and sparkling blue lakes to spirited green forests and wide, far-reaching oceans. At times, the sheer beauty of larger panoramas or the smaller sights, like that of a single tree or a flower, leave me in awe. Now that I've listed the three things, I'll also add to them the calming effect of nature on my mind. Feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, the cool breeze on my face, or the refreshing touch of water connects me to the basic elements of Earth. The gentle rustling of leaves, the rhythmic sound of ocean waves, or the sound of a birdsong always soothe me and provide a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This is because nature has positive effects on my well-being by serving as a stress-reliever and offering relaxation. In essence, I cannot contain nature in a blog post, nor can I show its diversity fully. This is because within itself, nature weaves an awesome, intricate, and beautiful web of life on our planet. . |
| Prompt: Tear Jerkers Have you ever cried over a movie or serials or sad novels? What do you think brought on your tears? -------- Crying over fictional works? I might have shed tears over stuff like that a few times, but I can only recall one such spectacular incident when I was a teenager. Funny, I can remember it even after several decades! A friend of my family had invited me and a friend of mine who was a year younger than me to the movies. I think the name of the movie was Christine, and the actors were then-famous Alain Delon and Romy Schneider. It was the story of a love affair in which the male lead was killed in a duel at the end. At the end of the movie, both I and my friend were in tears. We cried all the way home as the three of us walked, and our poor host was shocked by our reaction. He kept saying, "He shouldn't have been killed, but he could have been wounded on his arm." Today, I recall him repeating those words over and over more than the movie itself. Why did we cry like that? I think, now, that it was more hormonal than anything else, as we were both in our teens. My friend, however, might have had a better reason than mine, as she had been made to stop a love relationship with a navy officer through her family's intervention. Our and others' tears over a movie, serial, or novel may have to do with emotional connections to the story or the characters. Then, maybe, we, as human beings, are wired to feel empathy and we extend it to fictional characters. Then, we might be releasing suppressed emotions from our daily lives, too. We cry because the story reminds us about our own losses and struggles. Also, of course, the kudos for our tears can go to the beauty of the storytelling, writers, actors, and people who create such visual or written sad pieces. All I can say is that tears can be caused by a multiple of factors, but ours when we were teenagers were the tears of our emotional reaction to the love-gone-bad theme. Still, I can't help but laugh now, when I recall the antics of that day when we watched "Christine." . |
| Prompt: How does it feel not being able to see what is in front of you or ahead of you? Could this be due to smoke, fog, or haze or being worried about what the future holds? ---------- Once I had to drive through a street where on the side was a huge fire and we were led to drive in single columns. This four-way street had become densely clouded with smoke, doubt and fear. The smoke became so dense that it enveloped everything around my car, and although I made sure the windows were shut tight, I did smell the burning. Then, I began coughing while trying to keep my eyes on where I am going and being careful not to hit the car in front of me. I tried not to panic but the acrid scent of the burning I couldn't get rid of. The worst was the uncertainty. It loomed like a shadow, and the fear and the thought of what lay ahead heightened the worry gripping me. Yet, inside this haze, I felt a flicker of resilience and the determination to get out of there and to forge ahead. That was when a thought, a realization, dawned in me...a realization that some kind of a strength can be born in the face of adversity. True, my journey through the haze was scary to say the least, but afterwards, I congratulated myself for driving through, despite my obscured vision. Yet, in hindsight, I also saw where I had gone wrong. This smoke was visible earlier while I was on the road. There were side streets and an alternate route I could have taken, but I hadn't. I hadn't used a proactive approach to my driving, despite my so-called adaptability and resilience during that stretch of that smoke-filled street. In a way, I was both right and wrong. Although worrying about the future can be a bother for most of us, it can also become a driving force for personal growth. I think what the life coaches and religions tell us to do has great value in that making more informed choices can result in happier outcomes and better control on our lives. Still, going through something awful has its own teaching value, too. That is when we realize where we went wrong and we try to be aware of where we are going and the challenges we may need to overcome. In addition, we have to live in the present very carefully, much more carefully than preparing for the future, so we can get out of the fog and the haze and the smoke and see our way much more clearly. . |
| Prompt: Do you believe it's possible to love someone too much? Like maybe sometimes love just ain't enough... Your thoughts? ------- Wow! A love question! To go with my belated love NL to come at the end of this month, instead of before Valentine's Day.  But loving someone too much? And how much is too much? I don't exactly know but I can guess I just might be guilty of it...or not. I'm not sure of this but like anything so intense, too much(?) love may not be enough since love as an emotion has its own pros and cons. On the plus side, because of the feelings of deep connection and strong bond and support and understanding between the lover and and the loved one, plus their shared happiness, there is that emotional satisfaction, which probably can become some kind of a motivation for people to grow. And we know that growth has its own arc that may take a person to new heights and let them discover new areas. This is where that "too much love" may fail, if the two parties grow in different ways and into different areas and their sights and modes of living turn into a conflict. There may be other cons, too. Like too much codependency or too much fear of loss. Add to this unrealistic expectations...and...but here I go again... How can anyone have unrealistic expectations if there is love? Because I think with love comes acceptance, also. And just maybe, self-love, which is a totally different subject, should come before "too much love" for another. Still, whether self-love should step on the podium for the first prize or not, life is complex as it is and why mess it up with "too much" of anything! On the funny/ridiculous side, my recent blog posts are turning into me-debating-myself. Lol!  . |
| Prompt: Famous Painting In the story/ movie Mary Poppins, Mary and Dick Van Dyke stepped into different paintings to explore. What famous painting would you step into and explore for fun? -------- You know what? I love sunflowers, their height and openness, edible seeds, and happy colors. And I really like Van Gogh. The problem is Van Gogh painted a whole slew of sunflower paintings and to pick one as a favorite is impossible and add to this my greedy nature that likes abundance and numbers...So, I'll start with his "Sunflower Field" and see how it goes. When I look at the painting, I see a vast field of sunflowers, their golden petals reaching towards the sky under the warmth of the sun. Then, the expressive brushstrokes gives the flowers a dynamic quality, almost as if they are in motion. Motion is another one of my hangups in all arts, by the way, and here, the sunflowers are alive, dancing and swaying to the rhythm of nature. I feel like dancing with them in their color palette of yellow and gold, and I feel uplifted inside their radiance, thanks to Van Gogh's excellent manipulation of light and shade. This painting, therefore, brings a sense of joy and life and admiration for the beauty of nature. Yet, still in nature, some kind of a melancholy exists, as it does in this painting, too, for to the left of the field is a huge cone shaped fir tree in darkened greens and to the far right a couple more such trees near a house. I think this shows the internal struggles we all face even if we try to see the brightness of life, as did Van Gogh. Then, I also have to mention Van Gogh's sunflowers in a vase, that painting is titled as "Sunflowers." It makes me wonder if those flowers were from the field in the other painting I mentioned above, the "Sunflower Field". As we all know, the painter's brushstrokes suggest both a unique vision of zest and vitality and his inner storms. In this painting, too, the sunflowers are not just botanical subjects but they are symbols of life, beauty, and hope. No wonder then, as soon as I read this prompt, Van Gogh's sunflower paintings popped up in my mind, pointing to my own appreciation of the sunflowers and human nature in its entirety. . |
| Prompt: You are going to be trapped in a book for 30 days. Which book are you going to choose? Why this book? ----------- Most of my reading nowadays is digital, which means I'll have to be trapped in a digital book, online or in one of my devices. This is because I can control the fonts and the lighting on a digital device whereas a print book needs some outside intervention. So in my case, while thinking about this question, I thought, why should I be trapped in a single book instead of a series of books? Then, I asked myself, "Why not an encyclopedia?" Absolutely! This is because encyclopedias provide a wide range of information on many subjects, covering various fields such as history, science, arts, geography and then some. Better yet, they are credible in their accuracy more often than not. As to any specific encyclopedia, Britannica has a distinct place and it comes in digital forms, too. Yes, it would be fun to be trapped inside Encyclopedia Britannica. I like this specific encyclopedia for its higher editorial standards that involve fact-checking, peer review, and constant updates. Plus, it has tradition and a very long history for being in existence since the 18th century. I especially like its educational value and no ads policy. This offers me some focus and distraction-free reading that I can fully enjoy. Therefore, next time you search something inside the Britannica, see if you can sense me wandering around in it.  . |
| Prompt: "The worst lies are the ones you tell yourself that your life will be fine." Write about this in your Blog entry today. --------- Internal falsehoods? Who isn't guilty of them at one time or another? Yet, we learn, hopefully, most of the truths about --and/or-- concerning ourselves over the years. If we don't, we trap ourselves in a cycle of denial, which hinders personal development, and we miss the opportunities for positive change. My first big lie to myself was about my mother, and not that she did anything wrong. I thought as a very young child, Mom was faultless, and she had the highest authority, and she never made mistakes. Wrong! But the wrong was mine, not hers. Later in my more grown-up years, facing the truth about Mom, that she could goof just as much as the next person, was such a shock that it damaged, for a short time, my views of her. It took me quite a while to realize that she was a mother and a human being just like every other mother or person with faults and erring sights about things. Much later, I found about this in my psychology classes. I learned that most children go through what I went through. Did that make me wary of lying to myself about other things? Nope! Other lies did follow, but I think and hope that I caught most of them in time. Consequently, it is only human and it probably is my modus operandi, at least at first sight, to find the good side in everything. Is this another deception or a hopeful wish, I am still working on solving this puzzle. People like me, individuals, who deceive themselves, often create a distorted version of what is real and what is false. This may be due to the willingness to protect our egos and find a temporary refuge in the lies we tell ourselves. This may seem harmless in the beginning, but its long term effects point to self-delusion, a wrong perception of reality, and even a gradual loss of personal integrity. After all, if I can't trust myself, who can I trust? Probably no one! Especially when the lies I and others tell ourselves pop up in various areas in life. Some of us force ourselves to think that our harmful habits, for example those bad for our health, are okay. Others may lie to themselves to justify an unethical behavior, telling themselves that if no one saw their bad deeds, all is fine. But it is not. It is not because there is danger in evading the truth several times over as people find themselves trapped in a cycle of denial, which is against their very own well-being and progress in life. Instead, a truer understanding of oneself would help them much more. Yet, such an understanding requires courage to face uncomfortable truths and to challenge beliefs that have become ingrained in the mind. This is because self-deception always builds protective, strong walls around itself and it takes a lot of work to bring those walls down. Human behavior is complex and internal falsehoods can become a habit if we are not aware of them in time. Otherwise, we deny ourselves a more fulfilling life with positive change. |
| Prompt: Fears of the Unknown Do you have any fears of the unknown that sometimes make you feel uneasy? If so, for you which things, ideas or people would make you feel better or act like the safety net beneath a trapeze act? ----- The unpredictability of things in the future can sometimes evoke fears in us human beings. Do I have such fears? I can't exactly pinpoint any; however, since the unknown usually happens in the future, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Then, isn't death, which we are all facing at one time or another, is an unknown, too? But somehow, I don't fear death, maybe because it'll happen anyway. Of course, this doesn't mean I don't have any fears. Right now, I fear a possible world war, but not just for me. I fear for the entire world and everyone in it, especially people and institutions I'm quite fond of. Aside from its unpredictability, the unknown induces fear in me for being unfamiliar, for being in the future, in a situation I neither understand nor can adapt to. This is because new environments, people, ideas, or experiences can point to unfamiliar challenges that can be disorienting and can lead to fear, but at my age, I have so far learned how to dance with life and that is not a problem. What would be a problem, though, would be something totally weird and scary showing up like a monster from outer space. As the likelihood of such a thing happening is close to nil, I don't even think of such far-out stuff. A world war, however, is something to fear as is the uncertainty of our world's current situation. This type of a future we can neither control nor adapt to, and this inability leads to feelings of being vulnerable and anxious. Yet, facing the unknown--even war--is a powerful literary narrative device, producing stories of exploration, heroism, and self-discovery. In that way, fear of the unknown can also be a catalyst for creativity as it has been in the past. This means, in its essence, while the unknown can evoke fears and uncertainties, it also can become a source of inspiration and a potential for superhuman achievements. . |
| Prompt: Talents What does the word "talent" mean to you? Then, what if you had a hidden talent that you didn't know you had? What do you think that talent could be? -------- Talent, to me, is the inclination or the ability or some kind of a gift of the creation for something, and that's how we have child prodigies. Often, talents are undiscovered abilities that lie beneath a human being's personality. As for me, I have always believed in the "One percent inspiration to 99% perspiration" idea, which can also mean that, here, 'inspiration' may equal or come close to being a talent. This is because nothing came to me out of the thin air or was easy to accomplish, unless I worked very hard for it. Yet, there are hidden talents in most people. One common sign of hidden talents is their unexpected nature. People may go about their daily lives while being completely unaware of the extraordinary abilities they possess. It could be a knack for anything under the sun, such as playing a musical instrument, an uncanny talent for mimicry or humor, or a natural aptitude for solving complex problems. Sometimes, individuals might stumble upon their hidden talents by chance, often discovering a newfound passion or interest. More often than not, I can recognize the hidden talents in others much easier than I can do in myself. This may be due to life being multi-faceted and the nature of individual abilities being varied. In other words, hidden talents are the hidden gems within each one of us, waiting to be unearthed and polished. As for me, I'm too old to search for any hidden talents inside myself, and as for being old, chances are my hidden talent is being able to live through all sorts of things. In that way, I think I may just be quite talented! . |
| Prompt: On February 17th, 1992, convicted serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms for a series of gruesome murders; he was later killed by a fellow prison inmate. What do you know about infamous serial killers? ------ I know next to nothing about serial killers, but I remember the J. Dahmer case. He was just sick. That was what my husband (RIP) said at that time, and that, I think, is correct. This is such a gruesome subject, though. I guess human mind can alternate between sick and evil and good and Godly, even sometimes within the same person. It is important to keep in mind that there is no particular cause or reason for serial killing. On the opposite side of the coin stand tall the totally godly and good natured people, living lives that are rich in virtue and kindness. They are the do-gooders who spread love and assistance to those who need it. I believe their assets are spiritual conviction, compassion for all creation, patience, forgiveness, generosity, peacefulness, humility, and integrity. They do what they do out of love for the humankind as this love rules at the core of their nature. While on the subject, I thought of Mother Teresa for all she did, who had all the virtues I mentioned in the above paragraph. I also need to mention Mahatma Gandhi, MLK, Oskar Schindler, Florence Nightingale, and Nelson Mandela. I know there are many other godly and good people like them in the world, even on this day, who are either unknown or they choose to stay unknown. Whoever they are, I'm truly thankful for their existence, their philanthropic efforts, humanitarian work, and acts of kindness. Without them, our human race couldn't have survived. . |
| Prompt: Have fun with these random words in your entry today: museum, step, fuel, swipe, clay, brag, and suspicion. -------- In my museum of memories, I dare to step through halls of time where nostalgia's kept artifacts of life, like clay--molded to shape-- fuel flames of the heart and cannot escape I swipe across years and touch to my past, each frame a story, forever to last my right to brag in tears that etch the air with suspicion of fate, yet love beyond compare. |
| Prompt What would a perfect day look like for you? Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------- For something to be called perfect, it has to have no flaws in it. There are always flaws in my days, and if for nothing, the world news gets me. I think this may be because we humans were sent to this planet to learn and to adjust to adversities. For that reason, as someone once said, "A perfect day is not about the absence of problems, but about finding peace within them." This may mean everything I do, see, hear and pay attention to either sets me up for feeling happy or puts another obstacle in my way. Also, some people claim that building the day around a pre-set schedule adds to the happiness of the person. I sort of agree with that idea, as I usually write down the most important things to be done during the day before I start a day. Of course, nothing goes perfectly and, almost always, there are some glitches along the way, but that's okay. If I can't fulfill my to-do list for the day, so be it. I can always revise and redo things the next day. In conclusion, I can't even think of what my perfect day would look like because our days can only be partially perfect, if there's such a thing as perfection. Maybe, if there were world peace, and everyone I ever loved were still alive and within reach, my body functioned well, I had no living and financial worries, and my house would or could have stayed perfectly clean, I might have had a near-perfect day. Still, I wish for everyone for all their days and lives to be perfectly happy with their personal appreciation of nature's beauty, their families and friends, their circumstances, and their lives. . |
| Prompt: Valentine's Day. Write about your thoughts about Valentines Day. ---------- Valentine's Day is for expressing love and affection and for celebrating relationships. Like any other celebration, Valentine's Day has its positives and negatives. On the plus side, the day is for celebrating love in all its forms, which may strengthen bonds between partners, friends, and family members, although Valentine's Day is usually centered on romantic love. It is always a good move to take a break from our busy schedules and focus on relationships. Yet, it is not only the relationships or any social connection. Valentine's Day with its gift giving customs impacts the economy, too, and store owners and others mostly use this day for gains in wealth. Then, this day may encourage creativity, also. When in need of funds, many people craft handmade gifts, heartfelt notes, and come up with unique experiences. On the negative side, disappointment from expecting and not getting grand gestures and perfects moments can darken people's moods. In addition, this celebration can cause emotional stress for people who have had breakups, loss of a partner, or other problems related to love and relationships. The day may bring about a negative effect on the environment as well, due to the waste generated by the packaging and discarded items. Despite its negatives, however, I think of Valentine's Day to be a joyous occasion. After all, whatever can bring people together and can strengthen their existing bonds is a welcome effect for our society. Happy Valentine's Day, today! |
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