Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" . On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 I began keeping track of may accomplished goals in this journal. "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Kamál (Perfection), 12 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Monday, December 23, 2019 My Birthday Eve1 On the eve of my 73rd birthday, I contemplate the passing year, while looking forward to a New Year and a new decade. What will the New Year bring? What blessing will the new decade bestow? I don't know, so I will move forward with faith and confidence in the All-Glorious Lord! Gratitude List for 12 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful winter morning. ...that I have 751 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the blue berry yogurt I had to go with my coffee. ...that I have 2,187,174 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for the merit badge I received. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 11 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Sunday, December 22, 2019 Winter 20192 Finally winter! The temperature and the season coincide inspiring winter constellations to send their twinkling joy to warm the hearts of poets and lovers in cold midnight hours. Gratitude List for 11 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 621 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the good night's sleep I got last night. ...that "Happy Thanksgiving" won first place in the November "Invalid Item" contest. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this beautiful winter morning. ...that "New Year's Toast" won first place in the "Invalid Item" contest. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 10 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Saturday, December 21, 2019 Winter Solstice Memories3 Flicks of light reflect from tumbling leaves, as starlight dances to the ground autumn gives birth to winter. Blue-gray clouds protect Last minute Christmas shoppers From the sun's cold rays. Gratitude List for 10 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 451 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the cinnamon roll I had with my morning coffee. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful winter morning. ...that I am one of the winners of "Invalid Item" with "Caroling Stars" . ...for the banana I had for breakfast. ...that I have 1,172,339 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for the chicken fingers with buttermilk dressing I had for lunch. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Friday, December 20 2019 After Midnight4 After midnight the seconds become minutes suspended on the event horizon of a black hole. A black hole that pulls and stretches the minutes into hours longing for dawn. After midnight the mind falls into a cogitative languor waiting for the hours to be pulled into days. Days overflowing with the agony of months stretching into years. After midnight the eyes stare into years elongating into decades. Decades pulled second by second into centuries that are pulled minute by minute into millennia that are stretched hour by h our into aeons. Gratitude List for 9 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 341 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Friday morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Starbucks egg & cheese snack I had for breakfast. ...that I was able to finish The Parallels Between John the Baptist and the Bab by Christopher Buck, Part 55 in the series Figuring Out Prophecy . ...for the banana I had with my coffee this morning. ...that I have 2,163,689 GPs in my Gift Points account. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 8 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Thursday, December 19 2019 Midnight Prayer5 Midnight I awaken to silence and feel the tranquility that beckons me to prayer and meditation. I access the prayer app on my smartphone, find the Midnight prayer and intone the words written by 'Abdu'l-Baha: "O Lord,..." Gratitude List for 8 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 1,040 points in my Survey Junkie account, because I can request $10.40 transferred to my PayPal account. Then transfer $10.00 to my checking account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Thankful Thursday morning. ...that "The Ornaments on a Christmas Tree" was featured in "Fantasy Newsletter (December 18, 2019)" . ...for the Christmas cookies I had to go with my coffee. ...that I have 89 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the cottage cheese and peaches I had for breakfast. ...that my Bank of America Checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Arizona sweet tea I had with my lunch. Footnotes |
ʻIdál (Justice), 7 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, December 18 2019 I Write of My Beloved6 I write of my Beloved Through whom my fingers bend To pick up my pen! I write of my salvation Using ink drawn from my ow2n veins To document my liberation! I write of my pain Caused by my ego's attempt to gain My soul's allegiance! I write of my fears Caused by the disempowering years In Self's prison! Gratitude List for 7 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 1,027 points in my Survey Junie account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this chilly autumn morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Christmas cookies I have to go with my coffee. ...that I have $25.57 in my Send Earnings account. ...for the banana I had for my morning snack. Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 6 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, December 17 2019 World of the Spirit7 lose is for the material world death and taxes flowers wilt in their vase death's cold kiss on a tear streaked face this is matter not spirit spirit ascends always rising spirit isn't in the body this body is the umbilical cord connecting spirit and matter Gratitude List for 6 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...for the Starbucks eggs and cheese box I had for my second breakfast. ...that I have 727 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this beautiful Tuesday morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Christmas cookies I had to go with my coffee. ...that I have 2,044,239 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for the banana I had for my first breakfast. Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 5 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Monday, December 16 2019 Feels Like Winter8 Six days until winter solstice and the chill in the air penetrates my bones making me wish for summer's triple digit temperatures. Gratitude List for 5 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Monday morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not over drawn today. ...for the homemade fruit bread I had to go with my coffee. ...that I was able to finish What the Pentecost Means Today by Dale Fowler. ...for the banana I had with my cereal this morning. ...that I have 503 points in my Survey Junkie account. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 4 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Sunday, December 15 2019 Make a Commitment for 20209 Weariness overcomes, as I contemplate the year's end. What resolutions did I make? What resolutions did I keep? What resolutions did I break? I come to a decision! It's time to change my resolutions to commitments. Gratitude List for 4 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 305 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Sunday morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the mini chocolate covered doughnuts I had to go with my coffee. ...that I have 2,032,514 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for the Arizona sweet ice tea I had with my lunch. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 3 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Saturday, December 14 2019 Gratitude List for 3 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America Checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Saturday morning ...that I have 10,950 in my YouGov account. ...for the strawberry shortbread cookies I have to go with my coffee. ...that I have 235 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the spaghetti I had for lunch. ...that I have $3.86 in my Vindale Research account. ...for the banana I had with my lunch. ...that I received a merit badge. |
Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Thursday, December 12 2019 Gratitude List for 1 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that my poem "Ayyam-i-Ha: The Holiday Season" was featured in "Spiritual Newsletter (December 11, 2019)" . ...for fresh brewed hot coffee on this beautiful morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Christmas gift I received when I picked up my Senior Commodities today. ...that I have 10 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the merit badge I received today, Istiqlál (Independence), 2 Masáʼil (Questions) 176 B.E. - Friday, December 13 2019 Gratitude List for 2 Masáʼil Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed hot coffee on this beautiful morning. ...that I have 131 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the banana I had for breakfast. ...that I have 2,029,464 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for the double chocolate mini cupcakes I had with my coffee. |
ʻIdál (Justice), 19 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, December 11 2019 Gratitude List for 19 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 1,0093 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this beautiful autumn morning. ...that I was able to transfer 10.93 to my PayPal account. ...for chocolate covered mini doughnuts to go with my coffee. ...that my Bank of America Checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the soup I had for lunch. ...that I was able to transfer $11.80 from my PayPal account to my checking account. |
Fiḍál (Grace), 18 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, December 10 2019 Gratitude List for 18 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful December morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the double chocolate mini cup cake I had to go with my coffee. ...that I was able to finish the article Why We Should All Observe UN Human Rights Day by David Langness. ...for the Sushi I had for breakfast. ...that I have 884 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the food bank close to my house, because they always have wonderful foods to give us. ...that I got a raise on both my Social Security and SSI. ...for the pumpkin pie with whipped cream I had for lunch. |
Kamál (Perfection), 17 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Monday, December 9 2019 Monday Poem10 Beautiful Monday Crisp air invigorating Sparrows are silent Gratitude List for 17 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 703 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful autumn morning. ...that I have 2,003,439 GPs in my Gift Points account this morning. ...for chocolate mini doughnuts to go with my coffee. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the pumpkin pie and whipped cream I had with my lunch. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 16 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Sunday, December 8 2019 Facebook Status Update Baha'u'llah is my rock on the shifting sands of life, He is my bridge across the troubled waters of material existence. Gratitude List for 16 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I was able to finish Reflections on the Revelation of the Bab by Ingo Hoffman. This is the first installment of the series The Apocalypse Christian Art and Climate Change . ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this late autumn morning ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn. ...for chocolate doughnuts to go with my coffee. ...that I have 10,450 points in my YouGov account. ...for the apple sauce I had with my breakfast ...that I have 426 points in my Survey Junkie account. Climate Change: The Voice of Earth11 Listen to the voice of Mother Earth, weeping over her children's disrespect, Crying for the destruction of her forest, for the melting of her glaciers, and the fracking of her bones. Can you feel the pain of Mother Earth, as humanity destroys continent by continent her beauty and humanity's chance to survive. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 15 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Saturday, December 7, 2019 Climate Change12 Climate change is real caused-- at least in part-- by humanity's greed, and lack of respect for the planet of its birth. Gratitude List for 15 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful Autumn morning. ...that I have 360 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the Seven-up I have to go with my lunch. ...that I received a merit badge. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 14 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Friday, December 6, 2019 The Currents of Being13 Life flows in ever expanding currents across the universe. Humanity flows in ever expanding currents across the planet. Gratitude List for 14 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 308 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this chilly autumn morning. ...that I have 9,850 points in my YouGov account. ...for the Chinese food I had for lunch. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 13 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Thursday, December 5, 2019 Midnight Prayers14 At midnight my soul wakes me to intone prayers to the All-Glorious Lord. At midnight the world is silent, and I can hear my intoned prayers raise to the All-Glorious Lord. Gratitude List for 13 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this late autumn morning. ...that I have 215 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the apple juice I had with my breakfast. ...that "Meditation on Faith" is featured in "Poetry Newsletter (December 4, 2019)" . ...for the chicken soup I had for lunch. Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 11 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Gratitude List for 11 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful autumn morning. ...that I was able to pay the rent today. ...that I have 789 points in my Survey Junkie account. ‘Idál (Justice), 12 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Coffee Poem15 Steam rises from the ebony surface warming my hands and face. Hot liquid descends my throat Heating my cold body from within. Soon the central air will come on warming the ho use, but for now only the hot Colombian blend comes between me and glaciation. Gratitude List for 12 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that my Bank of America Checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for fresh brewed black coffee on this beautiful autumn morning. ...that I have 1,004 points in my Survey Junkie account. I was able to have $10.04 transferred to my PayPal account. ...for the hamburger sandwich I had for lunch. ...that I have 35 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the rain today. ...that I have 8,600 points in my YouGove account. ...for the Arizona ice tea I had this evening. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 9 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Sunday, December 1, 2019 Gratitude List for 9 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I was able to go to Devotional Services at the Baha'i center today. ...for fresh brewed black coffee this morning. ...that my Bank of America checking account is not overdrawn today. ...for the Arizona sweet tea I have this evening. ...that I have 7,500 points in my YouGov account. ...that I received a merit badge today. Kamál (Perfection), 10 Qawl (Speech) 176 B.E. - Monday, December 2, 2019 Gratitude List for 10 Qawl Today I am thankful ... ...that I have 738 points in my Survey Junkie account. ...for the Honey bun I have to go with my coffee this morning. ...that I have 1,988,014 GPs in my Gift Points account. ...for fresh brewed coffee on this beautiful December morning. ...that I received a merit badge today. |