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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: Use these words in your entry today: reach, slogan, extort, cooperate, campaign, leader, fiction, and reluctance. Have fun! ------------------- * Here's a story too far-out to be true. In a more realistic political environment, the main character would either be murdered or accused of some wrongdoing and jailed. But fiction is fiction.  A Campaign for Honesty A campaign was underway in Verityville, a campaign steeped in fiction and the reluctance of its alliances. The charismatic leader of the campaign was Ben Wright, an office worker for the city who was running for mayor. Ben Wright was famous for his ability to reach out to the people. His aim was not only to challenge but also to cooperate with the existing leaders. "Unite for a better Verityville," was his slogan with which he hoped to stir the dreams of a brighter future. Ben Wright knew as a secret that, within the city's leaders, corruption was afoot. He thought he could extort their cooperation in his campaign, using the threat of exposure of their misdeeds as leverage. For this purpose, he recruited Evelyn Dawn who was a brilliant but morally conflicted political strategist. Evelyn had never liked the harsh world of politics in Verityville but she had found herself unwillingly entangled in a web of intrigue. As the campaign advanced, Ben's charisma drew the people to his side and Evelyn Dawn's strategies succeeded as the slogan became a mantra for the disillusioned citizens who were longing for a change. Fearing Ben's actions, the city's leaders had no choice but to cooperate, and so, they funded the campaign with their resources and networks. The alliance was iffy and uneasy because it was built on mutual distrust and Ben's threat of exposure of most of the existing leaders. Yet, as the campaign progressed, Ben realized that the power he held over the leaders could be used for good. What he really wanted was to reform the system from within and possibly expose the corruption, too. This, he confided to Evelyn who agreed on a plan to transition the campaign from its fiction to one of redemption. In a dramatic press conference, then, Ben Wright revealed his own past involvement in extortion for his campaign, concerning the city's leaders, and he said he wanted to change and pledged the use of the power and resources to eradicate all corruption. The city's elite were shocked by Ben's public confession, but they also saw that they had no way out unless they, too, committed to honesty and reform. Thus, Ben's slogan took on a deeper meaning and the city folks rallied behind Ben Wright, choosing him as the new mayor of Verityville. Ben and Evelyn worked tirelessly to implement change by making the city's leaders pass legislation to hold the corrupt accountable and to reform city's institutions. So, at the end, with its flashy slogan and all, the campaign did achieve its goal, not through extortion and deceit, but through Ben Wright's willingness to confront what was ugly and to unite the city not by fear but by hope. . |
| Prompt: Happiness What is it that you think happy people have? And what makes you happy? Also, what is it that you have as skills or characteristics that you're most happy about? --------- I am not sure I have ever seen an all-the-time, really happy person. The only one that came close to it was a lady friend of my grandmother's. My grandmother, too, was quite happy most of the time. The one thing that united these two people were the way they looked at the world and took everything from a positive stance. Unlike my grandmother and her friend, this happiness idea made me think of Robin Williams with his faked happiness. Many people claim to be happy when, indeed, they are not, for they may be covering up something really sad. I believe any momentary, fleeting, or most-of-the-time real happiness shows in one's true being for those who can notice it. This is because happiness is complex and deeply personal, and it is also an elusive, yet dynamic and fluid state of mind. More often than not, it is influenced by external factors, such as life events, relationships, and material possessions, but it is primarily rooted in one's internal thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. What leads to happiness is experiencing positive emotions, like love, gratitude, satisfaction, and joy. Also, finding purpose and meaning in one's life, good relationships, and enough physical and material comfort add to one's happiness. A high-school home-ec teacher (Miss Lindsay) taught me and my class a life lesson, not exactly on happiness but that lesson she taught have sustained me throughout my life and led to, at least, some partially happy moments. Her lesson was resilience. She said, resilience is the most important virtue we would need to attain and foster, no matter what, to live through this life. I believe I took her word for it and used her information at least to some degree in the worst of times and I came out better for it. Then, engaging in activities that nurture the mind such as reading, writing, and the arts, and acts of kindness, helping others in whatever way one can--be it pouring water over a drying frog, or doing volunteer jobs or listening and understanding others' woes--also add on to some satisfaction in oneself. When all is said and done, the path to happiness is a personal journey and I believe there is no end point or a high-throne to it. . |
| Tell us how you came to be on WDC. What appealed to you the most? How long have you been here? Share a link to something you wrote in your early days. ------------- Long Story. It was the end of June 2001. A friend from NY had seen the existence of a writing site called stories.com (which became WdC later). She sent me the link to it. I checked it out and decided to try it. So I registered on June 29, 2001. Just at the moment that I finished registering, my husband came off the phone and told me he had to fill in for a colleague who had to take off for two months. At Erie PA. And on the 30th, the next day, we were to board a flight. I was shocked, but we did board that flight and made it to the beautiful city of Erie with its long-lasting gorgeous sunsets. This was the AOL and landline-connection era. Of course I took my clunky-laptop with me, for I was dying to go online and explore stories.com. The place that we were to stay, however, had no landline, as it was a vacation motel with tiny bungalows. I was so upset that my husband couldn't stand it. So he went and talked to the administration and had a line brought in to our place. The rest is history. But I have to add one more thing. At that time, the site had no sr. mods. Just a few moderators. Those people helped me so much! I'll always be thankful for their then-existence. Unfortunately, almost all of them are not with us anymore, and some of them are in white cases. Here is the link to the very first item that I uploaded on the The StoryMistress  's encouragement, which I made sure I didn't delete it, ever. I say SMS's encouragement because in the beginning, I was checking into the existing few forums, looking at the others' work and giving five stars at everything. So she told me to upload a writing of mine, too. Lol! "THIRST"  Once I came in here, I never left, and neither did I have a long absence. No matter what happened in my personal life, I always peeked in. I have a hunch that I'll also keep peeking into WdC from the other side, as well, when my time comes. . |
| Prompt: Use these random words in your entry today: fleet, threaten, established, place, ban, vegetarian, quantity, and personality. ---------- There is an established restaurant with the name Greenies, in our city. Once, its business used to rely on making deliveries to the customers. This place was and still is famous for its vegetarian dishes and a loyal clientele, plus the warm and welcoming personality of its owner, Mr. Grant Wilson. A while ago, our city established a ban on a fleet of delivery vehicles in order to reduce air pollution. This ban threatened many restaurants' livelihoods who relied on these vehicles for deliveries and Greenies was no exception. When Mr. Wilson went to see the city council representative Ms. Crane about his difficulties with this ban, Ms. Crane suggested this solution. "How about establishing a central pickup point for your customers? They can come and collect their orders themselves, reducing the need for delivery vehicles." Mr. Wilson thought for a moment or two, then nodded in agreement. It was a good idea and it could even attract more foot traffic to his restaurant. This way, the quality of the food he offered could even be enhanced with the quantity of the purchases. Also, he would be saving on gas and the keep-up of his delivery vehicles. To all our surprise, the plan eventually worked and the pickup point became a popular spot. Mr. Wilson started to welcome customers at this spot, which was actually a side building next to the restaurant. Eventually, he even set up café tables and chairs there, for the customers to wait while their orders were being readied. I think in our city we owe something to Ms. Crane's suggestion but we owe even more to Mr. Wilson for his enthusiastic stance and inventiveness. This little incident has shown us in our city that constructive thinking and a little effort can turn what initially seems like a threat to a positive change for growth, in addition to caring for our environment and the earth's resources. . |
| Prompt: WDC is 23. Write about 23, Birthdays and celebrations for your Blog entry today. ------------- This year will be my favorite, as I have a love affair with the number 23. First, I got married at 23 years of age, a marriage which lasted a lifetime, at least as long as my late husband was around. Then, also, this year is Writing.com's 23rd birthday. As to number 23, it is an odd number and a prime number, which means it can only be divided by 1. This must be because Writing.com is the one and only. As to the mystical significance of 23, the number is said to have hidden meanings and synchronicities. I only know this little, as mysticism is not exactly my cup of tea. In fact, what 23 is to me, is that it is a number for personal full growth and celebration and new experiences while focusing on the strengths of the old ones. In short, it means potential for further personal development. Going back to year 2000, it was a period where the dot-com era experienced a major boom, going from experimentation to the real text-based interaction. It was exactly at this time that Writing.com emerged, however with a different name. So to us, Writing.com's full married name could be:  Writing.com--Nee, Stories.com. At the time, the concept of an online community centered around creative writing was revolutionary, although in those years, many such sites popped up and fizzled out. But for Writing.com, there would be no fizzling out and still, there isn't, only because writing and self-expression arts is the aim of the site in addition to the members' friendships and relationships in a vibrant ecosystem. Then, the site has always had owners with excellent hands-on approach to its workings, upholding the idea of family, even though that family now is in hundreds of thousands. As I reflect on the time when this site came into being, I laudly applaud the pioneering spirit of The StoryMaster  and The StoryMistress . They made Writing.com a home for creativity and camaraderie for many of us over the years. As such, I am one of the lucky members who have been here for almost all of the years that this community has been around. For me, Writing.com's brilliance is a testament to the dedication of its owners and members, and the success and potential of the internet in connecting people with shared passions and interest. So, Happy 23rd Writing.com! . |
| Prompt: Summer 2023 Now that 2023 Summer is ending, please, think back on it. What was your favorite part? What is your favorite memory? And for whatever reason, this summer, what did you miss doing that you had planned or wanted to do? --------------- This summer is ending with a mixture of relief and resignation for me. I am looking forward, truthfully, to cooler temperatures, which are almost never cool where I live, but only livable. Summers are a challenge for the heat and the scorching sun, but then come September and fall, we are faced with the threat of hurricanes. My favorite part of this summer was staying inside the house and reading more, and also, staying in touch with family and friends. The highlight of that, during early August, the daughter of a very old friend (RIP) got in touch with me and, although I had never met the daughter, we connected through my memories of her mother. I almost never plan ahead for anything, except for daily to-do lists, and this goes for my summers or any part of the year. Yet, this year, the summer's end has brought some relief and some nostalgia, such as the memories of icy roads and the falling snow that left behind a mosaic of sensations about the time when I lived in New York. ************************* Prompt: "Memories of our lives, of our works and deeds will continue with others." Rosa Parks. Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ------------- This quote suggests that our lives are not isolated blips in time, but rather threads in a tapestry that continues to be woven long after we're gone. Do I believe it? I doubt it. To me, this world is fleeting and ephemeral and no one imprint any one person can leave behind will last an eon with that person's name etched on it. On the other hand, our works and deeds, however grand or modest, have the power to add to the collective memory of humankind. It is for our own benefit and for the benefit of the time and place we live in that we need to live a life of purpose, to lead meaningful lives authentically, to contribute positively, and hopefully, act in a way that enriches the lives of others, at least in our present time. Our acts need not be only our professional achievements but also the small kindnesses, the words of encouragement, and the moments of selflessness. These may be a kind word spoken in a difficult moment, a mentorship that can be a guide for someone's path, or a piece of art that can inspire positive emotions. It is this thread of actions that will transcend the limits of our mortality and will add to the greater whole. . |
| Prompt: Flash Fiction Other than being short, what do you think is at the heart of flash fiction, and how would you go about writing a flash fiction story with a surprise ending? --------- Flash Fiction or Fan Fiction? First, let's look at these two definitions. Since most writers are confused about the terms of flash fiction and fan fiction, let's see which is which. Fan fiction is fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, movie, etc. Fan fiction doesn't have the length rule. Flash fiction, on the other hand is a highly compacted short-story. It is usually very short in length, from a few words to a thousand or so. It is unfortunate that even some publications today mix these two styles of writing. The differences between the two do not only involve context but also the length of a story. Since the prompt is about flash fiction, I'd say, flash fiction is like a painting. It has to hit our senses at first sight or in a very short time. Where in a painting, line, texture, color, density, placement, and message are important, in flash fiction, too, language, imagery, and surprise are the most important. As to the language of the flash fiction, the sentences need to be excellent giving an internal rhythm to the story. Among other things that are necessary is the imagery, which doesn't mean that the writer has to describe a scene at length but give the idea of it, possibly in one or two words. The next important element is the surprise, more or less, that may come at the last couple of sentences. On the other hand, not all flash fiction has a surprise at the end, some end with a deep emotion or a moral. Then, an internal rhythm is also necessary, which can be partly handled by the skillful use of the language. To top it off, a brilliant title and ending do enhance the effect of flash fiction. Elements such as tone and point-of-view, sometimes can and do fill in for the plot, although I personally like a good plot in any kind of fiction. Here in Writing.com, we have two long-time surviving contests on what can be called flash fiction. Here are their links:
Since I'm mostly long-winded, I have entered both of these wonderful contests at one time or another in the past and learned a lot about fiction writing from them. This is because compressed space does put more emphasis on the language choices we make. Still, as exercises, they are both priceless, although "The Writer's Cramp - Poetry Week" offers more word-count allowance and "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" is more compact. . |
| Do you remember your favorite children's book? What was it about that book that captivated your young mind? Was it the setting? The Characters? Or the person who was reading the book to you? ----------- This made me laugh. At myself. Not the prompt or all the other dreamboat stories told or read to other young girls who may be about four, five or six... stories with castles and princes and happily ever after stuff. Then, although my mother was a fabulous storyteller and she told me of stories of giants, kings, princesses and the like, she never mentioned or knew about my favorite story. That is...my favorite children's story was Peter Pan written by J. M. Barrie. The first version, which I was given at six years of age, was a picture book and I couldn't read enough of it. I carried it with me, went to bed with it, even took it to shopping and other places we went. Later, several other versions of the book was gifted to me. I don't know what I liked about the book then, or about Peter Pan. Was it the fact that he never grew up or was it all the action and entertainment in the story? The only feeling I recall is that I wanted to be in the Neverland myself, where one could escape that thing they called growing up. The other characters were captivating, too. As to Captain Hook, each time I read the book, he turned even more sinister. I wasn't quite sure of Tinker Bell, too sweet and unbelievable, maybe, but I liked the lost boys who chose to stay young forever. Wendy on the other hand, probably personified the adulthood and I thought of her as sort of being self-important and stuck up. After all, she grew up, didn't she! This whole Peter Pan thing now reminds me of my younger son, when he was a child. Unlike his older brother who couldn't wait to grow up, each birthday, my younger one didn't want to be a year older. "I don't want to be six, Mom! I want to stay five!" This serves me right for loving Peter Pan, who also didn't want to grow up. But then, did I really grow up? Now, that is the big question, isn't it! . |
| Prompt: Let's talk about inspiration. What place gets your creative juices flowing? Like for example: a garden. Why does special place make you feel more inspired than others? ------------ More than inspiration, it is always the mood that gets me to write, although I can also write on demand, I guess; however, on-demand writing is never the same as inspired writing. As to inspiration, it depends on the circumstances and the mood I am in. Many places can be inspirational as they have different ideas to offer. A case in point, I have been, in the past, inspired by a mountainous landfill. On the other hand, I neither want to see such a sight nor write about it again.As a place that could inspire me the most, I can think of watching the ocean from a lonely spot. The ocean because it is limitless, has depth and mystery and from where I stand I can only see the surface of it, just like people who we see and understand only on the surface. Yet, the ocean changes, just like people, with its cycle of tides, suggesting impermanence, while on the horizon it looks expansive and limitless. The ocean also is conducive to introspection and reflection into my own thoughts and complexities. Then, mostly, in the past, which was also my inspiration, was our backyard in Long Island, NY. We had two acres of oaks and other tall trees in it. Trees always offer ideas, symbolism, and mystery to me. So I can easily say in addition to a lonely spot by the ocean, a stretch of land with trees can be an inspiration for me. A treed stretch of land--not the land itself so much but its trees--can mirror the development, transformation, and resilience in life. Even the barren branches symbolizing hardship in winter hint at hope for the new buds in spring. They provide an excellent metaphor for our human condition through their changing colors, shedding leaves, and root systems. Their longevity is very much close to that of the ocean's. . |
| Prompt: A beautiful baby giraffe was born at a zoo in Tennessee. What's the big deal? She has no spots! She is all brown. Write about this in your Blog entry today. --------------- She's a cute marvel, isn't she! Together with the rest of us, she left the zookeepers and the vets astounded, I bet. This giraffe's coat pattern came about probably because of the multiple genes interacting in new and complex ways. Then, this might be caused by environmental factors and the interactions of her mama with an animal from another species as it does take place quite often in the animal kingdom. Yes, go blame the mama, again! This sort of thing probably doesn't happen as often; yet, the workings of the DNA sometimes throws us a curveball with a genetic surprise. In general, nature has designed giraffes' and other animals' coat patterns as camouflage in their natural habitats. It just may be that, if you change the habitat, you change the camouflage. This could be because, given a certain unchanging habitat, DNA has expertise in replication, but change something a bit different and DNA adapts to it and changes with it, sometimes with unfortunate consequences. Why, we don't know, yet. Although we've come a long way in understanding DNA's tricks, there is still much to learn. Luckily for the baby giraffe, this change may have affected only her coat pattern. . |
| Prompt: What book are you reading this month? -------------------- All my life I have been into books. I started reading at age four and haven't stopped since. They have been integral to my personal growth and entertainment. At the moment, I am reading several books on different devices. I usually start another new book when I am finished with a book on that device. It seems, at this time, I have accidentally and unknowingly chosen books that are more or less about the same period in history. This is, except for the short print hard-cover non-fiction book by Ursula Le Guin Conversations on Writing, which I am about to finish. On my Kindle app on the computer, I'm reading The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama. I'm in the beginning yet, so I don't know what will happen, but so far, it seems to be about a young native doctor who is returning to Hawaii during the pre World War II years. According to Amazon, there will be a volcano eruption, but I'm not there yet. On my Kindle White E-Reader, I have The Parisian Dancer, by Doron Darmon, which is a WWII Historical Novel based on a true story. This one got a whole lot of raving reviews, but I'm only in the beginning pages with this book, too. I am now reading her childhood-teen years and the friends she had, one of whom is missing possibly due to some Nazi atrocity. On my pad, I'm reading Surviving My Mother by Debbie Matzkin, a memoir of a poor little rich girl, it seems. I just started it last night, so I don't know what she is going to say. There was a movie by the same name and the same image that is on the book cover, but I'm not into movies anymore, thankfully. I'll be glad to be reading this book; although at this point, Color of Air is getting more of my attention, but I can't sit at the computer for very long. So it, too, will have to bide its time. I so like books because in addition to preserving our general culture, they allow me to see things at a deeper level plus adding an emotional enrichment to my life and spirit. Then, books that capture the thoughts, beliefs, actions, and stories of individuals and different eras, and also, our own time are especially the preferred ones for me. There was an excellent book club in the local library that I belonged to, but with Covid, the group took a year and a half long break and then, it dissolved totally, due to some members dying and others moving away. After what happened to that group, I am not too keen about being a member of any other reading group. Still, I'm never doing away with my actual book reading whether there is a group or not. . |
| Prompt: Life on Stage and/or Midwives "Most of my life I’ve felt I was dreaming. Now and then I wake up, sometimes for months, sometimes for minutes. I’m a character in a play, and I can’t tell if I’m making it up or if a great puppeteer is making me dance." From the private diary of Patience Murphy, Midwife, Wild Rose Road, Liberty, West Virginia, U.S.A. Do do you sometimes feel like Patience that you are only an actor in this life? And/or what do you think of midwives? Are they still relevant in our day in the 21st century? ------------ I was brought to life by a midwife while my grandfather, who was the doctor, waited in the next room, but that was decades ago. (I am not mentioning how many! ) As I grew up, I came to love her and even called her Aunt B., for she had become a very good friend of my mother and grandmother. As such, midwives are still relevant today because some families believe in a holistic approach and personalized care throughout the childbirth journey. Plus, midwives--even though it is usually believed to be skilled in low-risk pregnancies and births--are mostly well-informed and they can empower women to actively participate in their care, and they also know when a patient should be in a hospital or a birth center. Plus, they can also aid with postpartum care, the newborn's health, and breastfeeding support. As to feeling like one is merely an actor in the grand theater of life, it is not only for midwives or people in tight situations. I believe most humans might have experienced the being-an-actor-in-life sentiment at one point or another. This sentiment might be felt because of a sense of detachment and/or disconnection from one's own actions and feelings. It is usually safer to jump outside and watch than stay inside and feel. As an auto-pilot reaction, this is a coping mechanism and it can surface when we feel we might be in danger in some way. It can also happen from our rejection of the societal expectations, which we are unable to resist, from our own personal insecurities, and from a feeling of being trapped and forced to perform according to a predetermined narrative. This is because emotional distancing and creating a protective barrier between ourselves and the outside world as a detachment provides a sense of control and emotional insulation. Unfortunately, it can also hinder real connections and authentic experiences. Unless one is a philosopher and is out to explore the ideas of reality and consciousness... Then, this feeling of being an actor can ignite a search for deeper meaning and authenticity, pushing people to question their motivations, desires, and the nature of their interactions with the world. Yet, this is a rare idea. No one would want to do that just to help the study of philosophy (or even psychology). In fact, we all need to get over and fight the tight grip of scripted expectations and lead lives that are rich with purpose, authenticity, and genuine connections. . |
| Prompt: Our Sun and the Summer Solstice What do you feel and think about our sun and its life-giving properties and the summer solstice (on June 21), which has been important culturally since the Neolithic era? ---------- As everything, our sun too has a good side and a bad side. On the good side, it is a source of and energy and it sustains life on our planet and maybe on other planets in its system, too. On the bad side, we get sunburns if we stay too long under the scorching rays of it in summer. And if we were to lose the atmosphere that protects the earth from the sun's hot wrath, the entire earth would turn into a desert. The real summer solstice is on June 21, but Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 10:27 P.M. EST will be the winter solstice, that will be the beginning of the winter season. The summer solstice serves as a reminder of the Earth's dynamic relationship with the Sun and the intricate interplay between celestial mechanics and the conditions that make life possible. In many cultures, the summer solstice is a time of jubilation and merriment. The abundance of daylight and the arrival of warm weather have historically been associated with growth, fertility, and vitality. Fire festivals, bonfires, and outdoor feasts are common traditions during this time, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. As for today, August 21, the sun is in LEO, a fire sign according to astrologers with the gemstone ruby. Although most religions don't like astrology or divinations, St. Augustine did consult astrologers in his life. He wrote that in his memoirs. So, I guess even the most pious of us can't help but take a look at the events of the sun, as a fun hobby. . |
| “August was smoking hot, then September walked in as cool as a cucumber, and made her presence felt.” ― Charmaine J Forde What are your plans for September, how do you intend to make your presence felt? ------- This question made me chuckle. At my age, I live life as it comes. I just don't make any plans or try to make my presence felt. As to this coming September, on a personal level, it may be a time of heightened vigilance and unease due to September being maybe the most active hurricane month in Florida, although October tags behind it rather closely. As the threat of hurricanes loom large, I try to think of ways to get ready for their devastation, should one hit my area. My first concern is finding someone to put up my shutters and then take them down when the storm goes away. I can't do it myself anymore, since I got too old. The rest, I can probably live through. Something else that is also very important is the birthday week of Writing.com. I can only do stuff for celebration in connection with other friends, provided that they understand I may not be available if a hurricane strikes my area. "That hurricane fear again!" you might think. Yes, it is a reality, believe me! Luckily, Sr, mods are doing the Mod-o-Poly thing once more and I'll have backups, should bad enough comes to worst. As to September itself, the gemstone for September is blue sapphire, and my ring with the blue sapphire, which has a deep meaning for me, I never take off. I wrote this tiny info here to say another something positive about September, in addition to WdC's b'day.  . |
| Blog City Prompt: Have you ever tried to break a habit and failed? What made it so difficult to break? -------------- Yes, of course, and I am still on it. One is negative self-talk, but I have been getting much better at catching myself when I begin, "Here I go again..." or "I hate that I did..." Ever since I noticed what I was doing to myself, I've been working at it by finding something positive I did or thought about the subject or the incident. This habit has gotten much better, although not completely erased. The other is, when something unsavory or tough to deal with happens, I get all panicky and jump at it wanting to solve that problem immediately. With that one, I have questionable success. I keep reminding myself to keep calm and let time deal at least with a part of with it, but then, it keeps bugging my mind and ruining the other areas in my life. I just can't help my jumpiness and wanting to solve the problem right there and then. Still, I am trying. When I really think about it, I find out at least a part of the habits I can't break have their basis in learned behavior, either from parents or life experiences. This may be because habits are powerful routines we get into for one reason or another and they are psychologically challenging to overcome. Yes, there are also physical habits that are difficult to overcome such as overeating or smoking, but they, too, have a psychological basis. Luckily, I don't smoke or overeat. With some people procrastination may also become a habit, but that never applied to me if you look at my first paragraph in this entry. Those who know say, in order to break a habit, we need to identify the triggers and replace that habit with a positive habit. Easy to say! I think, however, gradual reduction and rewarding oneself with positive reinforcement would help. Some people ask for the help of their family and friends, that is getting their assistance in warning them when the habit may surface and giving encouragement along the way. Some people also seek professional help or mindfulness and meditation. Possibly, persistence and patience with a healthy dose of self-analysis would help most of us to break any habit. This is because, in most cases, underlying factors drive our unwanted habits and thus, in accordance with any certain habit, a specific strategy that works is needed. . |
| Prompt: Elvis Presley died August 16, 1977. Were you an Elvis Die Hard Fan or are there other singers you love and admire more? ------- I have never in my life acted like a crazed fan of any singer, artist, or famous person, Having said that, yes, I did like Elvis. At the time of his rise, that is during the 50's, Pat Boone was also on the minds and hearts of us young music lovers. During those early beginnings, I first favored Pat Boone because he wasn't hip swinging like Elvis. This may just be because I am not such a fan of people who stir a bees' nest or any status quo that is working. Later on, however, when Elvis came up with "Love me Tender" "Can't Help Falling in Love" and other milder kinder songs, I appreciated him very much. Who I really liked as a singer was Luciano Pavarotti, even if this is like comparing apples and oranges. He had the best range and the sweetest voice and sang what I liked to hear and listen. His ability to hit those high notes with clarity and strength was almost superhuman. He was iconic as he could convey deep emotions through the intricate melodies of operatic arias, such as "Nessun Dorma" and Puccini's "Turandot". As many as good operatic performers have surfaced after Pavarotti, in my opinion, none has attained the finesse of his work. In essence, both Elvis and Pavarotti are reminders of the diversity of artistic expression. For they touched the hearts of millions in our world where music is a force that unites us humans, regardless of our backgrounds and preferences. . |
| Prompt: Living the dream. Write about this in your Blog entry today. ---------- Ahha! But is that ever possible? "Living the dream" is a colloquial expression, which may mean doing what you want and having a sense of contentment and satisfaction. It is, in fact, highly subjective and can vary among people as to what that dream is. If it means achieving a high level of career success and financial stability, then, this can be done and it is done by many. Yet, ask those people how happy they are and their answers will surprise you. Most of them are not satisfied with their lives at all. Maybe those who are working in their personally chosen field that they are emotionally attached to are a bit more happier, as this can bring about a sense of purpose, personal growth and self-improvement. What would make a person to be happier, in my opinion, may have something to do with having the opportunity to make a positive impact in their family, work, community, and therefore in the world. Also, having a close-knit and loving family as a support system would help with one's emotional well-being. Then life is complex and dynamic, and things can change at the drop of a hat. As a result, we all struggle with uncertainties. Maybe a lucky few can find the balance between the personal and the world-at-large, while feeling happiness and well-being, fully. I only wish someone did! So far as I can see, no one is "living the dream." Maybe this life just wasn't meant for it. . |
| Prompt: Ghosts and Memories Do you believe ghosts may exist? Can memories be ghost-like? How did they become a ghost or a memory? How do you think ghosts feel about this world? Have you ever seen a ghost? ------------ Honestly speaking with what I know and remember, I have never seen a ghost, but I believe unexplained stuff can and do happen. For example, I've had numerous dreams that came true. Some were about family members who were far away in other countries and about whose exact situations I had no inkling of. Others were about personal matters that also came true. Yes, memories can be ghost-like as they pop up at unexpected times to haunt us. Especially, now that I am old, I am always haunted or maybe visited by a sweet or sour memory. As to the question about how the ghosts feel about our world, I can only say, if I were a ghost, I'd stay away from this mixed-up world and from its wars and famine and disasters and people fighting over nothing and hurting the planet and one another. Getting back to the question of the ghosts' actual existence, it remains a debatable subject, and I am not the one to deny other people's personal experiences. Whether these experiences arise from cultural and historical beliefs, environmental factors, or personal experiences, who am I to say they are real or not! While scientific skepticism exists on the subject, in the long run, science cannot explain everything and sometimes does it wrongly, too. Then, some potential explanations involve stuff like sleep paralysis, hallucinations, or emotional attachment to things and places that lead one to perceive paranormal activity. Yet, there is also parapsychology as a field and parapsychological research. Still, the findings in this field, at present, are far from conclusive, but they do not strictly negate the existence of ghosts and other paranormal activity, also. In short, I believe there are some unexplained things out there and they may as well be ghosts and other things, or even plain speculation. Maybe someday, we'll find out what that phenomena is, which is fascinating and perplexing us, and if ghosts really do exist. . |
| Prompt: During your school years, what were your experiences like on the opening days of school? Is there a specific incident or a school year you remember that had a major impact on the rest of your life? ------------- I was sort of lucky only because we never moved at all and I graduated from all my schools knowing most of the students from earlier years and the teachers, too. Still, the first day of school was always a whirlwind of excitement, curiousity, nervous energy, and, inevitably, a few mix-ups that would leave everyone laughing for some time to come. Strangely enough, at my old age, I can still recall some ot those first days, however in a general fashion. With an air of anticipation or rather being unsure of what to do, some of us wore the newest clothes bought for that school year and others especially wore their oldest ones, saying those who used the newest bags and clothes were so crude and coarse. To this day, I haven't solved the puzzle behind those both ways of thought. What difference would it make in the long run! It was exciting to unite with friends, though, especially those I didn't see during the summer, talking to them and watching their faces light up as we exchanged stories of our summer adventures. The teachers--in the home-room, class-room, or whatever--would usually walk in greeting us with their warm smiles and well-wishes for the coming year. Not all teachers had the same cheerful demeanor though. Some would get serious and warn us of this or that behavior and the importance of following the rules. After that, we'd figure out who goofed with unintentional mixups once the roll call got under way. Then, there was always the locker fiasco, with the combination locks refusing to open or some students getting the wrong locker. Lunchtime was exciting, too. Some of us got in the cafeteria line while others brought their lunches. Being young, we did enjoy the cacophony of confusion all around. Usually, there would be at least one or two new students who moved from somewhere else and they would usually be shy while some of them got in the middle of everything. The shy ones I had made my business to talk to during the recess or invite them into my group of friends. Yet, those first days I mentioned above were for the grade school and high school years. College and uni. years were a lot different. But, I got lucky there, too. During the very first day, I made two good friends who became the core of our very large group later on. I have to say, I had a much better time during my higher education years. Still, I can't recall if I ever mixed up a schedule or class or anything on the first day of school, in any of my school years. Maybe it was so long ago that my memory fails me. Then, for sure, all my air-headedness, confusion, or uncertainty came rushing upon me way after my schooling.  . |
| Prompt: "Sometimes, when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place." — Unknown ---------------- This paradoxical quote sounds like a Hindu saying or something close to it. There's also that psychological phenomenon called Cognitive Dissonance for why we sometimes think that things are good when they are, in reality, very bad. Yet, I get it; in a way, it is better to have Cognitive Dissonance than succumb to despair and frustration. Also, sometimes, when life throws a curve ball at us and the whole world unravels, it may be signaling to us that the time for change is here. Say, a traffic accident took place on a busy road. Immediately, a crew comes and clears the road to open it up to the traffic again. If we are the people who were in that accident, we would, maybe, try to avoid that route for a while, but possibly there are other routes to find out about, some even more scenic, quieter, or even shorter. Thus, how we use the opportunity for change and carry on without falling apart under the rubble shows our true mettle. Things that happen beyond our control, say death and other major life events, usually cause chaos. At that moment, we need to let go of our hold on the old and our need for rigid control and perfection. Ultimately, life has an uncanny way of surprising us with its twists and turns. If we take a negative event as a chance to rebuild, reimagine, and rediscover the beauty and the art of living, we can surely construct from the ruins or embrace the uncertainty with faith and patience and tread the path to personal evolution. Who knows, the future may end up being even better than the past and the present! . |
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But good job quickly redirecting back to the positive things.
