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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: At approximately 8:12 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday, February 9, 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show we were introduced to the Beatles. How many Beatle songs do you remember? What's your favorite Beatle song and why? Which Beatle did you like the best John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr or Paul McCartney? ------------ How do I recall the Beatles? Let me count the ways. I think it began with the album Please, Please Me or was it the one With the Beatles? It was such a long time ago. I distinctly remember my then best-friend and classmate wearing four small, red beatle-shaped jewelry on her coat's collar. In the beginning, I shrug off her "youthful exuberance," but then this was around the time when the so-called Beatlemania had started. The group's other albums followed. I know their names through my friend who took an extra job to buy all their albums and her grades went down, and also, her thesis was delayed. During the next few years, the Beatles' music evolved with more international and sophisticated ideas, like folk and Indian music, such as the Norwegian Wood. I recall even my mother tapping her foot to Eleanor Rigby. Beatles' innovations as a group found their best form in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Yes, they came up with many other albums, too, but I liked their songs best, maybe after they disbanded, for I found, then, more time in my life to listen to what had been and what I had missed. Of their music, I like these songs the best: Let it Be, Hey Jude, Something, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, The Long and Winding Road and others. Of all the Beatles, although it is hard to choose a favorite, I liked Paul Mc Cartney the best. After all, he was the composer/songwriter of the group who sang the Silly Love Songs. Like I said earlier, it was such a long time ago! . |
| Prompt: Do you wish you had a garden of different flowers and each flower you picked gave you a great story writing idea? Better, yet, each story you wrote was a novel and a best seller. Write about this for your Blog entry today. -------- This is a fun prompt to write for. Forget about any best seller. Just concocting a story behind each flower is a treat. I used to garden a lot in my earlier years, so the subject is dear to me. I think I might be able to find inspiration from the folklore and the unique qualities of different flowers. I'll start with a shy flower that overcame its shyness for the good of the society: The violet. In a society where emotions are suppressed, violets showed empathy to the populace. Encouraged by the violets' empathy, a rebel group, with awakened minds and hearts, lead to an uprising against a cruel government and they win. Well, not always, but I do like winning stories. Now, if I wanted a semi-horror story, I would go with the red poppy. Here the story goes: In a fantasy realm, a dream-weaver accidentally creates a nightmarish creature. Then a hero has to journey into the dream realm to set things right. Thus, the theme of the story explores fear, courage, and the duality or the subconscious mind. So to ease things a bit, let me go ask a daisy for a story. Let's assume that a magical daisy field has the power to show people their true loves. A young man and a woman who have just had a fight stumble upon this field of daisies where they confront the reality of their relationship as daisies reveal to them their personal truths and the strong emotions they didn't expect they were having. So, they make up and live happily ever after. Now, how about a flower story that originated from the rainforest? Let's say an exotic orchid holds the secret to a life-saving serum. A botanist, who first discovers the medicinal properties in a dying orchid in his wife's garden, teams up with an explorer to find the live species of that orchid before a ruthless corporation does. The orchid's rarity leads these two people through a dangerous landscape and tests their survival and morals. Then, maybe a magical treasure story with a sunflower is in the works. A field of sunflowers turn to gold at sunset, a legend claims. A passer-by after hearing the legend, discovers a fantastic realm right under the sunflower-field where sunflowers are the guardians of a sunken treasure. Then the passer-by sets upon a magical adventure. Last but not the least, the beautiful rose who inspires lovers has walked into my thoughts. A skilled botanist and magician thinks he can extract and bottle emotions. For that end, he uses roses to capture the essence of love and he is very successful. Then, when he finds his own true love and uses the essence of the rose on her. He misses, however, the experience of a genuine, unforced love. Will he be able to come clean and face the consequences of his actions or will he continue to live the lie? I mean, I can go on and on weaving stories around flowers. After all, they are inspirational just as much and maybe even more than the other elements of nature. Also, just like the flowers, birds and all other animals and spending time in nature inspire a sense of awe in me, allowing me to consider the different ways of looking at things and finding new ideas. . |
| Prompt: Reading stories by your favorite authors, living or dead. As you read their stories, do you feel like you have a friendship with the author? Write about this in your Blog entry today. ----------- This is a huge subject that I could write volumes on. As to a friendship with the author? I don't know, but I love to see or to glimpse at how their writing mind works; therefore, since they let me in through their writing, some kind of a friendship is formed in a way, be it one-sided. Reading itself is a delightful and deeply absorbing experience that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Reading classic authors, as a general rule, offers an intense exploration of the human condition and timeless themes, while contemporary stories provide a mirror to the present. What I love about reading is that when I read an engrossing story or a novel, my own reality becomes an alternating reality. Take the 13th century poet and story-teller Rumi's stories in verse in Mathnavi, for example. I find inspiration and solace in his timeless words and thought because they address the humanity's quest for meaning and connection to the world and the divine. Then, Dostoyevsky's novels, my earliest literary loves during my teenage years, delve deep into the human psyche, with characters in existential dilemmas, psychological torment and moral contradictions. I can't forget that Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov invited me into a world where the battle between good and evil is waged within the human soul. On the comical side, the first Dostoyevsky book I read for a seventh-grade book report, Notes from Underground, made the teacher get in touch with my mother, warning her to be careful with me because for a young teen to be so involved with such a gloomy book signaled emotional danger. The other students' reports were on books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, etc. In my present opinion, Notes from Underground is a great book, still, and I think my seventh grade teacher acted on the zealous side. Charles Dickens, the Victorian novelist, is another author I have enjoyed reading for he paints vivid pictures of social issues and human conditions of his time and place. In Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, he masterfully shows the injustices of his time and the harsh realities of class divisions, with memorable characters. The way he writes of the society of his time probably influence contemporary writers to reflect on disturbing social challenges of our time. Talking about our time, I have to mention the magical worlds crafted by J.K. Rowling, and Haruki Murakami's vision of his world and his unique story-telling. Then, others like Dave Eggers and his other contemporaries provide a mirror to the present, reflecting the complexities and challenges of our modern era with different themes and story-telling styles. I am absolutely sure that I left out quite a few authors I would have loved to mention but this is only a blog post and not an entire book. Needless to say, I'm a reading nut and most authors are my sources of emotional connection as if they're my best buddies, due to their personal and intellectual effects on me. . |
| Prompt: Feeling valued "The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated." William James What makes you feel appreciated? Can you describe a time when someone made you feel valued? ------------ I think feeling valued and appreciated is a fundamental human need. That must be why therapists, some time during their counseling, try to make their subjects appreciate their own selves and their personal successes. This can help build self-confidence and self-respect. In my case, what makes me feel appreciated could be a sincere thank you. Mostly, when I think about it, my sons both told me at different times that I was the best mother they ever knew and when I told them that I was the only mother they knew, they said they had noticed their friends' mothers, too, and my mothering surpassed everyone. Now, I believe their words has to be the highlight of my mothering experience. Then, my husband used to always say that I was the foundation and the framework of the family, which used to make me feel like a million bucks. I would answer him with a joking yell, "Timber!" Then, he'd say, "but a very special timber." The memory of his appreciation will always move me above all others. This makes me believe that when the appreciation comes from close family, it is the most valued in our hearts. Before I starting writing this, I read the two other blog entries on the same subject, and both my friends mentioned their immediate family. In my case, I shall always remember other people, too, who have appreciated me a very long time ago. For example, when a friend of my mother's was complaining about her daughter's ways and asking how my mother handled that kind of a situation, I had overheard my mother say, "Oh no, my daughter never does those things!" Now this wasn't a direct appreciation but I liked her answer even better, at that time. Not that I have been an all-around angel either!  Then, I also gloated (and still do), during the graduation oral exams, when my high school lit teacher bragged to the other examiners, "She is my best writer in the class." The same feeling of being valued came up again when I left academia and got married. I recall vividly one of the profs walked about on the corridor, yelling, "This idiot, throwing away a career for a ring on her finger! Idiot, idiot, idiot!" Yes, being called an idiot in this case had been a big honor. I cherish a few other such memories like this from my earlier life where others made me feel valued and part of a group. Still, lately, when I receive a meaningful gift in the mail that has nothing to do with my birthday or other celebratory days, I feel elated and recognized. Also a sincere "thank you!" is much appreciated by me. All this is because appreciation can come in many forms, from a simple "thank you" to a grand gesture. It might be expressed through words of affirmation, acts of kindness, thoughtful gifts, or even just a warm, genuine smile. Regardless of how it is conveyed, the impact of that appreciation can be very deep. It lifts my spirits and motivates me to continue on with my best efforts. . |
| Prompt: Starting and finishing “The secret is not following the right path, it's following that right path to the end. Don't quit, my friend, until you've arrived.” Toni Sorenson Have you ever started a project you didn't finish? Does it ever bother you NOT to finish things? ------------ Have I ever! And yes, not finishing something bothers me. I have a half-written novel which I lost interest in and stopped, and never went back. Thus, what the prompt says is correct. "Don't quit, my friend, until you've arrived.” So true! Once I quit with anything, I lose the incentive or the will to finish it. Yet, to be fair to myself, I usually finish most everything I start, be it a lousy finish. I do better if I have a structured approach and a half-cooked road map from the idea to the finish line. This makes me think about projects and the way to finishing them. I guess it should go something like this: Define clear objectives by setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Although this takes away from spontaneity by putting a lid on ad-lib improvisation, so be it! It's better to finish something, isn't it! Then, if need be, research and gather information relevant to the overall plan. If possible, a detailed plan, especially with non-fiction writing, would work very well. Then, a list or an outline or a timeline could also help with the overall structure. Identifying potential obstacles and developing contingency plans and being proactive to challenges might prevent setbacks in the project, too. Yet, adaptability is the key. Being flexible and adjusting the plan could be a crucial mindset toward the finish line. After the finish line, therefore, doing the editing or reassessing could improve the overall look of the project. Then, if it is a writing project, asking for reviews and gathering unbiased opinions could help with the final touches. This shouldn't be seen as something post-mortem. There is always room for improvement. Now that I've thought through a structured process, do you think I can follow my own advice? Between us, I feel like laughing out loud. . |
| Prompt: Four random sentences to have fun with today as you blog. Good luck trying to use them all. 1.Car safety systems have come a long way, but he was out to prove they could be outsmarted. 2.The golden retriever loved the fireworks each Fourth of July. 3.When nobody is around, the trees gossip about the people who have walked under them. 4.People who insist on picking their teeth with their elbows are so annoying! --------------- I like to take long walks with my golden retriever Max. These walks are what the doctor ordered first, and second, they help clear my mind from all the garbage that finds its way into it. This July 4th morning, again, when I held on to Max's leash and began walking, this thought hit me: People who insist on picking their teeth with their elbows are so annoying! Now, when was the last time I had seen anyone pick their teeth? Probably never. I thought maybe this idea was sent to me while we were walking under the trees. I guess when nobody is around, the trees gossip about the people who have walked under them. Then, they have fun with us poor walkers by sending weird thoughts in us. After all, some claim nowadays that there's such a thing as Quantum Mind Power. Really? Plus, just before this thought had hit me and when Max and I were leaving our street to walk through the trees, I had noticed the remains of an accident. Two cars had crashed and the two drivers were saying stuff with hand gestures. No police on the scene, yet. I was curious. So I stopped to watch the two drivers argue. One was saying apologetically, "I was on adaptive cruise control, but the curve speed warning didn't work. Neither did the Traction Control. So I took the problem into my own hands." What? I know nothing about how cars work; however, I could guess something or other about this guy, something like he was probably blaming his poor car for the accident. Nowadays, car safety systems have come a long way, but he was out to prove they could be outsmarted. Just maybe, he didn't let the car take over but interfered and, the accident happened. Still, I, too, would probably rush in myself, during such an emergency. Talk about cutting-edge technologies! Bah Humbug! My Max can sense things before they happen, and these trees also know better as does the dog. I touched the trunk of a tree and took a deep breath of the clean air. After our next few steps, Max's tail wagged excitedly and his ears perked with glee. He has always been such a peculiar dog. But then, I, too, heard the distant pops and crackles of fireworks. Well, believe me, you! Max barked excitedly, and that was when I knew exactly what was happening. Probably, some kids had started celebrating too early in the morning, and Max, the golden retriever, loved the fireworks each Fourth of July. Although some people find Max's love for fireworks amusing and endearing, I don't! As I knew when the colorful explosions would lit up the sky, he'd race toward those mesmerizing lights, with no regard to traffic or anything else. So, I pulled on Max's leash and began running around toward home. As I opened the front door to the house, I was breathless, but Max was jumping with excitement and panting just as much as I did. There would be no afternoon walk with Max today on this July 4th day. Luckily, I have a fenced-in backyard for him to use and dash around. |
| Prompt: “Groundhog found fog. New snows and blue toes. Fine and dandy for Valentine candy. Snow spittin'; if you're not mitten-smitten, you'll be frostbitten! By jing-y feels spring-y." ― The Old Farmer's Almanac Try your hand at a rhyming poem about February. Have fun! ======== Hahaha! Not that we have a snowy February where I live, but here's something rhyming. in my quiet world, all is still yet bare trees summon the chill, silent snowflakes touch my face in February’s frosty embrace, a leap year on display, Cupid’s arrow goes astray, lovers' hearts' start to sway, but chocolate kisses save the day shortest month, with days so few, a moment is like a morning dew, winter’s grip soon begins to ease, a hint of warmth leading the breeze. |
| Prompt: Were you happy or disappointed with the month of January 2024? ---------- Personally speaking, I am happy, for the moment, because my older son is staying with me until March. I also had a tough time this January with my cat getting sick. Luckily, after a two-day hospitalization, she's back home and doing better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she stays well. Staying well all the time is not always possible for oldies like me and my cat. On a very large scale, this past January, our planet passed its closest to the sun. If it keeps doing this, I wouldn't be too eager to bask in that excess warmth, even if in the far future. On the somewhat plus side, our earth's global economy (they say!) is balanced in a broad fashion, although there are several serious ups and downs in between nations. If the money biz collapses, we're all cooked! Then, I am not very happy when so much conflict happens for this or that reason in our world. I especially don't want our USA involved in wars and fights that pop up, way far away from home. As much as those conflicts darken our moods and make our days much less pleasant, our country's involvement in them is disappointing and dangerous for us. I so wish we can keep our nose clean and not stick it into risky things overseas. Well, so much for January 2024. Let's hope February 2024 can be much better and more loving will surface in between the people and nations of the world. After all, it is the month with the Valentine's Day in it. |
| Prompt: A blue feather arrives in an envelope in your mailbox. No note or explanation. Who sent the blue feather and why? On Green Acres, Lisa Douglas received a blue feather in the mail with no explanation and she thought the gypsies were coming after her for what she did to them when she was a teenager. The blue feather was sent to her because a store was having a sale on blue nail polish. Two hippies in a gypsy wagon showed up and Lisa was scared to death. Write about the blue feather for your Blog entry today. ========== What? A blue feather? Well, it depends. If the envelope has my name and address on it, and inside it has some data involving my life, you can be sure, I'd notify the police. If it were an envelope with nothing on it or inside it, then I'd toss it into the garbage bin. This is because, since I haven't read that story by Lisa Douglas, I wouldn't make the connection in the first place. "Edited to add" "Green Acres" was a TV serial comedy and Lisa Douglas was Eva Gabor's character in that show. Oh well, suppose I didn't do what I said I'd do in real life. This means a story in the making and I hope I don't botch it up. Here it goes: I wasn't sure what to do with the blue feather in the thick, large envelope I was holding in my hand after I opened the mail. Intrigued and slightly wary, I couldn't resist the urge to investigate. As a safe measure, looked inside the envelope again. Lo and behold, glued to the bottom corner of the envelope was a tiny antique looking key. I couldn't figure out what metal it was made up. Surprised, I put on my glasses and tried to read the inscription on the key. It said, "Unlock the door to the extraordinary." I groaned. Was this a prank? "But I'm not into mysteries and fairy tales," I said out loud. Then, an idea occurred to me. I stepped out the front door, closed it, and inserted the key into the lock. It fit perfectly although this key was one-third the size of my own key. The door swung open. I gasped. My somewhat ordinary living room had transformed into a whimsical wonderland, filled with enchanting creatures and vibrant colors. A talking rabbit in a waistcoat greeted me, leading me further into the fantastic realm that had materialized within my very own house. "Alice in Wonderland" I thought. "My mind is playing story-games, again!" Then, I saw my cat sitting at a table drinking tea. Lo and behold! Tea? I couldn't even get her to try canned or real food since she wouldn't give up kibble. I tried to take a seat across from the cat, but she pointed with her paw to one of the rooms. I opened the door to that room and saw that the bookshelf I had there had been replaced. In its place was an entire library filled with ancient books with tales of distant lands and forgotten magic. That was when I realized I was still holding the key in my hand. I stepped back into the living room and put the key on the table. My cat jumped down with a huge meow, knocking her teacup down and ran out of the room. At that very moment, I noticed that the magic was waning and everything around me was turning into its original blah self. I picked the key again and nothing happened. I realized that everything around me had already turned to the way it had always been for years. I searched the entire house for a speck of that short-lived magic but it was of no use. So, I guessed this had been a one-time affair between me and the key that had arrived with the blue feather in a strange envelope. At that instant, I realized that this whole experience had been a reminder, a short-lived gift to me, to show me the magic that can be hidden in the ordinary, and maybe I should pay more attention to fantasy and try to see beyond what is obvious to my eyes. |
| Prompt: Memory “Our memory is a more perfect world than the universe: it gives back life to those who no longer exist.” Guy de Maupassant What if you had a perfect memory, and every terrible thing you've seen, said and done was seared in your mind, never to be forgotten? And/or write about this quote. ----------- What if I had a perfect memory? As a first impulse, I would jump for joy. Yet.... On the plus side, where learning and retention is concerned, a perfect memory is priceless. It can also aid in problem solving, if I can overlook the unnecessary data. It might also aid my sagging creativity because I'd recall what, at first, seemed original to me was said before. In addition, memories from the past might be a source for some material to serve as inspiration. Also, I would be able to remember important dates, events, and the names of people I have met. Still, on the positive side, I would have liked to recall all the nice people and all the niceties thrown my way. Although, now, I think I remember most of them, I know I don't recall everything. On the negative side, too much recall would overwhelm me and even could make me lose sleep over past events and some people who no longer matter. Forgetting and letting go of certain hurtful memories would be very difficult, too. Then, I would fear making mistakes, as in the past, and would stop trying, as I would be afraid of remembering vividly any new mistake. That perfect memory could create social challenges, too. I would remember my embarrassing or awkward moments with heightened recall. Also, I could turn off people by remembering everything about them while they don't even recall having met me. Still, while a perfect memory offers numerous advantages in terms of learning, problem-solving, and productivity, it can also come with the potential for emotional challenges, overwhelming recall, and social difficulties. Thinking and writing about this made me see that my faulty memory should be something I should appreciate. If only, I hadn't forgotten, the other day, that UN's headquarters were in Geneva and hadn't given a wrong phone number to a neighbor!  . |
| Prompt: Names "It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame." Henry David Thoreau, Walking Why do you think we are given names at birth? Do you know what your name means and do you live up to it? What about the people you know and their relationships to their names? ----- Oh, the names I give to myself! Believe me, they have nothing to do with that name my mother granted me. Well, she gave me that(!) name because her father's name meant happiness, joyful or something like that. So, in that way, my name is a re-run. Just like that poor cartoon boy, Rerun, Lucy's younger brother in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. It means to me that my mother's father's name, as much as it carried a positive connotation, can also point to the fact that she wanted me to father her. Eeeek! Heavy burden on a baby, don't you think...even if the name evoked positive emotions in her? Still, I had never met my grandfather as he had passed away years before I was born; therefore, I had no inkling what to do with such a name. I still, don't! When I looked into what kind of a person my grandfather was, I learned that, from the rest of our family and relatives, he was a joker, sometimes even playing practical jokes on people. Most remembered him with love and laughter or maybe they told it to me that way. Who knows! It is said that most people, subconsciously, live up to their names. Really? Take Adolf Hitler for example. Adolf means "noble or majestic wolf." He was a wolf all right but not the noble kind. Far from it! In fact, he put all the wolves and the entire animal kingdom to shame. Granted, my name carries a positive vibe and it does have cross-cultural references that may have to do with literary connections and happiness, but I'm no joker like my grandfather...I think. Then, I also take a breath of relief with this thought; at least, my name has nothing to do with any big bad wolf. . |
| Prompt: There's a new month coming, with new intentions, new goals, new love, new light, and new beginnings. What's happening next month for you? ------- February? It isn't here, yet. How can I know what happens then. I stopped coming up with new anything like goals, intentions, etc., some time ago. I only write daily to-do lists. Still, since the prompt asks for it, let me take a look. On the personal front, February 12 is my younger son's birthday. He may never be a president but his birthday is among those of the presidents. On February 11, International Day of Women and Girls in Science will celebrate the women and girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That is really something to be be happy about. Then, Chinese Olympics would be fun but I'm not into Olympics. As to Winter Olympics, I only watched them with my husband and because he was into such stuff. Now, I think I'd rather read a book or two. That's what I usually do in any month if life itself doesn't throw a wrench at it. Come to think of it, reading is exactly what I'm planning to do in February. . |
| Prompt: “And instead of dying Immediately after they shot him, he would go on to survive several days solely because of the cold that January. Maybe that's why we are drawn to those who possess the coldest of hearts ... In effort to survive. ” ― Bethany Brookbank Let this quote inspire your writing today. --------- Oh, the cold shivers this quote gives me! Even if I don't totally grasp what she really means. But I'll try. It is said that some people's bodies run more efficiently in cooler temperatures, making them naturally drawn to cold temperatures. Maybe the month of January has added to this character's dying, in the narrative part of the quote. Also, there may be a psychological factor of the quiet beauty of a winter landscape offering serenity. I mean, who wouldn't want serenity while they are dying! Then, metaphorically, reserved or introverted individuals can be emotionally distant, preferring solitude and finding deeper connections challenging. Surely, this may also be due to past experiences such as traumas and betrayals. In those cases, emotional withdrawal becomes a habit of protecting oneself. In our society or world, unfortunately, this withdrawal is misinterpreted as social awkwardness both in relationships and communication. Symbolically, some people gravitate toward those who are emotionally cold as if that could be a way to distance themselves from difficult emotions and to numb their earlier pains. Still, it is important to realize that everyone is unique and judging without understanding a person's context could be misleading and harmful. I think, therefore, balance, empathy, and understanding are needed. Then, for anyone struggling with emotional coldness, talking to a friend, a therapist, or counselor would help build healthier relationships; to quote back Bethany Brookbank, "In effort to survive." . |
| Prompt: Write about fog and mist in your Blog entry today. ---------- Where I live, mist and fog are casual occurrences. The morning mist lifts early and quickly enough, but I'm not too fond of fog, although it happens somewhat rarely. Fog during the rush hour is scary. Imagine driving through a veil at five or ten miles an hour seeing only the parts of the other vehicles on the road. Yet, the presence of fog and mist can bring on a bounty of emotions and ideas, as they offer metaphors, symbols, and settings in my imagination. One of those symbols is uncertainty or, sometimes, obscurity. I mean you know there is something there as a faint idea but you can't figure out what it is. Another metaphor or symbol could be isolation as I feel disconnected since my sight is blocked. On the other hand, this may be a backdrop for introspective or contemplative words or sentences or, if I am lucky, maybe a story or two. In addition, mist or fog can set the mood for what I write or more so, what any better insightful author can write. For example, Dickens raises this to an art form in his enhanced descriptive imagery in Bleak House: "Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city. Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish heights. Fog creeping into the cabooses of collier-brigs; fog lying out on the yards and hovering in the rigging of great ships; fog drooping on the gunwales of barges and small boats. Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing by the firesides of their wards; fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fog cruelly pinching the toes and fingers of his shivering little ‘prentice boy on deck." As in the above quote, there are parallels between foggy land and sea scapes and characters facing life's struggles and challenges. As such, the effects of mist and fog can help explore a wide range of themes and emotions for all writers. As for me, in my puny real life, I like to see things clearly. . |
| Prompt: "Happiness often sneaks through the door you didn't know you left open." John Barrymore Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ------------- This is such a smart but tricky quote. Happiness? Isn't it a subjective experience! Don't you think so? I mean what brings joy and good feelings to one person may differ for another. Plus, happiness is never a constant state, as it fluctuates and changes. As such, happiness is elusive and unpredictable. The image in the quote--happiness sneaking through an unnoticed door-- suggests that it often enters our lives unexpectedly and without warning, the door one didn't even realize was left open. Does that mean unexpected sources or moments? Maybe. I guess the quote encourages a mindset of openness and awareness and this has to do with being receptive to people and experiences. It may also be true that happiness is not found through deliberate and planned effort, as by its very nature, happiness is a spontaneous thing. This made me think about what could encourage happiness. If happiness is a sense of well-being and contentment, then it is related to positive emotions and general satisfaction with life, involving health, work, relationships, and achievements. Yet, for some, it is momentary joy through pleasant surprises and social connections and companionships. Still, for others, it has to do with the mindfulness of the present moment and appreciating simple everyday things and pleasures. On the other hand, for those who have physical health issues it might be a burst of wellness and for the altruistic ones it might come as willingness and being able to help others. Come to think of it, happiness is really a very subjective, very personal thing, and I don't even know where my own path to happiness lies. I guess it is a bit of everything which fluctuates and evolves. As to the doors in my life, I have no idea which one(s) I left open. . |
| Prompt: Falling and Getting up "When we fall on the ground it hurts us, but we also need to rely on the ground to get back up." Kathleen McDonald What are your thoughts on this quote? ------------ Since we're human we'll fall. It started with Adam and Eve, as the story goes. Falling and getting up are the inbred aspects of our human experience, metaphorically mirroring life's challenges and our resilience. The impact of any fall can be rough and it hurts. This makes us vulnerable and exposed to the harsh realities of life and its setbacks. Yet, the very ground that causes our fall is also the foundation upon which we can rise again. It's a dual role that the ground plays, symbolizing both the source of our stumble and the support for our recovery. Sometimes, we fall even though nothing we did, said, or even thought of has caused our lying splat on the ground. 'Why is that,' I ask myself. Then, I answer me back by thinking, "it is because the ground wants people to fall on it, so it can help them to get up." This doesn't say much for the character of the ground, does it? I mean, who'd want someone to suffer, so they can help them up and feel good about it? On the other hand, maybe, the ground wants to teach us a thing or two, so at the end of this life, we'll have something to show for our being in it, something that says, look what I've learned during my time on this planet earth! In the face of adversity, therefore, the ground becomes a teacher, imparting lessons on strength, fortitude, and the inevitability of setbacks. Each fall is a lesson, an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. The pain we feel upon hitting the ground serves as a reminder of our own vulnerability, pushing us to reflect on our actions and choices. Then, to get back up, we must use the very surface that witnessed our fall. Our success in getting up shows the human spirit's remarkable ability to endure and overcome challenges. Each time we rise, we are reborn with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, having gained valuable insights from our fall. In fact, this falling and getting up may be the intertwined threads in life that weave the story of our resilience and transformation. . |
| Prompt: The function of the artist or writer "The function of the artist is to make people like life better than before." Kurt Vonnegut What do you think the function of the writer is, if any? ------------ Sometimes I ask questions here to which I don't know the answers myself. This--the function of the writer--is one of them. I write because I like to do it as I have always been a fan of words and languages. I also studied lit and linguistics and did write some research stuff on those. Did I have a specific aim in doing those? I don't think so. I did do what felt good at the time. I still do what feels good to me. Generally speaking, however, writers--through their writing--can create an effect on the readers or they aim to do so, whether it is to inform, entertain, persuade, document, educate, inspire, or express creatively. This is because writing is a means of self-expression, and in some psychological therapies, the therapists advise people to keep a journal or a diary. Then, most of us, like me, write down things so we can remember them later. Yet, there are those writers who write to persuade people or change minds, and therefore, their writing becomes something like documentation. Anyway, for whatever reason something is written, any piece of writing automatically becomes a document that has recorded something which shows the context of a civilization. That is why we still treasure the cuneiform tablets and papyrus leaves that give us a glimpse of the earliest civilizations' writings. Coming back to the idea of the function of a writer, I don't think writers sit down to write a poem or a story, thinking, "This is my function." That very writing may only be their emotional response to something or they may just have a record-keeping mind that enabled them to write. Still, even when writing can be for persuasion or teaching or record keeping, it is an art form in itself and while doing it, I don't believe any one creative writer ever considers its "function." As Vonnegut said, however, what a writer writes can "make people like life better than before" or maybe, if lucky, what a writer writes can create some kind of an emotion in the reader. . |
| Prompt: “Snowfall rouses your inner child to dream and play once more.” — Angie Weiland-Crosby I've got snow on the brain... as does mother nature. Let this quote inspire you! --------- Neither my inner child nor my outer one have seen snowfall in the last couple of decades, but then, this is what I get for living in South FL. In memory, I shall never forget those flakes like white cotton puffs falling on my head and covering our then-yard like a quilt. It was as if the snow was saying to earth, "Hush, you nature's child; time to stay silent in your crib. It's my turn, now!" So here's something short. Snowfall in the silent realm of winter's hush dances of flakes start to rush from heaven's height, a gentle call a ballet of white, a snowfall each flake becomes a masterpiece, in fleeting joy, falls with ease and snow pirouettes in loving grace blankets the earth in an embrace . |
| Prompt: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall Let this quote inspire your writing today. --------- I don't know if what I do makes any difference to anyone, but I think it is a good idea to watch what I do, so what I do doesn't hurt someone else. Making a difference, the way I see it, is a collective effort; although mostly, only one individual gets applauded by it. Take MLK, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and the like, for example. These people wouldn't be in our memory and history if they didn't have others to work with them, for them, and follow them. Granted, it took, by such people, a major sense of responsibility and taking meaningful actions to contribute to positive change to leave a lasting legacy, from the start. Not one baby ever steps into the world with the conscious idea of "Okay, now, I'll make a difference," and then belts out his first scream. But then, babies do make a difference in the life of the household they belong. Hopefully it is joy, sometimes chaos, and mostly it is the mixture of joy and chaos. Unlike a newborn baby, if any one person wants to make a conscious difference, however, they have to have a passion for something and personal strengths to feed it. The question to ask oneself, if wanting to make a positive difference, could be, "What are the causes or issues that resonate with me on a deep level? What skills or talents do I possess to pull such a load?" Imagining that we are that person and we have a passion for something and possess some skills and talents, what will be needed next could be setting clear goals as having specific objectives to guide our efforts. Then, of course, comes educating ourselves on the subject, so we can make informed decisions with deepened understanding. Only after this comes taking any action such as taking the first step, volunteering, donating, and participating in the welfare of the community or the group. Modest though our actions may be, when started this way, they contribute to positive change. And, not only that! It will inspire others, too, and we will find friends, family, and colleagues joining in our cause. The greatest results for anything are obtained from collective efforts. Also, adapting to differences, being open to feedback, learning from experiences and being willing to adjust the approach would help create a lasting change. For reference, just read about MLK and how he readied himself to accomplish that huge difference. https://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com By the way, I picked MLK because we celebrated the MLK day, only recently. . |
| Prompt: What TV commercials do you like? What ones drive you crazy or make you mad? Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------- I don't watch too much TV, anymore, except for just some local news while I eat my supper. I guess, TV ads can be annoying or entertaining. Usually, I don't pay much attention to them. The annoying ones could be presenting a particular jingle, catchphrase, or scenario, causing viewer irritation, and even this can lead to the negative perception of not only the ad but the brand. Sudden spike ups in volume during a commercial break could be really annoying, too. Yet, this is not only true for TV but also, especially true for YouTube ads. Plus, recently I heard that the ads on YouTube actually pay more to the content creator than YouTube. So why do it, to this extent, YouTube? Then, of course, the content in the ad about the product could be misleading, too. I guess, commercial ads could be creative through their unique storytelling, visually appealing elements, emotional angles, or innovative concepts, but usually repetition kills their creativity and turns off their audience. My son is so disgusted with YouTube, for example, that he started going to Rumble instead. Now that Rumble, too, is out of hand, he is trying other options. So far that I can tell, all ads--TV, YouTube, Microsoft, Rumble, and the like--have not come up with any winning formula. I hope they do fix their shortcomings very soon because they are annoying and discouraging the viewers, game players, watchers, and listeners of their programs. . |
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