Daily writing prompt

Share a proverb you think is completely wrong and make your case.

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Every cloud has a silver lining… It’s not completely wrong, but if one finds him- or herself often searching for meaning or an upside in the midst of trials and tribulations that come with a certain regularity, I would think it becomes a tedious chore to always have to be looking on the bright side. It’s more honest just to say “this sucks” and call it what it is.

And two heads are better than one…? Not if you’re talking about the Trump administration, where it’s more often a doubling of the trouble.

Daily writing prompt

Do you believe in soulmates? Why or why not?

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My take on this is laced with skepticism bordering on cynicism.

If I’m grasping the concept properly, it sounds like destiny is in play. It is difficult for me to read that much into anything, to believe that there is only one person out there– on this entire planet– with whom one could make a life. It’s romantic, I guess, and it might add staying power and poignancy to a relationship. I’ve always felt, though, that it seems a bit over-the-top, too cinematic and starry-eyed and unrealistic.

If people feel this way about each other, more power to them. I just wonder how long the head-over-heels feeling can last, and if sustenance and long-term commitment aren’t made of sterner stuff.

Daily writing prompt

What’s something you’d love to see in the future, but know you probably won’t live to witness?

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Where we easily tire of egomaniacs and despots, and can readily stifle and quash their aspirations.

Where there is a concerted effort, as a species, to recognize our caretaking responsibilities– for one another, for the planet. Where we acknowledge and honor one another’s humanity, and put down the weapons of war– which could facilitate a massive re-allocation of resources away from destruction and toward research and discovery and an age of peace.

Where everyone possesses a bullshit meter calibrated to recognize the faintest hint of ill intent and skullduggery.

There’d be a lot of evolving to do between now and then.

Daily writing prompt

Do you believe in minimalism?

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I had to read up on this, since I think I get the basic gist, but not the details.

According to an article entitled Becoming Minimalist, written by Joshua Becker, minimalism involves intentionally promoting the things we most value and removing everything that distracts us from those things. According to Becker, it is a freedom from the passion to possess– it steps off the treadmill of consumerism and dares to seek happiness elsewhere.

Minimalism is a freedom from modern mania, it slows life down and frees us from this modern hysteria to live faster. It is a freedom from duplicity, it is counter-cultural, and it is internal– not external. Removing the physical clutter allows one to more clear-headedly address issues that impact relationships and our lives.

What’s not to like about simplifying things? I’m not sure I could live with such wholesale intentionality, though I see the wisdom in it.

So, yes, as far as believing in minimalism. Living it would be another matter.

Daily writing prompt

What’s a moment in your life that felt like it was straight out of a movie?

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After publishing this, I might think of something else, but the only moment that’s coming to mind seems like something that would nowadays show up in a YouTube clip about surprising loved ones with an unexpected visit.

Long after we had all married and started families and moved to different states, my brothers and I traveled back to Massachusetts to surprise our parents around the time of their birthdays, I think it was. We hatched a somewhat elaborate scheme to stay out of sight until the appropriate time, and the “reveal” was everything one might hope it would be. It was a great weekend.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the first book you ever finished and still remember to this day?

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I was read to early on, so it’s likely that we finished a few books, but I can’t remember the first one I finished on my own, until high school. It might have been either of a couple mentioned in other posts– To Kill A Mockingbird, or A Separate Peace.

Come to think of it, I read a few of the Doc Savage series from cover to cover, so it actually might have been one of those.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the most profound piece of advice you’ve been given? Did you take it?

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There have been many pieces of advice along the way, words and actions and such from parents and others. But the one that seems to have drilled the deepest into the memory banks is from a poster in my third grade classroom: “Maturity is the ability to forego the immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain.” Or something like that.

Seems pretty deep for a roomful of 8- and 9-year-olds. This pearl has been rattling around in my brain for a long time, though I haven’t always taken it to heart.

Daily writing prompt

If you had an unlimited budget for 24 hours, what would you do?

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I guess it would depend on whether or not I knew in advance that this opportunity would be coming– lots of ducks to get in a row.

Maybe I’d insist on allocating funding for all the departments and programs that have taken a DOGE hit, like NIH and vaccine research; probably donate to many a Democrat’s campaign fund, bolster the funding for after-school lunches, give a shot in the arm to some local municipal budgets so they can fix their roads and bolster healthcare options, try to talk my wife into buying a bigger property, and buy a vehicle that’s more useful and easier to get in and out of.

Daily writing prompt

What’s a show that had the perfect series finale?

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I can’t recall many, since I haven’t watched many, but I’ll say either M*A*S*H, or Cheers. It turns out Season 3 of Ted Lasso wasn’t the last season after all.

Oh, and the series finale of Newhart— maybe not perfect, since perfection is such a subjective thing, but unexpected and memorable for all the right reasons.

Daily writing prompt

If you could have dinner with any philosopher, who would it be?

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Of the ancient ones, probably Socrates. Of the more recent thinkers, perhaps Hannah Arendt.