Daily writing prompt

What positive emotion do you feel most often?

View all responses

I guess love is running in the background, and joy is elusive because I spend too much time looking around at what’s going on in the world and wondering if we’re ever going to move beyond this penchant for hubris and mistrust and self-enrichment.

So, it might be a tie between gratitude and awe. Gratitude for my wife, children, and grandchildren, for sustenance and a roof over our heads; gratitude for anyone with sense and sensibilities, with a beating heart who cares about others, who takes life seriously and knows what they’re doing– whether it’s our family doctor, grocers and shelf stockers, people who build and discover things, elected officials at all levels. Anyone who diligently tends to their work and assures that the buses run on time, if you know what I mean.

And awe in the presence of so much mystery and beauty. Gotta make the time to look up, to ponder, because there’s a lot that’s still jaw-droppingly amazing.

Daily writing prompt

How do you plan your goals?

View all responses

Occupationally, vocationally, I guess it never really came together. In general, no formula, no step-by-step, little intentionality. I’d say haphazardly, informally, with occasional consideration of pros and cons, more based on need, and ideas that seem financially feasible.

By and large, I have never been a goal-oriented person. That’s my wife’s bailiwick. I never saw a use for a five-year plan, or asking myself where I wanted to be in five years, ten years. That seemed too much like going through life with blinders on.

I will say that once we commit to something, we get it done. But it’s never been a case of, “Well, now that’s done. What’s next?” As if it’s about just doing stuff to stay busy and have something to cross off a list or boast about. That’s plain exhausting to me, and for some reason hugely annoying.

It’s been a mix of practicality and an occasional bit of “what if?”, then figuring out ways to get there.

Daily writing prompt

Create an emergency preparedness plan.

View all responses

That sounds like more work than I’m willing to engage in at the moment. I will say that we do have a plan for evacuating the area, since we live near a nuclear power plant. We’ve got the potassium iodide pills, and we know we must evacuate to a town about 40 miles west of here.

The most sobering thought attached to this is that it’s not inconceivable, if an accident is serious enough, that we would never be allowed to return home. Our house and the rest of the houses in the local neighborhoods would sit empty, frozen in time, Chernobyl like– probably looted, and eventually reclaimed by plants and animals.

Daily writing prompt

What is a word you feel that too many people use?

View all responses

Just about any word or phrase has the potential to become cliche, because we’re all pelted with some iteration of 24-hour news channel or social media and exposed to a constant diet of well-worn verbiage from somebody. But I’m gonna go with either “devastated,” or “traumatized.”

I’d include the f-word, but unless it’s every other word that comes out of someone’s mouth, it’s the only word, in its various forms and uses, that offers true catharsis when someone is running hot or frustrated.

And I’m still trying to figure out why an “influencer” is afforded so much attention.

Daily writing prompt

What brings you peace?

View all responses

I guess it would be this time at the beginning of each day– quiet, coffee, and writing. Purposeful, low pressure, just organizing my thoughts and trying to write something cogent and descriptive.

On the other hand, I’m not sure one can plan a sense of peace. Sometimes you don’t know it until you’re in the midst of it– when you’re tempted to say something hyperbolic, like “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Daily writing prompt

What profession do you admire most and why?

View all responses

There are several– teachers, nurses, astronauts, airline pilots… But if I had to pick one, it would probably be a doctor who spends time tending to people in a war zone.

Daily writing prompt

If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

View all responses

The days when I would have enough energy to consider such a venture are behind me, I think, but I can envision a place where one could choose from an eclectic mix of coffee and expresso drinks, tea, baked goods, and items my wife embroiders or sews. A combination coffee/craft, maybe consignment shop, open from 6am to 11am, Tuesday through Saturday. Business hours subject to change, with notice.

Daily writing prompt

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

View all responses

Maybe my keys, so I can get back into the house if I forget something, or if I just need to get back into the house. Keys and my wallet, I guess, though that’s two things.

OK– sometimes I make sure I have my phone with me, though that’s not as critical as the other two.

Anyway… I’m gonna go with keys.

Daily writing prompt

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

View all responses

In a perfect world, it would be to facilitate a change of heart and perspective that leads to the world being a kinder, more respectful place. But I’ll settle for simply writing posts that have anyone who takes the time to read them not feeling like they just wasted a few minutes of their day.

Ultimately, I want to write things that offer a rational, thoughtful, occasionally insightful take on what’s going on in the world and in our human experience, and maybe elicit an occasional “Amen!” It probably won’t happen very often, but If any change of heart or mind results, it would be because I’ve offered a perspective that sparks reflection and a reason to stay tuned.

Daily writing prompt

Describe your life in an alternate universe.

View all responses

I’d be more disciplined, more curious, more energetic, and a better listener, if I was even of a hominid form.

Honestly, alternate universe talk really serves no purpose other than as a fun writing exercise. The one we have is the one we’ve got, which might strike some as fatalistic and unimaginitive, but this one’s pretty amazing, too. Besides, with the right mindset, and maybe certain pharmaceuticals, we can be somewere else while we’re right here.

What does it say about our lives, though, that we spend time wishing, or at least imagining, we were somewhere else? I’m probably taking this more seriously than I need to, revealing something about my lack of creative thinking.