Sunset… Sunrise

Daily writing prompt
What’s a cultural tradition from another country that you wish existed in yours?

Maybe Midsommar, or Midsummer. I remember my Mom and Dad returning from their trip to northern Sweden and talking about how on the day they arrived, they got to celebrate the festival with some of the long-lost relatives they had traveled there to visit.

It was June, maybe mid-June, and they were far enough north that the sun set for only a few minutes before it came back up again. There was much frivolity and food and merriment, and it sounded like something that would be highly anticipated every year.

Of course, if we adapted it for this neck of the woods, the sun’s disappearance and return wouldn’t be quite as dramatic. But I think we could replicate the rest of it.

Well, we’d also have to have a vacation cottage to head off to. Many over there have a place for a summer getaway.

Soundtrack

Daily writing prompt
What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood?

Song names aren’t coming to me yet, but probably something singable, tuneful, maybe with a beat and some now-familiar riffs that strike a chord within, and maybe get the body moving and toes tapping.

Nothing current, probably something from the late 60s, early- to mid-70s from The Beatles or Steely Dan or Chicago– Here Comes the Sun, Bodhisattva, Beginnings, respectively. Maybe Your Mama Don’t Dance, from Loggins and Messina, or Crazy Little Thing Called Love, from Queen, released in 1979.

Something like that.

Quite A Show

Daily writing prompt
What’s a fear you’ve overcome — and how did you do it?

Thunderstorms. I think I’ve just outgrown the fear and understand them better. Anymore and for quite a while now, I’ve found them intriguing and awesome, but still something to be respected. It’s not wise to be cavalier when lightning is involved.

Perspective Shift

Daily writing prompt
What’s the best way to build self-confidence?

I think it takes a certain fearlessness, a bit of determination, and finally just saying to oneself that you can’t live your life fearing mistakes or a cold shoulder. No one is perfect, and the ones who look like they are have taken a few falls along the way, have put in the time and effort, and have simply decided to engage rather than withdraw.

It sounds a bit clinical, but there is trial and error involved, whether it’s learning a skill or simply interacting with other people. A certain level of trust begins to replace fear and suspicion, and confidence grows. One also hopefully learns that a good mentor is a gift, and that losing or failure are definitely not the end of the world.

It’s the old cliche about putting oneself out there, and being mindful of an Albert Einstein maxim: “Failure is success in progress.”

Truth Be Told

Daily writing prompt
How do you build loyal subscribers?

I initially joined WordPress because I felt I needed an outlet for the observations and opinions rattling around in my brain. I wasn’t giving much thought to having people who, on a regular basis, actually read what I wrote.

But there is something wondrous, something rewarding and seductive about publishing entries that people from all over the world respond to, seeing the Views and Likes spike, relatively speaking, every now and then, and getting an occasional comment.

I’d be lying if I said that a loyal and growing subscriber base isn’t something I occasionally think about. I do appreciate and have become familiar with some of the names of folks who check in on a daily basis and click the Like button. Thank you!!

But a larger scale development of readership isn’t going to happen without much more effort on my part to improve the look of my site, or improving my writing, which is not something that happens overnight.

Other than being consistent– trying to contribute at least one post every day– I don’t take advantage of the graphics or layout options available, doctor up the presentation, or spend any time making my site more appealing in a visual way.

It is the written content of the posts themselves that I will always be more concerned about.

My goals, such as they are, are modest. I simply appreciate this platform as a space in which to express myself. I’m not that interested in, or perhaps not that motivated by the packaging.

In my perfect world, the writing would be enough to interest and sustain anyone who visited the site. That is the ongoing inspiration and challenge.

Not Always

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

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.

Whatever Gets You Through the Door

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in soulmates? Why or why not?

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.

Pie In the Sky

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

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.

Stripping Away the Chaff

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in minimalism?

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.

Surprise!

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

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.