Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" ![]() "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Kamál (Perfection), 12 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Monday, April 1, 2019 After School1 I listen to the laughing children playing outside on this beautiful and cloudy spring day. I smile because it reminds me of my childhood, and the joy of being out of school for the day. Gratitude List for 12 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Facebook status Update On April Fools Day clouds hide the sky's blue beauty will it rain tonight Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 11 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Sunday, March 31, 2019 Facebook Status Update On Sunday morning my coffeemaker went out boiling coffee on the stove. Gratitude List for 11 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Noonday Prayer2 I perform my ablutions, I turn my face toward Bahji, and recite the short obligatory prayer. Stress melts, dissolving like a iceberg in the warm Pacific waters. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 10 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Saturday, March 30, 2019 Facebook Status Update Intoning the Tablet of Ahmad, and refocusing on the solution to the problems facing me. Problems are tests and difficulties, worry and depression hide the solutions. Gratitude List for 10 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() March Evening3 Inhale the fragrance of the evening breeze as it blows through the boughs of palm and pine trees. Shadows cast by the setting sun remind us that this March day will soon be gone. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Friday, March 29, 2019 Facebook Status Update At last, it's Friday. At last it's the last Friday in March 2019. I've lived in this apartment for three months. Moving is expensive, it takes a toll on your finances. It took an toll on my finances, and my finances haven't gotten any better. In fact, they have gotten worse, at least that's how it appears to me right now. No matter what I try doesn't work. I'm without a car, which may be a good or bad thing; however, that means when I apply for any type of assistance it's online. The problem is many of the applications cost to submit, which I haven't got. As it is, my checking account will be overdrawn again in April, which is a bank change. I'm tired. I'm almost to the point of tears, which isn't going to do any good, but when I get frustrated I want to cry. That's how my life is going, if anyone really cares. New Direction4 I need to move in a different direction one where my was isn't blocked. I look around, but see only roadblocks I need to grow wings to fly above the roadblocks and the fog. Gratitude List for 9 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 8 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Thursday, March 28, 2019 April Approaches5 April approaches it's National Poetry Month, unfortunately my focus is on increasing my income and preventing an overdrawn checking account. Gratitude List for 8 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 7 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Evening Breeze in March6 March wind whispers sweet nothings to palm fronds and olive leaves. March blows into the arm of April composes love odes to April showers. Gratitude List for 7 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 5 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Monday, March 25, 2019 Spirit of the Age7 From time immemorial, God's promised humanity peace and unity. In this age, peace is inevitable and unity unstoppable. Gratitude List for 5 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Fiḍál (Grace), 6 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Facebook Status Update Don't ask: "What's wrong?" If you don't want an honest answer. Don't accuse me of being angry with you when my emotions are express in my voice; I'm a passionate person and sometimes my emotions express themselves in my vocal tones. Gratitude List for 6 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() My Notepad App8 Midnight time to write phrases and lines, I don't have to turn on the light I can compose poetry using my smartphone's notepad app. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 4 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Sunday, March 24, 2019 Sunday Afternoon Poem9 Beautiful Sunday Sun shines in all its splendor Casting dark shadows Gratitude List for 4 Bahá Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Facebook Status Update Sometimes I wonder why these are called the golden years when there is no gold only fears, and a lot of tears. Then I intone a prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah, and both the tears and the fears are transformed when I realize these tests are polishing the mirror of my soul. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 3 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Saturday, March 23, 2019 Feast of Splendor10 The glorious wine of the Holy Spirit sipped from the chalice of God's love. The radiant bread of the Word of God consumed at the table of the Lord. Gratitude List for 3 Bahá ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 2 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Friday, March 22, 2019 The Nineteen-Day Feast11 At the Lord's Supper we sip the crystal waters of God's Word from the chalice of divine love, and verse by verse consume the fruit of the Tree of Life. Gratitude List For 2 Bahá Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Bahá (Splendor) 176 B.E. - Thursday, March 21, 2019 Naw-Ruz Naw-Ruz: A New Year12 March 21, 2019-- Naw-Ruz 176-- the beginning of a New Year full of hope and joy. The morning was cloudy, clearing a little by afternoon and the sun cam shining through: the joy of a new and glorious day. Gratitude List For 1 Bahá Today I am thankful... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Article Series To Read in 176 B.E. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 19 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, March 20, 2019 Facebook Status Update Naw-Ruz 176 B.E. will soon be here (March 21). It is a New Year, with new hope, and big changes in my life (at least that is how it appears at the moment). 175 B.E. was a difficulty year, with a few changes, I don't see my finances getting much better. I have to make the changes, with the hope that my finances will improve. I doubt I will be moving again for a while. Gratitude List For 19 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fiḍál (Grace), 18 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Tuesday, March 19, 2019 "O thou forgiving God! Forgive the sins of my loving mother, pardon her shortcomings, cast upon her the glance of Thy gracious providence and enable her to gain admittance into Thy Kingdom. O God! From the earliest days of my life she educated and nurtured me, yet I did not recompense her for her toil and labors. Do Thou reward her by granting her eternal life and making her exalted in Thy Kingdom. Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Bestower and the Kind." Abdu'l-Baha Facebook Status Update Today March 19 is my mother's 98th birthday: Happy Birthday Mama, I miss you. Gratitude List For 18 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Naw-Ruz: A Time to Celebrate13 Spring is almost here a time for joy and cheer, a time to celebrate Naw-Ruz and a brand new year. Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 17 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Monday, March 18, 2019 Facebook Status Update Beautiful Monday Inhale the joy of morning Intone a prayer of thanks Gratitude List For 17 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jalál (Glory), 15 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Saturday, March 16, 2019 Saturday Poem14 A cool wind blowing Bright sun casing deep shadows Bird flies past my door Gratitude List For 15 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Jamál (Beauty), 16 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Sunday, March 17, 2019 Gratitude List For 16 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 14 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Friday, March 15, 2019 Pray for Assistance15 When under stress, intone a prayer for assistance ask help from the Lord, the All-Powerful Creator. Gratitude List For 15 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 13 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Thursday, March 14, 2019 Facebook Status Update The windchill factor feels like its mid December in Oklahoma. Gratitude List For 13 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
‘Idál (Justice), 12 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Wednesday, March 13, 2019 The Birds of March16 A sparrow is singing, nesting in the pine tree across the street, the pigeons nesting above my door are silent listening to the sparrow's serenade. Gratitude List For 12 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 10 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Monday, March 11, 2019 Roses and Chocolatess: Memories of My Mother17 Mama loved roses: her favorite blossoms were red, and she like rich dark chocolates. Gratitude List For 10 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 9 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) 175 B.E. - Sunday, March 10, 2019 Sunday Poem18 Sunday afternoon A beautiful cloudy day For writing poems Gratitude List For 9 ‘Alá’ Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |