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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: "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of others." Charles Dickens Write about this quote in your Blog entry today. ------------ This quote suggests that every person has value and significance when they contribute positively to the lives of others. I think, however, not only the people lightening others' burdens, but also, every single human being has value. Or else, (in my opinion), they wouldn't be created. Even those who we think as the rotten ones are there to teach a lesson to us. We learn not to be like them or we learn what's hidden inside us while we are trying to deal with their behavior and other burdens. Then, who knows, eventually and/or after being shown kindness, the rotten ones can turn into saints or at least decent-enough people. This is because compassion, kindness, and support shown to them might have taught them a lesson. Isn't it wonderful to watch a not-so-good person becoming a positive and constructive human being after getting help! Kindness, therefore, is important because of this, and not only to those who are being helped but also to the person who is lightening their burdens. |
| Prompt: Robots If you could get any robot in the world or in your imagination, what kind of a robot would you choose? ------------- Robots have already proven their immense value across various areas, such as assembly lines, healthcare and surgeries, customer services like food delivery, and in housekeeping. They are also good with exploring dangerous areas that are not accessible to humans and they can do many tasks more accurately than us. Remember the Mars Rovers? This shows that they'll help us humans much more in the future in space explorations. Now, if I could get a robot of my choice, it would have to be very safe and very ethical, and it would have to respect my privacy. It should be energy-efficient and should be able to make quick decisions in emergencies. In addition, how great it would be if it could repair anything itself! That would take care of those dreaded frequent replacements. I am saying this because I am sick of replacing my computers and other electronic devices, not to mention household items. Plus, my favorite and so useful robot should also have a long life-span and understand different languages, accents, and dialects, so I won't have to stay puzzled at things I can barely or not-at-all figure out. To put it shortly, it should be better than me at tasks and other important stuff.  |
| Prompt: Pets and Animals What is your relationship to your pets if you have any? And do you like animals in general? ********* I have an old cat, Noche. In fact, in cat-age, she is as old as me. That makes us two old women under the same roof. I adopted Noche when her previous owners were about to take her to a shelter since she couldn't get along with their other pets in the house and she was acting up. That they could give her up shocked me because I grew up with cats in the house as my aunt was a real cat-lady. In my later years, due to my husband's work, we traveled a lot. We didn't have any pets then, because it would be unfair to the animals; except for a dog, Joe, while our children were growing up. It's said that cats have quirky behaviors. Maybe, this is somewhat true. All I can say is, cats are endearing, funny, and playful. Yet, my present cat is not very playful, but at this age, I am not all that playful, either. She was more playful four years ago when I first got her, but I guess she's feeling the age, as do I. Noche never did the things some other cats do; for example, knocking items off the tables, sneaking into forbidden areas, or stealing food. Well, she does like to search and inspect the closets and has an obsession with whatever I am doing. She loves to explore my cellphone and books and note-books. Although, I got her several cat toys, she warmed up to none of them, except for a doll that was gifted to me as a gag. She is just in love with that doll. Then, she always answers to me and I actually talk to her while she listens. She is also very much into my moods and knows (I think) when I am sick. Although I have now talked about Noche a lot, I have always loved animals, tamed and wild. Aside from the ways how each culture treats especially the wild ones and learns from them, in my experience, the love of animals begins in childhood. I was a very lucky child to have been introduced to the joy of interacting with pets and observing wildlife. In fact, now, my idea of heaven is where all the animal species are present and no one eats anyone else. |
| Prompt: Let's see how familiar you are with English authors. In what year did Charles Dickens die? Who wrote Tess of the D’Urbervilles? What was the name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner? Who is the author of Utopia? Who was the 19th-century author of novels about England’s social woes? Do you have a favorite English author? --------- I don't really know any author's exact birth and death dates. Charles Dickens must have died in the 19th century, possibly in the second half of it. Tess of the D’Urbervilles, I think was written by Thomas Hardy. This book was a classroom assignment. Maybe I was too young when I tried to read it, but it was a boring book to me at the time. So what if her husband forgave her! Women always forgive husbands. Why not a husband for a change! Scrooge's business partner must be Marley since his ghost visits him in the beginning. Utopia was by Thomas Moore. Another book I found possibly boring in my young age. I know it from English language classes, but I haven't read it. For the last two questions, my answer is Charles Dickens and I read every book of his. He's probably my favorite, if I don't count the contemporaries. |
| Prompt: The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe to match your nature with Nature. Your thoughts? -------- This quote almost sounded like a riddle to me at first reading. Then I read it again and thought that it is suggesting a philosophical view on life, aiming for harmony between an individual's inner self and the external world. Is this doable or feasible? I guess everyone will have to decide for themselves. The goal of life is a broad and subjective concept to begin with. Try explaining it to a newborn.  Here, however, it alludes to some universal or spiritual stance...I think. The heartbeat and the beat of the universe alignment has to be metaphorical, since most of the time, I'm not even aware of my own heartbeat, let alone the universe's. I guess what the quote is referring to is the alignment of one's own rhythms, emotions, and actions with the larger, cosmic order. How? It beats me! But let's see, what if the beat of the universe has to do with the natural order of existence, such as the laws of nature, the cosmos, and time? If so, how do we adjust ourselves to that! Probably, the next part explains this a bit more with, "Match your nature with Nature." This may mean living as myself while also respecting and understanding the world around me. Fair enough? Yet, the feasibility of this is only iffy. Although spiritual beliefs beat their drums for finding harmony with the universe, through meditation, mindfulness and ethical living, these are only paths. Practically speaking, I have to go with the idea of being conscious of the impact of one's actions while being true to oneself. After all, the universe is always changing and so are the people, languages, and even weather. Not to mention, out there in the cosmos, some galaxies, stars, and planets are dying and others are emerging. This means continuous adaptation, self-awareness, and possibly, growth. Growth? Maybe and hopefully so. I can only wish that all of us, at least some time in our lives, can find a doable balance between our personal needs and the ever-changing truths of our world and the universe. |
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