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A new blog to contain answers to prompts |
Since my old blog "Everyday Canvas "  became overfilled, here's a new one. This new blog item will continue answering prompts, the same as the old one. Cool water cascading to low ground
To spread good will and hope all around.  |
Prompt: "Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you. : Denis Waitley Write about this in your Blog entry today. -------- The way I look at it, this all boils down to resilience. I think I mentioned this before in one of my blogs; however, here it is again. A much loved high school home-ec teacher of mine, Miss Lindsay, once told us in class that the most important thing to get through life is resilience, and we should do our best to acquire, secure, and keep it through all phases of our lives. I never forgot Miss Lindsay's words and tried very hard to live up to the meaning of resilience. I'll always be indebted to Miss Lindsay, not only for her teachings but also for her sparkling personality. This is because that idea of resilience did help me through all sorts of life events. Determination is part of resilience, as is resolve. Both determination and resolve speak to the incredible potential within each of us and enable us to remain focused on our goals and our lives. I might probably describe determination as that spark of persistence hidden in every human, or in other words, the inner fire that fuels us all. Yet, it is not something that pushes us forward blindly. It has a clear purpose. It wants to reach a goal. Through determination, we do not lose our optimism and we keep building on successes over successes. Through determination, we refuse to give up even when we come face to face with huge difficulties. This helps us to solve problems, persevere, and even be creative. As to resolve, it is our inner fortitude. It points to our mental strength to make firm decision and act on them. It has more to do with keeping to our purpose and integrity. It helps us to rise after we've fallen down. It helps us endure hardships. It helps us keep our clarity of mind in the most uncertain of times. There's an incredible amount of potential in each one of us. It is up to us, to focus into that potential and live good lives and hopefully, along the way, inspire others, also. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& And in Relation to the Original Entry: I just finished reading a short book by Akash Karia, 7 Things Resilient People Do Differently. So, to put the words of this author in a nutshell: 1. Accept what you cannot change. Focus on what you can control and express gratitude for what you already possess or have done. 2. Talk nicely to yourself. Don't call yourself names and don't let your inner critic change facts. Instead use positive affirmations. 3. Ask better questions. Don't ask the creation, God or whatever, "Why me?" "What's wrong with me?" Instead, ask, "How can I grow from this?" or "What can I learn from this?" 4. View stress as a growth challenge and an opportunity. And manage stress positively through relaxation techniques, humor and social support. 5. If need be, seek help. Your helpers could be friends, family members, mentors, and even professionals. 6. Take action. Do not procrastinate or give in to worrying. Break down bigger tasks into manageable steps and celebrate your progress with them. 7, Cultivate a growth mindset and try to learn new skills. During the process of learning, your resilience will increase, even if the outcome of the skill is not perfect. |
| Prompt: clothes What do you think about clothes in general and what types of clothes do you think are the most comfortable to wear? On the other hand, which types of clothes are not comfortable to wear? ----------- I happen to think that we humans are so off with just about everything, and especially our clothes! This may be due to our make-up NOT being environmentally friendly, since our skins alone could not, did not fully protect us, ever. So we came up with the idea of clothes, envying the lush fur of the felines. Why were our skins not good enough, is another somewhat related question. Now here, goes wild my imagination all the way to us being outer space people, but let's just stick to our earthly clothes for now. Clothes show cultural and social identity. This type of identity, however, belongs only to our species, I'm afraid. I've seen all kinds of house cats with all kinds of markings and colors act friendly with each other. Their relationships did not involve the fur they had on. Yet, if the humans were cats, they would probably choose the cats with markings and colors similar to their own, so they could make friends with them. That is why in many societies, clothing fulfills cultural expectations of modesty and provides a sense of privacy. So here is my deduction as an answer to clothes being emblems of social and cultural identity for us humans: Our thinking is warped and cats are smarter. Another thing that is warped may be the fashion trends. Just watch an artsy fashion show and you'll be embarrassed by the thought that outer space aliens are watching, too, and laughing their heads off. Not to mention the idea that what we wear shows status and symbolizes to which group or class of society we belong. For example, if attending a professional or formal event, would you dare to walk in wearing old jeans or a housedress, while everyone else is clad in suits, ties, and formal dresses? All this is because, we human dummies prioritize appearance over comfort. To be fair to the latest generation of us humans, there is that influence of history, butting in from the background. Many uncomfortable clothing traditions and choices stem from the historical practices, and whether we acknowledge this fact or not, they influence modern designs. Then, even the very idea of comfort depends on one's personal likes and dislikes. To me, comfortable means I don't think about what I am wearing or be pinched or itched by what I am wearing. This is why I applaud the growing trend toward more comfortable clothing, based on functionality and personal preferences with a tad of acceptance for social considerations. Just maybe, we might be learning, at last, from watching other species such as house cats and all other felines. |
| Prompt: Climbing What if you were to climb to the top of a very high mountain, would you do it? And/or if you wish, what does the word "climbing" bring to your mind? ------- Hahaha! I can't even climb a steep set of stairs ever since I came down with asthma during my mid-forties. I may like to be on the top of a very high mountain, which I imagine has to have the most fantastic view, provided there's an elevator to that spot. The first thing the word climbing brought to my mind is a climbing ivy. In fact, I'm looking at it while I type this. "This plant," the seller said when I bought it, "can thrive indoors. It doesn't need much of anything. Just a bit of water a few times a week." It was just a potted plant in the beginning and I never thought of it as a climbing anything. About a year or two later, it decided to climb just a tad. Now, over the several years, it has climbed on the wall where I have a few family photos hanging and of all the other photos, it has encircled my late husband and his sister's childhood photo. I had nothing to do with it. Those who see it think I trained the ivy that way. Nope, it did all that on its own. Not the other photos, though; just that one! Climbing as a metaphor may describe something rising in value or numbers, like the stock market, eager people, temperature...etc. It can also refer to overcoming obstacles or struggles, such as moving up a career ladder or moving into a higher economic or social status. Then, of course, even indoor plants can be climbers, too, as I found out.  |
| Prompt: "May and October are the best-smelling months, but I’ll make a case for December; evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon." — Lisa Kleypas What are your favorite December smells? Why? --------- My favorite December smells are bouquets of clean pure fragrances, such as those of warmth, festivity, appreciation, and that bittersweet aroma of nostalgia. When we lived up in North, the crisp cold air and the smell of fresh snow carried a clean, pure, slightly metallic feeling for my nose, however sharp and invigorating it was. Do I miss it? No! It was then; this is now. Wherever I am, whether I am under the hot Florida sun or enjoying the fragrance of pine forests, or the smell of damp earth, or fallen leaves, December always brought the warmth of spicy anything...cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cookies, gingerbread, and pies baking. Then, who can resist those gooey jelly doughnuts? I love their smells so much that I use all those spices throughout the year to add to the comforting hot drinks like cocoa, tea, and coffee. And yes, even in the scorching Florida climate. All these things, especially the songs that carry smells like "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," inspire feelings of togetherness, reflection, celebration, and thankfulness to add to the traditions that linger in my heart always. As much as I try to be grounded in the present, all those aromas and memories have a way of pulling me toward the past, and as the result my past and present unite beautifully. For that alone, what can top the scent of December any better! |
| Prompt: On this day in 1955, New York psychologist Joyce Brothers wins "$64,000 Question" with topic of boxing. If you were playing the 64,000 game and could choose your category what would you chose? Why? ---------- At that time, I was still a child, although I remember Joyce Brothers talking about it on a talk show, probably a few years later, denying that she was given the answers beforehand. What I also recall is that the show didn't have a long life, although its name became a phrase for solving difficult questions. Even for its early success, the show was said to be made for dramatic effects, with an isolation booth for contestants and such, so the people would keep watching Unfortunately, because of the idea and the drama, the contestants were given the questions and answers and were made to act like actors. For that and probably a few other mishaps, the show didn't survive much longer. Granted, the idea behind that show might have been innovative but the show itself certainly broke a few ethics rules. As for me, I wouldn't be playing that game in the first place. I'd rather earn stuff or receive things or funds freely as gifts through the good will of friends and family. I've never entered a sweepstakes in my life, unless you don't count the trike I won when I was six years old, which wasn't my doing. It was my mother in the wings. Then, of course, here in WdC, we have writing contests with prizes, but they are made to encourage writing and to give new ideas to our writers. Also, our reviews are entered into the Good Deeds race, which isn't really a quiz show or sweepstakes or even a game. When I accidentally win something anywhere through the good will of friends and family, I usually give it, or at least the monetary value of it, to someone else or to charity. Still, to answer the prompt's underlying question, were I to enter such a game, I would probably choose linguistics or words or something like that, which I might easily lose once the game could get more difficult. After all, no one knows everything! I certainly don't. |
| Prompt: Do you watch Christmas TV Shows and movies this time of year? ----------- I used to, is my true answer. Lately, I do like reading a lot. I guess when everyone goes one way, I go the other way.  On the positive side, it makes driving through life easier.Talking about driving through life, when my kids were small, we did watch several good movies as a family. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was an all-time favorite for us. We also enjoyed, way back when, "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," all the adaptations of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," and the animated version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Even further back, I remember my generation of people liking and finding morals in much of those black-and-white movies, such as, "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street." Come to think of it, I used to wish for the angel Clarence to come into my life. Then, when they tried to put color in the reels, it somehow didn't feel quite the same. Later on, I think we watched a "Home Alone" movie as a family, which my husband thought wasn't good for the children in general because it could have an unstabilizing effect on their psyches. By that time, however, our children were either in their late teens or they were already young adults. And I bet some non-Christmas cartoons and stories, then, had to be much worse examples for the younger set. Sometimes, TV series episodes also ran Christmas specials. I remember a couple of "Friends" episodes like that, however vaguely. Talking for myself, I have mostly liked the Christmas variety shows as they offered small sketches of stories, music, comedy, and heart-felt moments. Being an oldie, I was a fan of Andy Williams' shows, and I do remember Dean Martin's Christmas specials, along with Bob Hope's, John Denver's, Dolly Parton's, and also, any one singer or TV personality's specials with the Christmas motif. So, what I said as my answer in the beginning, I'll repeat now: I used to...once upon a time...!  |
| Prompt: If you could relive one year of your life, what year would you choose? Why? ------- If I really had to choose, it would have to be the time about two or more years before I was born.  Just kidding! Fact is, I wouldn't want to go back to any one year to relive the whole thing again. I could relive some events and be with some people who are no more, and even enjoy some stretches of time within a year. I might like that, but not a whole entire year. In general, though, looking at the ways of the world, I've had a happier life than possibly half the world, but I go by the motto, "What's done is done!" That is another reason I wouldn't want to relive another whole year, especially one in the past, knowing that this, again, will be over. This nice prompt reminded me of the movie, The Groundhog Day. My late husband and I watched it at a movie theater. I think it was the early 1990s, although I can't recall which year. If we were to be watching it on the TV at home, I would probably left the room and read a book or something. I'm not saying anything against this movie, by the way. I think it was a very well-acted film with a thoughtful plot, but it was not for me. As I mentioned earlier, I'm just not into repetitions, especially those that take such a long time. But then, "time flies," they say, also. Maybe that is because my time, too, has flown quite fast, and maybe for that reason alone, I can't stand long-term repetitions. |
| Prompt: Procrastination What do you think about procrastination, in general, and why do you think people procrastinate sometimes? And is there something you have been procrastinating about? ----------- Procrastination isn't really a flaw but it can turn into one if carried to the extreme. I used to take things easier and sometimes, not do them exactly on time but I found that, in the long run, this ended up giving me an unusual stress, and if I procrastinated in one area, it also affected other areas in my life by reducing my productivity and making things harder for me. So, since I have the habit of overdoing things, now I do quite the opposite. Lately, I do everything on time and even before time, which has helped my credit score rise, as a bonus. When it comes to tasks, however, a common reason for procrastination is the fear of not doing a task well. We may delay starting something because we are overwhelmed by perfectionism or doubt our abilities, leading to avoidance as a way to escape the possibility of falling short., Then, finding the energy to start a boring or monotonous job can be difficult, and if any task is too big or complex, we may put off starting it because we are confused about knowing how or where to start it. So here comes the decision paralysis. This may lead to emotional avoidance and, to say the least, poor time management. So, it may be a good idea to break tasks into smaller steps and set doable, smaller goals and face our emotional blocks. I try not to procrastinate but in some areas, such as getting someone to do some work around the house, has become a procrastination issue for me because it is difficult for me to depend on others, even my sons, for things I don't have the strength for anymore. That is the result of being a do-it-yourself-er all my life. but I'm working on it! |
| Prompt: Journaling Do you do any other journaling besides your WdC blog? Private or public? Why or why not? Also, what could be some helpful tips you can give to others who want to start a daily journal of any kind? ------- Yes, I have four other journals but not all of them are for daily writing. The one I keep to every day is a small 3x5 inch thankfulness journal. The other is one for answering shadow-work questions. Then, another one is my personal diary. Yet another one is a fancy diary book, given to me as a gift, which has a writing prompt at the top of each page. All my physical journaling began because I realized that what I was writing was not for me alone and I figured it was high time that I took care of myself, first. Also, all these journals are for my eyes only, not that I'd care much if anyone got a hold of any one of them, but I wanted me to be as true to my writing as I could be, even if my personal life is not all that interesting. To begin with, I find that journaling has many functions and benefits,. Besides being a dumpster of emotions and events, it helps take the edge from strong feelings, so I don't go yakking and bothering people with my regurgitated stuff. The best thing about it, though, it helps me to see me as I am, more or less, under my surface feelings and to understand what is really going on behind them. It also helps me to see my life in its entirety and hushes up my internal critic. Then, I look at it as a free therapy of sorts; however, I don't know how long I'll keep up with all this journaling. After all, I've stopped writing novels and even short stories. I guess, this is the time for journaling in my life. In addition, I like handwriting much better. Old dog, no new tricks, here! Another thing is, when keeping a journal with this new ai thing and my computer, pads, and cell butting in with my writing, it feels like some machine is putting words in my mouth and into my writing before I finish typing them. This is quite annoying and it hurts my thinking process. With some machines, I can stop this, but not with others. Then, even when I can stop it, it comes back, anyway. Then, heaven forbid that I should write in a different language or use a made-up word! All this could be because I am obstinate, but I have a few messaging friends, old like me, and they are all complaining from the same things. After all, aren't we allowed to do our own thinking! |
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you so very much for your kind words and advice.