Tag: dailyprompt

Kickin it!

Wiwohka5 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s a moment that made you realize you were stronger than you thought?
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For over 40 years I battled with smoking tobacco. I started when I was merely 11 years old. Throughout the years, I threw them away time and again, only to reach out and start back up whenever stress arrived in my life.

Finally, after all the years of self-propelled willpower failures, I quite trying to quite! Can I say that in a sentence? Oh well, I already did it, so you’ll just have to go with it. Any moment, a baby may wake and I’ll have to put off my prompt answer til later on.

Needless to say, I threw in the towel of hope that I would ever give up the nasty habit. Then, about 3 and 1/2 years ago, I literally heard God’s voice saying, “Child, it’s time to let go of the past. Give me this one thing, and I will take it from you forever.” Well, when the God of creation makes you such an offer, one simply cannot say no. Could you? I couldn’t.

It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do, and it was utterly miserable. But, for the first time in my entire life, I didn’t feel as if I were carrying such a burden alone. I really did feel God walk with me through the whole process.

I quite cold turkey, as they say. Headaches, nausea, crawling skin, and all, God carried me to the end of that lifelong curse, and to this day, I have had zero… I mean ZERO desire to ever pick up another cigarette.

Did I do it on my own? Physically, yes.

Was it difficult? Oh, absolutely!

Did I think I had the strength to quit for the last time? No!

Whether you believe that I quit under my own strength, or that born of my heavenly father, the important thing to see is that God will always fill in the strength blanks with his own power. It was one of the most important pivotal moments in my spiritual walk.

Trust in God, follow his direction, and he will always ensure we have all the strength we’ll need, even when we don’t think it’s possible.

With God, anything is possible!

Cookies?

Wooden cart filled with various types of fresh baked cookies in bowls and trays
A wide variety of freshly baked cookies arranged on a wooden display cart in a bakery

Survival of the most joyful…

WiwohkaLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s a simple pleasure in life that brings you joy?
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Honestly, my list of simple pleasures is extraordinarily long, so I’m unable to pick just one to describe. Since that makes for a very poor response to the daily prompt, I want to make the effort of giving you something worth reading.

If I can’t answer straight up, then the next best thing is to seek somebody else’s answer, right?! So, I asked Mr. McGoogle the prompt question. The response was much better than I expected. Instead of giving just a basic answer, the ai overview actually helped me understand why it was so hard to pick a simple answer.

Why is it so hard to pick one? Because we’ve been asked to give a simple pleasure that brings joy, not some huge undertaking, or major life-altering activity.

Anyway, here is the response from the web’s ai overview:

Life’s simple pleasures are the easily accessible, everyday moments that ground us. They bypass the need for grand milestones or large budgets, offering immediate calm, happiness, and a restored sense of well-being. [1]

I liked how the ai summed up a little breakdown of what exactly life’s simple pleasures might look like. From there, it broke it down into categories, so you can see how many directions one might go, in selecting their favorite simple pleasure:

Discovering these little pockets of joy helps shift the nervous system into a state of rest and relaxation. Explore some of the most universal everyday joys organized by category: [1]

☕ Sensory & Comfort

  • Taste: The first sip of morning coffee, biting into fresh, juicy fruit, or the rich taste of dark chocolate.
  • Touch: Crawling into bed with fresh, clean sheets, or feeling the warmth of sunshine on your face.
  • Smell: The aroma of fresh rain on hot pavement (petrichor) or the scent of a favorite candle. [1]

🌳 Nature & Outdoors

  • The Elements: Stepping on crunchy leaves in the fall or feeling a cool breeze on a warm afternoon.
  • Observation: Listening to early morning birdsong or looking up at the moon and stars.
  • Sensation: Walking barefoot through plush green grass or breathing fresh, salty air at the beach. [1, 2, 3, 4]

🧘‍♀️ Mind & Body

  • Routine: Waking up naturally without an alarm or taking a cozy afternoon nap.
  • Release: A deep, satisfying stretch after waking up.
  • Peace: The clean, uncluttered calm of a tidy room. [1, 2, 3]

🤝 Connection & Hobbies

  • Communication: Receiving a handwritten letter, or exchanging an effortless laugh with a loved one.
  • Leisure: Sinking into a really good book or listening to an old, nostalgic song.
  • Company: Having a cat choose to rest on your lap, or simply people-watching at a local coffee shop.

If I could choose a simple pleasure from the Sensory and Comfort section, it might be a really rich scented candle, leaving it’s aroma throughout the room. My favorite kinds of candles are the deep, earthy kind, with differing notes of oriental spices, and such.

Choosing a simple pleasure from the Nature and Outdoors section, I’d pick walking barefoot on the beach, and stepping into the surf, just enough to feel the waters pulling me toward it.

From mind and body, I’d probably be the stretching girl. I wonder if yoga would be my jam?

Last but not least comes the Connection and Hobbies section. For this I’m choosing the entire Leisure section, and not just one answer. Why? Because I can, that’s why. Music, books, and old movies are definitely some of my favorite simple pleasures to indulge in, just so you know. But only some, which is why I had to give this incredibly longwinded answer.

Why I didn’t just pick baking cookies, I don’t know. Hey, it’s early and I was a bit slow on the take!

Try one, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that a good cookie can be a very joyful simple pleasure, or maybe a guilty one. I’m sure you’ll figure it out…

The Hills are alive… again…

Wiwohka2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
If you could erase one movie from your memory and watch it again for the first time, which one would it be?
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Hands down, if I were to pick one movie that I could erase from my memory, only to watch all over again for the first time, it would be The Sound of Music, with Julie Andrews!

I’ve nearly memorized all the songs from the movie, so it would be incredible to begin again, and enjoy the excitement once more.

The romance, the adventure, and all the music had me entranced. I wanted to be Maria so badly, lol.

Aside from all the amazing acting, musical voices, and talent displayed during the film, the cinematography was outstanding.

All in all, it would be worth the forgetting, just for the chance to experience the first discovery of it, one more time.

It’s too bad that I can’t make you forget about all the cookies you’ve had, thus far. Then you could enjoy that first one, all over again.

Oh well. At least their fresh each day, right?!

Pen and Paper should do…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
How can you build a regular fitness routine?
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Unless it’s expected that I physically create my own gymnasium, the easier and less expensive method of building a regular fitness routine, is to simply write it down.

While I understand the idea behind building a routine, my brain doesn’t work like that. I am a list maker, a note taker, and in truth, an exercise faker! I’ll write out a plan, or routine, if you will, but whatever the exercise ends up being… if it ain’t fun, I ain’t doing it!

Growing up in the country left it’s mark on this girl. Most of the exercise I took part in, had something to do with camping, hunting, fishing, or sitting on the back of a horse. Like I said, as far as a work out goes, it had to be fun!

I am nearly 58 years old, and my attitude from childhood hasn’t changed. I tried the whole gym routine, wasted countless dollars on memberships that I never fully committed to using. It was smelly, sweaty, and filled with strangers… no thanks.

Nowadays, my feet are really the only exercise equipment I utilize. I love to walk, but even if I can’t leave the apartment, I’m still able to walk in place, stretch and do leg lifts. Aside from that, I don’t have any plan that I’ve built, really. And, f.y.i., I don’t plan on changing the way things are, at this time.

Besides, I start watching my grandbaby full -time on Monday. She’s going to be the biggest fitness routine I’ve had since my daughters were babies. Sheesh, just thinking about it has made me tired.

I still have the energy for cookies, though…

Assortment of decorated cookies shaped like tents, horses, fish, campfires, boots, and other camping items

What’s with all the rating?

Wiwohka9 Comments
Woman in yellow sweater looking confused while holding a menu in a café
Daily writing prompt
What’s a classic book that you think is overrated?
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First we’re asked to give up the goods on who we thought were underrated people, and now we must seek out an overrated classic book. What gives? Maybe WordPress has pilfered my idea from Monday Messages. It was my idea first, just so you know.

For the sake of WordPress’s reputation, and to maintain my own literary standings, instead of answering the prompt, I’m going to explain it.

Exactly what do they want to know, here? How many really understand what is considered to be overrated about a piece of literature?

Help us out, Mr. McGoogle, would ya…

Commonly cited “overrated” classic books often feature slow pacing, archaic language, or excessive repetition that frustrates modern readers, according to discussions on Reddit and Goodreads. Top examples include The Catcher in the Rye (whiny protagonist), Moby Dick (too much whaling data), and The Great Gatsby (overhyped narrative). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Frequently Cited Overrated Classics

  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: Often criticized for having an annoying, whiny, and unrelatable protagonist.
  • Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Criticized for being a “slog” with too many technical, tedious chapters on whale biology and whaling history.
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Frequently deemed overhyped, with readers finding the characters unsympathetic and the story unengaging.
  • Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Described as overly miserable, with a complex, unenjoyable structure.
  • The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Often criticized for slow pacing and an agonizingly detailed, boring start.
  • Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: Cited for being difficult to follow and harboring dated, problematic themes.
  • Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: While acknowledged for its historical influence, many find it repetitive and far too long.
  • The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway: Criticized for a “boring” plot that feels minimal to some readers. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Common Reasons for Overrating

  • Stylistic Overload: Novels like Ulysses by James Joyce are criticized for “willful obscurity” and being “a dead end in fiction”.
  • Outdated Content: Books like Huckleberry Finn are sometimes viewed as outdated rather than timeless.
  • School Curriculum Fatigue: Many readers forced to read classics like Lord of the Flies or Romeo and Juliet in school often view them negatively.
  • Repetitive Satire: Don Quixote is often considered tedious because the humor is repetitive.
  • Misleading Marketing: The Da Vinci Code is listed because it was marketed as a high-stakes masterpiece, while many saw it as a sensationalized, inaccurate thriller. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Note: The perception of a book as “overrated” is subjective and often debated among readers, with many of these titles remaining enduring staples of literature for good reason. [1]

While I can’t say that there are any particular books I’ve found to be overrated, per say, though there were a few I wish I hadn’t read. But it wasn’t for the reason of being overrated. I just didn’t enjoy the content of the story.

Forming an opinion about a books rating isn’t something I really practice. I don’t read reviews of a book before choosing to read it. I simply read the description on the back of the cover to decide whether I want to dive in, or not. I have read books that friends have suggested for one reason, or another. But not to rate the story. There was something in the content that I sought, based on what that friend may have shared about the story.

Being that I’m a writer, perhaps it gives me more grace and understanding for those that came before. I appreciate all the hard work that went into creating and publishing those books. While I may not enjoy certain writing styles, I can’t judge the content of a story based on that. How would I like it if someone judged my writing, purely based on whether they like the way I told the story. If one doesn’t like it, another will. Everyone is different, and so there will always be opinions from one end of a topic, to the other.

Though I couldn’t give an answer to the prompt this morning, I did learn more about what makes a book good or bad, underrated or overrated, and whether or not I want to read a book til the end.

That was a bit of a read, wasn’t it? Now I’m hungry.

Let’s eat cookies…

Book-shaped cookies in various colors with titles like Stories, Recipes, Mystery, and Magic

The little people…

Wiwohka5 Comments
Four children playing and building sandcastles in a sandbox at a playground
Daily writing prompt
Who are some underrated people in history?
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Most would consider answering the prompt with the names of men and women, from our history. But didn’t those grown up folks start out as little people?

When we think of people from history, we don’t often envision them as the children they were, before they became important, famous, or even underrated. Everybody starts out little, regardless of the outcome.

There is so much that goes into being strong, successful, and seen by the world around us, it’s no wonder that so many go underrated. Think of all the underrated ones that work to build up someone else’s notoriety. You don’t think that politicians, scientists, medical professionals, and inventors all reached their popularity by mere self-propulsion, do you?

Those incredible people were all in the sandbox, at one time, rubbing shoulders with all the underrated children. Those little, little people, also grew up. And, it was their hard work, selfless giving, and support that made it possible for the few, the proud, and the glorious ones.

I don’t wish to minimize the giftedness of those that have done amazing things in this world, but I wonder how many of them would be where they are today, were it not for those that helped get them there.

Cookie?

Less is more…

WiwohkaLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What are the biggest benefits of minimalist living?
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There’s something interesting about that old adage. The three words, themselves, offer the full answer to the prompt, without needing much more information, don’t you think.

One can take a wordy explanation about how to enjoy much more of your life without amassing a garage full of material things… and simply say, less is more.

Don’t get me wrong, here. I, too, once had a garage full of toys, gadgets, and more. It wasn’t like those things just sat, collecting dust. We used them, therefore, we assumed they were necessary wants, not just want wants. It’s easy to justify having more than we actually need. And, it’s not always a bad thing. The reality sets in when the things we put our hopes in, fall away from our grasp.

There was a time when we had plenty, and then suddenly, it was gone… all of it!

How you survive and overcome great loss is what makes you who you are. It will define your character, for the better… or possibly not, depending on how much you valued all that was lost.

What I discovered during our time living in that old R.V., and into our homeless bit, was the art of finding solutions, the act of letting go, and the gift of gratitude!

We live quite modestly, now, compared to before. To some, it may seem impoverished, but quite probably it’s more comfortable than many others will ever experience. We don’t have much, but what we do have is cared for, and never taken for granted. And if we lose it, we replace it, or simply make do without it.

While I could easily come up with a list of things I could use, as anyone might do, I won’t. Why? Because living with minimal things has now become an actual way of life, at least in my mind. I can’t speak for my husband, of course.

The way I see it, having less means there’s more space in my head, my house, and my heart. There’s a sense of freedom in not being tethered to a large amount of materials that are all crying out to be used, repaired, and/or stored somewhere.

When we have to move, we move fast and light. When we exist in small and limited spaces, it’s comfortable and not overcrowded.

And, more importantly, my heart now seeks other treasures and beautiful things. You just might not see what I see. Our home may be empty of many material things, but it’s never truly empty. Instead, it’s full of love, laughter, light, and shared dreams. Dreams that are still yet to come true.

Plus, since there’s so much room in my kitchen, I’ve plenty of space for baking all these cookies…

To ride like the wind…

Wiwohka1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?
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Obsession was hardly the word for it! More like consumed, I think. For this little girl, anything to do with horses was where all the fun existed.

I was born and raised on a farm in Oregon, and was surrounded by all manner of farm animals from dawn til dusk. My mamma had me on horseback when I was still in diapers. Our family were avid hunters, so we were most often trail blazing up into some mountain range, or another, in search of good hunting grounds. Since it was easy to lose little ones in the middle of the woods, we were assigned to horseback for the majority of the trail passages. It was just what we did back then, as far as I remember.

When at school, my best friend and I would use our jump ropes and pretend to ride horses around the playground, during recess and lunchtime.

I watched every John Wayne Western, with rapt attention, as well as every other western movie or television show. The original Black Beauty movie was my go-to, along with any other show that featured horses.

My first horse was a paint pony that we named Candy, and I loved her like she was the only horse on the planet! We couldn’t afford a saddle for her, so I rode bareback all the time. It wasn’t a problem since she was as round as a bouncy ball. She was also not very tall at all, so when she bucked me off, it wasn’t far to fall.

Our farm boasted about 250 acres of cattle pasture, so my favorite Saturday activity was to ride the range, as they called it. The fence-line actually had several ranch hand shacks out along the back of our land, which I loved to visit. If I fell off my pony, I could just walk her up to the fence, and then climb back up that way.

My mother would pack us lunches, and my brother and I would take our horses and chase each other around the fields. The best part was pretending to shoot each other and falling off into the large piles of drying hay that lay randomly about the pasture. Those were the days.

My love of horses didn’t end there, though. Eventually, after years of riding whenever I got the chance, I landed a job as a ranch hand/babysitter for a friend of the family. I lived in a renovated tack room, out in the horse stables. I learned how to ride properly, both in Western and English style, as well as all the rest that went into training, breeding, and complete equine husbandry.

From the stables of a horse ranch, to the mountainous meadows of an all girls Christian Horse Camp, if horses were involved… I was all in!

As the years passed, and children arrived, my time was no longer my own. Though I wasn’t able to pursue more horsemanship type careers, I did raise my girls up in the same fashion that my mom did for my childhood. My girls were on horseback from diapers on, and we frequently enjoyed camping, fishing, and hiking with horses. We even spent three summers at a dude ranch in Idaho, riding horses all over the Sawtooth Mountain Range.

It’s been at least 15 years since I sat in the saddle, unless you want to count the numerous hours of computer games that require you to ride a mount. Age, and arthritis, finally caught up with this girl from the farm. My knees, my back, and my neck, have all paid the price of happiness.

While I might not be able to ride horses any more, it has never lessened my love and passion for the beautiful creatures.

Cookie?

I don’t have to wish…

Wiwohka3 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What super power do you wish you had and why?
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Happily, I can say that I already have a super power, so this prompt would be more aptly written as, “What super power are you glad you have and why?”

While I could play a game of riddles with you, in order to assist in your discovering what my answer might be, I won’t. To save time, I’ll make things easy for you.

My super power is Invisibility!

I can vanish from before your eyes, only to reappear at a later time, and place. Yes, it’s true! I’ve been doing it now for a number of years. Some might think that if one always fades away into the shadows, their life would simply be a lonely place of existence. But, surprise… it’s not lonely, at all. Well, not all the time, anyway.

When I get to feeling a bit on the lonely side I’ll surface for a bit, but only that.

When one reappears to those in their environment, that’s when the drama arrives. The gossip, the strife, and everyone climbing over one another, just to get ahead.

I know it may seem selfish of me, not to be visible, and all. But if I’m out of sight, then that means I’m also out of mind. As nobody ever came looking for me, while I was in my invisible form, it became apparent that I hadn’t really been missed very badly.

Oh, don’t feel badly on my behalf. Being invisible has it’s perks! You can go places, and do things without anyone taking notice. I can spend hours reading the bible, crafting, working on puzzles, watching documentaries, playing video games, and things of that nature. But, what I love the most about my times of invisibility, would be the hours of imaginative writing. It doesn’t even matter if none of you ever read it. I was there, and I wrote it all down as the adventure unfolded.

Perhaps one day, long after I’ve faded away, someone will find the things I wrote down. Maybe it will be something beautiful, or maybe not. I guess it depends on whose eyes were able to see the words written on the pages.

Before I ghost you again, you should probably grab some cookies…

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

What if I can’t choose?

Wiwohka2 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s a moment you wish you could freeze and live in forever?
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Personally, I think this prompt is too difficult. Perhaps if there were only a single moment in time that were noteworthy in my life, but there have been many. Far too many, in fact, for me to successfully pick the right moment that should be frozen forever.

Why, the birth of my children has already created a conundrum, as I’ve three daughters. How on earth am I supposed to choose between them? Time would be frozen, remember, so if I chose one over the other, I’d lose a life’s worth of memories for the other two that I didn’t pick.

What about my wedding day? What about that moment? Again, if I choose my wedding day, it would again erase my chance at memories being made with all three of my girls.

While I’d love to freeze the moment I finished reading one of my favorite novels, with the combination of all the emotions being experienced at that final page… there are waaaay too many books that accomplished such a moment!

First big successes, or even first adventures… or what about our most amazing vacation moment? The problem with freezing any of the moments we may or may not pick, is that it’s permanent. No going back, and no going forward. How very limiting, I think.

For this reason, I am unable to pick only a single moment to dwell in forever. The problem with having anything wonderful is, eventually, we want more. The new becomes old, the exciting becomes rather mundane, and boring. It sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.

While I won’t pick a moment, I will pick today. While I don’t know what’s to come, I’ll walk the path, none the less. No matter the joy, or the pain, I will make my way to tomorrow, and leave today behind.

I, just as you, are travelers. We were never meant to stand still. If we did, time would simply wave as it passed us by.

Enjoy a cookie…

Tomorrows may be even better, or perhaps not. It’s a chance you’ll have to take, my friends.