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Trust the Journey

Mental Note:

Trust your journey.

No matter how many detours we take or delays we encounter, we will always be led back to where we’re meant to be.” Nicole Spindler

Beautifully said but trusting the journey you’re on is hard and accepting that everything will turn out for the best is harder still. Humans want control of the situation or at least I do. I don’t like the idea of some unseen force manipulating the outcome and that is a frightening concept for me. However, if truth be told, perhaps there is no other way. You’ve heard the saying, if it is meant to be, it will be and what if we just let go and let it unfold as it was meant to be. A doable thing? Speaking from my standpoint, that is next to impossible for me.

“Don’t let what happens or what doesn’t happen bother you. Life has a way of rearranging perfectly so that what you truly need can come together.” Unknown

If I step aside that is. My problem is that I want to know what is coming up or what life has in store for me before it comes up. I spend a lot of time overthinking the negatives even before it has happened but that is human nature I suppose. Much of my time is wasted on projections that never take place and if and when it happens I am fully capable of handling the outcome.

Trusting the journey I am on demands that I accept what comes my way. “Be quiet” whispers the all-knowing power of the unknown, the universe or God in his wisdom or whatever you believe in. It says, “Let me work this out for you, I’ve got this and you need to trust in the journey. You’ll be fine.” The untrusting part within screams, “I’m afraid! What if I fail or I fall flat on my face or there is no getting up from this?” That too is human nature.

“Sometimes the strength within you is not a big fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers softly, “You got this, keep going.” Unknown

Perhaps, trusting the journey is not about rushing, not pushing and shoving and not about stomping your feet and demanding but that it is more about accepting that everything is being worked out behind the scenes and you just need to sit back and accept and know that the outcome will be exactly as it was meant to be. It doesn’t mean you have to stop working on yourself, putting effort out on what needs to be done and making your way through life, it means knowing that there is a higher force who is on your side. Not so simple? I know, it isn’t for me either. What if there is a higher power working on your behalf and it has got your back? Wonderful don’t you think? Now, I just need to trust in that concept. Good luck you say? I know but it’s worth a try.

“Trust the process, trust your journey. You are going TO BE OKAY.” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

My Education?

Wow, I think before I get through these daily prompts, my whole life will be out there on display!

Let’s see, I studied Journalism and later went into Education because journalism required that I finish articles or reports at a given time span and it was too much pressure for me and it took the fun out of writing. I love writing but I wanted to do it at my own pace so I backed out of doing it full-time.

I didn’t give up on writing altogether. I kept at it by writing freelance articles, writing for a fashion magazine, writing for a political website and published a book. When all is said and done, writing is still my first love only not the pressurized variety. These days I take it at my own pace and write about whatever I want and that I find brings out the best in me and my writing.

Colleges I attended? That’s for me to know and for you to find out.

Daily writing prompt

What colleges have you attended?

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The “Anger” Monster

I’ve written about this topic before but it’s worth repeating. Anger has the potential to destroy and in its worst form when it steps in as rage, violence erupts, but not always. It is an emotion that can be annoying, a pesky below the skin variety that pokes and causes discomfort and unrest or it can do damage of the worst kind if not reeled in.

It is defined as, “an intense emotional state involving a strong, uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat.”

Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? However, it is not that simple and neither is it of the harmless kind. If left to simmer unchecked like some of us do, it has the potential to erupt in unexpected ways and more often than not to your own detriment.

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Mark Twain

I’ve gone through different forms of anger in my life as most of us have, from the mild variety to the last stage involving rage. This last one has the potential to turn a mild-mannered person like myself into someone unrecognizable. My bout with rage appeared when my mother was murdered by an immigrant for a few pieces of jewelry. My disbelief morphed into anger of the worst kind. I would play the scene over and over again in my mind until I became the victim and she, the killer, had the upper hand. There was no changing what had happened but that didn’t matter. I wanted revenge! Some days, I didn’t even recognize myself anymore because “anger” was corroding within me and I was unable to see clearly or to find my way out of this predicament.

“Anger doesn’t solve anything, it builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.” Lawrence Douglas Wilder

It took years and I almost let it destroy my life. Writing and putting my feelings down on paper helped and publishing several articles and getting the message out there also helped because as in this case as with most cases these days, the perpetrators have more rights than the victims. My mother did not get the justice she deserved. It was another blow to an already fragile psyche but I had to deal with it. I could have gone off the deep-end but as I have said here many times before, there is strength within. It is of the incredible kind and I tapped into it. I had to survive this ordeal not only for my sake but for those around me. I wanted to kill “her” or thoughts of that magnitude did cross my mind but not for long. I was made of better stuff and I relied on my inner strength to get me through and it did.

“Anger is one letter short of danger.” Unknown

Remember anger is one emotion if left to run wild and unchecked it can destroy and it can wreck more than havoc in your life. It is not worth it and no matter how unfair or unjust you think life is, there is a better way than grabbing hold of anger and letting it take you for a ride. There are better ways of dealing with anger and some of them are to observe, understand even if it seems impossible at the time, make peace, focus on the good, forgive (I couldn’t do this one), and LET IT GO!

A wise man was asked what is anger?

He gave a beautiful answer.

It is a punishment we give to ourself, for somebody else’s mistake.

Sometimes there is nothing left to do but to accept what you can’t change, salvage what you can and move on. Anger solves nothing but it can destroy everything.

REST IN PEACE MOM.

My Daily Playtime?

I do have one thing I try to do everyday and that is to play with Chachi, the cat. We’ve come up with a different version of hide-and-seek and the little guy knows exactly what to do! I hide and he needs to find me. The difference to this version is that when he finds me and I catch him, he gets 10 kisses each time.

It’s not about the finding but the kisses that matters. Some days he walks away with more than 30 kisses but who’s counting! I love giving him kisses and he loves getting them and that’s what counts. It is a sort of bonding time for us but let me tell you, I am pooped by the time we finish! He walks off with a grin on his face if you can call it that, happy with the world and with his mommy.

Daily writing prompt

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

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The Cheesecake Dilemma!

One of my resolutions for this year is to cut out the “Cheesecake Fetish” altogether! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it is this all-consuming lust for cheesecake!

This particular fetish started last year and since then it has taken on a gigantic personality. I never used to be a person who needed a “fix” of something sweet or of anything else for that matter. Somehow I got on the cheesecake train and have refused to get off.

To make matters worse and as life would have it, I met someone who offered me a slice of the best cheesecake in town and I was hooked. I wasn’t hooked on the guy but on what he had to offer. This love fest took off to new heights when every time he went to play tennis, he would bring me a whole cheesecake from the store close to the tennis club. How convenient? What’s that saying? “The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.” He basically took it to heart and I had my never-ending supply of cheesecake of the very best kind.

The problem. Ever heard of cheesecake taunting? Neither have I but every time I walked past the refrigerator, I would hear it knocking and calling out my name! It got to the point where I would just open the fridge, stand there in its all-encompassing presence and bathe in its scrumptiousness. I was able to ration it to one slice a day and so it has been until I realized that thoughts of “cheesecake” accompanied me on my walks!

It was time to hit the brakes. Willpower needs to take a stand and show this bad behavior the door! This year I’m going to have one slice per week, no ifs or buts about it. It will be my reward for working on myself. I don’t care how loud it cries from behind the refrigerator door and begs me to take a bite, I WILL turn a deaf ear and sip on mundane coffee to stave off the craving.

Hard is not the word for it, but I’ve got to start somewhere before that “craving” takes over my life! What about the fixer? Well, I’ve put him on notice not before seeing the disbelief go flitting past his face but I’m sure he’ll find new ways of getting through to the heart that has locks, chains and a moat surrounding it! If there’s a will, there’s a way as they say.

It’s time for coffee and I swear I can hear the half- finished cheesecake screaming my name but nope not today. It’s time to put on my shoes and do 30 minutes of HIIT training! Willpower do your thing! Yes, WE CAN do this!

I’ll keep you posted.

Have an amazing day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (2026)

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

It’s page 1 of 365! A blank one to put whatever you want to on it. Let’s make it a good one as we step into the New Year with hopes, dreams and unfulfilled wishes. May it all come true!

Dear Past:

Thank you for all the lessons you taught me. Not all of them were good but they had to be learned.

Dear Future:

I am ready to embrace whatever is coming my way! However, if I want to run back to my old ways, please drag me to the water and make me drink from it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

My Biggest Challenges (Archives)

I think it is learning to undo some learned patterns and behavior traits. We become accustomed to what is comfortable and that doesn’t necessarily mean good for us. The same goes for me. I tend to be very accepting of things that do not serve me knowing full well that they don’t but instead of putting a stop to it I make excuses and that right there is my problem. Sometimes being “nice” doesn’t necessarily bring the same into your life.

This year I need to stop being nice and accepting of things I know that are not good for me and learn to break the patterns that enable such behavior. It starts with looking within to see why such patterns exist and that is not a comfortable thing to do. It means owning up to and accepting what is there and changing it for the better. Not always easy to do.

Daily writing prompt

What are your biggest challenges?

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The Last Walk (Archives)

It’s the last walk for this year. The weather has kept me away for the last week or so. There has been lots of fog and add the constant fine rain or drizzle as some may call it and you’ve got weather that is neither fit for man nor beast to venture out in.

Today, there is no sun and the same thick fog is playing havoc with visibility but now we have to contend with frost as well. Looking out of the kitchen window this morning I noticed that the rooftops are dressed in white making it look spooky in the dawning light.

I’m dressed for the weather. I’ve got my Down jacket on, gloves on my hands, a scarf around my neck but decided against a hat since I just washed my hair last night and winter caps do not do justice when it comes to long hair! Vain? You can say that.

The fields are shrouded in pea soup thick fog and it is cold, much colder than it has been. However, the trees are frosted and that right there is my belated Christmas present from Mother Nature! They look like they’re straight out of a picture postcard and gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe it!

It was quiet as I walked, my hands shoved into my jacket as I took in the view before me. Nothing was moving except for a few crows picking at the frozen ground for whatever they could find and as I passed them they let out a loud caw in unison. They are loud creatures and not to my liking but they are a part of the fields and there are plenty of them here.

The herons seem to have taken refuge from the cold and that’s sad because my heart soars whenever I see them. I have a soft spot for them or perhaps for the luck they might bring. Out of nowhere, I spot three deer in the field. Suddenly, one of them runs towards me and my breath catches in my throat because that has never happened before. Just as suddenly, it stops and watches me as I make a loud clicking noise with my tongue more out of fear than anything else. It was enough to scare it away and they turned and ran off in the opposite direction.

The rest of the walk was calm and peaceful as usual. I can hardly believe that the year is almost over. We’ve almost gone through 365 days in a blink of an eye or so it seems. They say time flies when you’re having fun but that hasn’t been the case as far as I am concerned so why is time flying like it has wings? Could it have to do with getting older? Hmm….maybe but whatever it is, the new year is waiting in the wings and good or bad, it will be here soon.

Take care fields and I’ll see you in the New Year.

Start the New Year Right!

Here’s how to start the New Year on the right foot. These traditions from around the globe according to Afar.com shows you how the rest of the world welcomes the new year in.

Eating lucky foods is one way to do it. Most of Latin America eats 12 grapes or raisins on New Year’s Eve. Italy, on the other hand, eats 12 spoonfuls of lentils – one with each of the 12 chimes of the clock at midnight. The French eat a stack of pancakes. The Germans prefer marzipan shaped like a pig for good luck and in the Netherlands people eat doughnuts and ring shaped food. In the U.S., it’s collard greens and black-eyed peas.

In the Phillipines, the Filipino community believes that wearing round shapes like polka dots promotes prosperity and good luck. Eating round fruits like oranges, grapes, watermelon and pomelos counts as well.

In Brazil, wearing white on New Year’s Eve symbolizes peace and spiritual cleansing. At midnight, everyone runs into the water to jump over seven waves, each wave represents resolutions or hopes for the New Year.

If you want a year filled with travel and new experiences, do what the Mexicans do. They walk around with an empty suitcase or they take a full lap around the block with their empty luggage. Worth a try?

In Cuba, people gather all of the bad spirits and negative energy from the past 365 days and toss them out the front door. You’ll see buckets full of dirty water flying out of homes during the countdown to midnight. Just don’t get any splashed on you, if you know what I mean. Actually, I’m thinking of trying this one myself!

Podariko is a Greek custom where they hang pomegranates in their households and this is thought to bring good luck. Just before midnight, they shut off the lights and leave the house and then one lucky individual is sent to reenter the house but with the right foot first. A second person will smash the pomegranate against the door with their right hand. The more juicy seeds that spill out, the more luck the new year will bring.

In Russia, they use 12 seconds of silence before the stroke of midnight to make wishes.

In Denmark, the Danes will jump off a chair or sofa literally jumping into the new year! Good luck if you do and bad luck if you don’t.

The Italians and the Spanish take it to another level. They all wear red underwear for luck. Now, you know what’s under the clothes they’re wearing!

In Japan they feast on prawns believed to bring a long life and herring roe to boost fertility. Hmm….

The Irish bang the outside walls of their houses with bread to keep away bad luck and evil spirits. Why bread? Ask them.

There you have it, some of the traditions used to welcome the new year in. I’ll add one more. I was married to a German and my ex mother-in-law used to cook a big pot of pork ribs with sauerkraut and black-eyed peas for days on end before New Year and she swears that eating it on New Year’s day brings good luck. I used to eat it simply because that was the main dish for New Year! Did it bring luck? Your guess is as good as mine!

HAPPY NEW YEAR folks with whatever traditions you use to bring the New Year in. Let’s hope this next year will be a good one and that’s what matters.

Have an amazing day.

Nostalgic Longings

I think it is those days when I was young and running wild as the proverbial tomboy in the woods behind my home. It was a time of freedom and not caring for the norms that life or society stipulates on how you should be. No rules, no regulations and no listening to that inner voice, just letting go and living life as it was meant to be.

Those days are gone but I if I had a chance to go back there again, I would! Some days the rebellion sets in and I still jump in duck puddles when no one is looking but it is far and few. I am all prim and proper now but don’t let that fool you, there is that little “wild child” still inside of me. Some days I revisit those days and it still brings a smile to my face. Good memories of days gone by but still precious and they live on in the grown-up me. Mom, if you’re listening, I am more like you wanted me to be, more of a “lady” but I can tell you, it is NOT that much fun!

Daily writing prompt

What makes you feel nostalgic?

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