dailyprompt – Page 40

The Most Delicious Thing

I recall it was in Singapore. The place was a street side cafe with western music blaring out of its interior. The plastic chairs looked well-used and none too stable but the place was packed with both foreigners and locals alike. There was laughter and good times but the aroma coming out of the kitchen made my mouth water.

“How good could the food be from this dingy looking place?” I wondered. Turns out it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. I can’t remember the name of the dish but a friend recommended it since I love seafood. It arrived with no pomp and circumstance but it was a meal fit for a king or a queen for that matter! The bowl was small and unassuming. The aroma tantalizing. I removed the lid and hot steam escaped from the interior. It had a crust covering the whole thing and I was told to break it softly with a spoon and I did. Lo and behold, the crust sank into the thick broth below and I could see chunks of seafood, huge shrimps or rather prawns, lobster,squid, fish and a whole lot of other stuff staring back at me. I waited for it to cool off and dug in. It was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted. The thick reddish colored broth was beyond delicious, the morsels of seafood tender and every spoonful going down was heaven in itself.

It has been many years since that experience but I still remember this dish because it is unforgettable. I’ve eaten in different parts of the world but nothing as delicious as that unassuming bowl of whatever it was called. It has carved a place in my mind and my palate and will stay there as the best tasting food ever.

Singapore is a gourmet’s paradise and they can take the simplest ingredients and turn it into something grandiose and spectacular! Let me just add, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either!

Daily writing prompt

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

View all responses

One Outfit Over and Over Again?

I’m not quite sure about this question. Forced to wear one outfit over and over again? The thing is nobody forces me to do anything anymore! I march to my own drumbeat these days.

Anyway, if I had to wear one outfit over and over again, it would be something sloppy. I can stay in PJs all day long but since that doesn’t really work in the real world, I’d opt for my Zara sweatpants and a short-sleeved t-shirt. The sweatpants have seen better days but you can’t beat the comfort factor. It is grey, roomy and looks a little big on me but who cares! I had it on during winter with sweatshirts and sweaters and now that it is warm, I reach for it just for lazing around the house. Only in summer, I pair it with t-shirts and it works just fine. Add a pair of flip-flops to it and you’ve got no-nonsense dressing to the hilt.

Of course, when I have company I have to force myself to change into something more presentable BUT the moment they leave, I’m back in sloppy wear and there’s nothing like it. It is stress-free dressing and it suits me just fine!

Daily writing prompt

If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

View all responses

The Importance of Spirituality

It is important but it is not a 24/7 thing like it used to be as a child growing up in a very religious and regimented Christian family. Now, I have the right to choose and that matters.

I believe there is a higher power and I don’t have to go to church every Sunday to have conversations with him either. I can do it anywhere. Spirituality is subjective and personal and nature is where I come face to face with spirituality in all its magnificent forms. I see it in the wide open spaces and in the plant and animal life that tells me everything happens for a reason. The seasons change when they have to like clockwork and each season has something to offer. An unseen force is at work and I know that magic is being worked in my life too. I just have to trust and believe that things will work out for the best.

I don’t say my prayers like I used to as a child kneeling by the bedside because mom and dad wanted me to. I am my own person now and instead of letting go of spiritual norms as I thought I would if I had the chance, I am finding that it is a necessary part of my life and one that is very important for my well-being as well. I know that I am part of a bigger picture and that in itself is enough to blow the mind!

“Spirituality is the journey of becoming one with the universe.” Unknown

Daily writing prompt

How important is spirituality in your life?

View all responses

Self-Care Practice

It is at the top of my list as far as well-being goes. I do take care of myself and I have certain rituals that I do daily and sometimes weekly to get me back on track. It is not being vain as some may think, it is necessary to take care of yourself because no one else is going to.

I had an ex who referenced my self-care practices as nonsense. I didn’t need to put in that much effort into putting my best foot forward was what he said. I’m glad I didn’t listen to him! He is nowhere in the picture and I’m glad that my self-care practices still exist and are doing just fine.

My daily self-care practice is to pay careful attention to stress. It is a killer and I learned it the hard way when I accompanied a friend through the last stages of his life. I was always healthy but during that period, I started experiencing pain, health issues and other symptoms that I couldn’t explain. A consultation with a doctor revealed that I was under extreme stress. Her advice was to step back and take care of myself first. I couldn’t at the time but when it was all over, stress reduction became a priority. I do walks, deep breathing techniques, meditation, workouts and of course eating right. Just a few of the things in my self-care routine. However, on weekends I pay careful attention to my hair. I have long hair and it needs work to keep it healthy and shiny. Masks are a must, oil treatments sometimes and just some tender loving care. My skin gets the same on Sundays. Facials, scrubs and masks are a must to keep it glowing. It takes time but it is worth it.

Self-care and taking time out for yourself is needed to keep your health at its optimum best. Some may say it is all about vanity but I disagree. I’ve been doing these rituals since I was 18 and I’m not about to stop now.

I matter, my health matters and now, I take care of myself first before I put myself out there and let whatever it is to take a toll on me. It boils down to self-preservation and it is important in my book.

Daily writing prompt

How do you practice self-care?

View all responses

Wasted Time

I suppose I do waste a lot of time every day. It has nothing to do with meditation, working out, walking or the like. It’s more like sitting outside and watching the clouds go by and for hours on end!

As a young girl, I had this love affair with clouds. I would rope the neighborhood kids into what I called my kind of “fun.” It was wonderful just lying in a meadow somewhere and figuring out what each cloud looked like. Fantasy came into play and we had a lot of fun doing that. It never got old and we came up with some doozies! It didn’t seem like wasting time back then and it doesn’t seem like that now.

Some days I can spend hours just daydreaming and sometimes even giving names to some of the clouds! This could be a form of moving meditation but whatever it is, when I return back to earth, I am centered and very relaxed. Wasting time perhaps but it does me a world of good and that is all that matters.

Daily writing prompt

How do you waste the most time every day?

View all responses

Congee

This one never fails. It is an instant teleportation to another time and place. My mom picked this recipe up from a Chinese neighbor woman. I used to spend a lot of time at the woman’s place because her daughter was my friend at the time. Having lunch at their place was wonderful because you never knew what was on the menu for that day. It was usually something I had never heard of but I was more than willing to be a guinea pig. One time we had pig’s ears! Strange? Yes, it was but I liked it.

Coming back to congee. It is a savoury rice porridge made by boiling rice in a large amount of water until the rice is very soft, a sort of gruel. Mom used to cook this when I had a cold or wasn’t feeling well. She said it was a miracle cure! I don’t know about that but after a bowl of chicken congee, I did feel much better. Voodoo? Well, not quite. The soft silky mixture is easy on the tummy and hydrates the body. There are many different versions but I like the chicken or the fish congee. It is delicious but more than that, it takes me back to a place when life was simpler and filled with mystery.

Living in Asia was a wonderful experience. I learned many things both good and bad. The food was fantastic and though strange at times, I learned that everything is worth a try. You can always say no later. I’ve kept to that throughout my life but I hit the brakes on live monkey brains! That is a whole different story altogether for another time and place.

Daily writing prompt

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

View all responses

Martin Luther King

It was this memorable line from his, “I Have A Dream,” speech that caught my attention and pushed me towards a life of going up against injustice of any kind.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

It was delivered during the March on Washington in 1963 but that speech which called for an end to segregation and discrimination will reach a young girl many years later and it would stop me in my treks as I listened to that voice, a forceful and rhythmic one which came droning out of an open window. I didn’t know what it meant at the time but I knew that it was important whatever it was.

I was far removed from a world of injustice. My world revolved around the fantasy world I had created in my safe childhood space but I would learn as I delved into books that the world was a cruel place and that even children were not “free” from the violence and injustices that segregation and discrimination brought about.

Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist but more than that he was a man of courage. It took courage to stand up against injustice and it still is. People have come a long ways from “Whites Only” places BUT there is still much to be done as we are seeing with the current administration.

“Let freedom ring,” was repeated throughout the speech and the last lines, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” concluded the speech. However, no matter how hopeful it was, discrimination as we all know is not a thing of the past. It is alive and doing well.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” MLK

He wasn’t a tall man but he came out as a giant using just his voice as a powerful tool and his stance of non-violence to get his message across. A one of a kind as far as historical figures go and therefore, my favorite historical figure.

Daily writing prompt

Who is your favorite historical figure?

View all responses

Tom Selleck

( I couldn’t get a pic of young Tom Selleck here.) This here is not him.

He was much older but I didn’t care. This guy blew in like a hurricane and had me in a “royal crush” from the get go. I loved everything about him especially that quirky grin that had millions of women around the world in a tailspin!

I had met three Aussies a few days earlier. Somehow they had managed to get my address from my younger sister. I came home one evening to find them in the living room cozying up to dad. I was not impressed. Suddenly I heard this music that caught my attention coming from the TV. I saw him and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I sat glued to the TV until one of the guys said, “Hey Tia, look over here.” I turned and there they were with their chests exposed!

Years later, much much later, I would have a talk with my crush. He was doing the Blue Blood Series at the time. Nothing much had changed, he was older but that smile was front and center! I told him about that story with the young Aussies. He broke out in laughter. I then told him that they had nice chests but they were smooth as silk. Unlike my mighty crush! He laughed again. All I can say is that he’s a super nice guy and the crush has dissipated but he holds a special place in my heart. Nice guys usually do.

Daily writing prompt

Write about your first crush.

View all responses

Sri Lanka

I’ve traveled to different parts of the world but if I choose to do it again, the place at the top of the list would be Sri Lanka. The next one on the list would be the Bahamas. They are still on my bucket list, not that I’m going to get myself out of being a recluse anytime soon and head to faraway places!

Coming back to Sri Lanka, also known as the Emerald Isle is a dream place I would like to see in person. The island’s lush, green landscapes combined with the sapphire blue sparkle of the Indian Ocean would be worth visiting. If I do get a chance, I would like to live with a local family and look at life from their viewpoint. I’ve heard the food is spicy but delicious and the seafood, especially the crabs might be something I would like to try. The Ministry of Crab is a restaurant I would like to spend some time in and maybe stay there for awhile! The wellness retreats have plenty to offer and a week at one of these places would get me back to where I want to be, relaxed, stress-free and full of energy again!

The people seem very friendly and the island life is appealing since I spent most of my childhood on an island and I do miss it. Kicking back and just taking it all in would be something that might just get me out of being a recluse! Oh, and going barefoot is very inviting too!

Daily writing prompt

What countries do you want to visit?

View all responses

Resilience

The ability to bounce back, to adapt in the face of adversity, and to take decisive actions are all things I like about myself. I didn’t know I had those things within me but after having survived two murders in the family, a huge breakup that almost broke me and a few other incidents, I would say that without resilience I wouldn’t have survived them.

Resilience didn’t happen naturally and it didn’t just show up one day announcing, “Here I am!” It took hard work, the kind that is only possible if it was a matter of survival and having this indomitable need within to stand back up again and to face the world with lessons learned tucked under my belt. There were times when I wanted to throw up my hands and there were times when I just didn’t see the road ahead and there were times when I said, “I am not this person. I don’t have the strength within to do this.”

There is strength within you, the kind you didn’t know existed. You have to dig deep to get at it but it is there and when giving up isn’t an option as it was in my case, it shows up.

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” Robert Jordan

Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

View all responses