Best Thing to Do?

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This is an old village with cobblestone streets in the old part and the new part where I live has paved roads. There is really not much to do here. The people lead very quiet lives and since it is an aging population, they take pride in their gardens and keeping everything neat and tidy.

The place is steeped in history and sometimes you see plaques depicting certain scenes and events from way back then. The church is very old. I was told it was built a century ago and there are a few tombstones along the pathway leading to the church. The wooden pews show much wear and tear and when the sunlight shines through, dust envelopes the place. It is still a charming little church and lives have come and gone there, some leaving their mark behind.

There is a bakery, a dentist, a doctor, a school, and a convenience store. Add to that a beer garden, two restaurants, one Italian and the other German and you have everything this village has to offer. The village is self-contained for the most part. When snow rolls around and the roads are unpassable, all those things I mentioned before come into play and we are grateful! However, snow doesn’t show up here that often and when it does, it doesn’t stay for long.

The best thing you can do around here is to go walking. We are surrounded by nature and it is gorgeous. Open fields, manicured gardens, wooded pathways are all surrounded by mountains and forests. There are streams meandering through the woods and it feels magical in spring and summer. You can see rabbits, deer, cranes, herons, and hawks if you have your eyes peeled for them. I’ve heard we have wild boar, foxes, and wild dogs too but I have never seen them.

If walking is your thing, then there is plenty to do here. It is virtually crime-free and walking alone in the open fields is something I relish without having to worry about what could be hiding in the bushes or the woods! I do look around and pay attention to my surroundings because as they say, “NEVER SAY NEVER!”

Most are law-abiding citizens and it is a friendly place. If you’re looking to relax, and to find peace, it’s a great place to be. If you’re a writer, it’s a perfect place to come up with ideas and to let your imagination run wild like mine does!

Daily writing prompt
Which is the best thing to do in your city?

Granting Wishes!

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I would love to have that super power! Life would be turned upside down, inside out and left standing on its head! As a young girl, I pretended to be this fairy with a crown of roses and baby’s breath on her head and with a magic wand in my hand!

I used to walk around in the forest granting wishes to make-believe beings. It was done with a big smile on my face and a zap of the wand. I still wish and hope that one day the magic wand miraculously appears and I would be granted the super power of granting wishes to anyone who needed it.

What a wonderful world that would be! I know “life” wouldn’t think so because it would be too easy and it doesn’t always like things easy. It is about learning, falling down, picking yourself up, moving on, and so on and so forth. Getting your wishes granted by a fairy who has her head in the clouds is NOT what it is about.

However, if I could, I would love to have the super power of granting wishes. Life would be made so much easier for a lot of people and WE would be walking around with a permanent smile plastered on our faces!

I can wish but getting it done is a whole different thing altogether.

Daily writing prompt
What super power do you wish you had and why?

Unsolvable Mystery

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This is a hard one because I have an inquisitive mind and I want to know several things so to keep it to one mystery that I haven’t been able to solve is hard because I have hundreds of questions! It will open Pandora’s Box for sure!

Anyway, there is one thing I have always wondered about. It is about “LOVE.” More specifically, why do people walk into your life only to leave? Is there a bigger mystery to this phenomenon? Do they walk in to teach you a lesson or have you veered away from the path you were supposed to be on? A friend told me recently, “The path has been laid out. It has all been decided for you. The problem is when you veer off course than the one you are supposed to be on, it just takes longer to get to where you need to go.” I thought this was an interesting way of looking at it. What if there is some truth to this concept?

Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball to get answers to the questions I am seeking. Maybe, just maybe, I’m better off not knowing!

Daily writing prompt
What’s a mystery from your own life that you’ve never solved?

People I Look to for Advice

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There are the greats like Martin Luther King. He taught us “to love others and not hate because love always wins in the end.”

Buddha emphasized the Middle Way. The message was to avoid indulgence extreme asceticism and he advocated for moral conduct, wisdom, and skillful actions. There is a lot one can learn from the Buddha’s way of life.

Lastly but not least, Confucius. He advocated for peace and respect for others. He came up with the Golden Rule: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” He believed that all people deserved respect.

I love what these “greats” had to say and how their messages of love, tolerance and the moral way still resonates with us and within me.

Daily writing prompt
List the people you admire and look to for advice…

Importance of Voting

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If you want to change things for the better, vote! In short, your vote is your voice so let it be heard loud and clear. It is the only way to make a difference. By voting, you have a say in how certain issues are decided. Some important issues are gun safety and gun rights, crime prevention and law enforcement and Medicare and Social Security benefits just to name a few. Your vote counts in how these issues are decided.

So, yes voting is important. It may seem like a small thing but your voice matters so show up and let it be heard. Know that you have a say in the matter.

My Direction in Life

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Direction is needed to show where you are headed. If you have a purpose it is easier to navigate life’s twists and turns because you have a goal and that further motivates your journey, whatever that is for you.

In my case, I am on a journey to find love. Therefore, I am working on what it takes to get me there. I have this narrow-minded focus which helps to align and move me forward towards that specific goal. This also helps to provide a roadmap for my journey although it is not always clear and often it means falling off by the wayside many times over but I get back on and that is important because standing still is not going to do it. Keep moving, keep learning and keep on heading towards the direction you want to go. If you want a certain outcome, you have to do the work. This purpose also helps me to stop drifting aimlessly because I have a goal in mind. Look at where you are now and where you want to go. This helps to give a purpose or direction to work towards to. Success is all up to you and I know that embracing the unknown is scary but it is needed in this case.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy (or gal) who’ll decide where to go.” Dr. Seuss

Good luck on your journey.

Daily writing prompt
What gives you direction in life?

A Quote I Live By?

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Many of you know I love quotes. I find them inspiring and it is a quick pick-me-up when days are not looking like I want it to look like. Just a quote or two and it does the trick of getting me back to where I need to be. Just words you might say. True, but inspiring ones nonetheless.

One quote I live by and have lived by for a long time is this. “Live and Let Live.” Such simple words but it is needed in this world of ours where ugliness and cruelty rules and being different is considered a cardinal sin. This indirect quote “emphasizes coexistence and respect for all life forms.” If you look further, it means let someone live their life as he or she chooses and accept it for what it is. This acceptance bit is hard to come by in some circles.

Racism thrives on viewing individuals as being different because of skin color religious beliefs and or behavioral traits. Anything different in this circle is a no go or looked upon with disdain. I consider racism and racist attitudes the bane of our society. Someone said to me recently, “It will never change, racism will always exist. There is nothing you and I can do about it.” I beg to differ. Our world can be so much better if we can embrace each person for who they are and not for their outward appearance, who they marry and who they choose to be with and their worship practices. It shouldn’t matter but unfortunately it does. Just look at what Trump is unleashing in America and the world. Being “brown” could bring you a death sentence in a concentration camp somewhere far away.

LIVE AND LET LIVE for a better world, for acceptance of all people and for world peace as well. Here’s the thing it starts with you. One small step at a time as I always say. Teach your children the same. It starts at home and it is doable.

Daily writing prompt
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

My Favorite Holiday

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It’s hands down Christmas. I just love it when that time of year rolls around. Everything just seems to be covered in shades of pink and there is a glow in the air. Add all the trimmings and you’ve got a holiday that is filled with love and all things nice.

Christmas time used to be a big affair where everything was bigger than life. When I was married, the traditions continued but on a smaller scale. It was still a time when good food and decorations reigned supreme. There was magic in the air and when the 24th rolled around, the house was dressed and ready to impress. These days, it is of a less spectacular nature. The lights and decorations are still there but it has been toned down.

As a young girl growing up in a Christian household, it was about the birth of baby Jesus. Everything had a religious feel to it but when I moved away and spread my wings, it became less so. It still had a hold on me, this magical time of year but it was more about friends, getting together and exchanging presents than the birth of a young child in a manger long ago. I guess things change and not always for the better!

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

Camping

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I used to do that during my undergrad days. I had a boyfriend who loved fishing as much as I did and one day he had the bright idea of us camping overnight at one of these places, the places being remote locations tucked away in the woods. It was wonderful finding a spot, throwing your line in, sitting back and enjoying the quiet until the fish bites! I loved the absolute peace of the place so I was more than ready to experience it at night.

On the given day, we made it there early and as usual it was empty except for the two of us. We built our campsite on a jetty protruding into the water. He gathered wood for the fire and got it going. It was still peaceful but then the sun started going down and the woods got dark. There was a creepy vibe about it but I kept it to myself. It was time for dinner so we had something simple and something warm to drink. The boyfriend wanted to fish so he threw out the line and took a seat as we talked about nothing in particular. It was very dark and I decided to curl up in my sleeping bag as he kept watch. Suddenly, we heard a loud sound coming from the woods. It sounded like footsteps so I looked at him and he said, “Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen.” The sounds stopped and it got eerily quiet. Then other sounds picked up. An owl hooting and something else. It sounded like low whispering! I was getting nervous and wanted to say it was a bad idea but I kept quiet. After a while, I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was morning. My friend was still up but he looked strange like he was scared. I asked what was wrong and he said nothing. The sun was up and we decided to do a little more fishing before heading out. Just as we were packing up our stuff, we heard a very loud sound of something crashing to the ground. I jumped and said, “What was that?!!” He said it was nothing and added, “Let’s go!” Did he experience something during the night? I don’t know but it was spooky and I would never do it again. I later found out that the place we were at used to be an Indian burial ground! Probably Cherokee because we were in Tennessee at the time.

I love camping but I wouldn’t do it nowadays. Those carefree days are done with and I know too much now to ever do something that dumb again. Anything could have happened but it didn’t and I’m thankful for that. Camping is fun but be prepared for the unexpected, good and bad!

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever been camping?

When Do I Feel Most Productive?

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There is no specific time. Sometimes creativity hits when I least expect it like when I’m in the shower or doing something mundane like cleaning the kitchen or doing the laundry. My physical self is doing the ordinary but my mental self is being very productive at those times. I call it a form of moving meditation.

Some days my mind doesn’t do anything productive except to give me negative back talk! Other days, it is raring to go and just when I’m making breakfast or washing the dishes an idea hits and I think I need to get this down on paper before it disappears. Some days I do and on other days I get lazy and I let it pass. The problem is some of those ideas are doozies and I often regret not putting them down on paper to be used later. However, my mind comes up with enough ideas so one or two falling by the wayside is not going to matter much.

Coming back to your question, I am most productive when I don’t see it coming!

Daily writing prompt
When do you feel most productive?