www.reddit.com/r/selfimprovementday/s/5vAxWJqRBB
REBLOG: An Interesting Reddit Post
Tag: thoughts
Hoodwinked – Revisited (Year Later)
DAILY PROMPT RESPONSE
I suppose everyone would love to say yes to the prompt question, and that would be correct, generally speaking. We have had a lifetime of experiences to teach about the content of one’s character—a lifetime of trial and error, a lifetime of being hoodwinked. Hoodwinked was the title of my response to this question a year ago. That post can be found here.
I think we want to take people at their word. For centuries, we have judged people based on so many different aspects that it would make your head spin. We’ve judged people by race, creed, religion, and sexual orientation. We never even bothered to find out what kind of person they were at the core. We have relied on stereotypes and preconceptions taught to us by society. Societal standards aren’t altogether false; we all have certain beliefs based on these standards. However, we have to be strong enough to stand up against the things that have proven false.
Let me take a moment and list a few things I have heard over the years. These examples should provide a clearer picture of the point I’m trying to illustrate.
- “The whole family has been trouble since I’ve known them. There isn’t a good one in the lot!”
- “Those Muslims are trying to kill us. It’s in their book.”
- “They chose to be that way. They are going to burn in hell.”
- “Shiftless and lazy has been my experience with them. They aren’t smart enough to understand what is really going on.
- “What do you expect from a woman?”
I’ve heard this nonsense in the last year, and it’s hard to believe that some of it is still being said. I won’t even touch some things I see on social media. The hardest pill to swallow is when the mess comes out of the mouth of someone you thought you knew. Events like these make you question your judgment. We sometimes change our opinion of someone based on a single action or statement. However, I suggest not reacting in haste because everyone has a bad day. Also, we have no idea of their struggles and haven’t shared.
Dr. Maya Angelou offers this advice.
I’ve found this quote to be quite helpful over the years. I’ve tried to minimize placing my expectations or principles on individuals and allowed them to be themselves. In some cases, you will be surprised by someone’s actions. I’ve been in situations where the least likely person came to my aid. You just never know. The only I can hope for is not to be hoodwinked.
Perception is our Reality
Daily writing prompt
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
DAILY PROMPT RESPONSE
As a writer of a certain age, I spend time thinking about the past for several reasons. Sometimes, things that happened in the past make interesting ideas that may form a basis for a story. Other times they may lend an expected scene. Typically, I use the past in the following areas in regards to writing.
- Character Development
- Plot
- Theme
- Resolution
Utilizing the memories of past experiences has crucial in some of my successes as a writer. I have to keep in mind, I must let the story tell itself. I know that may sound strange, but experience has taught to never force anything.
As a man, I often refer back to situations, to see if I still them the same as I did initially. On several occasions, I found some insight hidden in the corners of my psyche. It had been there the entire time. It was just waiting for me to understand what I looking at and why.
Home on the Range
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
DAILY PROMPT RESPONSE
This isn’t a hard question for me. I would love to live somewhere in the woods. As long as I had wifi. The first places that come to mind are Montana & Wyoming. I spent time in both of these places and I loved it.
The Simple Life
List 30 things that make you happy.
PROSE – DAILY PROMPT /SLIGHT RANT
I read this question and begin to laugh. I can’t remember the last time I needed 30 things to make me happy. I’ve overheard conservation dealing with this subject, where the overall opinion if you couldn’t name a certain ridiculous number things you weren’t a happy person.
As I walked away, feeling joy for dodging a bullet. Being assimilated into the Borg, has been a goal of mine. Yet, I knew I couldn’t name the required amount of things. What did this say about me? Am I not a happy person?
Okay, I admit I’m a bit of a frowner, but come on! A sad sack?
So I came up with a list for various topics I’ve heard people talking about.
- Top 5 Jobs regardless of the time period
- The 5 Best Albums of 1973
- Top 5 Tombstone inscriptions
Yes, I know those list are ridiculous, however there was a time in my life where I considered these might important to know at some point. Yet, I find them no more than zany than needing 30 items that make you happy. I concede it appears to avoiding the question for some reason. I’m not I assure you.
- Life – appreciating all the things has to offer and doing my best to wisdom from them.
- Love – isn’t there a song explaining this one
- Music – One of the magnificent about life is music.
- A good pen – There are few things better than a good pen. Yes, I have a preferred rotation of writing instruments fitting this criteria.
- A proper notebook – This has proven time and time again more difficult than it should. Due to this, I make my own.
- Spiral so it will lay flat.
- Hard cover at least on the back
- 28lbs paper preferred, 24 lbs in a pinch.
Now, I’m aware that 28lbs paper officially makes me bougie. Whatever.
I live a simple, a few frills life. Or at least these are things the things I tell myself as attempt justifying to myself the expensive of a new piece of tech.
Pulling the Pen
SHORT FICTION – PROSE/LIGHT RANT
Harold Shea is an ordinary fellow, as fellows go. He has no grand stories about this girl or that girl. He is a simple chap who eats tuna on toasted rye. Harold and I are clerks at the Ministry of Useless Facts and Random Memories. A person becomes a clerk if they have a knack for remembering and cataloging trivial information. Our job is to sift through old documents and archives, searching for forgotten tidbits of knowledge that may one day prove useful.
Harold is a diligent worker, and he takes pride in his work. He always arrives early and stays late, poring over old manuscripts and dusty tomes. He has a particular fondness for historical trivia and, from time to time, found regaling his coworker Venus Milo with tales of obscure battles and forgotten rulers.
Despite his unremarkable nature and unassuming demeanor, Harold is a valuable member of our team. Without his tireless efforts, many of the useless facts and random memories that we collect would be lost to the sands of time.
Harold is also a kind and thoughtful person. He is always willing to lend a helping hand to his coworkers. Last week, for instance, one of our colleagues was struggling to find a particular piece of information for a project. Harold spent hours searching through old records until he found what she was looking for. He did all of this without expecting anything in return.
Despite his many admirable qualities, Harold is not without his quirks. For one thing, he can be a bit absent-minded at times. On more than one occasion, he has misplaced important documents or forgotten to submit reports on time. However, his forgetfulness is more than made up for by his enthusiasm and dedication.
Everything changed about six months ago. I came into the office, and everyone was in a tizzy. It isn’t like it was the first time the office was in this state. Harold usually got things in order rather quickly. However today, no Harold. He has never been late a day in thirty years. I tended to the disaster but never took my mind off what could have possibly happened to Harold. Then I was called into the Director’s office.
“Thank you for sorting out that dreadful mess.” said the Director
“It was nothing, Ma’am,” I replied.
“Harold?” She asked. I shrugged and walked out.
After stopping by Harold’s weekly for the next six months, I received a package at the Ministry. The package sat on my desk for another month before I remembered it. When I opened the package, there was a letter from Harold.
Dear Seamus,
I know this package has been sitting on your desk for about a month. I’m well. Venus and I have retired and living in my favorite place. Do you remember? Of course you do, you don’t forget anything. I miss you, ole chap. I haven’t had a decent conversation in months. Perhaps, you can down and keep Venus and me company.
~H
Well, that rascal, I thought. I had no idea that he and Venus had a thing. Why wouldn’t he tell me?
I guess there are a lot of things to consider when you’re thinking about “Pulling the Pen.”
So it goes…
What personal belongings do you hold most dear?
The consequences of rum and bad decisions. These consequences are both endearing and fester. Their existence is personal, and they belong to me. I bear the weight of them alone. I’m happy to do it.
Now that’s the end of it
So it goes …
Disappointment
POETRY – DAY 14 – NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
I know I turned out
to be a disappointment
I never intended to be
Who Won?
POETRY – DAY 9 NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
I wake up sweaty and sour
Out of breath, like I’ve been fighting
in my sleep
I have…
with myself
I wonder who won?
Memoirs of Madness 