Monthly Archives: March 2026

Finally just me.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
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Honestly, I do not think this can really be considered a secret skill or ability. For me, it is akin to something more along the lines of self-honesty. Coinciding with that all elusive power, a better sense of self-awareness, more self-discipline and finally, some much needed self-love.

I think the latter three tend to nourish the former one. All four woven into one, becoming a constant source of health, acceptance and peace. Alas, for the most part, all are of more recent vintage. They seemed to have been missing for quite a while.

Because now that I look back at things, perhaps the original secret skill or ability was an altogether all encompassing pattern of self-deception.

If you go about things convinced you know what you are doing, you are right, and you really do not have to listen as much as you speak, well, that pretty much says it all. The only thing I actually lacked was a costume. A piece of garb I could jump into when my secret skills were in operation and out there for full display. That would have completed the charade.

Wait.

I was kidding about the uniform. Didn’t really need to change into something else to make that ability stand out and command attention. It was already fairly evident. Come to think of it, a cloaking device would have been handy. Some method I could employ to actually hide from my innate ability to employ them on a daily basis. Just wonder why I never saw what I am sure was obvious to those around me.

Hence the need for better self-awareness. But I digress….

There is a serenity and peace to be found in intentionally engaging in self-honesty. Opens all sorts of doors that had been nailed and/or bolted shut pretty much through out my existence. If you actually acknowledge self-honesty as a valued character trait in lieu of a mortal combatant, the awareness follows.

Guarded by discpline.

All nourished by some genuine love for one-self.

What blankets you then is a protective sense that you are worthy and valued just as you are becoming. Talk about serenity and peace. Man. If there is a secret ability, then that is what I found to be the one for me.

I can just be.

Nothing secret.

Finally, just me.

But to actually live it. 

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“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.”

― J.M. Barrie

If life is our diary as Mr. Barrie suggests, then we can choose to fill the pages with the fictional dreams we intended to create, or, share with others a life of non-fiction we made bound by our true intention.  

My sincere apologies if this sounds like an either or proposition.  

We all live in our heads at times, wishing and dreaming for what is yet to be. Desire and commitment can be key influencers in this process.  Depicting the wanted end to a schematic that can be amended in all fashions depending on the day, the outcome of the prior or the latest attraction of distraction.  I have travelled this same road over and over. Seems to always lead me back to where I started, but now with far less time to get to where it is that  I ultimately want to be. 

Fiction broadens the view somewhat, but needs to be genuinely partnered to its non-fiction sibling.  

There has to be a path extending beyond the mind incorporating word and deed  – and others important to us – so that work can be truly engaged and progress honestly made.  That may be what Mr. Barrie is alluding to. 

We intend one thing, but come up short on the intention needed to finish the story.  As such,  the chapters never quite mesh.  Our diary becomes a run-on. 

The fiction we see is not allowed to become the non-fiction we do.  Remaining in the ether, it never assumes the mass of reality.

Though it may not be what we intended, we must somehow find our way to live with intention. 

Not just to write our story.

But to actually live it. 

Cannot wait!

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Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite type of weather?
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Being a Midwestern brat pretty much my entire existence, I like having access to all four seasons.

They may not come in any particular order. We had some shorts and shorts optional weather a few weeks back, followed by subzero blizzards and closures all about. Went to sixties this past Saturday, but in upper twenties today. Bird bath is out and set up. But I will wait to fill it. My buddies like to sip and splash, not skate and crash.

Being able to have all four though is really the cat’s meow. I love the sound of a good steady snow storm, just falling. The smell of the ground and emerging flowers in spring. Those hotter than blazes summer days. And when hoodies become my favorite goodies come fall.

But of the four, I want hot and humid. 90’s and 90%. To keep things at a G rating, swamp derriere weather.

You walk out and your skin is glistening. T’s and polos for work, and dark shorts a must. But go in the yard? All bets are off. Sweat thtough everything, shoes included. Daily wash cycle for the clothes or else mildew finds a home in the pile. A lukewarm shower that leaves you till sweaty after being outside.

I recall my football days in that kind of weather. One coach used to say, “if you feel just a little thirsty, then you already waited too long to drink water.”

Only had one heat episode during a game in college. Felt fine all first half. Drank water through out. Came inside for half time, took off my top and laid on the gym floor to cool off more. Coaches said their spiel, went to get back up, and couldn’t. Had stopped sweating and body temp elevated. Done. I was put in a chair, slid into the showers as is, and sat there under running water for the second half. Only time heat and humidity ever got me.

I have been to New Orleans and Florida and they have that 90/90 going. Same with Texas. But then you lose spring, fall and a beautiful snow shower. So I will bide my time for the first day of swamp derriere weather here in Wisconsin.

Baby powder on standby.

Cannot wait!

And the first two don’t count.

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Daily writing prompt
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
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I don’t think I had a one.

There were many that came and went over the span of my life as it goes today. Some arriving just in the nick of time bringing with them some element of saving grace. Others, there in background, being that steady, ongoing and inspiring font of wisdom and love.

Some teachers may tend to inhabit the workplace, a gym, football programs, home, the store, gas station or church. That is just to name a few. Teachers can choose to occupy a great many spaces. I just don’t think they are confined to one place or moment because of a noun. The only restriction that has any bearing on their presence is solely determined by the student.

Do you think you already know everything, so why be open to listening?

Or, are you always willing to learn because it can be so fulfilling?

Though there are lingering and painful aspects of me to be found in the former, I tend to be wooed more to the latter.

I desperately need engagement. So I do listen to all with an intent to learn, feel and experience what they offer and share. An opportunity for intention, connection, empathy, life. Perhaps that is why I follow my grandpa’s MO of “he knew no strangers.” Grandpa talked to everyone and anyone he happended upon like he knew them his whole life. He was on to something. This he taught me well.

But as I reflect deeper on this topic, while it may appear that moments such as these just happen, they do not. For there is no such thing as coincidence.

Like the person you meet and work with for a career. The friends you still have from playing ball in highschool and college. The pastor you meet at a local community organization. The young men you coached and still know. The fellowship you fell into where can open your heart and the folks that share “peace be with you” at morning mass. The ones at the store, gas station or down the block that simply smile and say “hello.”

Everything happens for a reason. And everyone was where they were meant to be, when they needed to be there. As much for me, as it was for them.

Now think about that.

As such, chance moments are referenced or labeled as coincidence, simply because we aren’t aware of the lesson plan. We don’t know what is about to be shared, why it is being shared, or how it will become learning. Just because this is how we might be taught, doesn’t mean it is lost on us or wasted time. We just have to attend to our studies. Put things together. And trust in these opportunities to grow.

If you can be fully present in each of these moments, there is so much to be learned. From the outside – in as well as from the inside – out. Nothing is ever wasted. It is an entity beholden to the same laws as matter. Things may just take on a different form. Perhaps it doesn’t match our current configuration or what think we know. But yet, it remains all the same. Patiently abiding its time to be summoned when we need it.

This is quite a lesson plan.

Built solely on unconditional love. We only need trust in the teacher.

And in my estimation, there is but one best suited for this level curriculum.

Give you three guesses.

And the first two don’t count.