No skill involved.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?
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Perhaps this is more a generational thing than it is a basic skill.

It was something I learned to rely upon through out my career and became my go to when I just need to connect with another. Whether on the clock or off.

That “skill”?

Just talking on the phone.

And then?

This one is really scary.

Doing that in person.

A COLD CALL.

I recall when I first started on the road, coins or a credit card number and finding a payphone came into play big time. That was the only way you could advise them you were early, late, needed to reschedule or just plain lost.

If you couldn’t connect? Cold call. Just stop in and talk to the first person you see, Ask them for their help.

Despite the sounds of that, you actually got to know another person that way. Recognizing not only their voice when they picked up, but tone, demeanor and personality. You got the opportunity to get to know the man or woman talking on the phone with you. Even if it went to voicemail, those unwritten rules of engagement assured a call back. Or a chance to at least play tag.

Cold calls are even better.

You get to actually look someone – anyone – in the face and start a conversation. Try your best to put them at ease and open up. Describe the help you seek and who might be best suited to do so. Smile. Crack wise. Just be you.

These days, it literally throws people off if you call. Worse yet? Stop in unannounced.

An email or text merely serves to deflect any true interaction. How ’bout letting Al craft emails because time is so preciously dire or tack on some inane emoji to create the impression of currency and leading edge? Either will make the opportunity for honest and lasting communication ever less likely.

Want to follow up on something?

Try and schedule an appointment?

Need some information?

Ask a pressing question?

Refer someone to another?

Seek some help?

Send it Gmail so you can just wait. Better yet, tap it out on your phone so you can fixate on your palm for the next 24 hours.

Or?

Give them a call.

Hop in the car and just stop by.

Let them get to know you.

Get to know them.

The basics of life.

No skill involved.

Plain and simple.

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Daily writing prompt
Who is the fictional character you relate to the most?
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In all honesty?

Me.

Long story short, I have struggled to fully know the man I am, pretty much all the way through. Unsure of certain trait’s existence and their potential impact. Chose to create one or a few from scratch to fill in gaps. Allowed definition to be identified and implemented by others. Bankruptcy declared when it came to assessing my own self-worth.

At times, it felt like I was off in the background, looking over the shoulder of this guy named Mark going about life. Those close to me too must have sensed that, asking on more than one occasion if I really knew that guy. The character I had become, perhaps. The actor? Nope.

At last, I can say the fiction is in the process of being replaced. With the non variety. But I said I would keep the long story short.

And I will.

As I get to know the actor better, you will too.

Nothing fictional to relate to going forward.

Just me.

And my truth.

Plain and simple.

An intention that totally stands to reason.

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Daily writing prompt
Do you think everything happens for a reason?
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Well my friends, a very interesting topic today, isn’t it?

When I first read it, I was a little perplexed. I wanted to make sure I fully understood the question.

So I referred to my compatriot Al for a defintion. After all, he comes from a long line of information collectors, spawned from the shores of Britannica, where they attended Oxford, and were lovingly raised by Merriam and Webster.

But of course, I digress…

I went to him because much of what I think, say and do has been and is self directed, for better or worse. I choose. I formulate the reason, arrive at the intended and misperceived results in my noggin, guided by my ego, and just go with it. That being said, once the things do happen, then my tendency is to go back and review the refigure the reason while I swiffer up the mess I made.

“I knew I could do it, so why did this happen?”

“Why did my thoughts, words and actions offend so many?”

“How come no one understands I am right and does what I tell them to do?”

True, I do all of the calculus before hand, or at teast I thought I did, so I can figure out the best reasons for doing everything I do. The results will then always reflect my math.

Yikes.

I never really was good at arithmetic. Tried, but just never connected point A to B. Not in my geornetry apparently. Actually torpedoed my college GPA trying calculus and physics in the midst of trying to find my way.

Based on the stats I have accumulated for more than a couple of decades, things definitely trend towards the negative.

So delving deeper into the concept of reason, the word purpose was offered. Not as a sibling. Perhaps moreso a distant relative.

As it stands, reason is more of definition or explanation of a past motivation, a cause, or even a justification for the reasons something was done or why an event occurred. Strange, you think you are figuring out how to go about doing something – via reasoning – and yet it is more attuned to understanding why it took place.

Purpose, in this stoic’s understanding, seems a more independent and intentional entity.

Independent in the sense that I am coming to believe it is not self generated. I get bits and pieces, hints and suggestions, clues and coincidence that open me up to embrace what is in the process of happening. Not so much deciding I guess, just letting if you know what I mean. I feel less compellee to reason things out. More driven to let go and let it become.

And purpose, they say, is yet to be revealed. Yet to be fully known. yet to be pursued. But then again, I think that its intention is tug me towards it, allow it to capture my heart, mind and soul and then take me beyond my wildest dreams and most fervent imagination. I simply need to grant my permission to be carried away.

As frightening as that may sound, there is an overwhelming sense of peace to it. I need not know, be, drive, control, decide, determine, or even concede. All of this has nothing to do with capitulation. I just need to let.

Allow.

And most of all, trust.

At this point in my life, one of the best things I can do for myself.

Finally allowing myself to divine my purpose.

An intention that totally stands to reason.