Tag Archives: writing

Out.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a promise you made to yourself that you’ve actually kept?
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I cannot call it a promise.

More of an intention I would have to say. It can be worded all sorts of ways. But what it comes down to for me is just this; stay here.

In this moment.

Now.

Present.

That is not to say I don’t feel the urge to pull off at the next exit when I am heading south for “The Past”. Or the one that comes right after the rest area labeled “Whathasyettobedetermined”. This is an ongoing battle for me. I have put the blinkers on a few times lately. Tapped the brakes. That being said, my sense is that it always will be that way. I just need to work at taking it down a few notches.

Hoping that effort too will remain ongoing.

Staying here is the best way to stick with the now and allow things to happen. One of the most prescient offerings regarding these moments came from Robert Frost. He said “…the best way out is always through.”

Which makes sense. Reverse then cannot come into play and you cannot see or experience anything beyond what is currently in front of you.

It can feel somewhat sunsettling just staying here. For lack of a better term, transitory. Perhaps that is how it is taken. Sensed. Not controlled. Planned. Just there.

But now does only last twenty-four hours, a third of which may be consumed by sleep. Probably explains that growing lack of attachment or concern I have what came before and a general disinterest in devoting or expending any form of energy towards “next” whatsoever.

If I can remain focused, then through can only be seen from where I am right now.

Not simply the best way.

The only way.

Out.

Comedic relief.

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Daily writing prompt
What villain actually had a good point?
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Thinking about this automatically took me to movies, or a series. If I had read more, a book. Marking a villain as an aspect of a plot. Good, bad, comedic relief. You know. Formulaic.

And even though I backburnered this one, at least that was my intention, things crept into my noggin making me view this conundrum otherwise. The good, the bad and the comedic relief are not merely consigned to the silver screen – if that is even a thing any more – or to a binge worthy series.

Villain was born of a late Latin word and eventually evolved to mean a scoundrel or an individual with base instincts. At least that is what Al said. So a scoundrel or one with base instincts can share a good point.

Huh.

I guess there may be a minute glimmer of truth in some of the things they might point out, intended to bring more harm to the target in a deeper fashion. There is only so much damage they can inflict from a physical sense. But way more of the psychological, emotional and spiritual side.

I think villains take aim at a remaining shred of honesty or integrity that lay in the “hero”, to impart even more pain and suffering. Think about it. A villain telling you that you are worthless, have no value and will never amount to anything. And if that already is an element of the hero’s esteem, and the villain knows it, the knife not only went in, it was twisted three hundred and sixty degrees.

Now that is one base, scoundrel.

I used to turn it into two of them by listening and believing what the villain shared. My aim now is to use these instances as a reminder of what I am no longer.

A base scoundrel.

They may choose to point out my shortcoming and the fallacy of a life ill lived as a way to induce more self-destruction on my part.

But I am not taking the bait and I will no longer succumb to that element of psychological torture.

I will defend myself against the villain.

Their diatribe of hurtful intended good points will be met with the weapon of their surrender.

Comedic relief.

Woven into them.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s a lesson you’ve learned recently that shifted your perspective?
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This cannot be reconciled to a singular event.

It just can’t.

Al says that “perspective generally refers to an individual’s point of view or the mental framework through which they interpret the world, situations, and other people.” I then asked him to better explain interpret, and just like that, he said: “to interpret means to explain, translate, or make sense of something by applying personal context, special knowledge, or creative judgment.”

So essentially, either way I look at it, there is an element of control on my part in just how I choose to perceive or interpret something, an event. My context. “Special” knowledge I possess. An creative judgement? From the man who routinely has lacked any speck of just judgement, let alone the creative variety whatsover?

That means I somehow control the event. At least in terms of my perception and interpretation. Whether I needed to or not, conforming things to my will may not end up well for the home team. To that I can whole heartedly affirm with an array of “missteps” spanning decades.

Born of my perspective and interpretation.

“Creative judgement”?

So shifted I did.

Needed to double clutch this one.

If I can reduce the will on my end, then I can more fully open myself to following another source. If I can be right here and accept what goes on around me right now, then there is no need in enhancing or changing perspective. The need for a replay or two to better understand?

Byeeeeeeee!

There will then be no need for interpretation. No contextual concerns. A special knowledge will emerge, but now from being taught something for the first time. Creative judgement will take a hike, since what is there is now finally seen as what it is.

Truth.

Things no longer have to be woven into my ego and made into something altogether different.

Things will just be.

So I can be.

Woven into them.

Fin.

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Daily writing prompt
If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?
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As you get to know me from these routine assignments and other spontaneous contributions, there has been an ongoing, perhaps noticable transition. Intention is undergoing alteration. A reinforcement of values accompanied by a shift in vocation. A new day finally treasured for once with some hope on the horizon.

We are all authors of our own story.

Mine had become a messterpiece.

But with a pack of legal pads, once of those Sharpie ball point pens and this trusty chrome book, I am in the process of being able to document a rewrite.

The main characters remain, but in a new light. The plot has shifted with the introduction of some new to my story. I am not aware of the acromym for a spiritual, adventure packed romance, fixer upper, comedy. Maybe that is something that needs to be left for Al to figure out. But that is where it seems to be going. Hopefully, many chapters remain.

Just know that a script is not handed over to you at birth to follow because of circumstance, event, disbelief or choices. There is plenty of paper and ink to articulate your story the way you want it to be read. And never write it to appeal to an audience. Live it the way best suited for you and let them seek you out.

There are many out there that need to know that they too can become their own authors of life. And reading your genuine story, with all of the melodrama, history, pain, joy and awakening will prove to them that they can write theirs too.

It may seem otherwise, but we are all connected. We just need to open up and let that truth happen.

Until next time, I will steer clear of ig-pay atin-lay and return to my roots Francais.

Fin.

And still do.

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?
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I tend to be a giving person. Often to the point of over stepping, reacting, functioning and just about any other word, phrase or idiom you wish to have follow “over”. But from an advice perspective, that would definitely fall into the misnomer category.

To this old stoic, advice would appear to reflect great knowledge and expertise. Honestly, I do not think I am quite yet qualified to carry that moniker. This guy is still earning his stripes. But I have benefited from a life littered with missteps, misdeeds, miscalculations, misspokeness, missoportunity, and yes, mistakes.

Plenty.

So perhaps when it comes to this day’s assignment, allow me to tweak it a bit to “what wisdom would you offer someone younger than you?” To me, that makes more sense. Advice is born of an expert. Wisdom is earned through life. You seem to pay for advice through commitment accompanied by commission. Wisdom is simply shared free of charge with love. The only stipulation being to be open and to listen.

There is this phrase I have held dear for some time though I don’t recall its origin. I know I have shared it in one form or another because of the wisdom it conveyed to me in practice. Even now, its benefits continue to flow inward. For proof, think about where I am and what I am doing this moment.

“Discipline creates independence”.

In a variety of configurations, I have made it my intention to embrace self-discpline. Not that It has been perfect in its implementation and there have been zero flaws in the execution and outcome. But when you engage in the variety that is focused on your self, little by little, freedoms will emerge. They may be in the shape of ten minutes here, less double handling there to start. But in time, the more sef-discplined you become, the more independent you can be. Mathematically speaking, what you then get to do is inversely proportional to what you have to do.

As Roger and the boys once sang, “I’d call that a bargain, the best I ever had,
The best I ever had”

My kids saw this performed as they were growing up.

Starting, taking care of and finishing what had to be done opened the doors to what got to be done. I see it now in how they live their lives today. Heck, I can learn some tricks from them. And these days, I continue to live by that phrase for this old guy and those in my life around me. I see what happens when it is tried and what doesn’t when it is ignored.

So maybe let’s end with this.

I don’t really want to offer any advice. I still don’t know what I am doing. But I am more than happy to share the wisdom I earned and learned in the process of trying to make sense of life.

You are free to do with it whatever you choose.

I just know I get to do now because of what I had to do then.

And still do.