July 5: Writing Prompt #186-Mirror, Mirror

Finish this sentence: “When I look in the mirror, I . . .”

When I look in the mirror, I see myself as a little girl, and I wonder where the time went and how I could possibly be 40, but not feel anywhere close to that age in my heart and mind.  Life can be cruel that way….we continue to feel young at heart, but our bodies don’t stay young along with our minds.  We gain wisdom, experience, and self-confidence, find love, discover our passions and get well on the road to pursuing them, and then our years begin to catch up with us.  I watch my friend’s 7 year old run around with boundless energy and wonder if I ever had that much. I read about my older brother’s completed hundred milers and wonder what would have happened had I started running earlier and been more dedicated to it throughout the years….maybe I wouldn’t be suffering with arthritis in my knees already.  I notice the stray grey hairs and winkles around my face, and I wonder what the next 40 years will hold.  When I look in the mirror, I see what was and what is, then smile as I look forward to what’s to come.  Fatigue, arthritis, grey hairs and winkles aside, I will continue to spend more hours awake than asleep, walk another mile with the dog each day (even if it takes 100 days for me to complete 100 miles), brush and groom the hair that I have, no matter what color it is, and apply eye cream and sunscreen to my face. Why? Because in my heart and mind, I will always be 29!!

July 4: Writing Prompt #185-From the Gut

Tell us about the last time you had a real, deep, crying-from- laughing belly laugh.

I can honestly say that this is at least monthly, if not weekly for me, and it’s one of the top 5 reasons I feel in love with and married my husband…because he can make me laugh that “can’t breathe, tears leaking from my eyes” laugh.  Daily, he makes me giggle and laugh out loud, but almost as frequently, he says or does something that takes laughing to that next level. To share any of those moments in writing here wouldn’t really do them justice because it’s usually one of those, “you’d have to be there” things as well as just that connection I have with my significant other.  I will say, though, that laughing really is the best medicine. Each day that I can start work laughing with my co-workers and end the day laughing with my family is an AWESOME one! Being able to laugh regularly makes going though all the other ups and downs of life worthwhile.  J

July 3: Writing Prompt #184-A Mystery Wrapped in An Enigma

Tell us something most people probably don’t know about you.

I was the dance team captain for my middle school dance team at Huntsville Middle School. AND they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s two thousand I’d like to share with you.

Now it’s your turn!!

July 2: Writing Prompt #183-The Road Less Traveled

Pinpoint a moment in your past where you had to make a big decision. Write about that other alternate life that could have unfolded.

Oh my! At my age, there are so many moments that come to mind from my past when I had to make a big decision, and I have often thought about how my life might be different if I had chosen another path in those moments.   Certainly, the most life altering decision I’ve ever made was to get married and move to Kwajalein at the very young age of 22.  I don’t know if I ever would have had the opportunity to live on Kwajalein without knowing my ex-husband. And if I hadn’t met and married him, who knows if today I would have children at all or if I might have a pasel of girls instead of 2 boys.  I certainly don’t know how I would have ever met the love of my life, my NW native husband, nor would I have ever fallen so deeply in love with the Pacific NW because I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know this part of the country so well before deciding to move here. Even in terms of a career, Kwaj had its influence. I had decided NOT to be a teacher purposely before moving to the island. I wanted to write, but not teach writing.  I felt I was too shy and introverted for it, and frankly, I was very nervous to try it when offered a developmental English teaching position at the local satellite campus of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) on Guegeegue, but I took it, none the less, and fell in love with the profession in a way I never would have imagined for myself.  Writing and publishing books with my children and with the Marshallese 5^th grade students, being a part of 4-H as an adult volunteer and teacher, becoming a scuba diver and exploring the wonders of one of the most beautiful oceans in the world, and traveling to several other countries are just a few of the things that resulted directly from my decision to leave my home state. There are so many, many things that my “alternate life” would not have included if I hadn’t made that ONE decision to marry and move overseas.  I’m sure whatever direction I chose to take back then, it would have still had many, many blessings and wonderful experiences, but I wouldn’t change the course of my life for the world.  Even though I don’t truly know what I may be missing and really couldn’t guess at it because I never would have guessed the details of my life today, I can’t imagine it being any better than what I have now…Blessed and content to be right where I am!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

July 1: Writing Prompt #182-Great or Greatest

What makes a blog great? What makes you follow a blog or “Like” a post?

What makes a blog great? It’s the elements of a good story (or blog):

1. “Hooking” your reader: You have to get your reader’s attention with an intriguing, powerful, or at least a fascinating start to each entry. Draw them in or “hook” them, so to speak.

2. Be real (or truthful or transparent, or put it all out there…however you would word it). If you’re not able to do that, you’ll only ever “hook” them for a moment, then lose them when they wriggle off your line. 

3.  Have a story to tell. This means there’s a beginning, a conflict and climax, and finally a resolution or at least a lesson to learn. Without that, why would anyone read your musings?  What can they gain from it? 

4. Tell it and be relatable.  Do your best to just be yourself and tell your story each day or give your insights on life.  That’s what people want…to know that they are not the only ones out there struggling with the world we live in, learning as they go, experiencing the same things you are.  That’s how we build relationships, lift each other up, and make it thought this chaotic life without giving up. 

That said, the blogs I follow inspire me, lift me up, certainly make me shake my head and say, “yes, I know just what you are saying,” and they remind me that I am not alone in this world in my thoughts, emotions, and experiences.  Every entry may not be this to every person, but each entry can be this to one person or two maybe.  Blogs are not any different than short stories, novels, or biographies to me. They are just put in a different format, over a lengthier time, and they are the raw material for those “finished” pieces.  They are, perhaps, more honest than any traditionally published manuscript because they are real time snapshots in time without any editing involved.  AND that’s what I love about them. Rock on, bloggers!!