August 25: Writing Prompt #237-Secret of Success

What would it take for you to consider yourself a “successful blogger”? Is that something you strive for?

At one time, I think I would have considered myself a “successful blogger” if I developed a following like Julie Powell’s blog, which became the basis for the book and eventual movie, “Julie and Julia.”  Basically, I considered a successful blogger one who made their living off their blog.  Now, I feel differently. I base my success on my commitment to write daily and to find creative ways to keep writing, even when there seems to be nothing new to write about. I was very disappointed that I could not post my Saturday evening prompt on time because I did not have Internet access. It may seem silly, but it is a commitment I made to myself and wanted to prove to myself that I could do.  So, what do I strive for today with my blog? It’s simple, to meet my own goals for writing each day. This year has been a journey for me in my writing life…meeting my own expectations and coming to terms with what role writing has and will play in my life.  Others may not understand why I would choose to publicly share my thoughts about life, family, friends, faith, and the state of the world in general, but it’s part of the way I process it all, and if it helps anyone else to put their feelings and thoughts into perspective than that more than meets my expectations of being a successful blogger. 

August 24:Writing Prompt #236-These Boots were Made for Walkin’

Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

My favorite pair of shoes are actually a category of shoes…and they are my flip flops, my “slippahs,” if you will, my island shoes.  One of the hardest adjustments I had coming back stateside was not being able to wear my many varied flip flops.  I am not allowed to wear any type of sandal, slipper, or open-toed shoes at my worksite, and there’s only a few months out of the year in the NW that I could reasonably wear this scant type of shoe anyway due to the weather. Also, I inherited my mother’s bunions, and they were not used to being crunched into closed toed shoes any more than I wanted to put them in those full fitted foot traps.  Of course, now that it is summertime once again, I am wearing my flops as much as possible, although my feet have finally gotten used to wearing other types of shoes now. 

My flip flops are special to me because they have taken me everywhere for the past 18+ years. I have grown up with them and experienced the best and most challenging moments of my life walking on their soles.  From Ebeye and Third Island to Guam and Hawaii, my flip flops were with me.  From Bali, Indonesia to Gulf Shores, AL, my flip flops have supported me in all my adventures with family and friends.  I’ve worked and played in them, laughed and cried in them, walked the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean with them in my hands, and worn them thin, only to order more of my favored styles and colors to keep me going.  My slippahs are my comfort shoes, and I can’t imagine life without at least one pair…

August 23: Writing Prompt #235-Pants on Fire

What was the last lie you told? Why did you tell it?

I am terrible at telling lies. My face betrays me.  I cannot play poker or con anyone into anything.  So, the last lie I told…I don’t know because I don’t try anymore.  I did lie to my mom when I was little, telling her I drew a horse by hand that I actually used a stencil for, which she later found in the drawer and caught me in that lie.  I think I’ve written about that one before in this blog.  I also lied to my mom as a teenager about studying at a friend’s house when I was actually at my boyfriend’s house.  Of course, I was caught again.  After that, I don’t remember any major lies.  I’m not going to say I didn’t try to lie occasionally in an uncomfortable or awkward situation, but I was generally unable to do so completely.  And I’m not going to say I don’t sometimes “pretend” things are okay when they are not or smile when I don’t feel like it, but even that is hard for me. Heck, anytime I don’t feel well at work or I have something heavy on my mind, my co-workers start asking what’s wrong?  “Nothing,” I say, but they know that’s not true. Mostly, telling even a little white lie is pretty unnatural for me.  I may be able to keep a small one up for a day or two, but I eventually give in and tell the truth. Isn’t that the best policy anyway? I have enough guilt in my life about mistakes I’ve made or things I’ve done that hurt others that I don’t need any more from lies I tell.  J  I’m certainly not perfect, but lying is not one of the vices I struggle with. 

August 22: Writing Prompt #234-Viral

*Well, it was bound to happen.  We are on vacation, and we didn't have wireless connectivity last night, so I missed posting for the first time in 2015. Sorry about that, but I promise, I did actually write this last night. :-)  

The New York Times is going to feature your blog on its home page, and you’ve been asked to publish a new post — it’ll be the first thing tens of thousands of new readers see. Write it.

Life unplugged. What does it mean for you?  For me, it means this blog doesn’t get posted on time and possibly,  my future career is dead in the water, at least with the New York Times. (Lol) For my 13-year-old son, it’s torture.  We are currently in the San Juan Islands without wi-fi available where we are staying, and he is so antsy about getting hooked up, he can’t stand it. “But I can’t talk to my friends.” For my mother-in-law, it’s simply inconvenient. She would like to be able to hook up, but she’s not really worried about it.  My husband is only concerned about it because he knows I am breaking my New Year’s resolution to post something every day on my blog, and he would like to help me keep my commitment. My father-in-law doesn’t notice, and my 11 year old, really doesn’t notice either.  So what’s wrong with me and my oldest son?  Why can’t we unplug for a single night or three?

You want to know the bald-faced honest truth as I see it?  Well, it’s because social media is how we relate to each other now. It’s how we stay involved in each other’s lives. It’s how we live vicariously through others.  I know more about my friend’s and family member’s every day lives than I ever did before Facebook.  I rarely personally e-mail or text them or heaven forbid, phone them, but I keep up with them through what they choose to share with “friends” on social media.  I envy those friends who have more time and means to travel the world than I do, and I “travel” with them as they post pictures and stories of their adventures.  I “move” with friends who are starting life in a new place, and I mourn with them as they suffer the loss of a pet or loved one.

As neat as this is to be able to keep up with friends far away in an almost instantaneous manner and connect with people you might never have without social media, it’s also sad to me.  What happened to chatting over a glass of wine at the beach or meeting at the local hole-in-the-wall diner for breakfast?   What happened to taking the time out of our busy lives to personally connect with each other face-to-face? Nothing, I guess. It’s just that we do it less and less.  It’s that pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other.  We are in the extreme addiction to our phones, tablets, and social media stage, and soon we’ll start coming down and balance out before swinging too far the other direction.   

Life unplugged. It’s almost unheard of in today’s world. My children don’t remember a world where they couldn’t get “online” or use “wi-fi” to get the latest game or text their friends.  It is our life now, but we mustn’t forget to balance it out with time in nature, time unplugged from all electronics, time spent with family, friends, and the quiet solitude of a walk in the woods.  We mustn’t forget what the roar of the ocean sounds likes when you are standing right in front of it.  Or the smell of the rain after many dry days.  Or the touch of a warm hand on your forearm during a heart-to-heart talk.  We mustn’t forget life and what it feels like outside of a computer screen.  It’s life, unplugged. 

August 21: Writing Prompt #233-Fifteen Credits

Another school semester will soon begin. If you’re in school, are you looking forward to starting classes? If you’re out of school, what do you miss about it — or are you glad those days are over?

I am not currently in school, unless you count the independent study course I am currently behind on, and I do miss it.  I loved college! Every day your only responsibility was to go to your classes (which I enjoyed) and then do your homework.  It was purposeful to me with an end goal in sight that we were constantly moving toward.  Work is not always like that.  You don’t always have an end goal….your only goal may be to get through the day.  There are times it is purposeful, like when I am able to help a teacher take care of something she is never able to get out of the classroom to take care of on her own, and she is very grateful, but it is not every day.  For school, you knew, every class counted toward your goal…even the prerequisites were classes required to take to graduate.  And the future, your future career, etc…was all something to look forward to happening soon! Honestly, if I could be a professional student and get paid for it, I would.