After my short exile from blogging, I subscribed to two writing courses to brush up my skills and reconnect with the blogger’s community.
It is Day two of the WP writing course, which is all about making a list. The task comes with a supposedly motivational message that ‘compiling a list is a way to let loose, unlock ideas, and free your mind.’
In fact, it triggers the opposite effect, if I’m requested to make lists of any of these topics:
* Things I Like
* Things I’ve Learned
* Things I Wish
* Things I’m Good At
I’m exhausted before even starting, as this feels as unattractive as eating a Mac Happy menu at McDonald’s.
It is not pleasant, and I feel cornered. I dread making any of these lists, because most often when going through these exercises in public, it seems like cliché, and not sincere. Perhaps it is simply a culturally sensitive dislike of mine.
To-do lists though are useful. I make them at work, to buy groceries, Christmas gifts, or for long waited home fixing items, the so-called procrastination list for dummies!
I track precious things, the real priorities that must be tackled first, without unnecessary distractions. This is very important for a multitasking mind like mine. Each time I tick a box acknowledging any action as done, I feel as accomplished as an Olympic gold medalist.
Let me stop running in circles and wasting your time, if you did not sleep yet, and made it to this paragraph. I’ll give it a try to use a different spin to list ‘Things I like’. Here it is:
- The smell of rain
- The sound of ocean waves
- Thai green curry
- Banana cake
- The last kilometre after a 40 km bike ride
- Staring at endless views from the top of a mountain
- Reading the about page of bloggers
- Listening to people’s life stories
- Watching people in cafes and parks
- Talking to strangers
- Making a heartfelt compliment
- Cooking without recipes
- Helping people solving problems
- The Eureka feeling of a photo that feels perfectly captured
- Mind wandering whilst cutting veggies or washing dishes
- Finishing all actions of my to-do list.
This feels like the worst post I have ever written. Let me add ‘never again do this type of compilation’ to my not-to-do list.
It’s nice to hear from you again anyhow Lucille. i think we have all had a hiatus from blogging, navigating these intense times, and it is quite hard to get back on a roll. so congratulations for starting your roll! xx
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Hi Debbie, and it’s even nicer to have the privilege of your visit and of your patience to read this below par post!
It’s wonderful to reconnect with you. Hope you’re well. Have you been reading the Baddie? I need to start visiting bloggers and to go there too.
Joining the course has served to create some discipline to write regularly again and hopefully I’ll have time to keep it up.
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LOL I thought this was a silly prompt as well. I love lists but for me they are for productivity. I almost just used my to-do list. But I liked what I ended up with 😊😊 I share most of the things you like. Mmmnnn banana cake!
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Glad you share the same conclusion.
You definitely did very well!
You got a prize for reading the post! Banana cake via FedEx! 🤣
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Woo hoo! Thanks! Looking forward to it! Do you remember that day when we were chatting on WhatsApp and I complained about the smell of ripe bananas in my house and you made me make banana cake!?? 🤣
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You still remember that? Wow!
🤣 ripe bananas, anyone? We should perhaps start a food blog! I just said to Estelea that cooking without recipes is called creative cooking’, so we can conquer that together! You cover followers down under and I do upper above. 😂
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Hahaha deal!!!!
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You made me laugh Lucile!! Lovely to see you again. Write what you want is my advice…for what it’s worth!!.
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I’m happy that I didn’t make you cry, Debbie! Will follow your advice, m’am!
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Well done for writing this post, despite it being a weird prompt! Let’s hope for better with the next one!
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You’re very kind, Sue. Thanks for the patience.
This was a very unpleasant experience.
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Love the list, Lucile. Oh, yes–let’s please eat banana cake while we people watch and talk to strangers. Sounds like a fun day to me.
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I’m in, Lois! Let’s go to a nice place to do people-watching and the rest will follow!
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I use lists every day, mostly for to-do items. I love the feeling of checking off each item as I get it done…or transferring it to the next day’s list. 🙂 Lovely photos as usual.
janet
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It’s a very nice feeling, Janet, and I like it too.
Thanks for your patience to read this!
Lucile
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lol…not boring at all, but yes lists are to-do list, for some silly reason I am not receiving my email prompts, so am yet to write this one. Oh and for the record I like banana cake too 🙂
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Amen! lol I had the same problem but found it later. I noticed that desley gets it earlier than me. It’s a time zone delivery, but you’re in Australia, so I don’t get it.
I still didn’t get today’s prompt.
Let’s have a banana cake!
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LOL Yay banana cake, count me in!
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🤣
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I think there is a bit of consensus here about lists! Having said that, mine (should I ever be forced to write such a list) would read a bit like yours. Without the bike ride though; definitely without the bike ride.
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Nice to hear we share many points from the list! Forget the bike ride, I know it’s a niche sport. I’d love to ride in NZ!
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Apparently it is. The Big T cycles and is quite excited about the National Cycle network that is being developed. From what I’ve seen the rides take in some wonderful scenery. And lots of hills!!!
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Riding there with wonderful scenery would be a bliss. Not sure about the hills, though! 😂 I ride in a very flat country!
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Hm. I think the rail trail in Otago is flat. It follows old railway lines, so it can’t be too steep. 😃
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Let me go for that one!
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http://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/ 🙂
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Thank you!
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Cooking without a recipe ? waou .. I think I could make an omelette, if I am lucky!
tell you what, your list translates exactly who you are: generous, empathic, with a genuine interest for people. Welcome back my dear, you ve been missed ❤
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Haha it’s called creative cooking! I just invented it. Maybe we make a day of creative cooking when I visit Vietnam and you’ll be amazed with your skills!
You have been the most generous with your kind words about me. I’m just a common human being, making mistakes everyday but focusing on being good for others and not only myself.
You’re surely have all these qualities listed and thousand more to be put in a list as you never cease to impress me as a superlative, humane individual.
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❤ ! and the creative cooking class is on the list, with a prior exploration of the local market with someone who can decipher the herbs and other strange veggies …
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I am not so sure if I can decipher the local herbs and veggies, but I will research them before meeting you to avoid disappointment!
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No worries, I have time to find us a local expert 🙂 Another exciting thing to learn!
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I hear you on contrived post topics but you rose to the challenge beautifully. I like your list and love your entry for this week’s photo challenge. Hug from 🇲🇲
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Thank you Lisa, I needed some encouragement after this post!
Big hug back at you and stay well!
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We share a lot of taste buds in commo, banana cake and green curry yes, please not at the same time!
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Haha, that’s interesting, Marge. But how about the banana cake, after the curry? 😉
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Sounds like a tasty but filling plan Lucile!
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Perfect!
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Very creative way of attacking the Lists day! Thanks to you, I have decided to sign up for the WP courses and post the results on my new author blog at cynthiabertelsen.com.
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Thanks, Cynthia. I resisted this post as much as I could and didn’t have much appreciation for what I did. But your interest and decision to follow the course was the best reward I could get.
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Who cares about the lists anyway. They are just an excuse for the wonderful photos. Thank you.
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Absolutely. Thanks for the consideration.
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Finishing a to-do list is certainly one of the best feelings. What a relief. Lists aren’t a very inspiring prompt, it’s old and uncreative, but as long as it prompted you to write another post, it’s all good!
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