Desley at Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist runs the challenge Contemplation.
This week’s prompt is:
What would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail?
Contemplation – Week 2
Stories
Contemplation – Week 1
Desley at Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist just started the challenge Contemplation.
This week’s prompt is:
What is something important that your parents taught you?
There is so much that my parents taught me! Of course they taught me the basic values and morals to guide my behaviors in society, and act with honesty, trust, ethics, integrity, respect, and fairness.
Truths that Only Children Speak
Day Twelve: Dark Clouds on the (Virtual) Horizon
Today’s Prompt: Write a post inspired by a real-world conversation.
We don’t write in a bubble — we write in the world, and what we say is influenced by our experiences. Today, take a cue from something you’ve overheard and write a post inspired by a real-life conversation. Revisit a time when you wish you’d spoken up, reminisce about an important conversation that will always stick with you, or tune in to a conversation happening around you right now and write your reaction.
Take time to listen — to what you hear around you, or what your memories stir up.
I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.
– Ernest Hemingway
Today’s twist: include an element of foreshadowing in the beginning of your post.
The Turkish Bazaar
Day Eleven: Size Matters (In Sentences)
Today’s Prompt: Where did you live when you were 12 years old? Which town, city, and country? Was it a house or an apartment? A boarding school or foster home? An airstream or an RV? Who lived there with you?
Mixing up the lengths of your sentences creates variety for the reader and makes for much more interesting reading.
Today’s twist: pay attention to your sentence lengths and use short, medium, and long sentences as you compose your response about the home you lived in when you were twelve.
The Best Beef Stew Ever
Day Ten: Happy (Insert Special Occasion Here)!
Today’s Prompt: Tell us something about your favorite childhood meal — the one that was always a treat, that meant “celebration,” or that comforted you and has deep roots in your memory.
Free free to focus on any aspect of the meal, from the food you ate to the people who were there to the event it marked.
Today’s twist: Tell the story in your own distinct voice.
Twisted Fate
Day Nine: Point of View
Today’s Prompt: A man and a woman walk through the park together, holding hands. They pass an old woman sitting on a bench. The old woman is knitting a small, red sweater. The man begins to cry. Write this scene.
We encourage you to give fiction a try, even if that not what you normally do — it can be a fun way to stretch. If fiction feels like a bridge to far, take some element from the scene that speaks to you, and write a non-fiction piece about that. Perhaps you are drawn to the old woman, and will write a piece about your grandmother, or the crying man will inspire a story about the last time you cried joyful tears.
Today’s twist: write the scene from three different points of view: from the perspective of the man, then the woman, and finally the old woman.
Music that Speaks
My first reaction when people ask me if I have preferred songs, locations, or anything etc. is of repulse. I think that is too static. I like variety, I like many things. I am a Gemini, that is my excuse for being a generalist, interested in so many things that sometimes loses focus on what it wants and likes really and deeply.
But that’s how I have always been. I cannot even remember the lyrics of any song. It might be a brain dysfunction though.
It is the sound of music that creates an effect on me, gets to my heart, and knocks me out of the ring.
I read Michelle’s instructions for Day Three of the Writing 101 course with hesitation,
Today’s Prompt: Write about the three most important songs in your life — what do they mean to you?
Ok , I signed up for the course. When in the dancing floor I’d better dance, right?
Continue reading
Ramblings of Consciousness
No idea how to start.
As I write I think of the things I would have said when I would be from a different planet. Now I just happen to be here.
I had to think twice this morning when I felt the customary adrenaline rush going up and down my body. At least now I think twice before I open my mouth. I recognize the feeling and stop short from voicing my ideas, which is the reason for my adrenaline trip.
It is all too simple.
What makes me go 300km per hour is not what would make you go faster than a turtle.
I read today at Bad Fish out of Water’s blog that scientists discovered that our DNA carries memories from our ancestors. An orthomolecular doctor once told me that I have an ancient DNA.
Well, I may have brought this adrenaline rush from my ancestors; when they were somewhere in a forest hunting animals or being hunted by them.
Ever heard of Freeze, Flight, Fight reactions? The amygdala part of the brain?
That’s what I am talking about.
By now you’re curious or fed up? What is she talking about?
I am in a 20 minutes writing trip for the writing 101 course. Stream of consciousness non stop.
The first thing that occurred to me today was to say that I have a thing with culture differences; an extra radar, extra care, extra ears and eyes. That stems from having lived in different countries and for working with people with many nationalities. I know so well how easy is to hurt others for no apparent reason.
I have a house full of guests this weekend and up to tomorrow.
Dutch, Brazilian, Irish and Indian.
A melting pot. A wealth of brains and hearts.
A simple decision taken by a Dutch one, known for being direct and straight talkers, might bring a Brazilian, and all other nationalities to an adrenaline rush, just as I described.
It is not intended to offend, nor to hurt, but ouch, it hurts most of the times those who are not used to it.
It is fascinating to observe that.
In fact I love the Dutch directness, because it is pure, honest. A Dutch person never noticed when the rest of the globe just got a punch on the stomach.
I rather know the truth than get some fake excuse, window dressed facts, hiding reality from me.
It is a win-win. No one feels obliged to say or do what one doesn’t want.
But one needs to be prepped to understand the intentions otherwise will feel insulted or offended.
I had a little talk with my husband and daughter this morning so that we are aware of what we say and do not offend our guests.
When people ask my opinion, I say: do you want the Dutch version of the marketing version?
Because if they don’t want to know the truth, better warn me first.
But these ramblings of consciousness should not look like am high on something. If you read this up to this point, you should at least not feel the need to sleep or turn off your computer, but end with something you can bring home. Or may just unfollow me as this is so different from all I have done so far. I will understand that.
The thing is that it is always fascinating to have exposure to people who grew up in different ways and parts of the world, and who like me, also carry memories of their ancestors in their DNA.
That’s what makes this planet deeply interesting and fascinating.
I am attracted to differences and all diversity with the same force that am attracted to making these kind of United Nations gatherings, as peaceful and fun as possible. Otherwise we would end up declaring war against Brazil, Ireland, and india.
Instead of a war, I rather have another wonderful evening as yesterday’s, when we cooked as a team, each one having a defined role in the kitchen, and bringing skills, knowledge and lessons from their home kitchens. Each one adding the touches and spices of their homeland, and this all resulting in a most delicious dinner, followed by conversations colored with ours many layers of differences and uniqueness. It is our different spices that gel us together. We are after all just the same, just humans.
