DAILY WRITING PROMPT 2092: A MOTTO I LIVE BY
WP Daily Post Prompts
DAILY WRITING PROMPT 1867: WHAT’S THE OPENING SENTENCE TO YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY?
If I were to write my autobiography, my opening sentence would have to be the following:
“I have always been a rebel at heart.”
Now, I know that sounds as though I have been a trouble-maker all my life. I haven’t been — honestly. And basically, I tend to follow rules of orderly and peaceful living. But I have always had a serious problem following any rules that don’t make sense — or that are unfair. I realize that judging whether something makes sense or is fair can be a very subjective act. And personal opinion can play a part. But when I come face-to-face with any rules that cause me to back up or bristle a little, I stop and carefully consider them. I honestly try to see them from various angles and points of view. But if, after that consideration, the rules still seem to be senseless — or even stupid — or they seem to take advantage of certain people or put them in an awkward or extremely difficult position — I balk at obeying those rules.
I have been known to fight huge companies — sometimes for months — over rules and regulations that are unjust or that cause customers or clients to have to go our to their way and do extra work in order to use those companies’ services. Phone companies, grocery store chains, and department store chains are a few of the types of organizations I have taken on. I do the same with civic organizations that take unfair advantage of local citizens or mistreat them in some way.
Unfortunately, as I get older, I desire less and less confrontation. There was a time when I gladly made my stand against all rules and regulations that I felt were wrong, but over the past decade, I find that I tend to wait a bit and think things over before I jump into the fray. I guess I’m learning to choose my battles a little more than I did in my younger years. Sometimes now I just sigh and comply — but only sometimes. I do still stand up and fight for things that are really crucial or that can affect a very large number of people. And, even when I don’t take up the fight, I am still rebelling in my heart. So — yes — I think one of the most accurate ways I could begin my autobiography would be acknowledging that I have always been a rebel.
But that’s all the details I’m going to cover. I think I’ll save all the rest of them for that autobiography — you know — the one that prompted this article — the one I will most likely never sit down and write. 🙂 🙂 🙂
DAILY PROMPT 2146 — WHAT COULD YOU DO LESS OF?
I did not have to think about this one for any length of time at all. The one thing that I could definitely do less of is eating sweets. I love, love, love, love, LOVE candy, cookies, cakes, and pies. I just can’t seem to get enough of them. And the fact that they are a major comfort food group for me adds to the problem. I’m stressed just thinking about how I need to cut down my eating of these goodies. Oh, well … maybe if I eat me some chocolate, it will help me get over the stress …..
DAILY PROMPT 2138 – FAVORITE THINGS TO WEAR
The prompt asked about TWO favorite things to wear. But that doesn’t really make sense, because it doesn’t clarify whether it’s talking about upper garments, lower garments, coats, shoes, hair accessories, or a dozen other categories. So I had to do some thinking about this one.
However, I did realize pretty quickly that all my “favorite” things to wear have one or two things in common. First of all, they are all COMFORTABLE. I spelled that with capital letters because it is my primary decision maker. I used to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to be “in fashion” or to wear something that I thought was particularly flattering or would catch the “right person’s” eye. Nowadays, I am much more sensible. I cater to my own comfort.
So in the category of favorites I have to include a powder blue sweatshirt, which is cozy and comfy, a red Christmas top (also soft and comfy) with lovely sculptured silver Christmas trees on the front — a gift from my sister — a necklace that is simply the name Jesus written in script, with a short silver chain.
The second thing many of my favorites have in common is that they have sentimental or nostalgic significance. And that’s why I have a pair of black flats and a pair of tan flats that are reminiscent of some I wore as a teenager. I loved that style, and when they came back into the stores a few years ago, I grabbed up a couple pair and always enjoy wearing them.
So, there you have it. Are there other things I could include on the list? Certainly. But these are enough to answer the question. So now if you’ll excuse me, I will just go slip into something comfortable. 🙂
DAILY WRITING PROMPT 2090 — WHAT PRINCIPLES DEFINE HOW YOU LIVE?
I’d probably say that the principles I try to base my life on are found in three main statements:
1: Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me.” I try, as much as I can, to act, react, and speak the way I believe Jesus would in my place. I don’t always manage it successfully, but my efforts are sincere.
2.In all my work as a writer, artist, and teacher, I follow this dictum: Perfection is not a requirement in my life, but excellence is mandatory.
3. This third bit of advice I got from my canine friends, and it seems a valid way to conduct myself most of the time: Wag more; bark less.
DAILY WRITING PROMPT 2089 – WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING OFF DOING?
What have I been putting off doing?
Almost everything.
Why?
Because I am a procrastinator.
I even wrote a cinquain about the subject a few years ago. I’ll share it again here since it fits: SOMEDAY
SOMEDAY.
I LOVE THAT WORD.
IT LETS ME PUT OFF STUFF.
I’VE STUDIED MY LONG “TO DO” LIST.
I’LL WAIT.
DAILY WRITING PROMPT 2025 – WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CARRY WITH YOU ALL THE TIME?
MY CUP OF COFFEE.
Now some folks out there may think I’m joking. And maybe I’m being just a little light-hearted about the prompt. I suppose I would have to say that my purse with some kind of money and my drivers license would be at the very top of the list. But right after that comes my cup of coffee — no kidding. If I’m home, it’s in a pretty cup — often one with my own original artwork on it. And if I’m not home, it’s in a travel cup that I can stick into any microwave for a warm-up. You might say a good hot cup of coffee is my version of a security blanket. 🙂
DAILY PROMPT 2020 – LIST 30 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY
Wow! 30 Things That Make Me Happy!
I could probably list 30 things and then make sub-categories under each one. But I’ll try to stay within the limits of the assignment. Okay, here goes:
- Knowing Jesus Christ
- Teaching God’s Word
- Praying with and for others and helping them receive from the Lord
- Writing – fiction, non-fiction, & poetry
- Creating Book Covers
- Drinking Coffee
- Visiting with friends — especially when we drink coffee at the same time. 🙂
- Eating chocolate
- Eating bacon
- Eating mashed potatoes
- Christmas — decorating, gift buying, family get-to-gethers — everything
- Sunrises
- Sunsets
- Spending time at the ocean
- Spending time in the Smoky Mountains
- Painting & Sketching — watercolor, acrylics, ink
- Painting birds in particular — my imaginative versions of birds
- The stars when they seem bright & close
- Playing music – mainly keyboard
- Teaching writing
- Teaching people how to use and be comfortable with computers & the Internet
- Reading Miss Read books
- Reading A Redbird Christmas — over and over
- Reading The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series
- Reading a Good Cozy Mystery
- Playing with dogs
- Singing — mostly privately as worship
- Dancing
- Autumn — especially the whole month of October
- Remembering all the blessed times I’ve had with loved ones
This exercise has been fun. It really refreshes the soul to sit and think about things that make us happy. I probably need to do this at least once a week.
DAILY PROMPT # 1961 — if you had to change your name
If I had to change my name, I would choose a name from my Cherokee heritage: Ahyoka. The name means “Bringer of Happiness” or “She Brings Happiness.” Actually, I already use the name for my artwork, because I want all of my art to bring happiness, peace, and rest to the people who view it. I sign all my paintings and sketches as “Ahyoka/SC,” and I also use the name in the title of my poetry website: “Poetry By Ahyoka.”
Daily Prompt # 1948 – WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO SOON?
Well, I didn’t even have to think about this one before answering. I would give anything to talk with my mom and dad. They are both with the Lord now, so that isn’t going to be an option for me anytime soon, but it’s still my wish. I had absolutely wonderful parents. Their love for each other and their love for me gave me much joy throughout my growing up years and well into my adulthood. They sustained me in every hurtful or negative experience and encouraged me to believe I could be everything I wanted to be. They taught me the truths of God’s Word and also taught me to seek out and find truth for myself so that I never had to depend on what someone else believed in order to have faith in my own heart.
I am now into my senior years of life, but I still miss them as much as if I were 10 years old. Their wisdom and love were so special that I have never found its equal, except in the husband the Lord gave me. I have been extremely blessed to have had that kind of family experience. And I can honestly say that I would give almost everything I own to be able to spend just 30 minutes talking with my mom and dad today.
WHAT IS YOUR CAREER PLAN? – DAILY PROMPT # 1933
What is my career plan?
TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND MAKE LOADS OF MONEY AT IT!
No, seriously, since I shared in an earlier Daily Prompt about having several careers — which have given me much pleasure for the majority of my adult life — I don’t see any need to make any new plans now. But I couldn’t resist posting on today’s prompt — plus it gave me an opportunity to focus on one of my favorite bird paintings: This little birdie who is doing absolutely nothing but singing his heart out.
DO YOU HAVE A QUOTE YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE BY? — Daily Prompt # 1925
I do, indeed, have a quote that I live my life by. But the quote is my own.
“perfection is not a requirement in my life, but excellence is mandatory.”
I’m certainly not perfect, and I don’t expect perfection from other people. But I do believe that excellence is something we should strive for in everything we do. We need to give every job and every interaction with others the very best effort we have. We need to take the time and give the attention required to make sure what we have made, done, or said is the best we can do.
Mediocrity is the current quality level of most of our society today. I see it in almost every business and in almost every interaction with other people. For many years of my life, I visited restaurants where every employee made a determined effort to make sure the food was cooked properly, the dishes and utensils were clean, and the coffee was kept refilled. I shopped in stores where the clerks actually enjoyed helping their customers and prided themselves in knowing what would please them and in being patient when decisions were not easy to make.
I had family members in hospital situations where the doctors and nurses actually cared about the patients and would never have even considered leaving a patient in wet bedclothes or not double-checking medications, or not patiently answering all their questions. I spent time on phone calls to large companies that I paid to provide a service, and I got a real person on the other end without waiting for quarter to half an hour before anyone would even talk to me. I rarely find those experiences these days. And, in fact, I find a great deal of negative attitudes, sloppy work, and dirty environments where there should be the highest degree of cleanliness. It troubles me.
But I don’t think the people who settle for this mediocrity are deliberately being lazy about life — at least most of the time. Rather, I think there’s just something in our soul that feels discouraged and maybe even tired of “trying harder to do better” — because most of the world around us it not trying either. This dis-spiritedness is contagious, and we can fall into its trap very easily if we don’t keep up our guard.
So I do try, in my own little part of the world, to strive for excellence in the things that I’m responsible for. Do I always succeed in my efforts. Honestly, no, I do not. But I do try, and I intend to keep on trying just as hard as I can. Hence, in my journal, on my refrigerator magnates, and in my artwork, I keep painting or printing the quote I live by: “Perfection is not a requirement in my life, but excellence is mandatory.”
DAILY PROMPT 1883 — WHAT TATTOO DO YOU WANT?
Are you kidding me ???????
I won’t even get my ears pierced because I don’t like pain!
DON’T ANYBODY POINT ANY NEEDLES IN MY DIRECTION!
besides that, i’m a writer, so i know where ink belongs: on paper — not under my skin
DAILY PROMPT # 1881 – BEST COMPLIMENT
When I first read today’s prompt, two specific things came to my mind. One is a direct answer to the question, and the other is sort of a rabbit trail kind of answer.
First of all, the very best compliment I have ever received was when a woman who had recently given her life to Christ told me, “I see Jesus in your face.” There’s just no comparing any other compliment to me with those words. I want more than anything else to help people in this world see Jesus and know how much He loves them.
But the second thing that came to mind was a compliment that I received behind my back concerning a funeral sermon I had preached. My sister related the story to me. The funeral was for a favorite aunt of mine, so a lot of the people in attendance were family members. One cousin, who had lived his life totally contrary to the Word of God and who never felt inclined to attend church or be involved in Christian activities was sitting beside my sister. Now, don’t misunderstand. I’m not judging this cousin. I love him dearly, and he understands the differences in our attitudes toward the Lord. But I emphasize his lifestyle and his lack of religious involvement to give understanding to why his words had such an impact. His main experiences with sermons had been at places like funerals and weddings, etc.
Anyway, at the end of the service, as everyone was getting up to be ushered past the coffin and go into the foyer to await the trip to the cemetery, this cousin turned to my sister, took hold of her shoulders, looked her in the eye and said with great emotion: “Your sister just preached the best DAMN funeral sermon I’ve ever heard!”
Since that time, I’ve taken advantage of the compliment to tease a few of my minister friends by telling them that I’ve received a compliment on my funeral sermons that I’m sure they’ve never received for theirs. And, indeed, they all agree. 🙂
DAILY POST PROMPT 1863: DO YOU ENJOY YOUR JOB?
I don’t have a lot of time to enjoy these daily prompts, but I love to get involved with them when I can. However, I almost passed this one by because I have several different jobs — all of which are super important to me — and I knew I couldn’t write a post about all of them. But on more reflection, I decided to choose just one and respond concerning that particular job. So I’m choosing my job as a writer.
I have worn a number of different hats, even as a writer. I’ve written stories since childhood and wrote my first full-length play when I was in the sixth grade. As an adult, I progressed to writing for and eventually editing and publishing newsletters for different organizations — as well as small pamphlets for ministry purposes. (One of my other jobs is running a full-time ministry.) But as far as being paid for my writing jobs, I’d have to say that most of the compensation has come from my years as a newspaper reporter and journalist and then as an author of books in multiple genres.
And the answer to today’s question is a great big resounding YES! I love my job as a writer, and I have loved virtually every aspect of it — even when the assignments were difficult. When I was doing newspaper work, I got to meet and get to know so many very interesting — and most of the time enjoyable — people. I got to become a part of their lives for a while, and it connected me in a way that was unique. I also loved doing any research that was involved and getting down to the details and the nitty-gritty of a story.
In my non-fiction books, which are usually Christian ministry oriented, I have the opportunity to take information and revelation from God’s Word and share it with thousands of other people, who hopefully find help, encouragement, enlightenment, comfort, challenge, or just plain enjoyment in it. It’s extremely satisfying to know that perhaps I’ve been able to add something positive to someone else’s life by the work that I’ve done in those books. Then I’ve also had the joy of developing a creative writing curriculum as well. And over the years, I’ve used that to teach writing classes of all kinds at a local college, as well as online from time to time.
In my fiction, most of which is also Christian based, my goal has been primarily to help people know that God really is interested in each one of us personally and that He wants to be active in our every-day lives with His love and mercy. When a reader responds to those stories in the way I hoped they would — or when they tell me that something the characters experienced really helped them in their own lives — it makes all the hours and months and years of laboring to get those words onto paper and into the readers’ hands totally worthwhile.
And I also have the joy of creating a whole world full of people — and of constructing their lives. I can determine who they are, what they like, what they want, what they do about it, and what happens as a result. There are a lot of things in my own life — and in this messed up world — that I cannot control. But when I sit down to my computer keyboard and type those manuscripts, I am in control! It’s a great feeling.
I love writing the poetry as well. It affects me differently from the other types of writing, of course. Each area of the writing job requires a different kind of focus and application of skills and has it’s own effects on me as a result. But poetry has been a very special emotional help for me. About five years ago, I lost my very best friend of many years. Not only was he my soul-mate in so many ways, but he was also the very best editor I have ever worked with. It’s interesting, because he was not an editor by vocation. He was actually an attorney. But all of his life he had read voraciously and eclectically, and he just had this innate ability to see what was right and what was wrong with a written work. He often helped me by being my hardest critic, but he always had my back and always provided help when something really did need to be re-worked. He was also a storehouse of genius ideas.
When he was killed in a tragic accident, I was so hurt and suffered so much from the loss that I could not write books or articles of any kind for well over a year. But during that time I was able to write poetry almost every day. And writing those poems was healing for me. So during that year or two, I didn’t see writing poetry as part of a job. It was simply a source of comfort and restoration for my soul, and I was very grateful for the ability to write so prolifically in that genre.
So, as I consider the question of today’s prompt, I have to say that, not only do I enjoy my job as a writer, but I am very grateful for it in so many ways. I enjoy all of my other jobs as well, but even if I did not have the other jobs, I would feel quite satisfied for life with being a writer.
The Happy Wordcrafter 