Archive for Musings

Shattering Icy Illusions

by: dee December 11, 2009

Sometimes, you just want to be in the familiar surroundings of home.  That’s exactly where I found myself yesterday morning – longing for home.  So, after a physically & emotionally draining week away, I determinedly checked out of the hotel, stopped for some gas (despite my general policy of *not* buying gas in that area of [...]

Work ethic, deviance, and cougars – oh my!

by: dee September 26, 2009

Over the last month, I’ve had the ultimate experience of interacting within an interesting subculture which has really laid down some really sharp demarkifications between Generation X (my generation) and Generation Y – that I find, personally, extraordinarily frustrating but equally interesting. So, first, let me clarify the generational periods – because there is some overlap [...]

Death of Icons

by: dee June 26, 2009

This has definitely been a long week for Hollywood, with the death of three icons (two in the same day).  While some deaths may not have been suprising (because the icon had been ill for quite some time), another left the world asking “why?”. Then, our little state lost its own icon in a tragic [...]

Cows and world ideologies

by: dee June 1, 2009

Two posts in one day? I know…it rarely happens. On my drive to the city today, I recalled an excellent explanation regarding world government/ideologies/societal structures that I read as a forwarded email years ago (see the last definition below to get a feel for when…it was highly relevant at the time I read this originally). [...]

Blue Peanut Butter, Hamster Dancing, & Explosions

by: dee January 18, 2009

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. First, a few weeks ago, I read an article about blue peanut butter. Yes, you read that right – BLUE peanut butter. Apparently, someone decided that Blue Dye No. 2 *may be* chemically similar to compounds that bind to cancer-causing chemicals, limiting their ability to mutate DNA. To [...]

Looking for our Daily Journal Writing prompts?

by: dee January 1, 2009

As part of my “simplify” aspect of my 2009 goals….I’ve chosen to combine my daily journal writing prompts blog (formerly at:  http://www.daily-journal-writing-prompts.com/)  with this one – that gives me one spot to write each day – instead of many.  The goal is, of course, to provide the journal writing prompts as often as possible, amongst [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Time

by: dee September 10, 2008

Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters. ~Margaret Peters Choose a few things that have happened in your life where time has shown you what really matters. In your journal, record one or two of these, paying particular attention to what it was about the event or situation that really made [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Belief

by: dee September 6, 2008

We do not believe if we do not live and work according to our belief. ~Heidi Willis In your journal, ponder today’s quote.? Do you agree?? Disagree?? Is her idea too simple?? Too black and white?? Explore this in your journal. Journal writing prompt bonus: Examine your own life.? Do you live and work according [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Elephants

by: dee September 4, 2008

When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run. ~Abraham Lincoln Freeform journaling exercise…..? In your journal, simply take this quote and “run with it” – write about whatever comes to mind – allow your writing to wander in whatever direction [...]

Journal writing prompt: Purpose

by: dee September 1, 2008

“This is our purpose:? to make as meaninful as possible this life that has been bestowed upon us; to live in such a way that we may be proud of ourselves; to act in such a way that some part of us lives on.” ~ Oswald Spengler In your opinion, is this our life purpose?? [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Liberty

by: dee August 27, 2008

So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause. ~George Lucas, Senator Amidala in Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) US movie director & screenwriter (1944 – ) In your journal, consider today’s quote in a today-oriented context. What do you suppose George Lucas (via the Star Wars character) means by the [...]

Journal writing prompt: Adventure?

by: dee August 25, 2008

Adventure is just bad planning. ~ Roald Amundsen Consider today’s quote…do you agree or disagree – is adventure just bad planning?? Or, is it a vital part of this thing we call “life”? Journal writing prompt bonus: Using today’s quote as a starting point, think about your life.? ? ? How do you view your [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Character

by: dee August 22, 2007

“Character – the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life – is the source from which self respect springs.” ~Joan Didion In your journal, ponder today’s quote.? Is the source of self respect a willingness to accept responsibility for your own life?? Or is there more to it?? Does that willingness to accept responsibility [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Miracles

by: dee August 18, 2007

“When a miracle happens, even if not to you, it’s nature is to naturally expand.? You can almost feel the warmth on your face.” ~Hugh Elliott In your journal, consider the topic of miracles.? Do you believe that miracles really exist?? Or are they a folklore-ish remnant of days long gone?? What constitutes a miracle [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Inferno

by: dee August 16, 2007

“Blaze with the fire that is never extinguished.” ~Luisa Sigea In your journal, consider today’s quote.? Have you experienced blazing with a fire that is never extinguished (I suppose, if we are taking this more technically, that would mean that you are still experiencing this)?? Have you ever blazed with a fire that *felt* like [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Success

by: dee August 15, 2007

“The secret of all success is to know how to deny yourself. Prove that you can control yourself, and you are an educated man; and without this all other education is good for nothing.” ~R. D. Hitchcock In your journal, write about today’s quote.? Do you agree or disagree? Is success really all about denial [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Peace

by: dee August 14, 2007

“Every day we do things, we are things, that have to do with peace.? If we are aware of our life…, our way of looking at things, we will know how to make peace right in the moment, we are alive.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh In your journal, recount your day (or recount yesterday if you [...]

Journal writing prompt: Focus

by: dee August 13, 2007

“The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.” ~Robert J. Shiller? ? ? Today’s journal writing prompt seems pretty straightforward.? In a society where so many people seem to have multiple warning signs of ADHD, what do you think?? Is the ability to focus attention on important things a [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Understanding

by: dee August 12, 2007

“Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.” ~George Santayana It’s not uncommon, in our society, to (at least occasionally)? quit listening to opposing viewpoints – no matter who’s view it is – in defense of our own views.? What seems to be quite uncommon (at times) is [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Happy pills

by: dee August 11, 2007

“It is impossible to walk rapidly and be unhappy.” ~Dr. Howard Murphy In your journal, consider today’s quote.? Do your experience with walking rapidly seem to confirm Dr. Murphy’s assertion?? What about walking rapidly due to lateness – what sort of effect does that have on your mood (if any)?? Do you make an effort [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Safety vs. Purpose

by: dee August 10, 2007

“A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” ~Grace Murray Hopper In your journal, consider today’s quote in the framework of your life.? Sometimes, we are encouraged to play it safe – in work, in life.? However, we must weigh the security of that safety with what we were [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Embrace life

by: dee August 9, 2007

“But pain… seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life.? Being dead is quite painless.? Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless.? Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?” ~ Lois McMaster Bujold Today’s quote provoked some mixed feelings for me.? As someone [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Growth

by: dee August 8, 2007

“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage.? The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” ~William Ellery Channing In your journal, write about a recent difficult that arose.? Did it rouse your spirit or did it discourage you?? Why or why not? Daily journal writing prompt bonus:? I know with some difficulties, particularly when [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: The secret of happiness

by: dee August 7, 2007

“The secret of happiness is not in what one likes to do, but, in what one has to do.” ~ James M. Barrie In your journal, explore today’s quote. What do you think James Barrie means when he says that the secret of happiness is is in what one has to do? Do you think [...]

Journal writing prompt: Who’s in charge?

by: dee August 6, 2007

“If you don’t run your own life, somebody else will.” ~John Atkinson In your journal, consider today’s quote.? Who do you give up control of your own life to?? Your boss?? Your spouse?? Your children?? Your pets?? Your business? Your circumstances? Are you aware of when you give up the duty of running your own [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Hidden

by: dee August 5, 2007

“Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there.” ~Eric Hoffer I believe that it’s a well-accepted fact that everyone carries on some sort of pretense.? I’m not sure I completely agree with that [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Walk your mind

by: dee August 4, 2007

“Walking is also an ambulation of mind.” ~Gretel Ehrlich In your journal, think about the times when you are walking – whether it’s to and from a specific destination, for physical fitness, or to nowhere-in-particular.? Because our mind is always on, walking (no matter what the purpose) seems to bring on a state which? allows [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Life views

by: dee August 3, 2007

“Cynicism is not realistic and tough.? It’s unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don’t have to try.” ~Peggy Noonan In your journal, explore your outlook on life.? Would you define your outlook on life as that of a cynic or an optimist?? What about your friends and family, how would they define [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Why?

by: dee August 2, 2007

“This is pretty much what journals are all about, at least to me.? I knew as I wrote them that even though they provided an excellent place for brain (and heart, and psyche) dump, they were mainly a map of me.” ~Colleen Wainwright As I’m sure you would agree, everyone journals for similar yet different [...]

Journal Writing Prompt: Ultimate Journey

by: dee August 1, 2007

“We may go to the moon, but that’s not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us.” ~Charles de Gaulle In your journal, consider today’s quote.? What do you think it means when the author says that the greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us?? Do you [...]