Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite word?

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Not sure I have a favourite word. But I like “abstraction”. Here is a small definition from John Locke (the philosopher, not the character on Lost):

‘So words are used to stand as outward marks of our internal ideas, which are taken from particular things; but if every particular idea that we take in had its own special name, there would be no end to names. To prevent this, the mind makes particular ideas received from particular things become general; which it does by considering them as they are in the mind—mental appearances—separate from all other existences, and from the circumstances of real existence, such as time, place, and so on. This procedure is called abstraction. In it, an idea taken from a particular thing becomes a general representative of all of the same kind, and its name becomes a general name that is applicable to any existing thing that fits that abstract idea.’ (2.11.9)

Why? The idea is somewhat central to one of Kierkegaard’s later books, Two Ages. And, methinks, it is pretty important to understand some modern ideas and issues.

Daily writing prompt

How do you relax?

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I want to post something like taking long walks along the beach. The reality is that I rarely relax – there are just different levels of anxiety, and then sleep.

Reading and music help. Being alone is always a good start. Early morning is better than late at night.”Home” is much better than away. If not possible, a small group of people is better than a large one.

Daily writing prompt

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

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Not a “word” but a borrowing of authority. I like to name drop: Kierkegaard, Macquarrie, or some medieval collection of anchoritic texts. (See, I did it again!) Or, the worst of all, “the church says”. And, by doing so, I think I use the power of the person quoted as my own.

It comes from a deep-seated feeling that I always must be the “smartest person in the room”: to dominate with intellect to make up for the overall disappointment of me. Yes, I have a good memory and sometimes a clear picture of an idea, but I know I use it to dominate and escape my own anxieties and fears. And often I do not want to tell people what I mean in case they think less of me.

So maybe the “word” I should give up is “so-and-so says”. And replace it with “I think …”. Take ownership of what I say and not hide behind another person.

Daily writing prompt

Are you holding a grudge? About?

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I do not come into this house empty. I have scars. And some of those scars are hurts I cannot easily put aside. So, yes I do hold grudges.

I am not proud of it, nor do I think it is productive, or healthy. Yet I need to be open about the scars that I carry into my relationships, especially my relationship with God. And then live in hope!

Daily writing prompt

Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

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I live an enclosed life – my home is my vocation. I do leave. Shopping and helping family are the primary reasons. I also have health appointments.

Enclosed, in my context, does not mean legally imprisoned. I am called to live my vocation in one place, The Anchorage at the moment, and not to live here to prepare for something else. It is an act of love and self-sacrifice.

Daily writing prompt

What does your ideal home look like?

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I feel I should write about the philosophy of an “ideal” and how that applied to me. But I am not.

My ideal home is the one I am living in right now. It is the fullness of my dreams. It has a library and a chapel. It is close to church and the shops. It is the right size and the right age.

A home is different to a house in that it expresses relationships. My home is within a community that has set aside this house for me. So it is ideal because it expresses my relationship to the community and allows me to express my relationship with God.

BTW: I recall writing about this before?!

Daily writing prompt

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

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I want to say something meaningful like world peace, a child’s love for their parent, the beauty of nature, or a beautiful piece of music. But the reality is that a book is most likely to bring a tear of joy to my eye. Not any book! A book that I desire for its content. I have a few with pictures in them and they are nice too. Yet nothing beats a good book with “mind-altering” content.

Daily writing prompt

Why do you blog?

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Why would anyone not blog? It is a form of expression. A way to learn to order your feelings, emotions, and affections. It is “journalling” for a digital age!

That being said, I do not blog for others! I used to write for the “hits” – optimise the SEO and share “secret” information. I blog for me. I like the process. I like the technology (and, hence, I use WordPress). I like these prompts as they make me think and look more closely at my daily life.

So, why do I blog? So that the “me” in me can express itself.

Daily writing prompt

Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses.

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So the simple answer is “no”. The longer answer is “nooooooooooooooooooo”. (And, to be honest, I want my blogging streak to continue so I am answering differently.)

I interact with people only via email (and occasionally text). So, in place of an interview, read my About me? page.

Daily writing prompt

How are you feeling right now?

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It is early in the morning and I am having a cup of tea – so I am feeling ok. But, to be honest, I have struggled. I had a dentist appointment yesterday and that was extremely stressful. I am worried and I am prone to overthinking.

But there is another side: sometimes before the light comes the darkness. Sometimes in the struggle, I have clarity. Sometimes the decision to move on is also a painful decision to surrender the past. I can only control “me”.