Second Thoughts Friday: Thoughts on Writing and Blog Themes

It is Friday, April 25, 2014, I am having second thoughts about composing an entry on today's blog theme. I have attempted for several years (I think I began in 2006 or 2007) to establish daily themes for both my blogs without much success. I used to think the problem stemmed from being a caregiver because between 2007 and 2012 I took care of my mother who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

I do not think the stress of being a caregiver was the problem. My mother died on November 29, 2012 and we buried her in December of 2012. I spent thirteen months, between November of 2012 and December of 2013 in a fog, struggling to pay the electric and cable bill. I came out of the fog on January 1, 2014 and then in February of this year the house finally sold. I moved into a studio apartment in February. I'm still struggling to pay the cable and electric bill, but I can pay the rent.

This morning, I began to write on the theme of the day which was either Fragment Friday or Poetry Form Friday, and realized that I had nothing to say on either subject. I decided to make this Second Thoughts Friday because I could not think of anything else to write about. I am ready to give up the daily theme idea entirely, at least in its present form. What I think I will do is make a list of blog themes that I can use on a daily basis and pick a random theme for each day. I will give this a try for the rest of 2014 and see how that works for me.

2013 It Was...

2013 it was...
an interesting year
full of struggle,
of worry,
and learning about myself.

On the last day of 2013, I want to write about the loneliest year of my life. My mother died on November 29, 2012 and for the past 13 months and two day I have felt both her absence and her presence. I have felt her absence when going through her clothes and giving them to charity. Perhaps it was too soon to give the things away, but I felt I had to clean out her closet and give the things  to someone who could use them. I did keep two of her dresses because she painted decorations on them when she was a fashion painting instructor before the Alzheimer's disease stole her memory and her talent.

I felt Mom's presence when she came to me in my dreams. I felt her presence in the memories that going through her things brought back to me. I felt her presence with I found her pink prayer beads, which I am wearing today. I felt her  presence when I wrote poems about her and the grief I felt at not having her here physically. I knew Mom's soul was in a better place, but that did not alleviate the grief I felt at losing her.

2013 it was...
a lonely year
living in Mom's house
and not wanting to do anything
except cry.

On the Last Sunday in December 2013

On the last Sunday in December
a flock of black birds
congregated
in the gutter across the street.

The pecked at the remains
left by yesterday's
garbage trucks
and then flew away
wheeling
toward the Las Vegas strip
and a more
substantial meal.

2013 is winding down

There are nine days left in 2013 and I'm getting tired of all the crap and negativity. I'm seriously considering unfriending several people on Facebook in 2014 because of the negativity. I'm also going to git rid of the negative element in my personal life. I'm looking for positive things that I can add to my life and positive people I can add to my list of friends.

I'll be 67 years old on December 24 and dealing with negativity and crap is becoming more difficult all the time. I dislike my own negative thoughts and am working on becoming more positive. I have decided that if I want to be positive then I have to deal with positive people most of the time. I can handle a little negative without it effecting me, but after a while it becomes too much and I start reacting negatively. I don't like reacting negatively to negative people or situations because it just make matters worse.

I've been thinking about this subject for several days; however, for some reason today was the day the negativity became too much. Perhaps it's a reaction to my upcoming birthday and the realization that I'm not getting any younger. I also suspect that negativity has a detrimental effect on my health. Since I'm going to attempt to take charge of improving my health in 2014, I also think I should take charge of getting rid of the negativity in my life.

I'm also going to try making my writing a little more positive. I may have to make an exception if one of my characters is negative, but otherwise I can work toward making some of my work positive. I know that the world is full of bad and negative events, so I do have to put some of that in my writing. However, I don't have to focus on everything that negative.

Another Year Almost Gone

Another year almost gone,
I look back
and wonder at what I've done.

What did I accomplish in 2013?

Tonight,
I'm not sure
if I accomplished anything,
but I know I must have
did something
worth remembering
during 2013.

My Writing Week in Review

I wrote seven poems this week and submitted them to a contest on writing.com. I also made my word count goal three days out of seven, which is good considering that some of those days I was depressed. I did not make word count on the days depression hit me the hardest.

I have difficulty writing when I am depressed, but that is the time I need to write because writing helps me overcome the depression. I have an offline journal called Writing my Spiritual Journal that use to keep track of my progress both spiritually and materially. In this journal, I write letters to the people who have had the biggest influence on my spiritual journey. I also use this journal for my Thankful Thursday entries. 

I am not depressed today. In fact I feel better then I have in a long time. The only thing I am worried about today is making my word count goal. I am supposed to write 2,000 words a day. I have four months until I have to consider changing that goal. I do not want to lower the goal because of lack of consistency in achieving to goal. I would rather raise the goal, but I can only do this is I accomplish the goal six days out of seven for the rest of 2013.
 

Welcome to September

Welcome to September,
a month to remember,
a month with 30 days,
so there must be at least 30 ways
to commemorate September.

How do I commemorate September 2013? I guess the best way to honor the ninth month of the Gregorian calendar is to write about all the events and history of sweltering month (at least in Las Vegas) is to write about them. One of the dates to remember is September 11, the question is “How am I going to commemorate this day?”

Should I write a poem about that day? Should I write an article about that date in history? I know that I can say a prayer for the departed and the survivors, but what else can I do on Wednesday, September 11. I have ten days to decide; however, if I write a blog entry I have to start noting down what I want to say on that day.

Perhaps I am making the planning part more difficult or involved then I need to. A simple poem or prayer written from the heart is all that may be necessary to remember the day and the First Responders. I do not believe I have written a poem dedicated to the First Responders. I will have to check my poems to see, but I think I would remember if I had written a poem with about First Responders.

Memorial Day 2013: Remembering

Remembering the sacrifices made,
Remembering the price of freedom paid,
Flags wave above their headstones,
As we remember them today.

We shed tears remembering the faces
Of those who made the sacrifice,
We lay flowers on their graves,
As we remember them today.

Lacoste LIVE takes you to Japan in the Spring and Summer of 2013

In the spring and summer of 2013, Lacoste LIVE take you to Japan: "From Tokyo to the Beach". Most of us have tasted sushi, watched Tokyo's flashing lights at night, or read manga. Now go beyond the stereotypes and see what you can discover. Click on the video below to find out more.

Ireland is having a Gathering in 2013

It is 2013 and Ireland is having a "Gathering". The island is ablaze with festivals. Click on the video below and listen to Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell overview of 2013's unusual highlights of these events. They've saved you a seat in Ireland, so for more information check out ireland.com.

Thoughts on February 1, 2013

Where did January go,
It seemed to melt like the snow
In the warm rays of the morning sun.

February 1, 2013 in Las Vegas the birds are singing. At least, they are in my neighborhood. When I picked up my morning newspaper a bird was singing in my pine tree. I am not sure of the species because I can only identify the songs of sparrow and nightingales. Whatever species it was, it seemed happy that morning had arrived.

It is a bit chilly and there is a slight breeze this morning. The limbs of the olive tree, in the yard across  the street, move randomly. When I looked into the sky, I say the half-moon and no clouds. Perhaps this will be a clear day. I did not watch the news last night or this morning, so I do not know the weather forecast for today.

Welcome to 2013

Happy New Year 2013! The year that the world was supposed to end is past, we can all breath a sigh of relief or fall on the floor laughing because of all the hype about the end of the world. The planet Earth still turns on its axis and circle the sun, while the planet's inhabitants still make love and war. It is time to make New Year's Resolutions with concrete and measurable goal statements.

Two things are necessary for a person to achieve his or her New Year's Resolutions. First, the resolutions or goals must be written down in specific terms. Second, those goals must be measurable. If your New Year's Resolution is to lose weight, you cannot write "I want to lose weight in 2013." You have to be specific about the number of pounds you want to lose, so  that you can measure your progress though out the year. In order to lose weight a person has to set up a weight lose program, measure his or her progress, and give oneself a reward when the goal is accomplished.

Considering the end of 2012

There are two days left in the year, 2012 the year the world was supposed to end is ending. There are two days left to accomplish any unkept resolutions made on January 1, 2012. It is time to make new resolutions for 2013.

The old year is ending and a New Year is beginning. That is the way it is with years and life. When one phase of life ends, then another phase begins and life goes on. We human beings have a tendency to focus on endings and not beginnings. We seem to ignore the lesson of the egg and the omelet.

To make an omelet you have to break an egg. When the egg breaks, it is the end of the egg, but the beginning of the omelet. You pick up a whole egg and crack the shell. When you crack the shell, you put the yolk and white of the egg into a bowl. The next thing you do is take a fork and mix the egg and its yolk together, which is the beginning of an omelet. After that you put the scrambled egg into a skillet or an omelet pan with other good things. The next thing you know you have an omelet. After the omelet is cooked, you eat it. The egg is gone, but the omelet nourishes your body.

The old year is ending and a New Year beginning. What will 2013 hold for humanity? What will 2013 hold for each individual human being? It holds a new beginning; as 2012 ends, then 2013 begins.

ESCADA SPORT spring/summer 2013 Fashion Show

Runway highlights from the spring/summer 2013 fashion show in Berlin. Check out the video to learn about Mercedes-Benz Fashion week in Berlin. After viewing these highlight I know I need an entirely new wardrobe. I love the hats and the colors.