Category Archives: Life

PROMPT: Magic Genie

Posted on by
Reply
Daily writing prompt
You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
View all responses

For any wish number one, wish number two always has to be that one suffer no adverse consequences of the law of unintended consequences (i.e. like Midas who turns his food and even his daughter into solid gold.) Wish number three should be that the receipt of wish number one does not rob one of any experience that makes one a better version of oneself in the long-run (e.g. like the lottery winner who had been chugging along through life just fine and then ends up broke and suicidal because of both the additional pressures and the lack of need to be frugal and satisfied with simple things.)

Personally, I don’t know that it’s worth it. The bill always comes due.

But, if forced:

1.) To be contented with what is.

2.) Healthfulness all around.

3.) To die a good death (in due time.)

PROMPT: Moon

Posted on by
3
Daily writing prompt
How much would you pay to go to the moon?
View all responses

Nothing. My philosophy is that if I need technology to function flawlessly every second to keep me alive, I don’t need to be in that place.

PROMPT: Alternative Career Path

Posted on by
5

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?

At this point, it would need to be something AI / robots won’t possibly be able to do better, faster, cheaper in the near term. This leaves jobs for which one’s humanity is a central part of the job. Unfortunately, I suck at many aspects of being a human. Maybe I’ll become a robot and beat them at their own game.

PROMPT: Historical Events

Posted on by
Reply

What major historical events do you remember?

Alexander takes Egypt, the death of Kublai Khan, the War of 1812, the Teapot Dome Scandal… You know, the biggies.

PROMPT: Lazy Days

Posted on by
1

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

Rested. Like Mondays, they never get me down. [Or is that “rainy days?”]

PROMPT: Neighbor

Posted on by
Reply

What makes a good neighbor?

Neither a borrower, nor a lender be… plus, has good judgment about when to call the cops.

PROMPT: First Time

Posted on by
1

What could you try for the first time?

My problem is that I’m old enough that all the low hanging fruit has been consumed, meaning most “first times” involve a serious time investment. For example, I’d love to go skydiving, but you can’t just jump out of a plane, you have to either watch a safety video or sabotage a plane. All for a five-minute experience. And if you don’t want to do it with a stranger strapped intimately close to you, you need to do probably watch several safety videos and practice pulling a cord over and over again. [Question: They sometimes ask if you’d like a male or female massage therapist when you get a massage, but I’ve never heard of being given the option when tandem skydiving. How come it’s ok to be homophobic, or hetero-phobic, in one instance, but not the other? Just asking.]

PROMPT: Principles

Posted on by
1

What principles define how you live?

Before traveling, empty my cup. Before returning home, empty my cup.

Collect experiences, not geegaws.

Wishing for the world to be some other way is a grand waste of time.

If there is a river flowing toward where I want to be, surrender to it.

See humor everywhere, especially in myself.

Be content with who I am at the moment, while struggling to be a better version in future editions.

Strive to find the non-adversarial path.

Keep looking until I see what is beautiful in all things and creatures.

Don’t attempt to construct anyone else’s list of principles to live by.

Feel the sensations that arise without letting the mind amplify them out of proportion.

Seek only simple pleasures, enjoy them fully, and then move on.

PROMPT: Putting Off

Posted on by
4

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

I’m putting off death for as long as I can remain healthy (by and large.) Because I like living.

PROMPT: Grown Up

Posted on by
Reply

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

The first time I went drove to another state and stayed in a hotel on my own (late teens, obviously after getting a driver’s license — but a year or more before graduating high school.)