PROMPT: Minimalist

Daily writing prompt
What are the biggest benefits of minimalist living?

You own few things and nothing owns you.

PROMPT: Ideal Life

Daily writing prompt
If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?

The implication being that I’m not living it? I’m outraged. Desire for things to be what they aren’t is the mother of all suffering.

Perspective [Lyric Poem]

Photograph of a monkey looking sideways through the bars at a temple in Lopburi, Thailand.
Perhaps, you cannot change your jail,
And you can't choose the lumps and scars --
No matter how you scream or wail --
But you pick your view through the bars.

PROMPT: Mystery

Daily writing prompt
What’s a mystery from your own life that you’ve never solved?

What should I do?

Does anything matter? If so, how so? If not… just, why?

In short, are all the noble lies we tell more noble than lie?

PROMPT: Moment

Daily writing prompt
What’s a moment you wish you could freeze and live in forever?

This sounds to me like a recipe for how to turn a great moment into Hell. Nothing special survives its moment. I’m with the Buddhists on impermanence — i.e. Everything is impermanent, (and the desire for things to be what they are not is the root of all suffering.)

PROMPT: Emojis

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite emojis?
Faceless turd emoji.

I use my own system of criticism that inverts the usual scale, meaning that getting a zero (turds) is quite good (and increasingly rare,) and — unlike stars — if you ever reach a five-turd rating you are truly the worst. It saves time in conveying my thoughts on all sorts of things.

Try to live your life:

No poop emoji.

PROMPT: Risk

Daily writing prompt
When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

When is the last time you took a risk? Getting out of bed. (Every action or enacted decision generates some risk.)

How did it work out? I’m still alive, but the day is still young.

PROMPT: Nervous

Daily writing prompt
What makes you nervous?

Chemical interactions in (and between) my nervous, enteric nervous, and endocrine systems make me nervous.

PROMPT: Positive Change

Daily writing prompt
Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

I’ve embraced the Crazy. #embracethecrazy

PROMPT: Named

Daily writing prompt
If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

A random rock in the riverbed.