PROMPT: Risk

Daily writing prompt
Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

I don’t know that I’ve ever regretted taking a risk. I’ve taken some bruises for them on occasion but not felt regret.

I did once try to block a staff strike with an ill-positioned / ill-timed wooden sword. I got a mild concussion that time, but still — I don’t think — regret (but I’m a bit fuzzy on the details, maybe it damaged the part of my brain that is capable of regret.)

I’m with Miyamoto Musashi, who wrote: “我事におゐて後悔を/せず” [“I will not regret my deeds.”] in his Dokkôdô [“Way of Walking Alone.”] Of course, he probably suffered his share of concussions as well.

PROMPT: Inaction

Daily writing prompt
Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

The older I get, the more I find regret to be a sucker’s game. I was the me then that I was, wishing the me then was the me now is just a waste of angst. Learn and move. Learn and move. No regret.

PROMPT: Nervous

Daily writing prompt
What makes you nervous?

All sorts of stuff — e.g. gabby strangers approaching me unexpectedly when I’m in a low mental energy state. But when I observe the sensation of that nervousness, without rumination or feeding of the feeling, it fades rapidly. As Twain [allegedly, but possibly never] said, “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”

PROMPT: Unwind

Daily writing prompt
How do you unwind after a demanding day?

Reading is best for me. It’s low energy and as long as I don’t do it on the phone I’m not subjected to the blue light that they use in phone screens (specifically to keep one from unwinding.) Reading eases me to sleep, especially if I don’t pick writing that’s too stimulating.

PROMPT: Social Media

Daily writing prompt
How do you use social media?

For endumbening. Whenever I feel I’m being too cerebral, I go to social media and IQ points drip away by the minute.

And, you know, to keep up with family and such.

PROMPT: First Thing

Daily writing prompt
Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

We’re all screwed. Embrace the chaos or head for the hills.

There is a class of problems that brute force solutions, even when they nudge the needle in the desired direction, always end in devastation.

One can’t drive an aircraft carrier like a jet-ski and expect anything other than a bunch of drowned sailors and destroyed planes.

[Guess who’s been reading the news.]

PROMPT: Random Encounter

Daily writing prompt
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

Anytime that such an encounter doesn’t start with a socially-programmed question [e.g. “Where are you from?” or “How ya doin’?”] or attempt to drag me into a communal bitching session [e.g. “Man, this line sure is slow!”] it has the potential to be a great interaction.

Unfortunately, encounters that meet both criteria are so rare that I’m usually caught off-guard. It’s like seeing a leprechaun or a unicorn, one doesn’t have time to process it before the moment is gone. Still, there have been a few over the years — conversations on topics of mutual interest, mostly.

PROMPT: Decision

Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

To surrender to my ignorance. If one can never know exactly what game one is playing, it becomes much easier to avoid getting worked up about whether one is playing it right or whether one will “win” or not.

PROMPT: Never Visit

Daily writing prompt
What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

The hot, molten core. Because it is hot, and molten… And because I am a fancy bag of water.

PROMPT: Positive Thing

Daily writing prompt
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

Be present.