PROMPT: Camping

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever been camping?

Many a time, and I hope to do more. I highly recommend the experience. Nothing like sleeping close to the Earth to realize that there exists no patch of ground on the planet as flat and rock-free as one’s mattress.

PROMPT: Productive

Daily writing prompt
When do you feel most productive?

Uhh… when I’m being most productive, which is to say when I’m producing something in an efficient manner. (Not sure if it’s a trick question.) Obviously, if I’ve felt the need to check my phone, social media, etc. it’s not a highly productive time because I’m not engaged with what I’m producing. Also, I have lots of time when I’m intensely engaged with an activity, but I’m not producing anything, and so that isn’t being productive per se — though it may be highly beneficial and essential to well-being. (Although, my dictionary / thesaurus have definitions of “productive” that equate it with “constructive” which changes everything. Though it also equates “intelligence,” “erudition,” and “wisdom,” which is a highly suspect understanding of wisdom.)

PROMPT: Emojis

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite emojis?

As might be expected of a device that only exists to facilitate lazy, I don’t have impassioned feelings about any emoji, but I do use the “thumbs up” more than all others combined, so I guess it would be fair to say that’s it. “Thumbs up” is very versatile, and if one is being so lazy as to use an emoji for communication, one might as well go all out an add ambiguity to the mix. “Thumbs up” just says, I have some kind of feeling between indifferent and ecstatic about what you’ve just said.

PROMPT: Discuss

Daily writing prompt
What topics do you like to discuss?

Virtually anything but myself. Philosophy, literature, science, economics, public policy, meditation, martial arts, health / well-being, travel, nature, culture, food, the end of the world as we know it, etc.

I do have some blind spots where I could not speak intelligently (e.g. large swathes of history, sports, and pop culture.)

PROMPT: Risk

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

I had lunch at a hole-in-the-wall joint with a truly astounding population of flies yesterday.

The meal was delectable.

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.