PROMPT: Life Philosophy

If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?

View all responses

No one understands what life, or this world, is well enough to be intolerant or angst-ridden.

PROMPT: Sentimental

What’s one thing you own that holds deep sentimental value?

View all responses

When we got our household storage back after 12+ years abroad, I discovered all sorts of items with tremendous sentimental value that I’d forgotten had existed. That’s how sentimental I am.

PROMPT: Worst Travel Experience

What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

View all responses

My “worst travel experience” is like my “worst sexual experience;” it still beats the hell out of sitting at home alone on the couch. (Also, worst travel experiences make the best travel stories — given enough distance in the rearview to see the humor.)

PROMPT: Personal Goals

Do you set personal goals for yourself?

It’s better than having them set for me… and also better than having to set personnel goals.

PROMPT: Never Thought You Could

What’s something you’ve done that you never thought you could?

View all responses

I slouch more towards overestimation than underestimation.

Besides, it’s generally true that if one thinks one can’t, one is right — i.e. self-fulfilling prophecy has great sway.

PROMPT: Past Self

What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of?

View all responses

Still be alive? I don’t know. The little shit was underawed by virtue of great expectations.

PROMPT: Know

What’s one thing you know now that would have saved your younger self a lot of pain?

View all responses

I believe the distinction between knowledge and wisdom is that one merely needs to be able to understand knowledge, but one must be able to live wisdom. For example, one can teach a five-year-old Jesus’ lesson about turning the other cheek, and they may understand every word but still be struggling to live it sixty years later.

My point is that I’m doubtful that knowing anything would have saved me pain because I would have had to live it, and that takes time, experience, and struggle.

Twins [Haiku]

Photograph of two flowers that look nearly identical. Taken in the Bogota Botanical Gardens.
two flowers
-- side-by-side -- neither
outgrows its neighbor

PROMPT: Like Home

Daily writing prompt
What’s a place you visited that felt like home?

My bar for a place to feel like home is that I don’t have to think every time about where I will eat or do my laundry. So, I’ve had this a number of times in a number of countries in which I had access to a kitchen(ette) and a washing machine.

PROMPT: Earlier in Life

Daily writing prompt
What’s one thing you wish you had started doing earlier in life?

Simplifying… and juggling.