PROMPT: Expected to Hate

Daily writing prompt
What’s a movie you expected to hate but ended up loving?

I’ve had it the other way round (i.e. disliked a movie I expected to like,) but I can’t really say I’ve ever watched a movie that I expected to hate. Do people do that? In the very short life one has, are there people who sit around entertaining themselves with movies they expect to not be entertaining? Despite all that I have learned in this life, people perplex me more and more each day.

PROMPT: Meaning of Life

Daily writing prompt
What is the meaning of life?

I don’t know that there is a meaning of life, and — if there is — I truly doubt that it’s one size fits all. I’ve got to give it to the Existentialists on this particular question.

PROMPT: Word or Phrase

Daily writing prompt
What’s a word or phrase that annoys you?

Popularity contest,” as in “This isn’t going to win me any popularity contests, but…” You know what’s not popular? Popularity contests. I’ve never heard of one. What you are really saying is, “I’m about to be a jackass, and I just want you to know that I’m aware I’m being a jackass.” Just own your jackassery all ready. You can’t soften the blow of being a jackass.

PROMPT: Perfect Road Trip

Daily writing prompt
How do you plan the perfect road trip?

As loosely and flexibly as your stress tolerance will bear.

PROMPT: Minimalist

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

You own few things and nothing owns you.

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: Topics

Daily writing prompt
What topics do you like to discuss?

Anything but myself. Unfortunately, that seems to be the main mode of social discourse in the world. People mostly want to hear enough about me that they feel justified in telling me more about them. I’m an ideas guy: philosophy, science, literature, technology, economy, international affairs, etc. (Also, travel, but that only works with travelers — a tiny segment of the population.)

PROMPT: Positive Change

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

I’ve embraced the Crazy. #embracethecrazy