Ccchhhaannggees…

My son, Alex, who is an adult, has been visiting since mid-December, except for some weekends he went to visit others. He is making a move back here to Georgia from out West.

Things are different when your child is an adult, it seems I get corrected more than ever. It is bearable, well, we are still speaking to one another.

One thing we had discussed accomplishing while he was here with me was dealing with all the things Mom left behind and other clutter I am so adept at accumulating. Picture border-line hoarder, here. I collect things and collect things and more things. I can admit I run amok.

We got Mom’s room under enough control that he can sleep back there, and we carried off an Explorer load of clothes to GoodWill. There is still so much.

If you are a person like me or are dealing with someone like me, strap on your patience good and tight and stay hydrated. This declutter crap is harrowing and no wimps need apply. I can only take it in spurts and even then I have rip-roaring headaches. Most things he sees as just junk, I know all the history about and could spend significant time explaining. Yeah, cue the Eagles, “Get Over It!”

I worked part of the kitchen today. It has not been a blue-ribbon day. I did make admirable progress in my estimation, clearing some counters, moving things, rearranging others. The really dismal thing is I am not a fast person, I am meticulous. Not exactly the best trait when trying to throw away a lifetime of collected stuff (for you enlightened beings, that probably translates as JUNK.)

Dishes that are of the original or close to that pattern of Corelleware can probably leave. The stuff Mom brought home from yard sales that I wished she had never seen, those go too. Where did all these margarine tubs and lids come from? Mom never met one she did not like. The bowls with all the pretty colors and patterns, we are not doing so good over. Ever heard, “I might need it someday?”

The worst of it is he wants me to get rid of some books. To say I am attached to ALL my books would not be overstating my situation.

Anyway, I think I raised a drill sergeant in disguise, recruiter duty did that set of pipes no justice, none at all.

He is working on his novel when I am not on his radar for repudiation. I am working on this when I can get to it. I need to HideAway as Mick Jagger sings about so well.

Things are looking better. I have to admit that, just the process is so painful I would like to get the heck out of dodge.

I hope all of you are meeting your goals, beginning 2020 right. I have high expectations for everything we can accomplish in the coming weeks. Life is such a blessing and flees from us so soon. Every day is precious and we should spend our time improving lives with love and being who we wish.

A river running
Throughout space and time, all us
Loving, living, wise.
As a prompt, look at the poem above. It is my favorite type of poem, a Haiku. It is syllabic, where you count syllables, first-line – five syllables, second-line – seven syllables, final line – five syllables. Write some of your own, they are excellent creativity warm-up exercises.

Gratitude is a balm to the soul. If you will regularly make lists of the things for which you are thankful more happiness and blessings will find you.

I am grateful:

It was not raining so much today.
I made progress in the kitchen.
I have adequate medications.
My son is visiting.
I came into this year without being alone.

Thank you for the time you have taken to visit Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something to inspire, entertain, or just make you think. There is a follow button or come back at your whim. God Bless You and Yours, Always!

Exit 2019, Welcome 2020

As we wave goodbye
To what we became and know,
We still share enough.
Our burdens we strip away
In effort to grow, survive,
Escaping the trap
Left behind like a list made
In haste, featuring
Doubt, observations obscure,
Uncertain meanings, some unknown.
Praying a grant, gift,
Of blessings, we tell ourselves
Focus, start this moment new
Build reality
From cherished dreams, independent,
No longer neglected, precious
As the life pulsing through us
Each one making our hope,
Love, present in human form.

This poem is in answer to The Sunday Whirl. In the past, I did a lot of such work, but it has been some time. As a prompt, you could trek over there and participate.

I again changed some site settings. I was not happy with the lack of a pictorial header.

I am writing a decent amount now, here. I am thinking about taking up a 365 Creativity Challenge like I have done in the past, but it is a huge commitment. There does not appear a level of interest here to encourage that much engagement. It is rolling around in my brain like a marble in a pinball machine, though. So, it may or may not happen.

I am grateful:

My son, Alex, has been home over the holidays.
His two excursions away in my Explorer have gone well.
I am adept at working around my technology’s pitfalls.
We have made some little headway on getting my home under control.
I am optimistic about the opportunities for the coming year.

I appreciate your visiting, Haphazard Creative. I hope you will follow the site or come back as you have time and interest.

All the best to each of you going forward.

What Reading Held Out

I guess God has been trying to show me something for a bit. I read a lot, and almost all the books lately have sent the same message. Let me give you a list:

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
A Column of Fire by Ken Follet
The Cave and The Light by Arthur Herman
A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
The Templars by Dan Jones (my current read)

The message is we human beings do a lot of damage to one another in our disrespect for the freedom to have our own opinions, beliefs, and bodies. I do not go looking for messages when I pick reads. I read for enjoyment and to learn.

Some of the things these books have shown me, I did not realize. If you want to delve into it, grab any one of them. All are excellent.

We have been systemically eliminating people and demeaning them for the longest time. Maybe not you and I, but the race of human beings. I feel each one of us should make an effort to lift others up and ennoble them at every opportunity. The world is hard, and it tears at us. Even when we are not subjected to persecution or denigration, our selves can turn against us and bring pain.

Sometimes I feel I should not write or that I write poorly, but I love people, and I needed to say something. Differences make us gloriously unique and beautiful, it would be so wonderful if all of us began to celebrate the varieties of people we are. When we hurt someone else, we hurt ourselves, that should stop. Kindness, it brings smiles, and we are so precious, sharing smiles will increase our happiness quotient.

I am only me
You are steadfastly you, too,
But what together
We may become, can changing
History be much greater
Than we individuals
Can in imagination
See, for creativity
Prospers in community,
Love then guides humanity.

We are, this present,
Past hopes, prayer, bright future dreams,
The promise love brings.

This day like others
I have loved, slips smooth away
Like water over
Rocks which cannot capture it
Even for a brief moment.

As a prompt, create something, in whatever form that helps your awareness of how you can befriend and uplift someone else.

Three things for which I am thankful today: Food that nourishes me, Family and Friends who love me, and All the beautiful things with which I have been blessed.

I thank you for your visit, you may follow Haphazard Creative should you wish, or I hope you will return.

May love and smiles soften your journey,
Jo Ann

Observations

Someone on Twitter was told to go away and die. I wonder if people realize how absolutely horrible and devastating, it is to say that to another human being.

Words are immensely forceful. As the Bible says, the tongue has the power of life and death. The reason is words have meaning and can create states in our minds. In our world, the power extends beyond speaking to all we write.

I wrote something affirming in answer to the tweet, “You sweep that trash away. Realize you are lovely, valuable, precious, and needed. You have a purpose and a reason. Love and goodness are surrounding you. Reach out to those who appreciate you or go find people who do. Do not give up. You are so special. Bless you.”

We must be about a positive impact on others. Love is the only life, and we must each ensure others are embraced, encouraged, and inspired.

There is enough pain in the universe without nasty words, I mean words that break hearts and souls. People attempt to be tough, and that is admirable, but at the core, our selves are fragile. Everyone needs appreciation. The battles we fight with life do incalculable damage, the least we may do is be kind and loving when we interact. It takes a bit of effort, but it could change a life from destruction and disaster to blessing and love in action.

Do not speak, nor write, in the heat of anger. It takes self-control to master your rage, but we all know this monster is not one the world requires, at all. The old saying, if you cannot say something kind, say nothing at all, has considerable merit. If we remember, we can forestall unleashing much torture on others and ourselves.

Sure, we misspeak or write things in a moment of provocation, but if we consistently curb hurtful words, we can improve our communications; with us, the community of mankind becomes more tolerant and loving.

Further thoughts…

Life can break your heart in many ways, still, give your love away. The more passion you share, the fuller your heart, so you can go on giving.

When you hurt and suffer, do not give up, you are stronger than you know. Pain helps you grow in understanding. The experiences will equip you with wisdom to provide someone who needs help with comfort.

If you have doubts, do not quit. As you keep going, you will learn more about faith and trust. After you do what presented as impossible, someone else will follow your example to success.

The struggle is never one of us alone. Others go before, and others come behind. We see the ones who slay giants, and we are inspired to conquer those rushing at us with deadly focus on our dreams and lives. The precious ones who follow take heart from our devotion and victories.

All humanity is joined, and the future depends on you and I to carry on. We have meaning and purpose because every life is significant. God loves and adores us every single one. We are given for love, for life, for joy, for abundance, for all, and forever.

These were written in my journal, longhand, during the night. I find when I type things in that editing changes occur. I am less exacting in my journal. The journal is, however, a proving ground. I can be myself on the page, where text, it exerts some logic that I find challenging.

I hope you are enjoying your days. Surround yourself with love and beauty. Let no one dissuade you from the fact you are essential. As much as you may, eliminate negativity from your attitudes and your life. Gratitude is a source of solace in times of turmoil. Be mindful of the great blessings in your life. As Thanksgiving comes about, meditate on goodness.

I am grateful:

I have family and friends who love me.
There is such ample opportunity to live.
My dogs are good company.
I was able to accomplish a lot in the house during the week.
I have writing, art, reading, music, and more to help me maintain some balance.

You are priceless, always remember who you are, a precious being come from love and living love.

As a prompt: Write, or otherwise create, something that will encourage others to hold on and then, if you can, share it. You may find that in the creation, your spirit is lifted. This is one of the tremendous gifts of positive communication. It helps us float over the waves even as it prevents someone else from drowning in the depths.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you take away something that helps you on your journey. There is a follow button, or simply come back when you wish.

Keep yourself grounded in the present, but plan as you can for the future. It comes rushing like calvary, and you must prepare or be taken by the storm. Be well, do well, and God bless you always.

Site Blunders, Mistaken Communication

I was checking in on the tablet because I turned the computer off. Scrolling through themes, I found one more attractive to my sensitivities. So, sorry, but we are now revamped. This theme is Publication 2. It has my sidebars and widgets, which were sadly missing in SAGA. I am old school, having blogged since 2005. (See Chronicles should you be interested in that history. It has lots on it.) I like as much detail on pages as artificial intelligence can afford me. I am still not paying for the website, though I did keep my domain. (It will happen, just at the appropriate time.)

School has begun in a lot of places. Those of you with kids, (and our crowd of creatives), I recommend you institute a period of gratitude each day. I find this gives a perspective that sometimes slips into the busy oblivion of day following day. Just have a few minutes to write or simply verbally share some things that went well during your limit of hours.

I am thankful:

The Wookie (Marbles) did not injure me while we walked. This being an ongoing problem I am praying about, I would much appreciate an improvement.
My stomach seems to be recovering, I, unfortunately, forgot I cannot eat foods with heavy concentrations of MSG. Mongolian Chicken should be prohibited.
I found a much more appropriate and loveable theme.
I completed reading Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger. An excellent book with some paranormal emphasis and well-developed characters. Missing it. Somewhat adrift trying to find something new. Oh, it was 5 stars, highly recommend it.
Music; brings me through the days when I am straying and finding the way hard to navigate. (We Believe – Newsboys) (Time Waits For Noone – Freddie Mercury) (Anything by the most esteemed Dr. Brian May) (Gangsters Are Running the World – Roger Taylor) ( Hide Away – What can I say, Mick Jagger)

If you can, pull your youngsters (and yourselves) away from screens long enough to do a minimum of ten minutes of creative work, whether art, writing, photography or whatever the penchant. These things will enrich your days and add joy to your lives.

I know many of you are more successful social media mavens than I am. Should you feel inclined and you find my communications of efficacy, please share as you may. I thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative today. I hope you will explore and wander about a bit. There is a follow button, or you may simply return as appeals to you. I think my links are now available again without having to search as much.

As a prompt, if you have a blog or site, which you have not refreshed in some time. Consider what a change might do. I know it takes some investment of time and effort, but the payoffs are sometimes higher than we expect.

Had to share the Tribble, just for the cuteness factor. My buddy.