Ready, Go Create

Sometimes creating is hard. Life intervenes, or feelings get in the way. When you find yourself unable to practice your art, here is some encouragement:

Pick up a book, turn to a random page, read the first entire paragraph, create a work inspired by the whole, or just a word. You do not have to relate your creation to the meaning of the paragraph at all.
Think of a place you would like to go, Google it or use Wikipedia. Do some searching; when you find something that intrigues you, create whatever you are inspired to do.
Go somewhere nearby and see it with new eyes, like a stranger. Take your impressions and create from that starter.
Create an ad for an item, band, show, or movie you love. Probably change the names involved.
Give your pet, or one you had, an adventure backstory. If you are a visual artist, create from there.

I hope those give you some ideas. All the best to you always.

Thanksgiving

Why Gratitude Is Great Every Day

It is fantastic to set aside a day annually for giving thanks, and we should. However, there is so much more meaning to be gained from an attitude of gratitude in the midst of ordinary days. We live by grace, everything flowing to us freely. Much of what happens and what we have, we did not plan.

The parking space that opens up on a day when walking hurts.
The child arrived after a long period of waiting.
The place where home is found.
The friends who love despite the flaws.
The technology that eases each day.
The books that let us travel away.
The pets that bring smiles and laughter.

All these and so many blessings enhance living, gratitude journals are a wonderful practice to indulge in thankfulness. What they give us is mindfulness of how full our lives are. Maybe it raises the spirits and keeps complaints at bay.

Try to take at least a few moments to recognize your extraordinary life every week. When you know what you have you may find yourself more content.

Life is a bountiful adventure abundant in every way. I hope you find reasons for gratitude all along the pathway.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sweet Surprise

I returned an item to my Sister-in-Law, Linda, this afternoon. We had some pleasant conversation. I was happy to visit.

Then she said this is a birthday/Christmas present, and gave me these lovely things. I was surprised and joyful. I mean, WOW! I cannot wait to finish my current journal, though sadly, it will be a while.

We talked about church, and I said I was not going. She invited me to come to her church, which was my church before, and that may happen.

I need more personal interaction. I have very nearly become a hermit.

Anyway, beautiful things given to me by a very dear person.

Five Reads Reviewed

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson is 880 pages and engrossing. It is a space odyssey written by one of the most engaging writers of our time. Ever thought about what would happen if the moon ceased to exist in wholeness?

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair was a book I read 75%. My reason was graphic and gratuitous sex. I cannot go for that.

Mine by Robert R. McCammon is 516 pages. A book by a horror virtuoso that some may have missed. His work is in the same league as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice.

Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen is 301 pages and has excellent exercises which will get one writing. She covers a lot of material in this short treatise.

Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann is 353 pages set in the time of kings, queens, knights, and jesters. Tyll is an interesting character with a bit of magic attached.

I read these books in June and give all of them five stars except A Touch of Darkness which did not suit me. If you like that sort of thing, it is a fine example.

I have read sixty-eight books this year, and I have to catch up with posting them.

It Happened

Richard convinced me I needed a new phone. My old one has been very close to useless for nearly a year. It restarted erratically, would not sync with my vehicle, broke my SD card, and was just a pain.

I usually get Samsung Flagship phones, but in reduced circumstances, I had to do differently. This is a top tier phone without the gargantuan price.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 5g on sale with some carriers now is an incredible piece of tech. It has six cameras, fingerprint, and facial identification, a six-inch screen, 64 GB of internal storage expandable with up to a TB SD card, Dolby ATMOS, and if you need a phone, you could not find a better deal.

So there, I wrote a tech review. I had a constant personal ad until I was overwhelmed. I will not do that to you. Consider it a Public Service Announcement.