Bliss
The highest form of bliss is living with a certain degree of folly.
Erasmus
©Lu Williams, CSHQ
Developing your eye: Day 4
©Lu Williams, CSHQ
Tag: prompt
©Lu Williams, CSHQ
Developing your eye: Day 3
Water
I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely and build our castles in the air.
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Everyday Inspiration: Day 13 and 14
Playing with word count and Recreate a single day
Another lightbulb moment here meaning I will do Day 14 by adopting the Day 13 strategy and posting a short read inspired by one day in the past that changed everything for me.
I do hope you enjoy it as much as I loved creating it!
*United Kingdom: Samaritans: 116123 Outside the United Kingdom: Global Directory
Everyday Inspiration: Day 11
If we were having coffee right now…
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I’ve been ‘studying’ the BloggingU courses.
Day 14 of Learning the Fundamentals prompted me to create my own feature so at the beginning of March I started the ‘Friday Feels’ series which is a weekly reflection of the week I’ve had whilst working through BloggingU, my Consulting/Writing/Comedy work and my general day to day.
Now as Day 11 of Finding Everyday Inspiration suggests another way of regular blog posting, I’m thinking will my ‘Friday Feels’ series clash with a coffee share post?
So I decided to keep ‘Friday Feels’ going every Friday and that will be geared toward my business and then run a ‘Virtual Coffee Date’ once a week that will be more personal and social, less reflective and more spontaneous.
So I’ll get the kettle on and I look forward to a virtual coffee date with you all very soon!
Everyday Inspiration: Day 10
Sit and observe…
It is a little uncomfortable when it has been neglected, as I collect what I can into a McDonald’s paper bag destined for the bin. The seatbelt restricts me no matter what height level it is set at and I notice it’s always worse when the weather is warmer. The gentle breeze slips in through the window as I wait, engine off in the car park. Ooh peace.
As I wait enjoying the silence before the schoolyard screams as the concrete block releases its people, before the stereotypical dad comes swerving in, in his souped-up tinpot of a car that’s unnecessary to rev as much when he lives within walking distance of the school. As I wait for his glare which I meet confidently every day until he looks down defeated again. I laugh inwardly, remembering the only time he mouths off is when he drives away. Ooh big man.
The field surrounding the greying concrete block pops its greenery, birds flocking looking for worms or dropped crusts from packed lunches. The gauge reads 17 Degrees Celsius yet it feels warmer. Ooh it’s hot.
We texted earlier, I know how his day went up until lunchtime. I’m nervous now, silently praying nothing happened in the last hour.
The heavy black metal doors swing open and out pour the uniformed souls of varying ages, heights, genders, races, creeds. Some race to their parent’s cars with big smiles, some skulk off to the bus stop. Some just mill around looking lost while others play fight and chase each other. Ooh banter.
The minutes pass by, where is he?
We’re all looking for our kids, but what do we really see? Do other parents feel the pang of nostalgia at their bygone schooldays? Do they look at other parents in silent judgement? Does anyone notice the irony in a big girl calling an even bigger girl “a fat bitch” for no apparent reason? Why doesn’t anyone call out that sly little sod tripping people over? Am I parallel parked in a parallel universe here ? Ooh it makes me mad!
And then, I see him. His eyes meet mine over his mask through my windshield. I see him. Tall, smart, purposeful in his stride. Wary of crossing moving cars to get to me. His discreet wave. He opens the passenger door, greets me cheerfully and puts his bag in the footwell. I greet him back and we hug in the car. I don’t want to let him go but I can’t sit there all night. He fills me in on the blanks of his day, as people drive off towards home for the evening. Ooh what’s for dinner?
Course, I haven’t seen them… I was too focused on him. It’s only evident it people left as we are the last car in the car park.
Everyday Inspiration: Day 9
When I’m not writing…
Let’s be real here; as a mother, my priorities are a lot different to when I was in my 20’s
A good chunk of my day is taken up by the morning routines of tidying up, sorting out the pets, school runs then the evening routines of cooking, cleaning and chilling with child
Then of course I’m developing my Consulting business and services.
Naturally with a global pandemic, live stand-up comedy is suspended yet I’ve still got a hand in behind the scenes
Got the usual family and friend stuff going on so yes I’m active on Social Media too, catching up with people, engaging in groups and following my favourite content
Hobbies include:
… amongst other things.
Everyday Inspiration: Day 8
Reinvent the letter format.
Dear Rejection,
I felt it was time to write you a letter as you’ve happened so often, you deserve acknowledgment.
Rejection is the natural course of things
Eric Walters
Being on the receiving end of you, Rejection, well, it can be testing. It can get to a point where I feel like you’re challenging me to give up.
I couldn’t tell you the ratio, but probably for every job you see me do, there would be 20 rejections.
Noel Clarke
Looks like I’m not the only one that feels challenged. But here’s the deal, Rejection:
I guess what I’m trying to say to you, Rejection, is while there are many obstacles in my way, I won’t stop navigating that path. I don’t mean to be so hard on you, Rejection, I know you are seen in such a negative light. In many ways you can be a great thing.
You come with Disappointment, both of you bringing the feeling of failure yet I wonder if you’ve been misunderstood, Rejection. But the invite didn’t say +1 you just brought Disappointment without asking so naturally I was miffed.
So yeah, you do appear at the most inconvenient times and you can cause bad feelings and I can’t change you…
I can change how I respond to you.
I work constantly to be better at being rejected.
Aya Cash
Yours sincerely,
Me
Everyday Inspiration: Day 7
Today’s lesson provides five Tweets as a blog post prompt. The idea is to choose one that elicits a response. I’m not on Twitter anymore nor do I intend to return to it, however this is the tweet I chose from the lesson:
We’ve all wondered why certain things are taught in schools when other things aren’t. There’s so many memes and posts that state as much. Here is a great example:
Whilst I can’t be 100% certain of the original context Koh tweeted that post, my take on it is that you can be academic but not streetwise or you can be resourceful in many ways, yet not academic.
In the U.K. the Curriculum hasn’t evolved much from when I left school to now as I watch my son homeschooling. Yes the tasks are more relevant and fun than what I remember and are certainly more engaging. Yet still I wonder if English is a core subject, why aren’t we learning in school how to write a CV and cover letter? Maths is a core subject, why aren’t we learning basic book-keeping and budgeting/bill management in school? Science is a core subject so why aren’t we learning about reducing our carbon footprint for example.
PSHE/PSE, Science and Religious Studies touch on Reproduction and Sexual Education yet don’t touch on subjects like all forms of contraception, dealing with emotions, how to protect yourself from Domestic Abuse, how much weddings cost, the implications of divorce…
Geography doesn’t touch on entry requirements to other lands, vaccinations needed in certain countries, currency converting. Even booking a holiday, applying for passports etc. All that are things we do as adults that we never learned to do as young people. Why doesn’t PE cover eating disorders and body dysmorphia? Why doesn’t Home Economics & Food cover household matters, menu planning, shopping and budget?
For a minimum of 13 years, you’re in school and when you leave what have you really learned? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below
Thanks for reading!
Everyday Inspiration: Day 6
Firstly, if you have any suggestions for upcoming posts, please comment below or click here for contact details.
Where I write
Wherever I have the ability to write, then write I shall. For studying and work, I write at the University library and at home. For comedy and as a hobby, pretty much anywhere I have a lightbulb moment.
These days I write a lot more digitally, on standard Microsoft Office products however there are some apps I use as I do a lot of writing on my phone. The basic Notes app on my phone is my go to when I lm on the go or don’t have a pen to hand.
On here, for example I’m using the WordPress app. For comedy, I use a dedicated app called Bitbook that I can arrange my set-lists in and I use Teleprompter to practice my sets.
My ideal writing space
Living in a 2-bedroom council house, I don’t have the luxury of a study, office or conservatory. It’s either up at the dining table that doubles as a desk or it’ll be on my sofa spot in the corner.
One thing I’ve noticed is I cannot work at all if the housework hasn’t been done. Even if I can’t see the washing-up in the kitchen, I know it’s there and it bugs me thus blocking me. Promoting clarity helps me work.
In an ideal world, a roaring fireplace warming me from Alaskan snow in a quaint log cabin will suffice, though.
Thanks for reading…
Everyday Inspiration: Day 5
I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.
Marlene Dietrich
Ms. Dietrich was absolutely correct. There is a feeling of some ancient wisdom behind quotes. Like students of wise sages, we like, share, screenshot and use quotes every day especially on social media.
Instagram alone, is full of great accounts dedicated to quotes about love, motivational quotes, sadness quotes and so on. Before I share my favourite quote with you, I’d love to know what yours is in the comments below.
One of my favourite quotes which I often find comfort in is below. I first heard it at the start of an episode of Criminal Minds (a great show). It affected me so deeply at that time (circa 2015).
It has been said that time heals all wounds. I don’t agree. The wounds remain. Time – the mind, protecting its sanity – covers them with some scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone.
Rose Kennedy
Thanks for reading.
