The Declaration of Independence, or the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, was adopted on this day in 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And so, today we celebrate …
At the end of last week, a harmonic convergence brought together a chance to see one of my favorite writers and to hang out with some dear friends from high school.
We’re here at the mid-point in the week which is a good time to pause and gather our thoughts. I mean, sure I did a lot of that last week. But seven days at the beach will not cover a year’s worth of reflection and thought gathering. It needs to happen every day.
Just like writing.
With rare exceptions and a few short breaks, I have written a thousand words a day since August of 2015. Some of them good ones.
My daily writing tends to be a journaling of what’s happening, what’s bugging me, or what I want to fix.
It won’t be published.
Well, at least not by me and not on this side of the final resting place.
I need to make more time to write about the things that matter, the stories, the issues, the travel.
Still, the practice of writing daily is a good thing. Even if it’s as simple as a to do list.
Writing helps me to clear my mind in a way that I’m neither capable of nor comfortable with in actual conversation. I can use my writing to prepare myself for the day ahead or to make plans for tomorrow and beyond. Sometimes, that’s all I’m doing.
Other times I’m writing the stories that need to be told. I’m also telling myself that I need to do more of that.
Writing daily also helps my creativity. After all, that is one of My Words for 2024.
Maya Angelou said:
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
It’s true. The more I create, the more I want to create.
Writing daily helps me figure out who I am. You’d think that after all of these decades I’d have a handle on that. I do. Sort of. But writing is a way to find new areas of needed change or improvement.
I know that I need to be writing more than just my thousand daily words.
There are blogs and short stories and novels and children’s books…and so much more.
I’m using Wednesday as a reminder to keep on writing.
I will admit that I am not always a good human. While the dog spent the week at his vacation spa, the cat stayed home with the neighbor coming by to feed and check on him.
So, it was a little unkind of us last night when we had a chuckle over the fact that he was hoarse.
Not to worry, he was back in full voice by yesterday.
I mentioned yesterday that I spent some time at the beach making a list of things that I need/want to change. One happens to be one of my three words for 2024.
Annually I pick three words that I chose to focus on in the coming year. Some years more than others, they serve as a guide.
Flexible because I know that plans are always in flux, and I need to be able to run with that.
You will note that I did not say I need to run.
Creative because, even at this age, I’m finding my way as a writer, an artist, and actor.
I had the most difficulty choosing the word Concerned. I actually spent several days before I settled on that word.
It’s not that I’m not concerned. I do want to be more involved, more aware of what is going on around me and in the world, more compassionate for those who struggle.
But it wasn’t the right word.
So, last week I changed it to…wait for it…
Change.
In the time I spent reviewing, which I continue to do, the word that kept cropping up was change.
Again, it’s not that I’m lacking concern. Maybe I should just say I have four words for the year.
I have a list of things to change, for many reasons.
No, I’m not publishing the list. Keep reading as we move forward, and you’ll learn what some of those things are.
Hopefully.
I didn’t set out to choose another word. But I guess it’s all part of being flexible.
See what I did there?
Yesterday, along with millions of others, the wife and I sat out in our front yard (no, there were not millions of others in our front yard) and watched the eclipse with our special glasses.
Actually, our second set of special glasses. Last week I got a notice from Amazon that the first set I ordered and received were not safe. Kudos to them for acknowledging that and issuing a refund.
It was a nice afternoon watching the moon travel across the face of the sun and having some much-needed conversation.
Anybody know when the next end of the world event is scheduled?
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