Daily writing prompt

What things give you energy?

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So much gives me energy…..writing gives me energy, the creative process stimulates my brain into overdrive thinking of how to create something readable and worthwhile.

Getting together with a friend gives me energy, especially if it’s been awhile since we last met. Catching up and hearing what’s going on with them is always interesting and fun.

Planning a vacation or just a short getaway is exciting. Discovering new places and things to do once your there, finding new places to eat and explore….the planning process while at times annoying and frustrating can be exhilarating.

The thing that gives me the most energy is exercise. That may seem counterintuitive but it’s true. There are many medical studies that show exercise boosts endorphins creating a better mood for hours afterward.

It’s true….I’m a much happier person when I’m consistently working out. I feel better, I have more energy for the rest of the day, I think it helps control my weight and I like how I look when I’m on a workout program. I vary my workouts some days doing cardio others lifting weights . Sometimes an after work bike ride to unwind and relieve the stress of the day works wonders. If I go more than a couple of days without working out I get cranky and lethargic, I eat poorly and I fall into other bad habits of sitting around watching too much TV. I also feel I have this need to sweat….and when I workout and get a good sweat going I feel all the negativity sweating out, all the doubts evaporating, all my self-consciousness from years ago being replaced by confidence, healthiness and good vibes. It is the single best thing I do for myself and I hope I can do it the rest of my life….that along with writing.

Thanks for reading…….Smash that like button, leave a comment or share with a friend…..I appreciate you stopping by for a few moments……

Daily writing prompt

What would your life be like without music?

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I can’t imagine a world without music. Music can convey so much and remind us of so much. A song can trigger memories of a long ago romance or a first concert attended. Music can bring back high school friends and evenings at a bar. Life would be empty without music. Many times I arrive at work feeling much better about the day ahead simply by a song I heard on the way in.

I have music to workout to and fall asleep to but mainly to fill the silence when I don’t want silence and loneliness.

Sometimes I listen by myself but its truly best when shared with others. I’ve often been moved to tears by hearing an old song which reminds me of a another time or another place.

Life would be empty and sad and we wouldn’t have those memories if there was no music

I made chili once by following a recipe. Making chili might be one of those meals where not following a recipe works better, but I saw a recipe in the newspaper that declared this was the best chili you’ll ever have and as I read it I became convinced it would be as great as they said. We had all the ingredients and since it was the weekend I told my wife I would take care of the cooking.

I carefully followed the recipe and let it simmer for the allotted time……I thought it would be great and everyone would like it but as soon as my wife tasted it I could see by the look on her face that she didn’t like it, but I figured my teenage son would eat it, teenagers eat anything, but alas he also disliked it.

I tasted it and it wasn’t good. I forced myself to have a bowl just so it wouldn’t all be wasted but I dumped the rest down the disposal.

I think the best way to make chili is to wing it and develop your own recipe….a little bit of this, a little bit of that, add some spices, let it simmer, taste it, let someone else taste it, add some more and voila you have your own signature chili…..that or just let someone else make it.

Daily writing prompt

Write about your most epic baking or cooking fail.

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Daily writing prompt

Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.

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I’m a thinker….I don’t make quick decisions. I think this is usually a good thing. Quick decisions lead to poor decisions. I almost never buy anything that someone is trying to sell me. I always analyze each decision weighing the pros and cons.

When I was younger my thinking led me to overthink everything and most importantly I agonized what other people would think of my decisions. I didn’t trust myself and I worried about how I would be perceived. I lacked self-confidence and I was constantly looking for input from others to validate a decision I was about to make and often times I would change my mind based on input from others even if it went against what I was thinking of doing. Sometimes my overthinking led to inactivity….paralysis by over-analysis. Most of all I didn’t want to be different.

Now, I still think about every decision. Sometimes this drives my wife crazy but I don’t worry about how it looks or how it will be perceived. I’ve developed confidence that most decisions I make are what’s best for me….and I’ve realized that most people really don’t care about my decisions and really don’t spend anytime thinking about me and what I’m doing. The amount of time we think people are thinking about us compared to the actual time they are is quite startling. Most people are too busy with their own life as I am with mine.

So make those choices and don’t worry about what others think….you do you and live your best life and so will I.

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite types of foods?

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There are some foods I eat everyday. I basically eat the same variation of lunch each workday….a sandwich, at least twice a week this is a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, an apple, a yogurt and then something crunchy like peanuts or chips. I eat these foods for the convenience they provide. I don’t have a work environment that allows me to warm-up food or keep foods refrigerated so I need foods that are convenient to pack in a small cooler and can be eaten with minimal preparation. This does not mean these are my favorite foods and I really should expand the variety of foods I eat.

I could eat ice cream almost everyday. I don’t nor should anyone, in fact I try to go weeks without eating ice cream so when I do eat it I enjoy it more. Pizza is fantastic and when I do eat it I usually can’t help myself and I eat too much. I well cooked steak seasoned just right is perhaps one of life’s most pleasurable eating experiences.

As I said, I probably should have more variety but I like what I like and I don’t eat what I don’t like. I read somewhere that by age 30 you’ve basically determined your favorite foods and it’s very rare to find new ones as you age. This may be true…..my Mom wanted me to buy her a couple of nectarines at the store and I sampled one of hers…I didn’t like it. There are probably way more foods I don’t like than I like, which is why your favorite foods are usually a very small list.