Smorgasbord Saturday: 2nd Week of NaBloPoMo

Photo by Roberto Kaplan

Monday’s post on Knowledge and Skills was interesting due to the wording of the prompt that day: "What knowledge do you have that others don't? Write a "how to" post about anything you've got skills for, small or large." I actually had a challenge answering that question, even though responses to my post were overwhelmingly in favour of me having tons of experience; perspective is a funny thing. Read more about it at http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/knowledge-and-skills.html.

Tuesday’s post on The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month was my attempt at paying tribute, albeit a small one, to Remembrance Day. However, I actually think I answered the question incorrectly! - "If you could permanently get rid of one worry, what would it be?" What do you think: did I answer okay? - http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/the-11th-hour-of-11th-day-of-11th-month.html

Wednesday’s post on Writer’s Block: Not! was in answer to the prompt, "Have you ever had extended writer's block? How long did it last? What did you do to break out of it, and do you have tips for other bloggers?" which appeared as if I had it, but I hadn’t. Find out why at http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/writers-block-not.html and let me know what you think.

Thursday’s post on Envy AND Kindness: What a Combo! was my aim at combining two prompts in one! One writing prompt from NaBloPoMo on a skill I admired in bloggers, "What is the one skill you see in other bloggers that you wish you had?" and World Kindness Day from Write Tribe Bloggers -
http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/envy-and-kindness-what-combo.html

Friday’s post on Aging Gracefully or Not: That is the Question! was an interesting theme from "Do you enjoy growing old or do you fight against it?" Perhaps because of the way I was feeling that day, for some reason or other, I only (managed to) focus on the negatives, hmmm... (http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/aging-gracefully-or-not-that-is-question.html)

What post would you most favour of mine this past week, and why?

Thank you again to all of you who read my posts and especially those who commented on my posts this past week.

Aging Gracefully or Not: That is the Question!

Moi as a model at a fashion show in 2007

Today's NaBloPoMo's writing prompt seems rather rhetorical and strange to me, and to you? The question is, "Do you enjoy growing old or do you fight against it?"

Does anybody really enjoy getting older?! If so, I would like to meet with them to interview them! Really?! "WHAT is it about aging that YOU enjoy?," I would ask. That would probably be my first or perhaps only question! ;)

I tell you the only thing that I can think of that I enjoy about aging – and there are pros and cons to this ladies believe it or not – is the ending of the menstrual cycle. No more this, that, and the other, i.e., all that is associated with it physically, mentally emotionally, and otherwise. I need not divulge details to offend; however, my sincere apologies as I don't mean to: I'm just being honest about the question! ;)

The only thing maybe, maybe, maybe that I miss associated with that is crying more often as I don't cry enough. Yes, I realize that sounds bizarre! No, not that I don’t want something to cry about! But I can’t help it! My eyes, after all, have been rather dry lately due to the aging process (most likely), drier/warmer fluctuating temperatures from one extreme to another at times, both at home and at work, not to mention a lot of screen viewing time.

And, well, tears can be actually soothing. That is, they cleanse the eyes and one’s mental and emotional and perhaps spiritual bodies, cleansing one’s soul. I miss that!

And apparently, I didn't know this until towards the dregs of it (speaking for myself as I never had nor wanted to give birth to a baby), that a woman is actually very sensitive, i.e., intuitive (though others ways as well too), during her cycle. I didn't know that and wished I had known so, years ago. If I had, I could have monitored it and been more attuned and developed my psychic abilities.

Going on a brief tangent here, I know we all have intuitive abilities; however, some people are more in tune with or aware of them.

Ok, getting back to the question! ;) Acceptance or resistance regarding aging?

I think I am fighting aging. Can you blame me? On the one hand, I am extremely cognizant of the fact that society in general, the Western world at least, worships youthfulness and thus youth rather than seniors or elders. Interesting that the word 'wisdom keepers' just came to mind as I typed that! ;)

Another model pic of me

There are only a handful of people, some actors for example, who seem to age well and do so gracefully. How do they do that? But all in all, there aren’t everyday idols who worship their aging bodies with dignity. They’re far and few in between!

Supposedly Capricorns have the ability to age younger as they get older and I'm sure hoping that's true! ;) However, I have had quite a number of grey/white hairs sprouting between and underneath my now-coloured burgundy hair, previously more copper-like (?), a warm, reddish hue for the past two or so years.

A part of me is curious what I would look like with hair no longer brunette (gotten darker as I've gotten older), and yet, a part of me is not ready to face the music, face change, face the reality, the reality of aging.

And yet my body has been doing other things like putting on extra padding in places where women – myself included of course! – generally do not want it - midriff primarily and, well beyond too!

Initially, I had added extra cushioned padding and support to ward off, wait for it, potential suitors. Uh huh, you heard me right! To keep potential suitors at bay after being deeply hurt/rejected etc. the last time I was in relationship. Not that I did this purposefully; this was at unconscious and/or subconscious levels.

Some of this may also be attributed to menopause: there's that other 'men' word! LOL ;)

My body, currently due to factors known and/or unknown: an increase in weight or age (not an increase in exercise, at least not for me), though I think improper footwear over time has developed symptoms of plantar fasciitis, an at-times extremely painful foot condition that has grown into an annoyingly irritating issue to say the least(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis). And this is actually I believe my third such trial of pain and suffering! (See http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2012/01/pain-common-connection-with-another.html)

But rather than run rampant all over the place, let's start from head to toe, shall we? ;) The head may turn silver, grey, white or a combination thereof and/or even thinning/balding scalp. I may have a form of female pattern hair loss or balding due to hypothyroidism, a common condition unfortunately.

Hearing and/or vision loss, wrinkles and sagging skin, dropped parts of anatomy, arthritis, knee pain, arthritis, and so forth are all potential effects of the nagging process. How exciting! Not!

Would things be different if I wasn't single? Perhaps, though not 100% sure. I think it would depend if I was accepted the way I was/am with my warts and all. ;)

How do you feel about the aging process? Are you doing so gracefully? If so, please share as I would love to learn your secret(s)!

Envy AND Kindness: What a Combo!

Pictures from Clip Art

The NaBloPoMo writing prompt for today is, "What is the one skill you see in other bloggers that you wish you had?"

At first thought, I was thinking perhaps in terms of finding the perfect word, as sometimes I find it a challenge, believe it or not given my intuition with words at times. I find that a number of bloggers whom I follow, particularly from India seem to be more adept at the English language than I am! I am truly amazed by their expansive vocabulary! ;)

Actually, I think I know what skill I most admire and covet from other bloggers: a number of these same bloggers whom I have encountered via blogging challenges are extremely gifted at writing fiction ('cause I primarily write nonfiction). For some reason unbeknownst to me, a lot of them just happen to be from India! ;)

I could name a reel of them (in no particular order): Vinodini Iyer, Shailaja Vishwanath, Nabanita Dhar, Nisha Sanjeev, Beloo Mehra, Meena Menon, Shilpa Garg, Nibha Gupta, Aathira Jim, Anmol Rawat, and some whom I have met more recently include Shalini Nair, Vinitha Dileep, Sheethal Susan Jacob, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal, and Pixie.

Did I miss any others? You perhaps? I am likely remiss in naming you all here. If so, PLEASE do let me know, i.e., those bloggers whom I have met and commented on your posts, and I will gladly add you to my list!

Though this isn't a skill of course, I am envious of the time zone most of these bloggers live in as they can and usually do post before me and receive (more) comments than mine as a result. Mine sometimes feel somewhat neglected at the end of the day. ;)

Today for the Write Tribe Bloggers challenge (http://writetribe.com/), the prompt happens to be World Kindness Day which I discovered about two weeks ago and meant to write about. Thus, I thought, could I somehow combine both topics, kill two birds with one stone kind-of-idea?

I used to have a daily practice of taking action on committing one good deed a day, no matter how big or small. Even the simplest gesture like a smile or a greeting may brighten someone's day: you'd be surprised. However, I haven't consciously been aware lately of doing a good deed on a regular basis like I used to. And I have no idea why.

Regardless the reason, with the approaching Christmas season not to mention this cold front we have been experiencing the past few days is certainly a good time and an easy one to remember to perform kind deeds. Whether at work or elsewhere, kindness is appreciated and well deserved. To do so anonymously is even better ideally, yet at times that may prove impossible.

One person who is the epitome of kindness in the community is a local Vancouverite named Brock Tully. Brock co-founded a nonprofit organization, 'Kindness Foundation of Canada' and also 'Kindness Rocks in Schools,' a program to prevent bullying and abuse. He also initiated the annual 'World Kindness Concert' featuring many local musicians/singers performing on the theme of kindness. And Brock has also written a number of unique books, some with themes of kindness and joy woven in short prose - his original thoughts - amongst whimsical drawings.

Everyone who meets Brock is touched by his warmth and humour as well as his exuberant, infectious energy. He truly is an inspirational one-of-a-kind guy (pardon the pun as that just came out of me). ;) Read more about this wonderfully inspiring man here, http://brocktully.com/.

Now, getting back to you! How best can you act in a kind way towards others, today or any day? Truly, I think every day should be World Kindness Day, don't you? What a different world we would live in if that were the case! ;)

What kind deed can I offer - you too! - that will benefit others, even one person? A pure in-the-moment gesture as otherwise it may feel like forced kindness, if you know what I mean. (Ah, and I just realized by acknowledging some of you, that this is in fact, a kind deed in itself. That was by happenstance.)

Would you agree with the latter: is there such a thing as forced kindness when it comes to a good deed? And what makes you think so or not?

By the way, just curious readers: Do you prefer the title as above or "Envy AND Kindness? What a Combo! (I was too tired to think through this properly.)

This post is linked to Write Tribe Bloggers and Ultra Blog Challenge.

Writer's Block: Not?

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt asks, "Have you ever had extended writer's block? How long did it last? What did you do to break out of it, and do you have tips for other bloggers?"

I did experience a bit of a writer’s block that lasted a short period, less than two months and maybe even less than that. From almost mid-November 2010 to almost mid-January in 2011. I actually wrote a post on that, appropriately entitled, "Lost ... and Found."

It was an extremely busy time for me as, at that time, I was searching for a place to live on my own (having moved from a house with roommates) and everything that was associated with that, including moving boxes and stuff from storage, downsizing including donating and selling stuff, and the actual process of moving. On top of that was the Christmas season filled with attending choir concerts, baking my family's traditional European cookie recipe, with my birthday following shortly thereafter.

This is an excerpt from the blog I referred to above:

I have an expression that I made up about myself to describe some of my passions: "If I don’t sing or dance, I’m either sick or depressed."

Similarly, I sometimes can't write. It’s usually a matter of being either really busy and/or not feeling inspired. My preference is to write ‘in the flow’ when words come intuitively to me (as they often do) or through my fingers when I type (or write). When they don't, I prefer not to write.

Unfortunately, not all my writing comes from Spirit, that state of natural flow and grace (though I wish of course! That would be ideal!). Though ideas for my posts flow for the most part, I usually have to 'work' at my writing when I force a deadline upon myself.

Acquiring writer's block (if you can call it that) was the other situation that took place. I was so excited and ready to post a blog, an inspirational piece entitled ‘A Tribute to My Parents.' Not only did the words flow easily and effortlessly across the page (that I know came from Spirit), but also did my tears flow. I really felt what I wrote at such a deep level as I was in an incredible state of deep gratitude to my parents.

Even though I was certain I had saved this writing piece somewhere in a computer file, I realized later that I actually hadn’t because I couldn’t find it anywhere (either on my home or work computer!). Now, how frustrating is that? Have you ever experienced that? If so, you understand what I’m talking about!

Well, since I didn’t feel like rewriting it because it wouldn’t be serving the original script justice, I’ll explain the essence of it and write about something else briefly.

For the full story, read my original post that had an essence of writer's block in it: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2011/01/lost-and-found.html

Before and after this period, I generally wrote every two weeks with the odd exception of writing an additional weekly post or less frequently by missing a week. I purposely committed to writing biweekly as I felt once a week might be too much, at that time anyway. Now you can see why these daily blog writing challenges are a challenge for me! ;)

Have you ever experienced writer's block? If so, what did you do to get out of it?

I'm linking this to Ultra Blog Challenge.