Tag: dailyprompt

Perfect Snacks for a Cold Day

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Daily writing prompt
What snack would you eat right now?
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Today is one of those days where I am just cold. I had tomato soup for breakfast to help warm myself up.

It’s now about mid morning and I need a snack. I am still cold!

Some fresh warm sourdough bread that is super crusty on the outside an soft on the inside. I like hot dips.A hot artichoke spinach dip and a warm french onion dip sounds lovely. I was also thinking of a spicy warmed up pesto as well for dipping.

For my mid morning beverage I will have a hot cocoa. It’s a perfect sweet treat to eat with my bread and dips.

A warm fireplace for my feet would top off this morning.

Happy Monday!

Reflecting on Past vs Future: A Personal Journey

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Daily writing prompt
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
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If I had to choose which one I think about more – future or past? I would pick past – it’s been a challenge for me for a very log time. …like my entire life. I am always wondering what would have happened if…..I would have said. Should I have? Could there have been? Shoulda, Woulda and Coulda right?They used to be my best friends. Now they are just good friends and hopefully soon – distant friends.

Someone said something to me over about a week ago that totally changed how I think about this!!!

We were on a pet sit last week and we were having dinner with the pet parents. I was talking about this dilemma I have with thinking about the past. and what would have or could have happened. The pet dad said something profound.”What if what would’ve happened, happened and what if the outcome wasn’t what you wanted?” I had never ever thought of that part actually. I play the tape in my head through all the time if I am contemplating having an alcoholic drink. Why I didn’t in this situation? Who Knows.

But now – here is what has changed. My dad told me all the time I lacked discipline and he always thought I should join the military. Often I think how mu life would have been different if I would have joined? It’s always sunny but in reality. I could have died, I could have started my drinking career later in life which could have been devastating. So many outcomes that “could have” happened. Then I look at my feet. I think about where I am at the time and all the things I have done leading up to this. I am good! Not only good, pretty amazed and grateful for all the things that got me here now.

I love camping!

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I have the fondest memories of camping when I was young and that is probably why I still love camping to this day.

My mom is Dutch and my dad American and we moved to California when I was very young. Every summer I would go back to Holland and spend time with my family.

During those summers my uncle and aunt would take my cousins and I camping in France and we would search for fossils, My uncle was really into it and I still have some of the fossils I found today. That was like 45 years ago. Sheesh.

I love sleeping in a tent, I love camp fires and the smell of them, getting up in the middle of the night trying to find the bathroom or peeing outside when it’s freezing. Fun times and I can’t wait to do it again.

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever been camping?
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Overcoming Fear of Heights: My Elevator Dilemma

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I don’t like going up in elevators to site seeing platforms – like the Space Needle, Stratosphere or Eiffel Tower and once I get up there, I freeze. The only thing that would get me to do it is Valium, Xanax or alcohol. Doing any of those would probably ruin the experience for me so those are out.

I could try hypnosis?

Daily writing prompt
What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?
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Transforming Regret into Positive Change

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Why? It’s done. That ship has sailed. A lot of the mistakes I have learned from are in the past, I like them there as memories. I used to drink a lot of alcohol and I always would do or say something I regretted. I was just thinking about how that hasn’t happened lately because I haven’t had a drink in quite some time. Even not being drunk and doing or saying something you regret is rough. You go over the conversation or action over and over again in your head and there is really no reason why except to make you feel worse that you did in the first place. You can’t change what happened at this point.

I am working on changing my thinking and how I do that is by creating a future that I love thinking about. I have goals and plans that now occupy my mind so I have no time to think about something stupid I did or said a year ago. I had not really thought about how little I have been thinking about the past until I wrote this post. Now that is a beautiful thing.

Daily writing prompt
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
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1966 – Interracial marriage and the Year of the Horse.

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I think the most interesting fact about my year of birth is that my parents were in an interracial marriage when I was born and I am a U.S. citizen. Interracial marriage did not become legal in the U.S. until 1967. I was born in the Netherlands and that is where they were married. I ended up moving to the U.S. when I was 5. Times have changed a bit.

People born in the year of the Horse are said to be energetic and free spirited in nature. I guess it’s somewhat true. I wish I was a little more energetic! They are also adaptable – I agree with that. They are kind and social creatures. I am kind but the social creature part has dwindled. I work retail and have for a very long time and unfortunately for me a side effect of the job is that my love for being around other humans is just not there anymore.

For 2025, I will be working on some major changes and can’t wait for the happy social creature to come out again.

Daily writing prompt
Share what you know about the year you were born.
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Warmth and Sunshine: The Key to Happiness

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I am most happy when it’s warm and sunny. I love sunny days. It doesn’t even have to be super warm, I just like the sun. It makes everything so much better to me. I feel better physically and mentally when it’s sunny. I have skip in my step when it’s sunny. My happiest days are warm and sunny. I love being warm so the two, sun and warmth are the best to me. I like the feeling of the sun on my skin and I look a lot healthier when I have been in the sun.

Sunshine on my shoulders feels so lovely, sunshine in my eyes makes me smile.

It’s fall, the mornings have been cold and foggy. The days cold and wet.

I have a sun lamp, I use it a lot. It seems to help.

Good grief, winter hasn’t even started yet.

I am going to get a blanket.

Daily writing prompt
When are you most happy?
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Why I Gave Up Meat: A Personal Journey

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He died at 60 from heart disease. I remember him eating a lot of meat and he cooked everything in bacon fat that he left in a can near the stove. My parent got divorced when I was in second grade and my mom was not much of a meat eater or cook. There were specific dishes she would cook and we ate out a lot. One of my favorite dishes she used to make was ground beef and rice stuffed bell peppers.

When I got into my late 20s I started noticing that I would get really bad heartburn when I ate meat so I stopped eating it. After about 15 years I tried eating it again but the heart burn came back with a vengeance so I decided meat was just not for me anymore. I don’t miss it because there are so many alternatives these days.

For me, it’s not a healthy choice because it doesn’t make me feel good and as time has passed, I really can’t imagine myself eating it ever again, I just prefer a plant based diet most of the time. As I have gotten older I trust my body a lot more to tell me what it needs and once in while I may crave fish, if that’s the case, I take advantage of the situation and take myself out somewhere nice for fresh fish.

Daily writing prompt
What are your feelings about eating meat?
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I love the beach and the mountains but if I had to choose it would be the beach and I will tell you why.

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I grew up at the beach so I have so many fond memories of growing up there. I have also lived in the mountains and love the trees and ferns and just being in nature. But I don’t like cold and snow. Usually it gets colder and snows in the mountains and I don’t do cold well. In addition, I get extreme anxiety from high and windy roads so the beach wins.

Daily writing prompt
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
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I love veggie burgers, especially cooked on the grill.

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Burgers seem to be our favorite meal. We eat veggie burgers. I am not that picky about what type of veggie burger as long as I know it’s been on the grill.

We also do Taco Tuesday, one of my other favorite meals. I like veggies so I can make a huge taco salad out of it.

Vegan Beef Bulgogi from Trader Joes with noodles and lots of Sriracha.

Daily writing prompt
What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?
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