Tag: keepitalive

WQWWC # 42 – Communication

Marsha is the host of WQWWC

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is wqwwc-logob.png

IT’S EASY TO PLAY ALONG WITH #WQWWC

This weekly writing challenge runs from Wednesday through Tuesday. The only rule is to use a quote.

WQWWC #42 Communication

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This is not only absolutely true but also so very essential. Without good communication, one can end up losing friends or even family members to misunderstandings.

Paying attention to the tone of the voice and how something is being said is also important if we want to really connect with other people. The word “Fine” is the perfect example. It can be either very good or pretty bad.

Yes, good communication is power indeed. It is the secret to the success of many people in public life. Politicians, actors, public office holders all need to have great communication skills.

This one I think is the most important of all. Never assume, but ask instead. Always keep the channels of communication open. Be willing to share your thoughts and views with others. Many times we presume that others know what we are feeling and feel hurt when they don’t. Always try to verbalize your thoughts and expectations so that there aren’t any misunderstandings.

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Marsha is taking a break of two weeks and that’s why I held off this post because the next Prompt will be posted after another week.

#Keepitalive

#WQWWC

Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge # 137

Fandango is the host of Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge

Welcome to Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.

The image below is from Sarolta Bán Photography.

For the visually challenged writer, the surrealistic image shows a man and a boy walking among large trees that are crowned with paint brushes with bristles covered in white paint dripping from the clouds above.

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“Drip drop the clouds bleed

The trees like paintbrushes catch their colors

Father and son marvel at this wondrous sight

Taking heed from this unique spectacle

They decide to paint the canvas of life

With colors of nature, blue grey, and white!”

“Do you think this will inspire people to buy our paints?” Susan asked her friend and colleague as she showed him the new ad for their latest range of paints.

“I like your poetical take Susan”, said Josh “and it sorts of entices the viewer to try the paint at least once”.

“That’s all we want. The rest will be easy as the paints are very good quality”, said Susan with a grateful smile.

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#Keepitalive

#FFFC

Share Your World September 27, 2021

Melanie is the host of SYW

QUESTIONS;

1. What’s your favorite way to exercise? (if you do or don’t. Exercising one’s mind is a valid answer IMHO, because that’s my favorite).

To exercise my body, I walk daily. Recently the duration has decreased a bit as we were busy shifting from one city to another and there was a lot of work to do. And working, unfortunately, doesn’t give you steps.

For my mind, I do puzzles, play card games and do a ton of reading and writing when I blog. I think this should keep my brain active and healthy.

2. What’s more important to you – family or friends?

Both are equally important. Family, especially your intrinsic family is obviously very important. We would do anything for them. But we need friends too as they are the family we choose for ourselves.

3. (a segue of sorts from last week’s SYW)..Have you ever voted for someone (in whatever venue – politics, contests, school elections) based solely on how they looked?

Looks aren’t important if you’re electing someone for a public office. It’s the character and the ability that counts. So the answer to this question is no!

4.  (silly one)  How could carousels be spiced up so they are more exciting?

Carousel

Carousels are already very exciting so in my opinion, there is no need to add anything extra there.

GRATITUDE SECTION  (as always optional)

Please feel free to share something you’ve enjoyed about this September.

September saw us relocating to another city. Thankfully the move went smoothly and we are now settled well in our new home. The only thing that went wrong was that our Kitty couldn’t come with us and during our absence, he has decided to opt for a life as a free cat. We are still hoping that he decides to come home but there’s no sign yet. Perhaps with us, especially my grandson gone from his life, he was too lonely. 😿

Missing you Dinky!

Thank you Melanie for these interesting questions.

#Keepitalive

#SYW

PCF # 5 – Foggy mirror/ Possibility

Paula is the host of PCF

Welcome to my Friday afternoon paint chip prompt. There are other paint chip prompts out there, but they’re very precise in what they ask for. Mine is open ~ write a poem, a story, a memory, whatever you like. Take your inspiration this week from Valspar’s “possibility” and/or “foggy mirror.” Tag your post Paint Chip Friday, or PCF, if you wish

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The foggy mirror in the bathroom

Refuses to share my reflection with me

Maybe it feels I may not be ready to look myself in the eye




I know that behind that smoke

Lies a face that I am familiar with

Yet at times as if a stranger is looking back at me




There are many ways the day can go

Possibilities abound and options unlimited

I choose today to be a day of joy




I clear the mirror and smile at the face

It smiles back at me and we’re both ready

Buckle up, for the day is going to be full of adventure

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#Keepitalive

#PCF

Blogging Insights # 11 -Who do I write for?

Tanya is the host of Blogging Insights

Today’s quote is from celebrated author Margaret Atwood. 

writing quote margaret atwood - write for no one

“Perhaps I write for no one. Perhaps the same person children are writing for when they scrawl their names in the snow.” — Margaret Atwood

Who do you write for? Yourself, your readers, or posterity? I would love to know. 

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Who do I write for?

When I started writing for my blog, it was just to see if I could write. I started by writing on health-related topics because I knew that field. It was only later that I ventured into poetry and short stories, inspired by daily and weekly prompts.

Now my point of view has changed. Now I feel that I write for my readers as well as myself. It IS like scrawling my name in a random place so that some passerby would read it, the same principle does apply here. We don’t know when we put out our writing and views on the vast platform of WordPress, and through that, the WWW, who might read it and who might benefit from it.

Whoever is the target audience, writing is an exercise in self-expression and also a form of catharsis. Sometimes, when we are worried or irritated by something in life, writing about it helps us to see the problem more clearly and we can also see our way out of it.

Many thanks to Tanya for keeping this conversation going.

What or who do you write for?

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#Keepitalive

#BloggingInsights

Weekly Prompts – Beverages

Sue W and GC are the hosts of Weekly Prompts

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge Beverage from SueW & GC

Recently, My choice of beverage and thoughts of framing the image led to a discussion with my partner GC, unsurprisingly, this led to our weekend challenge. 

So, GC and I would like you to take a photograph of a beverage that you think deserves to be framed.

Is photography not your style? That’s okay; tell us about it instead.

Think about the setting of your photograph; will it be solitary, or do you visualise it at the centre of a busy scene?

Please interpret the challenge in any way you wish – Words, Pictures, Poetry or Rhyme. 

Please tag #Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge

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Coffee: That’s my beverage of choice.

Winter or summer, I crave coffee as soon as I get up. And during the day as well. Unfortunately, my tendency towards insomnia prevents me from having regular coffee after noon and then I switch to decaf coffee.

Not my image

I love all sorts of coffee. Cappuccino, Latte, flavored lattes freshly brewed, you can tempt me with any sort and I’ll leap at the offer.

There’s something magical about smelling the coffee brewing first thing in the morning. It just lifts up the mood and I feel as if I can tackle any challenges thrown my way.

What is your favorite beverage?

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#Keepitalive

#WeeklyPrompts

What do you see # 101 – September 27, 2021

Welcome back to another WDYS prompt

Rules;

  • You can write a post on your blog and create a pingback to link to the original post.
  • Write an original story, poem or a caption.
  • There is no limit to words or format but keep it family-friendly.
  • If you post a response before next Sunday, I will be able to add it to my roundup post.
  • I will do a round-up next Sunday before the next Prompt is posted.
  • It is always helpful if you can give your post/story/poem a title.
  • Paste a link of your post in the comments section so that I don’t miss anyone in the roundup post.

Please tag your responses with #Whatdoyousee

Or

#WDYS

Image credit; Maksym Harbar @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, the image shows a street scene of an old town in Europe.

Waiting eagerly for your responses.

Thanking you all for joining this prompt.

#Keepitalive

#Whatdoyousee

#WDYS

What do you see # 100 – A Roundup

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20th September, 1967 was the day I lost my mother. 54 years ago! So in honor of that date I chose an image of a mother and daughter.

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My mom would have been the perfect paradigm of my ideal

Had she lived long enough for me to know her as an adult

Her life finished when she was just twenty-six years old

I never got the chance to develop memories of her as a person

Life for her was short and her journey ended where for others, it begins

Her thoughts slide into my mind often and needless to say that

I miss the motherly touch, the words of wisdom that she might have

Imparted to me, had she been alive when I became old enough to value

The love and devotion only a mother can give to her child each and every day

Today and every day, I salute the mothers, who with selfless love give their children

All the confidence they need to face this world and to stand strong on their own

I wrote this poem in May, 2019. It expresses my feelings so well.

It was the 100th prompt this week and I want to express my gratitude for all the support I have been given here in WP. Please click on these amazing entries by our wonderful community.

Chris Hall; Autumn days

Radhika; The essence

Di; A new beginning

Keith; A short story

Myrna; I see a story- What do you see

Reena; Did we know?

Susi; Going forward

Punam; Walk down the memory lane

Jim; A walk in the woods

R K H; Beacon

Melanie; WDYS

Diana; What do you see 100

Michnavs; Mom

Tanvir; You are my sunshine

Eugenia; Guiding light

Suzette; Breadcrumbs

Books and Bonsai; WDYS # 100

Nope, not Pam; What do you see # 100

Fandango; To grandma’s house we go

Sangeetha; Daughters

Jules; Kismet

Sam; A long way home

Jane; Bonding

Tessa; What do you see # 100

Jeff; Oh how I love her

Anisha; Touchwood

My heartfelt thanks to all those who read, commented and shared these posts.

I will be posting next week’s challenge on Monday at 12:00 pm PKT

Thanks

#Keepitalive

#Whatdoyousee

#WDYS

Throwback Thursday- Music memories

Maggie and Lauren are hosting this prompt


Welcome back to Throwback Thursday Memory Blog Hop. Lauren and I rotate publishing this challenge every Thursday.

You can use the photo above in your post and tag it with #TBTMemory or #IRememberWhen to make it easier for others to find.

Music Memories

Maybe it’s a song that brings back good memories. Maybe it was your first radio or record player – or iPod depending on your age. Maybe it is the song that always moves you to tears. What song was played at your wedding? Did you have band posters hanging on your bedroom walls? What are your music-connected memories?

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As you said, music plays a great role in our lives. We start by listening to what our parents listen to, and then gradually we develop our own taste. And for me the next step was adopting the music my children were listening to as my own.

Growing up, I have memories of the tape recorder playing Beatles songs as my father loved English songs. At the same time, he would listen to oldies like Saigol, Lata, Mukash, and Rafi, great Indian singers. His generation grew up in India before Pakistan came into existence. He went for his master’s degree in public administration to Harvard, Boston in 1969. On his return, he brought back a record player and many LPs. “The Graduate” was his favorite, and to this day I love those songs.

During the time I was growing up, we listened to Indian songs a lot. They were what our generation was listening to in those days. My older brother was into Boney-M, Bee Gees, Abba, etc and I also started listening to them.

Whenever I hear any of these songs playing, I’m taken back to those teenage years.

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#Keepitalive

#TBTMEMORY

Sunday Poser # 47

Here we are, the last Sunday of September. How quickly time is passing.

Today my question is;

Who or what is your rock in the storm?

We all face storms during our time. Some are storms in a teacup, magnified by our perceptions while others are such that shake our lives. At times like these, we need someone or something to anchor us.

My life has been such that from my very childhood, I have seen difficult times. I have been lucky to have kind and supportive people all through my life but I have learned to rely on my faith for support. To me, there is nothing stronger or more reliable than my faith. It gives me the courage to withstand the storms that brew from time to time. For all my troubles, I turn to God and ask for help and am never disappointed.

What about you?

A loved one or a life partner or perhaps parents or siblings, who is the one you turn to when you need support?

Please share your thoughts in the section. Or you can write your own post and link it with this one so that I can find it.

Thanks for visiting and reading.

#Keepitalive

#SundayPoser