Being Consistent

I was talking to one of my coworkers on Friday about my blog and how I am enjoying writing again, whether it’s for 5 minutes or 30 minutes ~ I’m at least writing. RH suggested I use writing prompts to help me to stay consistent instead of trying to “figure out what to write each day.”

I googled “writing prompts” and found a few lists. I compiled them into one list and hope to utilize it. I hope you enjoy reading my responses. If you have a writing prompt (question) for me let me know and I will add it to my list.

1. My plans for today are ____________ On a scale of 1-10, how open am I to let God change my plans?

My plans for today are to write in my blog, take Charlie for a walk, shower, crochet a bit on a blanket I’m working on as a gift for a friend’s son and rest. On a scale of 1-10, how open am I to let God change my plans?

I think I’m very open to have Poppa God change my plans ~ the one thing I know I want to do is to rest in between each of the things I listed above. I have already taken Charlie for a short walk and I know he will need at least a couple more walks before the end of the day.

I’m planning to shower once Ron is home from work ~ since I have been having so many issues with my blood sugar dropping out of the blue, I really don’t want to be alone in the shower in case it happens again. I told Ron it makes me feel like a wimp but at this stage of the game I can’t afford any more falls. I have had 4 falls since 5/28/24!!!

I was thinking “how would I know if Poppa God changed my plans ~ if a new thought or idea comes to mind, someone calls me or something not on my list becomes an opportunity.”

I did make myself a light lunch of a roasted bagel w/vegetable cream cheese, 5 blue cheese stuffed green olives, 4 small kosher dill pickles.

How do you know if Poppa God puts an opportunity in your life? Are you agreeable to changes without getting upset or frustrated? Years ago, anything that happened that wasn’t planned would send me into a tizzy – I was so regimented that things always had to go my way or else I would get angry. When I look back over the almost 50 years that Ron and I have been married I can see all many of the positive changes I have made in my life.

I no longer jump from A to Z in a nano second. I can’t remember how many times Ron would be 15 minutes late from work (this is way before cell phones) and I would have him dead, buried and the insurance money spent!! I think those thoughts slowly dissipated as I grew stronger in my faith and trust in Poppa God. We both chuckle about me doing that now but during those early years of marriage Ron dying was a constant fear of mine.

I think the turning point came after many years of counseling and addressing so many issues face on – with a few constant questions:

1. One of the most asked questions that Pastor Charles asked me over the years ~ “what is the worst thing that can happen?” I would say, “Ron dying.” And Charles would reply “why, he would be with Jesus? what’s bad with that?” I would respond, “maybe not bad for him but what about me? I would be alone, who would take care of me?” and Charles would chuckle “you will never be alone, you have so many people in your life who love and care about you.” I don’t know how many times we had that conversation but it was a lot!!!
2. What do I have control over? Um, not much if I stop and think about it. I had lots of wants but really not much control over very much. I couldn’t control what others thought about me or my kids or my husband. I couldn’t control others’ behaviors. That was a hard one for me to learn ~ I tried for years and years to control situations and people. I realized I could only control me and I didn’t always do a very good job of that. I used to tell people I was my own worst enemy because I always told on myself.😂 This was another hard lesson to learn but now I often find myself asking “what can I do about ???” and in reality, not much.
3. This one is not so much a question but a suggestion: Choose a word for the year and keep a focus on that to make healthy choices. Over the years my words have included Flexibility, Consistent, Intentional, and Authentic. I still think of a word at the beginning of each year to be my “guide for the year” ~ this year my word is “One day at a time” okay it’s 5 words encouraging me to stay focused on the here and now, not on the past and not to worry about tomorrow.

Do you choose a word for the year? How do you decide what your word will be?

That’s all for now, time to take some Aleve as my right arm/shoulder are really throbbing. Let me know what you think of this idea of using writing prompts to stay consistent in doing some daily writing.