Tag: dailyprompt

What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

My tattoos. 😝

What gives you direction in life?

I really don’t have an answer for this.

I have plotted courses, had goals, made plans, made progress…. And every single time, i find myself miles and miles from what my planned destination was. And oddly enough, I seem to be somehow better off for it, even though the initial sense of failure and disappointment is painful.

My values guide my actions, of course, but at this point, I’m just riding the waves to see where i end up next, and what kinds of people I’ll meet on the way. I don’t have a “direction” in my life, per se, and that is ok. Having or trying to have a direction hasn’t worked so well thus far, so we’re doing things a little differently…

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

I took a risk when I decided to stop taking any and all pharmaceutical drugs, weaning off them if necessary for safety reasons. I chose to focus on my lifestyle, and pay more attention to the fuel i was giving my body and my mind. In any case, i do not regret this at all, though there are some people in my life who still think i’m being foolish. I feel better than I have in years, have improved my general wellbeing, and have taken back control of my health and my life…

Yeah, not an ounce of regret.

What makes you nervous?

Nervous as in “i have butterflies in my stomach and an elevated heart rate” type of thing? Just about anything i care about the outcome of. Being on stage, giving a presentation, having an important and directed conversation with someone, taking an exam, getting pulled over for speeding. Ya know, normal stuff.

Nervous as in “i have crippling anxiety and can’t move, much less function” type of thing? Not much of anything as of late (knock on wood). this was not always the case, though.

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

Not really though.

I was having a hard day, physically speaking, but I had to get dog food and bird seed. I went to the store, and walked out to the car with my stuff on one of those lay down cart things for bulky stuff. As i’m walking to the handicapped parking, there are cars and trucks and stuff moving around going about their days. normal thing.

This one truck stops as I’m opening the trunk and i hear, ‘wait, wait, let me get that!’ I turn, and this dude was running over to me, his truck parked right where he was driving. ‘Here, let me get that for you!’

he then proceeded to load the heavy oversized bags into my trunk. I was astounded by this random act of kindness, especially since it was exactly what i needed at that moment and wouldn’t ask for on my own.

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

I decided not to pursue my dream of becoming a surgeon. I remember that night very well. I was laying in the grass, staring up at the moon. I had been having a very animated conversation in my head.

Anxious and exhausted, i took a deep breath and tried to quiet my mind, just staring at the sky. In an amazing moment of clarity, I realized that I could never be a doctor because losing a patient would utterly destroy me, even if I had done everything perfectly. Statistically speaking, I was guaranteed to lose a patient, and therefore guaranteed to destroy myself. I then asked myself – so what will I be if not a surgeon?

I still don’t have an answer, but I have learned so much since then. I’m actually starting to wonder if I even need an answer to that question that is more specific than, “I am a student of the universe.”

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

1 – my dogs

2 – making someone genuinely smile.

3 – writing

4 – the laughter of a baby

5 – cracking/stretching my back

Describe something you learned in high school.

Something I learned in high school… trig proofs.

Something I learned outside of school while in high school…i have no idea. Life is the pinnacle of teachers. Effective even if the lessons start early.

What’s something most people don’t understand?

Themselves.